Chapter 1: Am I more than you bargained for yet?
Chapter Text
They’re talking about him.
It’s pretty obvious. Izuku was, after all, currently seated in the hard chair outside of Detective Tsukauchi’s office in the police precinct. The hallway he’s in is silent aside from the low buzzing of the overhead fluorescent lights and the muffled sounds of Yagi-san and the detective arguing in his office. Izuku swings his feet idly, feet barely touching the scuffed linoleum below him. He’s in this seat so often it might as well have his name on it. Izuku was brought in to give his statement for today’s… incident.
Whatever. Izuku doesn’t regret it. He saved a cashier and a conbini full of shoppers from a villain with a flooding quirk. He doesn’t care what people think of him.
(He absolutely cares. He cares so much it hurts, but he’s used to it by now. Izuku and his anxiety are old friends at this point.)
Yagi-san’s voice raises, enough that Izuku can hear it clearly through the door. “He’s a good kid! It’s not like he goes out looking for fights.”
“I know.” Tsukauchi chuckles lightly. “He’s just a trouble magnet.”
There’s some quiet shuffling and indistinct murmurs from Yagi-san. Izuku kicks his feet idly, sinking further into the uncomfortable plastic chair.
“If you don’t… permanent record… he could––”
Another exclamation from Yagi-san. “I know!”
Then, quieter. “I have an idea, just… trust me. I just want what’s best for him.”
“Even if that means he can’t be a hero?”
Izuku’s blood runs cold.
“Trust me,” is all Yagi-san says in response. Then the door to Detective Tsukauchi’s door is opening and the two of them step out. Izuku doesn’t even bother trying to pretend like he wasn’t listening. They both know him too well. Izuku gives Yagi-san a betrayed look.
“We’re done here,” Tsukauchi says. He tries to ruffle Izuku’s hair, but Izuku ducks out of the way. Tsukauchi looks wounded.
“Kid,” he says reproachfully.
“Let’s go, Yagi-san,” Izuku says, turning away from both of them. “I’m all worn out from, you know, saving people and apprehending a villain safely with no injuries and minimal property damage.”
Behind him, Yagi-san sighs and says goodbye to the detective. He catches up to Izuku once they’re out of the station.
“Young Midoriya––” Yagi-san starts.
“Don’t.” Izuku glares at the ground in front of him, refusing to look up. “If you’re going to tell me you don’t want to give it to me anymore, at least wait until we get home.”
Yagi-san chokes. “Don’t want––?! My boy, you have it all wrong.”
“I heard you and Tsukauchi talking about me. But,” Izuku raises his chin defiantly, looking Yagi-san in the eye, “I don’t regret it. I’d do it again, knowing the consequences.”
Yagi-san’s face softens. “You’d save them knowing it would cost you your dream?”
Izuku nods firmly, though his eyes start to water. “I understand if you think I’m too impulsive to be your successor, but I protected someone. That’s more important to me than a quirk.”
“I know,” Yagi-san says gently. He looks around, noting the empty streets. “We really shouldn’t be talking about this here, but–– the quirk is still yours. I’m not changing my mind.”
“But––? You told Tsukauchi––”
“I told him to trust me and now I’m asking the same of you, Young Midoriya. Regardless of what Tsukauchi and the rest of the police department think, I still believe in you.”
Izuku’s tears spill over, silently rolling down his face. “I-I thought you were mad at me.”
Yagi-san nudges him, prompting him to start walking home. “Yes, I probably should be. I thought I told you after the last attempted robbery to leave it to the professionals?”
“No one was doing anything! I had to step in.”
“I trust your judgement. I am proud of you, my boy, even if your actions have caused me to modify my plans slightly.”
Izuku makes a questioning noise, looking up at Yagi-san, who shakes his head fondly.
“We’re going to accelerate your training. I’ll explain on our way home. What I’m asking of you is quite challenging, do you think you’re up for it?”
Izuku flashes him a small smile. “When have you ever known me to back down from a challenge?”
Yagi-san chuckles. “Right. Well, then, how do you feel about taking the provisional hero licensing exam next month?”
“The what?!”
Izuku met Yagi Toshinori on an unseasonably cold spring day.
Izuku was nine-years-old and quite the precocious kid. He was incredibly curious and extremely resourceful, a dangerous combination for a child. In an attempt to keep him from taking apart all their kitchen appliances or chasing after hero fights, his mom had bought him every quirk theory book she could get her hands on. No matter how interesting Dr. Jackson’s Theory and Practical Application of Time Manipulation Quirks was, Izuku could not concentrate.
Someone was moving in downstairs.
The apartment below the Midoriyas had been empty for some time now. Izuku never really paid it any mind, he didn’t really care that it was being filled now. It’s just that whoever was moving in was making an awful lot of noise, and Izuku and his mom lived in the unit closest to the stairs. He could hear banging and muffled curses as what seemed like a dozen people trudged up and down, hauling furniture and boxes and whatnot.
Who needed so many people to help them move in?
Yagi Toshinori, apparently.
According to the ID Izuku finds on the stairs.
Izuku was not snooping. He was simply stretching his legs and if he happened to decide to use the same stairway that’s been crowded all afternoon, well–– the building only has two staircases! And the elevators are broken! So, really, Izuku had no choice but to linger around the stairs leading to the floor below his apartment, peering into the hallway trying to spot the new tenants.
Izuku’s initial plan was to ask his mom to bake something for them to bring down as a welcoming present. The ID card was just luck.
Izuku knocks on unit 812, directly underneath Izuku’s 912 apartment.
The tallest living skeleton Izuku has ever seen opens the door.
“Hi!” Izuku smiles sunnily up at the man. He towers above Izuku, hair dandelion yellow and standing out from his head in waves. He looks tired, deep dark circles around his eyes and heavy wrinkles along his forehead. He has deep laughter lines, though, and he answers Izuku’s smile with his own small grin.
“Hello, there,” the man says. “Can I help you with anything?”
“I found this!” Izuku presents him with his ID card. “My name is Midoriya Izuku and I live in the apartment above you! I came downstairs to see if you needed help moving in, since my mom says it’s a hero’s job to help people, and I found it on the stairs! What’s your quirk? I’m studying to become a hero when I’m big so I need to study as many different quirks as I can!”
Yagi-san blinks, looking a little overwhelmed. He takes the ID card from Izuku.
“Young man, you are a lifesaver. Thank you for returning this to me.”
Izuku keeps smiling. “It’s no problem!”
“As for my quirk,” Yagi-san’s smile wobbles a little. “I’m actually quirkless, sorry I can’t help you with your studies.”
Izuku’s eyes widen. His smile grows impossibly wider.
“I’m quirkless, too!”
Yagi-san looks surprised. “Ah. It seems like we have a lot in common, Young Midoriya.”
“It was nice to meet you, Yagi-san! I’ll bring my mom down to introduce you when she gets home!” Izuku says, before bounding off to go back to reading his quirk theory books.
Yagi Toshinori turns out to be the coolest person Izuku has ever met. He’s old, but despite the generational gap he and Izuku instantly click. They joke back and forth like family before the month is through. Yagi-san reveals that he moved in because he got hurt at his last job. He gets guests coming and going all the time, but no one sees him as often as the Midoriyas. They start bringing him food, which eventually evolves into dinner once a week.
Yagi-san heals up enough to open up his own shop. It turns out that he’s just as big of a hero fan as Izuku is. He picks a unit about a block away from their apartment building and fills it with the coolest hero merch Izuku has ever seen. He seriously has no idea how Yagi-san gets his hands on most of this stuff, since some of the All Might merch is ultra rare.
When Izuku turns twelve, Yagi-san offers him a part-time job at his shop. Izuku, of course, jumps at the chance.
For a year, things are good. Izuku goes to work with Yagi-san every day after school and they trade bad puns and hero facts in between selling Best Jeanist shirts and pre-quirk comic books. On Thursdays, they go up to the Midoriyas’ apartment and help Inko with dinner. Izuku dodges Kacchan and follows hero fights and joins a gym to try training for hero school. Yagi-san becomes Izuku’s second emergency contact.
Things are good.
And then, on a hot summer day a couple weeks after Izuku’s 13th birthday, a villain tries to rob Yagi-san’s shop.
“Captain America could beat Endeavor in an instant,” Izuku insists.
Yagi-san laughs, slapping a palm onto the counter with so much force the cash register shakes. “I’m not disagreeing, my boy, I’m just wondering why you’re bringing this up!”
“Because! Because… uh….” Izuku frowns. He was so sure he had a point. “I think we were talking about Endeavor’s lack of aim with long range attacks?”
“And how does a pre-quirk comic book hero factor into this conversation?” Yagi-san asks, thoroughly amused.
“He just does! His shield has range and accuracy.”
“Okay, but Kamui Woods has range and accuracy,” Yagi-san humors him. “Are you saying he––?”
Yagi-san is interrupted by the bell on the front door chiming as a tall man in a long, blue coat walks in. Izuku turns back to the shelf he was supposed to be stocking, more or less tucked into a corner while Yagi-san deals with the customer.
“Hello! Welcome to––”
“Empty the cash register, old man,” the man says, hands inside his coat. “I don’t want to hurt you. Just do what I say quickly.”
Izuku’s blood runs cold. Are they… is this a robbery? The man’s hands are inside his coat, potentially holding a weapon. Yagi-san resolutely doesn’t look in Izuku’s direction, but Izuku can feel him trying to telepathically tell him to stay out of sight.
“I’m sorry,” Yagi-san says slowly as the guy–– the villain–– inches closer to the register. “We just opened up and we haven’t had any customers today. We only have about two thousand yen right now.”
“Bullshit!” The villain steps forward threateningly. “You have to have a safe or something!”
Yagi-san shakes his head. The villain growls, low in his throat. He starts taking his hand out of his coat.
Izuku can’t breathe.
He needs to think. This is Yagi-san’s life on the line–– the same Yagi-san that helps him with his homework and buys him meat buns after school and gave him a job at his shop despite Izuku’s tendency to ramble at customers. Yagi-san, who checks in on Izuku when his mom has to pull double shifts and tries his best to bring over dinner even though he really, really cannot cook to save his life. Yagi-san, who is quirkless and wise and strong in every way but physically–– who taught Izuku that bravery isn't the absence of fear, it’s pushing through despite the fear.
Yagi-san, who is the closest thing to a father figure Izuku has ever had.
Izuku has plans for everything. He plans out what to say to the cashier when ordering coffee, he plans out his homework before even opening his textbooks. He has a whole ten-year plan for how he’s going to get into UA’s hero course and get his hero license fully quirkless. He plans for every wild, unlikely scenario he can think of because his anxiety gets so bad if he doesn’t go through every possible outcome, every way his life could landslide into disaster–– but Izuku never planned for this.
For once, he doesn’t have a plan and he doesn’t have time to think of one. All he can see is Yagi-san’s lined, kind face looking resigned as he stares down the villain in his shop.
Izuku doesn’t think. He just moves.
The villain hasn’t noticed him yet, which rules out any kind of detection or sensing quirk. Izuku uses this to his advantage, rolling out from behind the shelf and staying close to the ground. He snags one of the metal poles with hooks on the end they usually use to take down merchandise from high shelves and bashes it into the backs of the villain’s knees.
“Fuck!” the villain goes down, knees buckling. Before he has time to turn, Izuku leaps over him, putting himself between the villain and Yagi-san.
“Young Midoriya––!” Yagi-san gasps, reaching out to pull Izuku behind him.
Izuku dodges, not taking his eyes off the villain and brandishing the pole in front of him like a sword. He turns his head slightly so Yagi-san can see the shaky smile on his face.
“Don’t worry, Yagi-san. It’s gonna be alright,” Izuku says, with all the false bravado and confidence he can muster. “I’m here. I won’t let him hurt you.”
The villain, now back on their feet and glaring daggers at Izuku scoffs.
“I don’t usually kill kids, but I’ll make an exception for you, brat,” he spits. “Should’ve just given me the money, old man.”
“Midoriya, let me handle this––” but the villain is already moving.
He makes a swipe at Izuku, hands elongating and sharpening into spikes. Izuku manages to block most of it with the pole, but the villain’s pinky grazes Izuku’s knuckles. Izuku yelps, more out of surprise than pain. The villain steps forward. He has a height and weight advantage against Izuku and now, thanks to his quirk, he also has a greater reach. Izuku needs to end this fast, he wouldn’t last long in a prolonged fight against this guy.
Long, thin spikes for hands. Less surface area. Probably less dexterity. Okay, Izuku can work with that.
Izuku shifts his grip on the pole and throws it at the villain like a javelin.
The villain fumbles, his fingers scrabbling uselessly as he tries to prevent the pole from hitting him in the face. Izuku uses this time to pick up a small wire rack of magazines. While the villain disgards the pole Izuku lifts the rack and swings it at him in a downward arc, aiming for his hands.
Just as he’d hoped, the villain’s spiky fingers get caught in the rack, sliding through the metal grids as Izuku uses the whole thing to force the villain’s arms down. Then, mustering all the strength he can, Izuku stomps down where the villain’s hands meet the rack.
There’s a sickening crunch as the villain howls in pain, fingers bent at unnatural angles and still stuck. The villain is now pinned to the floor by his hands, Izuku using his whole weight to hold the rack down and avoid the villain’s flailing legs.
“Yagi-san!” Izuku whips his head around wildly, looking for him. “Call for––!”
“I am here!”
There’s a flash of movement and suddenly Izuku is blinking dumbly, tucked into the little alcove behind the front counter. Before him, in all his shining, heroic glory, is All Might.
Izuku can’t breathe.
“All–– All M-Might––!”
“Don’t worry, young man!” All Might booms. His voice is so loud it shakes the room. Izuku can feel the bass of it in his bones. “I’ll take it from here. You did an excellent job apprehending this villain!”
The villain in question stares hopelessly up at All Might. “Shit. Of all the fuckin–– I just had to pick this store, huh?”
All Might pulls out quirk suppression handcuffs from his–– not his belt. In fact, All Might isn’t wearing his hero costume. He’s dressed in a tight white t-shirt and blue jeans. The cuffs are clipped to one of his belt loops. He clips them onto the villain, whose fingers shrink back to their original size and shape, detangling him from the wire rack. They’re purple and swollen, bent oddly in a couple places. Obviously broken.
Izuku feels sick. He did that. He hurt someone.
I was protecting someone, Izuku reminds himself, turning his head so he doesn’t have to look anymore. I was protecting––
“Yagi-san!” Izuku gasps. He searches the store frantically, looking for any sign of him. All Might’s head jerks up.
“All Might!” Izuku clambers over the counter, trying to see around the astounding breadth of All Might’s shoulders. “Have you seen a tall, thin man with blond hair? He’s the owner of the shop and–– is he outside? Where––?”
“I’m–– I mean, Toshinori–– uh, Yagi-san is quite alright, son–– er, kid. Young citizen.”
Izuku stops his desperate search, looking up at All Might in surprise. “You know Yagi-san?”
“Well––” Was it just Izuku, or did All Might’s smile seem strained? “Yes. In a way. Do not worry about him, he was not harmed.”
“How do you know Yagi-san?” Outside the shop’s windows, police have started to gather. “Oh, is he the one who called you? Y-You’re so amazing, All Might! I didn’t even notice you come in!”
“Young Midoriya, please,” All Might–– begs? What? “Let me just hand this man over to the police and I will explain.”
“Of course!” Izuku jumps back, realizing how close he was. Oh, man. Izuku is so close to All Might. He was in All Might’s way! “S-Sorry!”
The next thirty minutes are a blur. Izuku gives his statement to the police, giving them every detail he can think of. It seems they don’t believe him about the pole and the wire and breaking a man’s fingers and Izuku doesn’t know whether to be relieved that he’s not in trouble or annoyed that his one grand act of heroism is being invalidated like this. He keeps asking to see Yagi-san, but no one knows who he’s talking about. Apparently, the neighboring plant store called for help, not Yagi-san.
Izuku catches glimpses of All Might hovering nearby, but he’s always surrounded by people. He towers over them, or course, golden hair sticking straight up and even his elbows are above most people’s heads. Izuku so badly wants to ask for an autograph, but a part of him is still horrified that of all the heroes to come to his rescue, All Might had to be the one to see Izuku seriously injure another person.
What must he think of him? Izuku doesn’t want to find out.
(Come to think of it… how did All Might know Izuku’s name?)
The police can’t let him go without an adult present and since Yagi-san is missing and Izuku’s mom is still at work, they end up just taking him to the station. On the way there, Izuku musters up the courage to ask one of the officers escorting him about the villain’s health status.
“That criminal?” The officer laughs, tossing Izuku a sharp grin over his shoulder. Through the grates separating the back seat from the front, Izuku can see him nudge his partner in the side. “The kid wants to know if the villain is gonna be alright!”
His partner laughs, too. Izuku feels very, very small.
“Don’t worry, kid. He won’t come after you,” the officer says. “You’re quirkless. There are laws to protect people like you.”
Right, protect Izuku. Tell that to the villain’s shattered phalanges.
Izuku doesn’t actually have to wait at the station for too long. He meets Detective Tsukauchi, who says he knows Yagi-san and will give him a call. Izuku had no idea Yagi-san was so popular. He’s never seen him interact with anyone who isn’t Izuku or his mother.
“Young Midoriya!” Yagi-san exclaims when he arrives. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t get here sooner. I had things to take care of.”
“It’s okay.” Izuku allows Yagi-san to fuss over him, checking him over for injuries and patting his head comfortingly. Izuku leans into the pats. “Are you okay? I got so worried when I couldn’t find you.”
“I’m fine, my boy, no need to worry about me. I already called your mother, so she knows what happened. Let’s get home.”
Yagi-san leads Izuku out of the police precinct as Izuku’s mouth goes a mile a minute, spewing out the day’s events as if Yagi-san himself wasn’t there for most of it. Izuku mumbles his way through the description of the fight, not sure if Yagi-san witnessed Izuku’s brutal takedown. He hopes not.
“And then All Might––” Izuku gasps. “Wait! All Might! He said he knew you and also that he had to talk to you about something? Or explain… something… Yagi-san, are you okay?”
As Izuku rambled Yagi-san’s face had gotten progressively tighter and tighter until it was practically a flashing neon sign reading ‘stressed!.’ Izuku peers up at him, concerned.
“I… have never been the best at lying, ironically enough. Least of all to you, Young Midoriya. You and your mother have been so kind to me and all I’ve repaid you with have been lies of omission. Ah, I hope you forgive me one day. I would hate to lose your friendship.”
“Yagi-san? If this is about not telling me you knew All Might I’m not mad… well, I’m a little mad, but it’s okay! I get why you wouldn’t want to introduce us!”
“No, it’s–– I was going to wait until you were older to tell you. I, at least, wanted to offer you One For All closer to when you’d apply to high schools, but alas, life rarely goes to plan.”
“One For… Yagi-san, what are you talking about?”
“Young Mi–– Izuku, my boy.” Yagi-san stops walking, turning to face Izuku fully as they stand in the middle of a deserted street. Behind him the sunset burns brilliantly over the horizon, haloing Yagi-san in gold. It catches on his blond hair like fire, like a lion’s mane, like a crown.
“You can be a hero. In fact, I believe you already are, in all the ways that count. If you would have me, I’d like to guide you along your path to heroism.”
“I mean, I kind of already consider you a mentor,” Izuku admits, “but I’m not sure what you––”
Yagi-san disappears in a great puff of smoke. In the place he was standing is All Might.
“As the Symbol of Peace,” All Might booms, then softens to a tone more familiar as Yagi-san, “but mostly, as someone who has witnessed your selflessness first hand–– please allow me to gift you my quirk and support you as my successor.”
“Uh!” Izuku squeaks. “Um!”
There’s another puff of smoke and All Might is replaced with Yagi-san. Izuku’s brain refuses to process.
What… the fuck?
“Ah, I really shouldn’t have transformed in public like this, but I thought a visual demonstration might get the point across faster. Come along, I’ll explain my quirk and the rest on the way home. I’m sure you have some questions.”
“Many, many questions,” Izuku mumbles, thoroughly stunned. He numbly follows Yagi-san–– All Might?–– down the street. “So, so very many questions.”
Izuku gets over the initial shock fairly quickly.
It probably helps that he’d been building up theories on All Might’s–– Yagi-san’s?–– quirk for literally most of his life. If it wasn’t a national secret, Izuku would be on the Mighty Forums right now, telling MightFan2096 to eat their words.
The real problem is convincing his mom to let Izuku–– a 13-year-old with severe anxiety, almost no upper body strength, and a measly year of mixed martial arts training–– to handle a 200-year-old stockpile quirk made of pure energy.
Right. Easy-peasy.
In Yagi-san’s defence, he wanted to wait until Izuku was 15 at least. He explained as they walked back to their apartment building that he’d planned on revealing his true identity to the Midoriyas before Izuku started high school. He’d wanted all three of them to decide whether Izuku would want to wait until he was 18 and use his high school years to train secretly under All Might’s guidance as an anonymous intern, or receive One for All in time for the UA entrance exam.
Izuku still can’t process that part. The part about Yagi-san always wanting to give One For All to him. In Izuku’s mind, he can maybe see why Yagi-san would think Izuku was worthy after saving his life today, but the rest of it? The part about having a kind heart and natural charisma and a hero’s instinct? When, if ever, has Izuku displayed any of those traits? Izuku is a shy, quirkless loser with dreams too big for his circumstance, that’s it. That’s all he’s ever seen in himself.
Yagi-san–– All Might–– seems to disagree.
They both mutually agree to holding back on telling Inko that night. Izuku, because he was still in shock, and Yagi-san because he was worried both the villain attack and the One For All secret would be too much for Inko to handle.
So they wait.
A week, then two, then they’re edging into three weeks. Yagi-san gives Izuku a workout routine and tells him he’ll have to start preparing his body to handle the quirk as soon as possible.
It all comes to a head at ‘family dinner night’ which is really just Inko and Izuku hounding Yagi-san into coming over so they can make sure he’s eating something other than instant ramen and convenience store dinners. Izuku and Yagi-san are tense during the entire meal, both shooting each other looks and silently urging the other to say something. Eventually, Inko breaks the silence.
“Izuku, Toshinori,” Inko sighs, looking tired. “I know.”
Izuku and Yagi-san look at each other, panicked.
“You… know?” Izuku asks tentatively.
Inko smiles. “I know I work a lot, but I do notice things, Izuku. You’ve been different since the villain attack. The late afternoons, the new diet. You lift weights while studying. Mitsuki said she sees you jogging around the neighborhood most mornings.”
Inko turns to look at Yagi-san. “You’re training him to be a hero, aren’t you?”
Izuku, who was fully expecting his mom to somehow have figured out the entire story behind One For All, slumps in relief. “Oh. Yeah, he is.”
“And neither of you thought to tell me?”
Izuku winces. “Mom, it’s my fault, I asked Yagi-san to wait––”
“No, my boy. I am the adult in the situation, the blame is on me. You’re right, Inko. I should have asked for your permission to train Izuku.”
Inko’s previously stern expression softens a bit. “I trust that you only have the best intentions, Toshi. You’ve been kind to us for years, letting Izuku work in your shop and just being a good friend to him. But, I have to ask. Why? Why Izuku, and why do you think you can train him?”
Izuku bites his lip. This is the hard part.
“Okay,” he says slowly, “don’t freak out but––”
“I am here!”
In a puff of smoke, Yagi-san swells up into full All Might form. It’s chaos. Bowls are knocked over. Izuku startles so hard he falls out of his chair. Inko screams.
And then Midoriya Inko–– Izuku’s sweet, kind, loving mother–– punches All Might in the face.
“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry, Toshi–– All––Toshinori!”
Yagi-san, now deflated back down to his normal size, waves away her apologies. “No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have startled you like that, I just thought it would be better to show rather than tell. I really need to come up with a better way of telling people.”
“I shouldn’t have punched you! I don’t know why–– I––”
“It’s alright, Inko,” Yagi-san reassures. “Really. I get punched by villains daily, though I must say you have quite the impressive right hook!”
Inko looks like she might cry. Izuku steps in.
“Mom, meet All Might.”
Yagi-san gives her a dorky little wave.
“He, uh, got hurt a couple years ago. Really badly. Remember when Yagi-san first moved in and there were all these people coming around all the time to help him out? Yeah! So, uh, he got hurt and, um, it turns out his quirk is–– well, it’s not really his quirk, actually, Yagi-san said he was born quirkless, like me! Isn’t that cool? Um, so his quirk is actually that––”
“Izuku, baby, I love you so much, but can you please tell me why All Might is having dinner with us? Quickly and with the least amount of words possible.”
“Right!” Izuku gathers himself. “Yagi-san is going to retire as All Might soon and he wants to give me his quirk so I can be a hero!”
Inko blinks at him. “Actually, I think I’m going to need more of an explanation.”
“Allow me,” Yagi-san gives Inko a tentative smile. “I wish to transfer my power to Young Midoriya because I believe him to be the next Symbol of Peace–– or perhaps Symbol of Protection? Hope? We’ll work on your title later.”
Izuku tears up. Inko drops her head into her hands and groans.
“We are going to work on communication skills for the both of you. Okay, explain this to me slowly and from the very beginning.”
Ten months later, Izuku starts his last year of junior high.
He’s been following Yagi-san’s training schedule to the letter after the first disastrous time he tried to speed up his progress and ended up with a sprained ankle, Izuku decided to just trust that Yagi-san knew his limits better than he did. Yagi-san has been rotating him in and out of different fighting styles. They haven’t found one that Izuku likes any more than the others but Yagi-san insists that it’s perfectly okay to mix and match once he gets all the basics down. After all, All Might has always been a one-two punch kind of hero.
They train his battle instincts along with his body. Yagi-san had been incredibly impressed with Izuku’s quick thinking and use of his environment during the attack at the shop. He encouraged Izuku to keep thinking out of the box like that. Most of Izuku’s time that isn’t spent working out or doing homework is spent with Yagi-san and a variety of hero fight footage, doing little case studies on how the hero fought and what Izuku would do in every scenario.
It’s the best year of Izuku’s life.
He’s been… lonely for such a long time. Yagi-san and his mom have always been constants, but now Izuku has gym acquaintances, and sparring partners, and even Detective Tsukauchi, who lets Izuku go over closed cases to work on his analysis skills. Izuku’s 14th birthday isn’t spent alone, watching videos on HeroTube like every other year. This year, Yagi-san takes him on a jog along the beach at sunrise, and then lets Izuku tour the Mighty Agency in the afternoon.
By Yagi-san’s estimations, Izuku should be able to receive All for One in eleven months, giving him about a month to adjust before he starts school. It’s all going perfectly.
Which is, of course, when things start to go wrong.
“Would you like to explain why you stepped in front of the knife, Midoriya?”
“Why––?! Officer, he was trying to stab her! I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing!”
“You could have been seriously injured, young man. You should have waited for a hero to handle it.”
“She would have been stabbed.”
Izuku • 5:12 PM
hey mom i might be a bit late to dinner
also, can you get some more bandages from the hospital?
Me • 5:12 PM
Izuku
What happened.
Izuku • 5:12 PM
nothing big! just a couple scrapes
Me • 5:12 PM
Izuku.
Izuku • 5:13 PM
someone tried to break into unit 914 so i stopped them
um. im also at the police station but dont worry theyre not charging me with anything :D vigilantism doesn’t apply to quirkless kids ❤️ !!
pls dont be mad 🥺 im not hurt !! yagi-san is here and everyone is ok
Me • 5:13 PM
The three of us are going to talk when I get home.
✓ Read at 5:13 PM
“Hello! My name is Midoriya Izuku and I’d like to report a crime.”
“Alright, Midoriya, can you tell me what happened?”
“There was an attempted mugging in block 12.”
“Attempted?”
“I, uh… incapacitated the mugger. He was holding the victim–– excuse me, ma’am, what’s your name?–– ah, he was holding Azuma-san at knife-point so I stepped in. None of us are hurt, but we may need some quirk suppression cuffs, as I’m unsure of the attempted mugger’s quirk.”
“O-Okay… We can have a Pro Hero and an officer at your location in five minutes.”
“Thanks!”
“... In the future, please refrain from handling these situations yourself.”
“Sir, attempted arson in block 14. Officer Hasegawa said when he got there with Pro Hero Triton the fire was out and the villain was wrapped up in a fire-resistant blanket. Apparently, some quirkless kid tackled him before the fire could catch.”
“Quirkless? What the hell…?”
Musutafu Post @MusutafuPostJP • 1h
OP ED: Vigilantism on the Rise? Musutafu becomes city with highest civilian/vigilante attributed arrests in prefecture. Full Article: bit.ly/3m6vdAF
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“Convenience store robber in block––”
“Done. Midoriya called it in.”
“That––! Again?! That kid is unhinged.”
“You’re telling me.”
Okay, so… maybe it gets out of hand.
Izuku is not doing anything illegal. In fact, he is literally just living his life. He just happens to exist in close proximity to what seems like infinite crime that he knows he has the training and the ability to neutralize. He actually, physically, cannot stop himself from stepping in. He tried to wait for Pro Heroes once, but it was five minutes into a truly amateur grocery store robbery and Izuku couldn’t bear to watch the Ozaki’s store get destroyed in a hero fight. They always give his mom a fair price for fresh fish.
After the third time Izuku stops a crime, his mom and Yagi-san give up on pretending to be mad.
“The laws on vigilantism specifically mention the use of a quirk,” is how Izuku argues it to them, “and since I don’t have a quirk––”
“Yet,” Yagi-san corrects.
“––yet, I am technically not breaking the law.”
“Assault?” Inko questions.
Izuku shakes his head. “Self-defense. Besides, do you think they would prosecute a poor, helpless, quirkless kid for defending himself against the big, scary villains?”
Izuku gives his mom his best puppy eyes. She snorts.
“You are surprisingly conniving, young man,” she mock-scolds. Even Yagi-san has stopped his fake disappointed stare and is instead shaking his head fondly.
“Only when it comes to saving people,” Izuku says.
Really, it’s a miracle it’s taken so long for someone to put their foot down when it comes to Izuku’s borderline vigilante career. Detective Tsukauchi probably has a soft spot for him.
The last conbini robbery was his limit, apparently.
And now, Izuku needs to take the provisional hero license exam. As a junior high student.
In a month.
Great.
Inko is on to them immediately after they come home from the police station.
“Oh, just spit it out, Toshinori.” Inko says, picking up her glass of water. “Nothing can be worse than ‘I want to give your son a centuries old quirk so he can get into fights with dangerous criminals for a living,’ trust me.”
“Okay.” Yagi-san takes a deep breath in. “I want Izuku to take the provisional licensing exam. Next month.”
Inko drops her glass.
“Licensing exam?!” Inko looks at them both, wide-eyed. “He doesn’t even have your quirk yet!”
Yagi-san winces. “Yes, I know.”
“You said it would be another six months before he’d be ready!”
“I know.”
“I–– I didn’t even think he’d be facing off against villains until after high school! Why does he need his hero license now?!”
“Izuku is building up a bit of a reputation,” Yagi-san explains, “amongst the police force. For, er, vigilantism. He has a habit of stepping in when he sees trouble–– a heroic quality, yes, and I believe that I’ve taught him enough to trust that he can handle himself with petty crimes, but no one outside of this room knows that. To the authorities, it looks as though Izuku is getting in the way.”
“No one was doing anything!” Izuku explodes. “Even the police! They were just standing around waiting for a hero to show up, and the poor cashier was–– it’s just because I’m quirkless! I took care of the situation just fine!”
“We know,” Inko soothes. “We know. Izuku, I’m so proud of you.”
“The fact of the matter is that if this keeps happening they are eventually going to find something to charge him with. If he had a provisional license, however, they’d be much less likely to try to pin him down for vigilantism, even if he didn’t have a Pro Hero supervising him.”
Izuku nods. Yagi-san had explained all of this to him on their way home.
“Also, if Izuku had a license,” Yagi-san continues, and this is something he had not told Izuku on their way home, “he’d be allowed to work under the Mighty Agency, as an intern.”
“I could––!” Izuku whips his head around to his mom, begging for permission with his eyes. “Can I?”
“Interns are protected, right, Toshinori?” Inko asks, face stern. “And they are not allowed to go off fighting villains on their own?”
“Of course. There are safety protocols and a lot of HPSC guidelines for interns. A lot of paperwork, too. In fact, this might be better than our current training schedule. At least this way I can keep an eye on him.”
“An intern!” Izuku practically sparkles. “The Mighty Agency doesn’t take interns. You don’t even take sidekicks!”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. You still need to pass your exam, and even as an intern there will be no combat. You’ll just observe as I apprehend villains, okay?”
Izuku nods emphatically. Him! All Might’s first intern!
What could possibly go wrong?
Chapter 2: For you, I would get beat to smithereens
Summary:
Izuku takes the provisional license exam.
Chapter Text
It turns out, a lot of things can go wrong.
There is so much paperwork. Mountains of it. The very first thing they do is change Izuku’s quirk registry so it looks less suspicious than him registering for the provisional license exam quirkless and with All Might as a sponsor. That last fact alone is gonna turn some heads, so Yagi-san takes him down to the quirk registry the next day and they register his quirk as Superpower.
“It turns out my body was too weak to handle activation,” is how Izuku explains it to the registration secretary. “I didn’t even know I had a quirk!”
She, obviously, does not care— but it’s good practice for lying to people’s faces. Izuku is so bad at lying. He is good at planning and sneaking around and–– sometimes, rarely, only if absolutely necessary–– manipulating people, but he is so bad at directly lying. This isn’t great considering he’s sitting on Japan’s most dangerous secret.
After they register Izuku’s quirk, Yagi-san has to swing by the Hero Public Safety Commission’s office downtown to pick up the sponsor paperwork. Every hero license examinee, be it for the provisional, full pro, rescue, or reserve hero exam, must have a licensed pro hero sponsoring them. Usually, the sponsor is a teacher at a hero school or a supervising hero at an agency. Since Izuku is not enrolled in any hero schools and isn’t an intern or sidekick at an agency, he has to jump through a lot of hoops to even get his application considered.
Or, well, he would have had to. If his sponsor wasn’t the number one hero in Japan.
“It is… a bit unfair,” Yagi-san admits later, when he’s treating Izuku to katsudon at the tiny family restaurant next to his hero merch shop. “I feel bad using my influence like this, but we are on a bit of a time crunch.”
“What would I have to do if you weren’t vouching for me?” Izuku asks.
“Well,” Yagi-san starts listing things off his fingers. “First, they’d make you enroll in a mandatory battle strategies and rescue procedures class. I think the course is about six months. Then, after passing that, you and your sponsor would have to go through three weeks of supervised training, to ensure your sponsor was instructing you properly. Following that is the preliminary written exam that all non-hero school examinees take, and then the fitness test. And then you get put on the waiting list until all the hero schools have submitted their examinee rosters. If there’s a spot at the next exam, you take the exam.”
Izuku feels dizzy. “That’s… impossible.”
“Yes, it’s designed that way.” Yagi-san frowns. “Around the time I was in high school the HPSC changed the guidelines to make it harder for non-hero school applicants. Previously, a lot of adults were taking the exams after going through regular high school. The HPSC made it so that now pretty much 95% of examinees are hero students.”
“That’s… awful,” Izuku says. “What if you can’t get into hero school? What if you can’t afford it?”
Yagi-san nods. “Exactly. It’s not right.”
“It’s not!” Izuku stands up. “We need to do something about it!”
“Ah, Young Midoriya, sit down please!” Yagi-san waves his hands, trying to placate him. “While I agree that the HPSC is suppressing certain applicants, there’s nothing you can do about it right now! Please, finish your food.”
Izuku sits down, angrily stuffing katsudon in his face.
“I have tried many times to loosen the HPSC regulations around the exams,” Yagi-san says, “but–– well. There’s only so much I can do, and after my injury….”
Izuku swallows. Yagi-san looks ashamed.
“I’ll fix it,” Izuku promises him. “I’ll get my license and follow your footsteps and then when I’m number one they’ll have to listen to me.”
Yagi-san smiles and reaches over the table to ruffle Izuku’s hair. “I know you will, my boy. I believe you will surpass me. You are much more charismatic than I am.”
Izuku fumbles with his chopsticks.
“W-What?! M-Me? Yagi-san, I can barely speak to other kids my age! I rehearse my coffee order in my head before ordering!”
“Yes, but you will grow out of that. You’re very… magnetic, Young Midoriya. People can’t help but believe in you. Look at Detective Tsukauchi and all the police at the precinct. Do you really believe they just let you get away with so much because they pitied a quirkless young man?”
“Yes! Obviously!”
Yagi-san shakes his head. “You’ll see. One day you’ll see all the qualities in yourself that I see now and you’ll understand why I believe in you so much.”
Izuku tucks his face down and finishes his katsudon quickly, trying to hide how misty-eyed he’s gotten. From the way Yagi-san chuckles and fondly ruffles his hair again, it doesn’t work.
Thanks to Yagi-san using his All Might privilege, the HPSC is only requiring Izuku take the written preliminary exam and the fitness test.
He passes the fitness test easily enough. It’s just a standardized fitness exam, like the kind they’d take in middle school, so no quirks. Izuku has been intensively training for more than a year, and was doing mixed martial arts before that. Plus, they conduct the test in a nice, private gym. No other students means no one’s around to sabotage Izuku like what usually happens when he takes the exam at Aldera. The HPSC representative gives Izuku a pass and then informs him his written exam will be scheduled for a week before the actual exam. He’s given an outline of what they’re testing for and Yagi-san, all puffed up in his All Might form, is given a manual on what to teach Izuku.
They’re aiming to pass One for All to Izuku the day of the exam, which means he has to accelerate his training so he can be physically ready by then. Yagi-san is careful about making sure Izuku doesn’t overdo it, but Izuku can see he’s worried.
Izuku’s mom turns into a drill sergeant. She’s always been his biggest cheerleader, save for a moment of doubt when he was first diagnosed quirkless. In the years since she’s made it very clear that she’s proud of him. He can tell she’s worried for him and this manifests in her keeping careful watch over his schedule. She reminds him to do his stretching and conditioning exercises with as much intensity as she insists he takes breaks.
In the lead up to Izuku’s exam, she checks in on him even more often than she used to. On nights when he’s gone particularly hard during training, she sits him down at the kotatsu and patches up any scrapes or bruises, massages his aching hands, and lets him talk about his day. These are Izuku’s favorite nights. They’re made even better when Yagi-san joins them, telling the two of them stories from his time in America. Izuku wonders if his dad has stories from America. The thought startles him one day, while he’s studying.
He hasn’t thought about his dad in years.
Yagi-san may be the best mentor and a shining beacon of heroism in Izuku’s eyes, but he is, admittedly, not a great teacher. Izuku’s mom catches him with a copy of Teaching for Dummies and teases him relentlessly for it.
This leaves Izuku to where he is now, pretending to be studying English when he really has his Combat Strategies and Procedures book on his desk. Yagi-san is trying his best, but Izuku has always learnt better on his own. Plus, Sato-sensei has given Izuku’s class a free study period, so he might as well try to get some of his reading in.
He’s just getting into a passage on using an opponent’s weight against them when a sharp voice calls him to attention.
“What do you think you’re doing, Midoriya?”
Sato-sensei stands in front of Izuku’s desk, looming over him. Izuku meets his eyes.
“I’m studying,” Izuku says. The whole class is watching them. Sato-sensei picks up Izuku’s book.
“Combat Strategies and Procedures,” Sato-sensei reads outloud. A couple people snicker. “This doesn’t sound like classwork, Midoriya.”
“You said it was free study.” Izuku shrinks back in his seat. “I-I have a test coming up.”
“Oh? I wasn’t aware any teachers were giving combat exams.” Sato-sensei sets down Izuku’s book, his mouth pressed in an unimpressed line. “Please use your class time for productive work, Midoriya. I would hate to see you become another statistic.”
Right. The statistics of unemployed quirkless people.
Or the statistics of quirkless people who die before the age of 21. Izuku’s not sure which one Sato-sensei is referencing here.
“Do something useful with your time,” Sato-sensei continues. Izuku looks over to where the boy next to him has an issue of Weekly Shonen Jump open on his desk. Sato-sensei follows his line of sight, but doesn’t say anything.
“If you’re going to keep entertaining your hero dreams, do it in your own time,” Sato-sensei says finally.
Izuku doesn’t snap back like he’d like to. Instead he mumbles out an apology and pulls out his actual English textbook. The class is still snickering at him. He takes a few deep breaths in and reminds himself that after school he gets to meet up with Yagi-san at his shop and the two of them will do some take-down drills. They’ll go home and have a healthy dinner with his mom. If he’s lucky, Yagi-san will look the other way when Izuku sneaks in extra dessert.
Izuku makes it through the rest of the day. He’s almost through the school gates when Bakugou corners him.
“Still holding on to your delusions, eh Deku?”
Izuku takes a deep breath in. He slowly turns around to face Bakugou , noting that his usual lackeys aren’t with him.
“I’m just studying,” Izuku says slowly, “I’m not hurting anyone.”
“But, you’re not, are you?” Bakugou spits, getting closer. “You’re not ‘just studying’ or whatever. You’re training. You think I don’t notice you running around the neighborhood every morning like a dumbass?”
It’s true that Izuku’s jogging route passes Bakugou ’s house, but he figured his morning runs were early enough to escape notice. Apparently not.
“That’s not all,” Bakugou continues. “You’ve bulked up, so you’re obviously working out. You don’t flinch back so much. You’re faster.”
Izuku resists the urge to roll his eyes. Of course Bakugou notices Izuku’s training progress only in the ways that make it harder to bully him.
“Your creepy nerd notebooks, too. You don’t label them ‘Hero Analysis for the Future’ anymore.”
Izuku’s surprised Bakugou noticed this. It’s true–– after saving Yagi-san and learning the truth about his quirk Izuku stopped keeping ‘for the Future’ notebooks. He now has Battle Strategies vol 1 and two volumes of Quirk Analysis. Not ‘for the Future,’ just Quirk Analysis.
Bakugou watches him, eyes narrowed and calculating. “I don’t know what the fuck is up with you–– if you’re trying to cheat your way in somehow or what. But something’s different. You’re different.”
He makes it sound like a bad thing.
“I am different,” Izuku replies with as much pride as he dares.
Something flashes in Bakugou’s eyes before he abruptly turns on his heel and leaves. Izuku sags with relief once he’s gone.
And Izuku–– Izuku knew that he was different. It’s been a slow process, but he’s noticed nonetheless. It’s in the way he carries himself, shoulders back and chin up. It’s in the way he speaks to people now, how his voice barely shakes anymore, how he sits up straighter. It’s in the way he is slowly but surely taking Yagi-san off the All Might pedestal he’s had him on since he was four. Izuku knows all this, but it is nice to have another person acknowledge his growth–– even if Bakugou didn’t mean it as a compliment.
But it sort of is a compliment, in a backwards, twisted way that Bakugou definitely didn’t intend. Izuku is way past wanting validation from Bakugou of all people. He doesn’t know what he wants anymore–– an apology or just to be left alone, or maybe both. He doesn’t know if he wants it to be a compliment, but it doesn’t really matter. Because, whether purposefully or not, Bakugou has just acknowledged Izuku as a threat.
It’s about time.
Izuku, predictably, passes the preliminary written exam with flying colors.
The proctor had actually graded his exam in front of him–– something that caused Izuku’s anxiety to spike so much he thought he actually felt his soul leaving his body. In the end, he’d answered everything but two questions right: the one about right of way in traffic situations during an earthquake and the free response about switching a trolley’s track to save ten people instead of one.
Izuku had put down ‘save everyone or die trying’ mostly because he was annoyed and slightly horrified thinking about what the HPSC thought was the “right” answer to an ethical dilemma like that. When the proctor read his answer she shot him an incredulous look.
To celebrate, Yagi-san decides he deserves a cheat day on his diet. He takes Izuku and his mom out to their favorite restaurant, a cozy little shop located by the beach. They spend the evening teasing each other laughing.
It’s the lightest Izuku’s felt in a long time.
He makes eye contact with Yagi-san. These days, his laughter lines are deeper. Izuku grins.
The day of the provisional license exam dawns bright and early for Izuku.
By 6 AM, Izuku has already ingested a piece of Yagi-san’s hair (yuck) and gone on a light run to wake himself up. His mom lets him help her out with breakfast, just so he can burn off the excess anxious energy, and Yagi-san spends the entirety of breakfast praising Izuku’s supposed cooking skills. Since Izuku doesn’t have a hero costume–– yet, Yagi-san assures him he has someone special working on it for him–– he just dresses in typical work out gear: a dark green tracksuit with an All Might t-shirt underneath. Izuku makes sure to pick an old shirt just in case he ends up getting it dirty or torn.
Yagi-san drives Izuku to Takoba National Stadium, where the exam is being held. They have to duck into an alleyway so Yagi-san can do his whole magical girl All Might transformation thing. Then they check in with the exam coordinators, who give Izuku a whole stack of paperwork and waivers to sign. They take his picture for his license and Izuku knows he looks absolutely terrified in it.
“Good luck, my boy,” Yagi-san says as they lead Izuku away, “I believe in you!”
Then they tell Yagi-san to go home for a couple hours and Izuku gets handed a paper bib with an examinee number on it and deposited on the main stadium floor, among the rest of the participants.
Yokumiru Mera, the tired looking HPSC representative in charge of the exam, steps onto a raised platform in the middle of the stadium. He taps the mic a couple times, looking incredibly overworked.
“Hello,” he greets them. Despite his own lack of energy, the crowd of examinees respond with a cacophony of cheers and excited yells.
“Welcome to the HPSC’s Provisional Hero License Exam. We have a smaller batch than normal today, but that doesn’t mean the test will be easy. Please take a moment to make sure your examinee number matches the one on the screen.”
The large billboard behind him lights up to display a series of names with numbers next to them. Izuku easily finds his name at the bottom of the list, number 500. There’s a second column next to his participation number with another number in it, this one reading 499.
“I’ll explain the exam in a little bit. For now, please locate the examinee with the number in red next to your own number. They will be your partner for the exam.”
The crowd shifts as examinees try to track down their partners, some exploding into excited whispers or disappointed sighs based on who they were assigned to. Izuku keeps staring up at the billboard, unable to believe his misfortune. The exam is partnered. The one thing that Izuku didn’t study for is how to work with someone his age considering, you know, he hasn’t had a positive interaction with a peer in about ten years. This is not good. He’s not even enrolled in hero school! What poor high schooler got assigned to be his partner? What if they hate him? What if they end up bullying him? Izuku prays for any deity out there to take pity on him and simply remove him from this plane of existence.
“Well, well,” comes a voice from Izuku’s left, “looks like they put the two outliers together. How old are you, kid? Twelve? A new low for the HPSC.”
Izuku looks away from the board to see a young man, maybe mid-twenties, sauntering up to him. He’s tall–– although, almost everyone is tall compared to Izuku. He has black hair swept up and to the side with a single rainbow streak across his bangs. Unlike the other examinee’s he’s not wearing a brightly colored hero costume. Instead he has on leggings and a black hoodie with body armor pads strapped onto his arms and legs. On his chest is a paper bib with the number 499 on it.
“I’m fourteen,” Izuku corrects warily. The guy rolls his eyes.
“A baby.” He walks right up to Izuku, getting into his personal space so he can stare down at him. “I knew the HPSC was training child soldiers, but yikes. Are you even old enough to walk home by yourself?”
Izuku bristles. “You’re one to talk! Aren’t you a little old for high school?”
The print under the guy’s examinee number declares his school to be Shiketsu. Izuku would be impressed if he wasn’t also immediately pissed off.
The guy throws his head back to laugh. There’s a jagged scar across his neck, like someone had tried–– and failed, evidently–– to slit his throat.
“Believe me, I wouldn’t go to hero school if you paid me. I’m Hiro; yes, I think it’s ironic, no, I will not give you my family name.”
Izuku narrows his eyes. He points at Hiro's paper. “It says right there that you go to Shiketsu.”
“I don’t go to Shiketsu,” Hiro corrects, looking miffed. “I’m part of a villain and vigilante rehabilitation program. Like I’m a fuckin’ wild animal or something that needs to be nursed back to health before being released into the wild.”
Izuku perks up, despite himself. He’d heard of the Shiketsu program, of course. It was super controversial when it was first implemented a couple years ago. Apparently, they take vigilante’s and non-violent villains and teach them to… not do crime? Izuku’s not entirely sure. Last he heard, the program was fairly successful with a couple former villains going as far as giving media interviews to vouch for the program.
“So, which are you?”
“What do you mean?” Hiro gives him an annoyed look.
“Villain or vigilante?”
“What–– vigilante, obviously. You think they’d let a villain into this thing?”
“Well, you did say it was a rehabilitation program,” Izuku points out, “so presumably, any villain they cleared would be reformed.”
Hiro lets out an exasperated sigh. “I stopped a couple conbini robberies and this is my reward. I get to babysit some smartass toddler during the hardest exam of my life. Fuckin’ spectacular.”
“I told you I’m fourteen–– Did you say you got busted stopping a conbini robbery?”
“Yeah, duh. Heroes think petty criminals are below them so someone’s gotta protect the small businesses. What, you wanna lecture me, too?”
“No, I––” Izuku giggles. “Wow. What are the odds?”
“What?” Hiro snaps, obviously shifting from annoyed to genuinely pissed.
“N-No, I’m not laughing at you!” Izuku chuckles. “It’s just–– that’s why I’m here, too. I stopped a conbini robbery–– well, a couple–– and now I have to take this exam.”
Hiro eyes him suspiciously. “...No shit?”
“Absolutely zero shit, Hiro-san.” Izuku flashes him a large, sunny grin. “Maybe we have more in common than we thought. The only reason I didn’t get charged with vigilantism is because I don’t have a quirk.”
Hiro’s eyebrows raise. “You did that and you’re quirkless. That’s kinda badass, kid.”
“Yeah, well.” Izuku stops laughing, realizing he now has to lie to this man’s face. “Actually, uh, I do have a quirk. I just, um, didn’t at the time of the vigilantism–– alleged vigilantism. Uh.”
Hiro looks even more intrigued. “Sounds complicated. It’s a good thing I only care about you for as long as my results on this test are dependent on you.”
Izuku’s about to open his mouth to reply when the Yokumiru gets their attention again.
“Now,” he mumbles, face entirely too close to the mic, “if you’ve all found your designated partners, we’ll begin explaining the exam. The exam is split into two parts. For the first part, all teams will be released into a maze. Each examinee will be given a belt with two flags attached and this belt must be worn at all times or you will be disqualified. If you lose both your flags, you fail. If your partner loses both flags and is eliminated, you automatically lose one of your flags, even if it’s your last flag. Treat your partner like a civilian you need to protect.”
A murmur sweeps across the crowd of examinees as they absorb this information. Izuku gulps. His partner tolerates him at best, how is he supposed to pass this exam?
“No points will be given if you eliminate other examinees, but the maze walls will light up with paths towards resources or hiding places. The exam goes until only half the teams remain.”
Half. If Izuku is the last participant at #500, then 250 people need to be eliminated until the exam is finished. That sounds about right. The passing rate for the provisional license exam has always hovered around 45%, with numbers fluctuating across the three test sites. Takoba National Stadium services both UA and Shiketsu along with some other high profile hero schools, so the numbers coming out of the Takoba exams are usually closer to 50%. If trends continue, then pretty much everyone who passes the first portion will pass the second.
“We’ll explain the second portion of the exam to those who remain. We’ll give you fifteen minutes to prep, scatter across the maze, whatever, before we start the exam officially. Can everyone please gather a little closer to the central scoreboard?”
Everyone shuffles in closer, gathering into a crowd. There’s a loud scraping sound and around them, rising from the concrete floors of the stadium, are tall, metal walls. The walls go up about four meters and are completely smooth save for randomly interspersed intercoms. The ceiling of the stadium retracts to reveal the open sky above them.
“If you have a flying quirk or any similar ability that allows you to go above the maze walls–– we don’t care. Use them, or don’t, just know that if you can see your opponents, they can see you, too.”
“Well, that’s fuckin’ unfair,” Hiro mumbles next to Izuku. “What’s stopping anyone from flying up and just chilling up there the entire time? Or burrowing down, if you have that kind of quirk.”
“I’m guessing that’s why they assigned partners.” Izuku looks around at the other examinees. There aren’t any visible digging or burrowing quirks that Izuku can see, but a fair number of examinees have anatomy or costumes that could be flight related. “They probably put people with high mobility with people with low mobility. If you let your partner fail, sure, you could hover indefinitely–– but you’d be down to one flag which could easily be taken while you’re hanging out in the open air. Same goes for hiding out underground. Plus, there’s no telling what quirks people have, anyone could––”
“I didn’t ask for a novel, you rug rat,” Hiro says, but he tilts his head consideringly. “Is that your quirk?”
“What?”
“The analysis shit you just did. Is that it?”
“No.” Izuku bites his lip. “It’s… complicated. Like I said. Look, I’ll use it if I have to but I don’t have great control over it.”
Hiro huffs. “Fuckin’ spectacular.”
Once the walls are done rising into place, Yokumiru gets everyone’s attention again.
“Some ground rules: no maiming or permanent injury to other examinees. No calling for outside help. No stealing flags from others and attaching them to your own belt. No plagiarism.”
“How would they even…?” Izuku mutters.
“No excessive force, but do what you need to. Intercoms are on the maze walls should you need to call a staffer for guidance out of the maze after being eliminated or in case of emergency. We will be watching carefully, so don’t… kill each other. I’m going to go take a nap.”
With that, Yokumiru steps off the raised platform under the billboard and shuffles away.
Flag belts get passed around. Izuku can hear distant rumbling beyond the walls closest to them, which he assumes must be some buildings and other structures clicking into place inside the maze. Izuku’s suspicions are confirmed when a half dozen structures rise all around them.
“It’s gonna be a bloodbath,” Hiro says, pulling Izuku’s attention back to him. “They’re gonna make us kill each other.”
“What?” Izuku looks around at the other examinees, huddled in groups together and laughing. Prospective heroes joking around together like any other group of high school kids.
“Think, kid. It’s the last provisional license exam of the academic year. Most hero schools, with the exception of UA and sometimes Shiketsu, have their students take the exam towards the end of their second year. If you fail, they make you take a training course that you can test out of directly. That means, if you’re taking the exam now in September, you’re most likely a third year that failed it back in the first term in June and you couldn’t pass the training course.”
As Hiro speaks, Izuku takes a closer look at the other examinees. Now that he’s looking for it, all Izuku can see are the way their smiles are sharper than would be natural. The jokes seem more prodding, body language artificially relaxed. Izuku gulps.
“They’re desperate. I’m sure there will be a couple taking it for the first time like you and I, but for a lot of them, this could be their last chance to take it with the support of their schools.”
“Oh,” Izuku says, suddenly realizing something. “Oh, they’re going to go after us first.”
Hiro gives him a short nod. “Now you’re getting it. It makes the most sense to group up with people you know. Plus, no one wants to see their friends fail.”
“And… the organizers paired us up,” Izuku says. “The only two outsiders.”
“Bingo.”
The Public Safety Commision representative calls the beginning of prep time over the loudspeakers. The big screen in the middle of the stadium displays a 15 minute countdown. Immediately, everyone scatters, disappearing into the maze. Hiro and Izuku take off down the path closest to them, running towards a large, industrial looking building.
“We need to find a place to lay low,” Hiro huffs. They reach a fork in the road, choosing to go right and hoping it leads them to the building. “High ground would be preferable, that way we can see the rest of the maze.”
“Other people will be thinking the same thing,” Izuku points out.
“Yeah.” Hiro grimaces. “We can count on any third years from Seijin and Ketsubutsu to go after each other first. There’s a pretty intense school rivalry there.”
As if on cue, there’s the sounds of distant explosions somewhere to their left. Izuku squawks in surprise.
“But, there’s still prep time left! The exam hasn’t even started!”
“No rules on destroying infrastructure during prep,” Hiro answers.
“I told you, kid. A bloodbath.”
Hiro and Izuku spend the rest of the 15 minute prep time working their way towards the industrial building. They hit a couple of deadends and circular paths, but eventually the narrow metal hallway opens out into a small clearing with a three story building in the center. The building is drab grey concrete with several pipes and exposed electrical lines running along the outside. Thankfully, they haven’t run into any other examinees.
“Let’s get to the roof,” Hiro says.
They circle the building but don’t find any windows or doors. On the far side of the building is a line of metal gas tanks with bright warning labels. They’re about as tall as Hiro with the diameter about equal to Izuku’s arm span. The tops come up to a taper with a release valve. A couple are labeled with flammable or corrosive material stickers.
They loop around the building twice before realizing there really are no windows or doors. Izuku proposes scaling up using the crisscrossing network of pipes on the walls of the building, but Hiro vetoes it.
“The only fast way down would be falling three stories,” he says. “If we get caught up there by someone with a mobility quirk, we’re basically sitting ducks.
“What do we do then?” Izuku looks at the maze around them. The only entrances to the clearing are the one they came out of and one directly opposite to them, facing the gas tanks. “Someone’s bound to come here, after whatever’s going on over there finishes.”
The explosion they’d heard earlier came from an artificial mountain on the opposite side of the stadium. From this distance, Izuku can count at least 20 teams battling it out on the cliff-face, no telling how many were fighting on the ground where they can’t see.
Hiro squints at the horizon. Then he looks back at Izuku.
“How good are you with hand-to-hand?”
“Um, I’m alright, I guess.”
Izuku has improved a lot since he started, but he can still only last about five minutes against Yag-san’s All Might form. He thinks that’s probably good, considering Yagi-san is the number one hero, but he’s also not had a chance to spar against someone his own size in a while.
“Alright like you can hold your own or alright like you’re gonna go down after one punch?”
“Hey! I told you I stopped conbini robberies, too! What makes you think I’d go down easily?”
“You’re tiny,” Hiro deadpans. “So, you either know how to use your size to your advantage, or everyone you’ve fought so far has underestimated you enough for you to get a lucky hit in.”
Izuku bristles. “I can take care of myself. Besides, I’m not here with a school sponsor.”
“So?”
“So,” Izuku says, tilting his chin up, “I had to get a Pro to vouch for me to take the exam.”
Hiro smirks. “Ah, so you do have a backbone. Good. Help me move these gas things.”
Together the two of them manage to drag two of the gas tanks away from the building wall to block off the maze entrance they came out of. It’s not perfect, but it will at least slow people down. They’ve just pushed the second tank into place when an announcement sounds out from the intercoms around them.
“There are now 375 examinees remaining. Also, this is just a reminder that maiming is not allowed.”
Izuku grimaces. These are supposed to be future heroes, why do they need reminding to not permanently injure other examinees?
“Looks like we’re halfway there,” Hiro grunts. He waves Izuku over to follow him to the other clearing entrance.
“The winners of that big team fight are probably gonna start looking for other teams to eliminate, which means everyone in the maze in between us and that mountain are gonna start pushing this way.”
Izuku nods in agreement. “So, are we just gonna wait here and hope to catch them by surprise?”
“Yup,” Hiro says, popping the p. “Hopefully, 125 more people get eliminated before someone comes here and we pass by default. In the meantime, we just wait for some dumbass to come running in and we ambush them.”
They settle along the wall so they won’t be seen by anyone running into the clearing. They wait for a long time, but there’s no sound coming towards them. After a couple minutes a bright red laser shoots up into the sky close to the center of the stadium, followed by the call that there are now 62 examinees remaining.
While they wait, Hiro doesn’t speak to Izuku. He doesn’t even look in his direction, so Izuku takes this opportunity to study him.
His hero costume–– although Izuku guesses it’s probably just what he wore as a vigilante–– is plain. The padding makes sense now that Izuku knows he was a vigilante. He probably keeps his outfit light and functional so he can move around the city easily while avoiding detection. He has a black utility belt clipped around his waist that Izuku didn’t notice earlier. It has a couple empty holsters and loops. Izuku wonders if it’s for weapons and support items that he couldn’t clear with the HPSC for the exam.
Hiro can’t be younger than 25. Izuku wonders what the HPSC was thinking, pairing up the oldest and youngest examinees. Most likely, they were thinking Hiro would carry Izuku through the exam and save them from having to fail All Might’s sponsee. The thought makes Izuku ache with frustration. Even with All Might’s clear support and all the paperwork and preliminary tests he had to go through, they still underestimate him.
“What?” Hiro barks, shaking Izuku out of his thoughts. “What’s up?”
He must have noticed Izuku staring. “Uh, nothing.”
“Just spit it out, kid. You’re mumbling and it’s creepy.”
Izuku flushes. “S-sorry. It’s just––”
Izuku cuts himself off. Hiro hasn’t exactly been friendly, and Izuku knows he can be kind of annoying when he starts asking questions. He’s just so interesting. The only thing Izuku knows about vigilantes are whatever tidbits he can get from hero forums, all of it anecdotes. The mainstream media doesn’t like to cover vigilantes since they are, technically, breaking the law. A couple heroes have even started campaigns to take down some of the well known vigilantes. Izuku has so many questions. Hiro looks more and more annoyed as the silence stretches on. Izuku probably shouldn’t piss off his partner, considering his performance on this exam is directly related to whether or not the two of them can work as a team.
But–– well. Izuku can’t help it. Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back, right? Izuku is about 80% sure Hiro won’t kill him for annoying him.
“So… vigilantism?” Izuku asks.
Hiro groans, side-eyeing him. “Don’t start.”
“Just, what was it like?” Izuku presses. “Being a real vigilante? The stuff I did was unplanned and really just kinda coincidental. You know, once I literally ran into a villain’s knife! Thank god for good reflexes!”
“Yeah, can’t imagine what I’d do if you weren’t here with me today,” Hiro deadpans.
Izuku ignores him. “But you were a real, working vigilante, right? Where did you operate? Can you tell me your vigilante name? Do you know The Crawler?”
“Not every vigilante knows each other, dumbass.” Hiro huffs. “But… yeah, I worked with him once. I operated mainly in the Minato ward in Tokyo–– wait, you’re not gonna snitch on me, right? I’m supposed to have renounced my illegal ways.”
Izuku mimes locking his lips with a key. “I would never! I think it’s really cool!”
Hiro presses his mouth into a thin line, looking like he’s trying not to laugh. “You know, that gesture loses its impact if you immediately start talking after doing it.”
“I won’t tell anyone! Tell me about all your cool vigilante adventures, please!”
Hiro chuckles. “Alright, well–– it’s actually a lot of waiting for bad things to happen. I was never the most well connected, so a lot of my information was second-hand or shit I just accidentally ran into. It started as just a way for me to protect my neighborhood, you know? Heroes were coming around less often, and a lot of fights got recategorized as just ‘crimes’ instead of ‘villain attacks’ so the pros stopped wasting their time with us. What’s the point of a fight if it doesn’t boost your hero rank, right?”
Izuku nods. “I read an article once comparing the crime rates in blocks with and without hero agencies and how their rankings fluctuated with the rates. I can send it to you if you’d like.”
“No, thanks,” Hiro says flatly. “Anyway, it wasn’t… fun, or whatever most people think it is. I didn’t do it because I wanted to be a hero or anything like that. I literally have a degree in accounting.”
“Oh. Then why––?”
“I knew how to fight,” Hiro shrugs. “I took classes when I was younger, for self defense. And it was my neighborhood, my home.”
“No, I was gonna ask why you decided to take the exam, then. If you don’t want to be a hero?”
Hiro sighs. “In the Shiketsu program you graduate either by becoming a crime consultant for the police or by getting your license. Fuck cops. Plus, I worked with a couple underground heroes so it’s not like it would be a huge change. The only difference between me and them was this fuckin’ license, so I might as well get one. Sucks to be up against a bunch of kids though, I feel like it’s unfair.”
Izuku considers this.
“Not really,” Izuku rationalizes, “I mean, they’re here for a provisional license, right? So, the assumption is that after this they’ll be able to fight villains. They should be prepared to fight against people who are older with more experience.”
Hiro slides him a sideways look. “That’s pretty mature of you, kid.”
Izuku rolls his eyes. “I’m not even that much younger than the other examinees.”
“A year or two in hero school makes a big difference, squirt,” Hiro says, but he doesn’t look as annoyed as he did earlier. “You must have done something pretty impressive to get a sponsor.”
Hiro is obviously fishing for information, but it’s not like Izuku can just tell him that he saved the number one hero from a villain attack.
Luckily, Izuku is saved from having to lie by a loud clanging noise down the maze path leading to them. Izuku and Hiro press themselves up against the wall on either side of the entrance as a pair of examinees come barreling through, completely missing Izuku and Hiro.
Hiro darts out, sweeping his foot out to trip the examinee closest to him. He goes down with an ungraceful squawk, briefly getting tangled in his cape.
Izuku launches himself at his partner, a girl around his height with a purple bodysuit for a costume. She has no time to react as Izuku swipes at her belt and tears away one of her flags.
“Hey!”
Izuku backs away quickly, keeping his back to the building as he sizes up his opponent. Her bodysuit has cutouts along her shoulders and arms and the front has a little cartoon hedgehog. Or maybe a rat? Or a… porcupine?
Ah. Porcupine.
As soon as Izuku realizes what her quirk must be he dives to his right, barely dodging a volley of spikes that launch out of the girl’s arms.
“Asshole!” she yells at him, preparing another round of quills.
“Sorry!” Izuku yelps. She launches the quills at him and he rolls out of the way, getting nicked on the cheek in the process. “It’s nothing personal!”
“Hold still, kid.” She smirks at him, as more quills grow out of her skin, this time closer together until it looks like she has very sharp, long fur along her arms. “It won’t hurt if you get hit, I promise.”
“Woah, can you control the density of your quills?” Izuku gasps. “That’s so cool!”
“Midoriya!” Hiro barks. He’s wrestling with the cape guy, whose quirk looks to be wind control based on the mini tornado surrounding them. “Stop trying to befriend the competition!”
“Right!”
Porcupine girl has been steadily backing away from Izuku, which tells him that she’s probably not used to close combat. She most likely mainly uses her quirk as long range coverage, ironic since Izuku thinks she would make a fantastic close range fighter. She’s basically a walking cactus, imagine getting punched by that!
Izuku thinks quickly, rolling under her next attack and popping up close to her. She’s clearly not expecting it since she takes a startled step back. Izuku dodges a sloppy right hook and in a flash, he has her other flag in his hand.
“Examinee #289, you have been eliminated. Please follow the red exit lights.”
The metal walls of the maze light up with a thin line of red light, leading out of the clearing. Porcupine girl glares at him.
“You’re on your own, Woodwind,” she tosses over her shoulder.
Izuku looks to where Hiro is still grappling the other guy.
“Shit, does that mean I’m down to one––?”
Hiro flips them and straddles the guy’s chest. He tears away one of his flags.
“Examinee #290, you have been eliminated. Please follow the red exit lights.”
Woodwind lays on the floor despondent as Hiro gets off of him. Hiro offers his hand to him, which he takes.
“Hey, some advice,” Hiro says before the guy leaves, “ditch the cape. It would’ve been really easy to strangle you to death.”
Woodwind looks briefly horrified before he nods and disappears behind the corner.
“Shit, there goes our element of surprise,” Hiro sighs, leaning over his knees to catch his breath. Izuku begins gathering porcupine girl’s leftover quills. “If they run into anyone on their way out, they’ll warn them to be careful.”
Izuku gnaws on his lip. He got lucky this time, since his opponent’s quirk was kind of obvious. The next pair fight–– or team, if people are still grouping together–– could go worse.
“What are you doing with those?”
Hiro gestures down to the bundle of quills in Izuku’s hands.
“Oh, these!” Izuku hands half to Hiro, smiling cheerfully. “She basically gave us free weapons! They’re not really heavy enough to use as throwing knives, but at the very least we could surprise someone by throwing a couple in their direction.”
Hiro nods, looking impressed. “How resourceful of you. Good job, kid.”
Izuku, who is not used to receiving praise from people who aren’t Yagi-san or his mom, beams.
Another announcement rings through the stadium informing them of only twenty more eliminations left until they all pass. Hiro and Izuku barely have time to let out a relieved sigh when someone crashes into the clearing, running directly into Hiro, sending him flying into the side of the building.
“Steamroller, here to crush you and lead my team to victory!”
After bulldozing over Hiro, Steamroller–– what a hero name, honestly–– sets his sights on Izuku. Izuku manages to dodge enough that Steamroller only clips his shoulder, but it hurts. Izuku stumbles and falls to his knees while Steamroller hurdles right past him and into one of the walls of the maze. He steps back from the dent he created in the metal and flashes Izuku a wide, sharp grin. In his hands is one of Izuku’s flags.
Shit.
“Hiro!” Izuku backs up to where Hiro is leaning against the building, groaning. He doesn’t turn his back on Steamroller. “Are you okay? Sorry, he got one of my flags.”
“I’m okay,” Hiro coughs out. He straightens as three more examinees come into the clearing. Izuku immediately shifts his body so he’s in front of Hiro, who still looks a bit dazed.
“Hi!” One of the newcomers say. She’s shorter than Izuku with honey blonde hair that falls almost all the way to the floor. It must have something to do with her quirk, otherwise she wouldn’t leave it down to get potentially caught in battle.
The second of the two is a tall girl who seems to shimmer in front of them like water on a hot day. She shifts from foot to foot, looking at her companions. “Let’s just get this over with.”
“Live a little, Optics! If we’re gonna win, we might as well have some fun,” the last of them says. He’s taller than Hiro and his costume makes it look like he’s been wrapped in tin foil.
“Crap. Four-on-two, not great.” Hiro grimaces. Tin foil guy smirks.
“We should thank you two for taking out Woodwind and Spike,” he says. “That was you two, right? Ugh, she is going to be so annoying on the bus back to campus.”
Steamroller grins. “She’s always annoying.”
The four of them laugh. Izuku and Hiro exchange looks.
“Should we run?” Izuku whispers. “I can make a distraction.”
“I don’t think we could get past them.”
“Alright!” the blonde one claps her hands together. “Let’s do this!”
Immediately, Steamroller begins running, but it’s not towards Izuku and Hiro. Instead he sprints full speed at his blonde friend. As he gets closer her hair whips out to wrap around one of his biceps. He runs circles around her, tethered by her hair, until she launches him at Izuku and Hiro, slingshotting him towards them at breakneck speed.
Izuku and Hiro dive in opposite directions and Steamroller nearly runs them over. When Izuku comes up out of his roll he sees another flag clutched in Steamroller’s hands. For a brief, horrifying moment, Izuku thinks it’s his. Then he hears Hiro curse.
“Fuck!” Hiro and Izuku are now on opposite ends of the clearing, separated with their four opponents between them. “We’re down to two, kiddo. No mistakes, alright?”
“Right!” Izuku nods firmly. Tin foil guy and Optics break away from the other two to face him down.
“Hey, aren’t you a little young to be taking this exam?” Tin foil guy says. His hands start to glow, like metal being heated up.
“I feel kinda bad beating up a kid,” Optics says. She shimmers, shifts, and then Izuku’s eyes start to burn.
He yelps, quickly tearing his gaze away from her. Okay, that’s going to make fighting her hard. He makes sure to keep her in his peripheral, not looking directly at her as he shouts back.
“I deserve to be here just like anyone else!”
Tin foil guy scoffs and then charges at Izuku, hands outstretched.
Izuku ducks under his arms instead of rolling to the side like he usually would. Izuku stomps on the guy’s instep, and then uses one of the quills in his hand to puncture the guy’s costume. Immediately, steam leaks out of the hole Izuku made and the guy’s hands lose some of their red-hot glow.
So, Izuku’s guess was right. The costume works as insulation for his heating quirk, which will now be less effective since he’s losing heat into the environment.
Izuku dances back as the guy makes swipes at him. Over the guy’s shoulder, Optics makes an appearance. Izuku’s eyes are automatically drawn to the movement and before he can stop himself he looks directly at her.
It doesn’t hurt immediately, but as soon as they make eye contact the burning in Izuku’s eyes starts. She must be able to turn it on and off.
This pattern continues for a while, with the tin foil guy trying to get in close enough to Izuku to touch him and Optics hanging back to catch Izuku’s attention. Izuku sweats and pants, pulling out every evasive maneuver he’s learned over the past few years, trying to maintain concentration while also checking in on Hiro’s fight with Steamroller and the hair girl. If either of them get taken out, it’s over.
Finally, the tin foil guy makes a mistake. He leaves his right side open while lunging for Izuku and Izuku takes the opening. He quickly lands a solid punch to the guy’s stomach and snatches at one of the flags around his waist before rolling back.
“You little shit!” he hisses, doubled over. Optics comes in close to check on her partner and Izuku backs away, creating distance.
“Optics, on my back!” the guy snaps. She doesn’t hesitate to jump on his back as the guy crouches down to press his palms to the ground.
“What––?”
Faster than Izuku can process, a large, red circle expands out on the ground from where the two of them are. When it reaches Izuku, the soles of his shoes start to melt.
Izuku yelps, hopping from foot to foot. The heat is intense through his half destroyed sneakers, and he doesn’t want to find out what will happen when his shoes melt through completely. As quickly as he can, Izuku runs towards the partners and shoves as hard as he can. They topple over and as soon as the guy falls, the heating stops.
“Your quirk is really cool,” Izuku tells him, tackling Optics to the ground and ripping free one of her flags, “but Hiro said I’m not allowed to become friends with the competition.”
The tin foil guy screams in rage as Izuku and Optics wrestle, Izuku with his gaze focussed on a point in the horizon to avoid looking directly at her. Tin foil guy doesn’t bother trying to help out his partner, and instead marches over to one of the large, pressurized gas containers.
“Let her go,” he threatens, glowing hands pressing against the container. “My quirk works on concentration. If you let her go, I’ll stop heating up this tank and maybe it won’t explode.”
Izuku’s eyes widen. The gas tank is huge, and there’s no telling what kind of gas it contains. If it’s hydrogen, it would only take a small amount of energy to ignite it. Izuku immediately rolls off Optics, dodging her last swipe at his flag.
“Stop!”
The tin foil guy rushes towards them, scoping up his partner and heading for the exit. He calls Steamroller and his partner back towards him, blocking the only exit to the clearing.
“Surrender your remaining flags to us, or I blow up the tank,” he shouts at them. Hiro looks at Izuku.
“His quirk,” Izuku rushes to explain. “Some kind of heating with his hands–– he said it’s based on concentration–– the gas tank is gonna blow.”
“Shit!”
There’s not enough information. There are too many variables. Izuku has no idea if the guy was bluffing about heating up the tank. He doesn’t know if knocking the guy out will cancel his quirk, or if he and Hiro can even take the four of them out before it blows. There’s a way out of this without conceding, he knows it he just needs time. He needs time to think. The gas tank creaks ominously and tin foil guy’s brow is furrowed with concentration. Izuku just needs more time.
Hiro looks at him, eyes wide with fear. “What do we do?”
There’s no time.
Izuku takes a deep breath, reaches into the crackling mass of energy inside him, and pulls.
Green lightning arcs off of him in erratic lines, sinking into the concrete and equipment around them. Izuku’s right arm glows from the inside out, illuminating his veins and casting the maze around them in a neon fuschia haze. As quickly as he can, Izuku grabs the tapered top of the gas tank. It weighs more than Izuku thought it would and thanks to the guy’s quirk, it burns the skin off his palms. Izuku doesn’t give himself time to register the pain. Instead he twists his arm back and throws it, as far up as he can.
(From inside the observation deck, the Hero Public Safety Commision watches as a star is born. They will remember this.)
The tank soars up over the open ceiling of the stadium. It seems to hover for a second, a dot of glinting metal against a pale blue sky, before it explodes.
The explosion is loud and close enough that it grabs everyone’s attention. Pieces of metal start to rain down on the stadium, thankfully small enough to not do too much damage. It was a large explosion, Izuku wouldn’t be surprised if they found debris outside the stadium.
“What were you thinking?!” Izuku whirls on the boy. “The shrapnel alone would’ve killed us! Not to mention the actual force of the explosion itself!”
“I–– I wasn’t––” the guy gasps, looking at Izuku, horrified. “Y-Your arm….”
“What?”
Izuku looks down and–– oh, fuck.
His arm is mangled, hanging off his body limply and swollen a sickly deep purple. It’s bent in… shit, three different places that Izuku can see, not to mention the mess of angles his fingers are in. Blood drips from a point in his forearm where the bone has broken skin.
It’s horrific.
“Shit, kid!” Hiro rushes to his side, kneeling so he can get a look at it. “Okay, don’t panic!”
“I’m not panicking!” Izuku squeaks, definitely panicking.
Then he adds, a little hysterically, “Oh man, I really liked this shirt.”
“Fuck, no wonder you haven’t used your quirk until now,” Hiro reaches into a pouch attached to his belt, pulling out some gauze. “Does it do this every time?”
“N-No.” Izuku still can’t look away from his arm. “I–– this was the first time….”
“The first time you broke your arm like this?” Hiro asks. He begins gently wrapping Izuku’s arm in gauze. Izuku has no idea how that’s going to repair his fragmented arm.
“First time I’ve used it.”
Hiro looks up at him, stunned. “What. The fuck.”
By now the kid with the hot hands quirk and his team have retreated, probably thinking Izuku and his partner are out of the race. A number of emotions flicker across Hiro’s face before it settles on grim determination.
“Okay, that’s a can of worms that we are opening later. I need to immobilize your arm and then we can call for help.” By now, the entirety of Izuku’s arm is lightly wrapped in gauze. “I didn’t tell you my quirk earlier because I wasn’t sure if you were going to betray me––”
“What?!” Izuku gasps, hurt. “But–– we bonded!”
“Nothing personal, kiddo. When you’re a vigilante you tend to be wary. I wasn’t sure if the whole wide-eyed, earnest, ‘you can do it!’ attitude was a front or not.”
“Hiro,” Izuku whines.
“Stop. Clearly I was wrong, okay? Anyway, my quirk is called Tough Touch. I can harden any non-sentient thing I touch with durability ranging from hard plastic to bedrock, depending on the amount of energy I expend. I’m gonna harden this gauze around your arm so you don’t do more damage when you move, okay?”
“That’s so cool!” Izuku’s mind is already going a mile a minute. “How long do the objects stay hard? Does it affect their density? What about––”
“Can’t believe I actually thought you were a master manipulator.” Hiro taps the gauze and instantly Izuku can feel it stiffen around him. It doesn’t hurt–– well, it doesn’t hurt anymore than his shattered arm already hurts. Hiro gently taps his knuckles to test the gauze and then nods, satisfied. He gets up and stumbles over to the nearest intercom along the wall.
“Hello?”
“Yes, examinee #499?” comes the scratchy voice through the intercom.
“My partner has been injured,” Hiro says. “Is there a way we can get him some medical attention?”
“Do you wish to formally dissolve your partnership?”
“What?”
“You two were assigned as partners, but if your partner is conceding and you don’t wish to, you may abandon him at this point. We’ll send a representative down to get him and you can continue with your exam.”
“Abandon––?!”
“I’m not conceding!” Izuku yells. He ignores the pain radiating from his right side and nudges Hiro aside so he can get to the intercom. “I’m not–– are you saying if I consent to medical attention right now I fail the exam?”
“Well, naturally.”
Hiro swears. “Kid, you need to––”
“No! I need to pass this exam. I can keep going, I’ll just––”
“Just, what? Pass one of the hardest standardized tests in the country with only one arm and no reliable quirk? Kid, you’re gonna hurt yourself more. Look, I’m not gonna make it far by myself anyway. We’ll just wait for an escort––”
“No.” Izuku says firmly. He turns to Hiro, fire glinting in his eye. “I can do it. You heard the announcement, there’s only 265 examinees left. Fifteen more and we pass. I can get help in the break between exam sections. It doesn’t even hurt that bad.”
“That’s the adrenaline talking,” Hiro replies, stunned. “You really are something, aren’t you, Midoriya?”
“Deku,” Izuku says, making a decision.
“Deku?”
“My hero name–– or, it will be. After we pass this exam and get our licenses.”
“Deku, huh?” Hiro raises an eyebrow.
“I’m reclaiming an old nickname.” Izuku flashes Hiro a feral grin. “Besides, it’s close enough to dekiru. What was that you were saying earlier about my ‘you can do it’ attitude?”
“Examinees #499 and #500, are you officially dropping out, or not?” comes the impatient voice from the intercom.
“No,” Izuku and Hiro answer simultaneously.
“Come on, we’re tracking hot hands down. He’s too irresponsible to have a license, and I want revenge.”
Izuku giggles, a little unhinged. “That’s not very heroic, Hiro.”
“Yeah, well neither is blowing up a pressurized gas tank. Let’s go, slowly, and watch out for your arm. Let me handle combat, yeah? Shout out that annoying analysis thing you do while I fight.”
They creep along, sticking close to the maze walls. Hiro is very good at sensing when people are about to turn corners, probably something to do with his experiences as a vigilante in the city. Izuku serves mostly as a distraction while Hiro swiftly snatches the flags off anyone they encounter. They’ve taken out eight people–– including the kid with the heated hands quirk who Hiro has started mockingly calling Oven Mitts–– before the loudspeakers gurgle to life, announcing only 250 examinees remaining and the end of the first part of the exam.
“Oh, thank god,” Izuku collapses onto his knees, half delirious with pain. Around them, the maze walls retract back into the floors of the stadium, leaving them blinking at the other examinees in the sudden open space. Hiro immediately waves a nearby Public Safety Commission staffer over for help.
“I can’t believe they wanted me to just leave you like this,” Hiro grumbles. Between him and the staff member, they get Izuku into an infirmary fairly quickly. “I can’t believe they saw how hurt you were and let you continue your exam.”
“Maybe it was a test to see if you’d abandon a citizen in need,” Izuku mumbles. Hiro undoes his quirk so they can unwrap his arm.
“Nah,” Hiro answers, “I think they’re just assholes.”
He says this while looking directly at the Public Safety Commision nurse, who gives him the fakest smile Izuku has ever seen.
“You’re not wrong,” she says cheerfully. She turns back to Izuku. “You’re lucky I’m on staff today. I’m the only one on the team who can heal broken bones like this, just give me a second.”
The nurse pulls out a comically large water jug from a nearby fridge and proceeds to chug it. She drains it in record time.
“My quirk takes the energy from breaking the bonds in water and converts it into something I can use to heal,” she explains, pulling out more water. “It does produce a lot of hydrogen gas and oxygen, so if either of you have any kind of combustion quirk, please refrain from using it or we’ll all explode.”
Izuku is fascinated but he is also in an incredible amount of pain. He manages to weakly say, “that’s such a cool quirk” before he goes back to breathing deeply and trying not to pass out. The nurse fiddles around with some equipment. At some point she has to set Izuku’s arms so the bones heal correctly, at which point Izuku does pass out for a bit. When he comes to, he's surrounded by a small team of medical professionals, plus Hiro and Yokumiru-san.
“Oh, good,” Yokumiru says when he sees Izuku open his eyes. “You’re alright. It would look very bad if All Might’s sponsee died on my watch. Are you good to do the next part of the exam?”
“His arm was pulverized,” Hiro says, staring at Yokumiro in disbelief. “The nurse said it was broken in, like, 20 places. And he did it to prevent an explosion that would have killed me and several other examinees.”
Yokumiro blinks sleepily. “You signed a waiver before taking the exam.”
Hiro opens his mouth, probably to verbally destroy Yokumiro and the entire HPSC. Izuku interrupts quickly.
“I’m fine,” he says. He experimentally flexes his fingers, pleased to find that they only ache a little and are otherwise fine. “Wow, it’s good as new.”
“It’s really not,” the nurse from earlier says. “My quirk makes your bones more fragile and prone to shattering for a little after use. Don’t break it again within the next week or you might actually explode your arm.”
Izuku’s jaw snaps shut. “Oh… okay.”
“The second part of the exam already started––”
“What?!” Izuku leaps out of bed, startling the medical team. Everyone ushers him back in, checking over his arm again warily.
“As I was saying,” Yokumiro glares, “it has already started, but you have the rest of the afternoon to complete it. Take as long as you need.”
“What… huh?” Izuku looks at Hiro for answers, who just shrugs, also looking lost.
“Since you missed the explanation, I’ll just give you the basics. It’s a rescue simulation. There are rescue scenario booths set up around the stadium with different pro heroes running simulations at all of them. Pick up a stamp card on your way in. Get stamps from any three booths and turn them into a test proctor and you pass.”
Izuku blinks. “That’s it?”
“That’s it.” Yukumiro yawns.
“Um, okay.” Izuku looks at the medical team. “Am I free to go, then?”
They fuss over him a little, pressing a water bottle and a granola bar into his hand before sending him off. Izuku manages to ask the nurse a couple questions about her quirk before Hiro drags him away. The walk through the dark stadium hallways is silent until Hiro speaks up.
“So, your sponsor is All Might? Didn’t think to tell me that you had the number one hero backing you up, huh?”
Izuku swallows guiltily. “I didn’t think it mattered that much.”
Hiro barks out a laugh. “Didn’t matter? Kid, I basically spent the first hour insulting you and doubting your capabilities. I had no idea you had All Might vouching for you.”
Suddenly, Izuku is angry. Because–– yeah, it did kind of suck that Hiro was unfriendly at first. And Izuku was very annoyed that he was constantly making jabs about his age and his ability to take care of himself. Izuku has spent his whole life having people look down on him, assuming that poor little quirkless Midoriya Izuku can’t help himself. But Izuku proved them wrong. He proved Hiro wrong–– by talking back, by holding his own against the porcupine girl, by saving his life. Why is it only now that Hiro knows Izuku’s pro sponsor that he’s suddenly apologizing for being a condescending asshole?
“I don’t see why it matters,” Izuku snaps, “considering I was still able to pass the first part of the exam regardless of who my sponsor is. Would you have trusted me more if I told you from the start?”
“Honestly, yeah,” Hiro admits. Then he sighs, reaching out a hand to rest on Izuku’s shoulder to stop him before he steps into the main stadium area. “Hey, Midoriya. I’m sorry, okay? You’re right, who sponsored you doesn’t matter, only that you were a good enough hero to pass the exam. I really didn’t mean it like that.”
All the tension runs out of Izuku. “Thanks. I didn’t–– I mean, I’m proud that All Might chose me of all people, but I don’t know. I don’t––”
“I get it, it’s alright. You wanna stand on your own, right?”
Not exactly, because Izuku can’t picture a future in which he isn’t always in All Might’s shadow. He nods anyway and Hiro leaves it at that. They step into the center of the stadium, blinking in the light.
“Wow.” Hiro lets out a low whistle. “They really gamified it, huh?”
It’s like some kind of fair or carnival. Lining the perimeter of the stadium are a series of brightly colored booths with variously sized crowds and equipment surrounding them. Lesser known Pro Heroes are manning the booths, standing out in their flashy costumes. Izuku can see several artificial environments, ranging from a rock wall to a mini glacier to a crumbling building. Directly across from them, in the center, is a medical tent set up and Izuku can see the famous Youthful Heroine: Recovery Girl instructing examinees on how to perform CPR.
“This is the best day of my life,” Izuku whispers, eyes wide and glassy as he spots the Laundry Hero: Wash giving a lecture next to a big water tank with a drowning dummy in it.
“You literally exploded your arm like an hour ago.”
“But look at how many Pro Heroes there are! Is that Manual?!”
“You are terrifying,” Hiro sighs, exasperated. “Let’s just get this over with.”
The two of them grab stamp cards from one of the HPSC staff members and start picking booths. The figure the three easiest to pass would be Recovery Girl’s, a landslide rescue simulation run by the Debris Hero: Rubble, and a rescue etiquette demonstration by one of the Wild, Wild Pussycats. Izuku takes three tries to pass this one, as his naturally nervous and stuttery demeanor is apparently really disheartening for victims. By the end he manages to paste on his best All Might smile and lift an actor out of the pretend rubble and to safety.
Despite no longer technically being exam partners, Hiro sticks around him. Izuku doesn’t point this out. He doesn’t want Hiro to leave. He reminds him of Bakugou, in a way–– if Bakugou was less violent and more sarcastic and wasn’t so mean to Izuku. So, not like Bakugou at all. Maybe he just reminds Izuku of Bakugou because Izuku desperately wants to be his friend, despite how mean he is.
Ouch. Izuku hurt himself with that thought.
Whatever the reason, Hiro trails Izuku even after they’ve gotten all three stamps. They trade in their card for their hero licenses, but Izuku insists on visiting every single booth. It’s not enough to only prepare for three aspects of rescue work. Plus, the Pros probably worked hard on their simulations! Izuku wants to appreciate every single one of them. Hiro grumbles, but tags along nonetheless. As the day wears on, he looks to get more and more irritated, but he still doesn’t leave.
The last booth they visit is a rescue procedure demonstration by the Turbo Hero: Ingenium. Izuku was saving the best for last. He’s followed Ingenium’s career for a while now, though he wouldn’t call himself his biggest fan. His agency, Idaten, is in Hosu City so Izuku doesn’t get news around him unless he specifically looks it up online. He has one of the most interesting quirks Izuku has ever encountered. Engines in his elbows, how cool!
“Hi!” Izuku bounces up to the booth. By now, most examinees have gotten their three stamps and left, so it’s just Izuku, Hiro, Ingenium, and an Idaten intern hovering just inside the booth.
“Hey there! You want to learn about rescue order of operations?”
“Yeah!”
Ingenium’s lecture is very interesting. He very clearly outlines the procedure steps for rescues and even entertains Izuku’s million “what if” questions. He’s the first Pro Hero today to speak to Izuku like an equal. When he calls Izuku “little Hero” Izuku almost cries. He’s getting major big brother vibes from him.
“Alright, I think that’s all I can teach you for today,” Ingenium says, wrapping up his talk. “Stamp cards?”
“Oh, no,” Izuku explains, “we finished the stamp card a while ago. I just wanted to hear your presentation!”
Ingenium blinks, stunned, before bursting into laughter. He turns to call out over his shoulder, “Tenya, this kid is just like you!”
The Idaten intern that was previously sorting out paperwork snaps his head up at Ingenium’s voice. “What was that?”
Ingenium grins widely. He takes off his helmet, revealing a young, handsome face. He gestures to the intern to step forward and places a hand on his shoulder. “This is my brother, Iida Tenya. I think you two will get along.”
“Hello!” Iida Tenya bows quickly. “My name is Iida Tenya! I attend Soumei Junior High and I’m in my third year!”
Izuku’s eyes widen. The family resemblance between Ingenium and Tenya is striking. “Woah, I didn’t know Ingenium had a brother! And we’re the same year, too!”
Both Iidas look at Izuku with shock.
“You’re my age?”
“Yeah! Third year at Aldera Junior High.”
“That’s very surprising!”
“Oh my god, you really are a kid!”
Behind him, Hiro chuckles in amusement.
Izuku shrugs, now a little self conscious. “I, uh, got sponsored to take the exam because of… well, it’s a little complicated but basically, um. My mentor thought I was ready, so.”
“Wow,” Ingenium says, “Tenya here has been unofficially interning at my agency this year and we had to beg our parents to let him do that.”
“You must be very driven, if you’re taking the provisional hero license exam so early!” Tenya says. He has a particular way of moving his hands, waving them in the air like mini karate chops. “That’s a very admirable trait! You’ve inspired me to take my own journey to heroism more seriously.”
Izuku blushes. “Ah, n-no, it’s not inspirational or anything I just needed a license before my mentor would let me work at his agency.”
“You’re going to be a Pro’s intern, too?” Ingenium turns towards his brother. “Tenya, you two have so much in common!”
Tenya nods his head in agreement. “Do you also plan on attending UA, Midoriya-kun?”
Izuku lights up. “Of course, if I can get in!”
“Well, considering you passed the provisional license exam, I don’t think UA’s entrance exam will be too hard for you,” Ingenium says.
Izuku and Tenya speak at the same time.
“The written exam is said to be quite difficult––”
“Ah, but the written––”
They both stop and look at each other. Izuku giggles shyly and Tenya lets out a little chuckle.
“See, Tenya, I told you there would be someone as nerdy as you out there!” Ingenium jokes.
“Onii-san,” Tenya whines. Ingenium laughs good naturedly.
“Maybe we can study together, sometime?” Izuku blurts out, not giving himself a chance to think about it. This is the most positive social interaction he’s had with someone his own age since his quirk failed to manifest. He can’t let this opportunity slip by. Plus, Ingenium has been not-so-subtly nudging Tenya closer to him.
“That would be delightful!” Tenya pulls out his phone and he and Izuku exchange numbers. “I’ve tried to put together hero school entrance exam study groups, but no one at my school was interested.”
“Ah, we should probably start soon,” Izuku says, “I heard the quirk history part of the exam is brutal.”
Tenya wrinkles his nose. “History is not my strong suit.”
“That’s okay, I’m pretty good at it. I’m awful with math, though.”
“That’s my best subject!”
“Wow, you two really complete each other,” Hiro drawls, catching Izuku’s attention. “If you’re done nerding out with your soulmate, it’s getting pretty late.”
He’s right. Around them, Pros start cleaning up their booths and turning in any assessment materials to the HPSC team.
“Well, it was really nice to meet you, Ingenium! And you too, Iida-kun!”
“It was quite serendipitous to meet you, Midoriya. I’m looking forward to studying with you and, hopefully, attending UA together!”
“Yeah!” Izuku grins. He waves as Hiro loses patience and starts to literally drag Izuku away. “I’ll text you!”
Hiro herds him towards the exit, more-or-less ignoring Izuku as he rambles excitedly about his new friend. They walk in silence for a little while. Izuku hasn’t known Hiro for long but he seems… upset. Really upset but trying to hide it. Izuku has always been very empathetic, sensitive to others’ emotions and able to pick up on the moods of those around him. It’s a consequence of, you know, being mercilessly bullied for years. Self preservation–– or it would be if Izuku’s fight or flight response wasn’t permanently wired to fight.
Hiro has been nice to him, in a sort of gruff, older brother way.
“Are you… okay?” Izuku ventures.
“What? Yeah, I’m fine. I think the exit is this way.”
“It’s just, um, you seem kind of upset.”
Hiro sends him a sharp look. “Don’t, kid.”
“Don’t what?”
“Don’t get me started,” Hiro says, “or we’ll be here for ages. Let’s just find the exit and––”
“You’re upset,” Izuku says firmly, “and it’s not healthy to bottle up your feelings.”
“My feelings!” Hiro laughs bitterly. “This isn’t about my feelings, it’s about the fucked up corrupt way the HPSC runs itself.”
“I mean, yeah, it’s kind of… uh, not great. But why are you so––”
“This is why I didn’t wanna go legit!” Hiro blows up. “Look, it’s–– they’re understating the consequences! Half these kids have no idea how hard rescue actually is, how hard saving people is. They haven’t been prepared for any of it, physically, psychologically, whatever. The first time someone dies in their arms they’re going to lose it!”
Izuku watches him with wide eyes.
“I know it’s just a provisional license and they’re gonna get experience in the field after this, but–– God, really? A dumb little team maze? Fuckin’ festival of rescue scenarios? How does this test for anything useful out in the real world?
“Why do you think heroes have the highest mortality rate for any job? Higher than first responders and fuckin’ bomb technicians and shit? And why do you think that rate goes up every year?”
“Uh, it’s dangerous?” Izuku answers tentatively, when he’s sure it’s not just a rhetorical question. “Villains are… getting smarter?”
“It’s because the HPSC is a joke,” Hiro says, eyes hard and cold. “They don’t standardize hero courses in any meaningful way. They’re not teaching kids to be the best heroes they can be, they’re giving them the bare minimum training and setting them loose into the world, hoping that sheer numbers will be enough to suppress crime. They're sending these kids out to die.”
Hiro pauses to look at Izuku and softens. “Just look at what they did to you. Any sane adult would’ve stopped to give you medical attention.”
“I-I didn’t want any,” Izuku says. “They would’ve failed me. I needed to pass––”
“Or die trying, right? That’s exactly the kind of mentality they should be training out of you, not encouraging. Shit, kiddo, let’s be real. They saw how powerful your quirk was and decided that you could suffer in the name of having one more overpowered brat on the streets.”
“I-I um, I don’t––” Izuku struggles. “I don’t know why you’re mad at me. I don’t know what I did wrong.”
All the righteous fury drains out of Hiro. He gives Izuku a pat on the shoulder. “I’m not mad at you. You didn’t do anything wrong, you can’t be expected to make those kinds of calls. You’re a teenager, everything is life or death with you.”
“It was life or death,” Izuku says.
“It wasn’t,” Hiro says. “The HPSC should have disqualified Oven Mitts for reckless endangerment as soon as they saw what he was doing.”
By now, they’ve made their way out of the stadium. Izuku can see his mom and Yagi-san standing in the parking lot by Yagi-san’s car, ready to pick Izuku up. He waves at them briefly before turning back to Hiro.
“I think… you’re probably right,” Izuku says, after thinking about it. “I mean, I always wanted to be a hero. I never really stopped to think about stuff like that. I’ve had the privilege of remaining ignorant, but things were different for you, right Hiro?”
Hiro nods.
“So yeah. Maybe you’re right and it’s all s-shitty and we need to tear down the whole system. B-But I’m not gonna just give up! And I don’t think you should either. I want to change things, too, but there’s nothing I can do right now. I’m a toddler, remember?”
“Yeah,” Hiro snorts, “a fucking baby.”
“I’m gonna be the number one hero one day,” Izuku promises, “and when I am, I’m gonna call you up and you’re gonna help me build a better system. Deal?”
Hiro doesn’t exactly smile, but his eyes crinkle at the corners and his lip twitches upwards. He lets out a little chuckle and pats Izuku on the shoulder.
“I don’t usually put my faith in infants––”
Izuku rolls his eyes.
“–– but I think I can make an exception for you,” Hiro says, “Deku.”
Izuku beams.
“Your parents are starting to look a little antsy,” Hiro notes, nodding towards the parking lot. “You better scamper over. Your dad looks super stressed.”
Izuku doesn’t correct him. “Okay. Are you… just going to go home? Alone?”
Hiro nods, lips pressing into a thin line. He’s an adult, so Izuku didn’t really think he’d have parents or anyone waiting for him after the exam, but Izuku doesn’t feel good just letting him walk away like this.
“Do you wanna have dinner with us?” Izuku blurts out.
Hiro blinks down at him. “No offence, kid, I really appreciate the offer, but I don’t really wanna have dinner with you and your parents. I kind of just wanna go home, make some instant ramen, and then scroll through twitter until I pass out.”
Izuku nods. “Understandable, have a nice night.”
Hiro cracks a small smile before reaching out and plucking Izuku’s phone out of his hands.
“Hey!”
“Here, I’m giving you my vigilante–– uh, hero phone number. Call me if there’s an emergency, and only if there’s an emergency, got it?”
“Got it!” Izuku grins. Two friends! In one day! That’s double the amount of friends he had before this!
“Alright, deuces,” Hiro says before he turns on his heel and power walks away from Izuku, like the force of Izuku’s smile was a physical thing he needed to flee from.
Izuku giggles. He bounds over to his mom and Yagi-san, waving his license in one hand.
“I passed!”
Notes:
That's it for this week!! Thanks for reading <3
a couple things:
• The chapter title is from Smithereens by Twenty-One Pilots.
• Hiro was meant to be a throwaway character but im like...emotionally attached at this point. If this ends up a series ill find some way to sneak him back in :D
• Next week's chapter is 12k and will be posted (probably... hopefully) on Dec 4th!
Chapter 3: I bet you didn't know that I was dangerous
Summary:
A post-exam talk on unhealthy midsets, a media storm, a confrontation, and a new hero emerges into the public eye.
Izuku is just… so tired.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
After the three of them gush excitedly over Izuku’s new license, Yagi-san ushers them all into his car so they can go home.
“How did the exam go, my boy?” Yagi-san asks, pulling out of the parking lot smoothly. “I bet you crushed the competition! How did it feel, wielding One for All for the first time? Exhilarating, right?”
“Ah, about that.”
Izuku tells them what happened during the exam.
Both Yagi-san and his mom get progressively more and more quiet as Izuku continues his story. By the time Yagi-san pulls the car into their apartment’s underground lot, they are both completely silent. Izuku trails off from gushing about meeting Ingenium and his little brother when Yagi-san turns off the car but no one moves to get out.
“Izuku. You… broke your arm in twenty places?” his mom asks, looking horrified.
“Yeah, but they healed me up. Anyway, Ingenium’s brother is also––”
“We need to go back to that,” Yagi-san interrupts him. “What… my boy, why did you not stop your exam?”
“I would have failed and Hiro would have been alone. There were only a couple more people to eliminate. I mean I kind of had a feeling it would be too much, but I didn’t know it would break my arm. Did One for All feel that powerful the first time you used it?”
“No,” Yagi-san says firmly. “No, it did not.”
“Oh. Oops. Well––”
“No, not oops, Izuku,” his mother says. “You shattered your arm by throwing a rapidly heating metal gas can into the air. That’s not an oops situation!”
“I had to!” Izuku defends. “Someone could have gotten seriously injured!”
“My boy, you were seriously injured.”
“Yeah, but that doesn’t count––”
“Excuse me?!” His mom interrupts. Izuku has never heard her so angry. “Izuku.”
Izuku starts, confused. “W-What?”
“Young Midoriya,” Yagi-san says gently, “what do you mean that doesn’t count? You think it doesn’t matter that you were hurt?”
“Izuku. When we talked about you training with Toshinori it was under the agreement that you would not take on more than you can handle and that Toshinori would make sure you had all the resources and guidance needed to succeed. Toshinori has kept up his end of the bargain, so why haven’t you?”
“I-I have.” Izuku looks back and forth between them. “I don’t understand why you’re upset. I just meant that I can handle it. I had more experience than the other examinees. I have experience in dangerous situations, and I mean–– I’m being trained by the number one hero so I thought I could… deal with… any complications–– Mom, please stop crying!”
Inko looks so hurt, frustrated tears welling up and spilling down her cheeks.
“You need to understand something, son.” Yagi-san rubs Inko’s back comfortingly, looking at Izuku with more gentleness than Izuku thinks he deserves for making his mom cry. “You were the youngest examinee by more than two years. UA had no first years in the exam. I know that you had no way of knowing what One for All would do to you, but please understand how alarming it is to us to hear that you pushed on with major injuries.”
“B-But I… I could do it. I was fine, I passed.”
“Just because you can push yourself, doesn’t mean you should. I agreed to starting your training so early to prevent you from injuring yourself. My boy, do you remember why I waited months before letting you spar with me?”
Izuku nods. “You said I didn’t know my limits yet.”
“Yes. So, we trained until you did know your limits, correct? Well, now you have more skills at your disposal as well as what may be the strongest quirk in the world. You don’t know your limits anymore, which is why I said that you’d be on desk duty as my intern, remember? You need to learn your limits and learn that it’s okay to notify an adult when you’re in trouble.”
Izuku bites his lip.
“Izuku, your health is just as important as anyone else’s,” his mom adds, drying her tears. “I just don’t understand how you can think otherwise.”
“I… I hurt someone. The villain that tried to rob Yagi-san’s store. I broke his hands.” Just thinking about it makes Izuku nauseous. “I don’t ever want to hurt someone like that again. I’d rather it was me.”
Yagi-san looks horrified. “That was almost two years ago. Have you been holding onto the guilt this whole time?”
Izuku doesn’t say anything, which is an answer itself.
Yagi-san sighs.
“You are… so competent at being a hero that sometimes I forget about how young you are. That’s my fault. Young–– Izuku, this is something that you’re going to need to learn. People will get hurt, that is inevitable. You have a certain responsibility as a hero to do as little harm as possible, but sometimes it’s unavoidable. If you need to make a choice between someone who is actively causing others harm and yourself, you need to choose yourself, my boy. How can you expect to help others if you yourself are incapacitated?”
Izuku hangs his head.
“I admit that I also have a dangerous self-sacrificing attitude. I tried my best to steer you away from that line of thinking, but I can see I failed.”
“I don’t want to be like those heroes that do more bad than good,” Izuku mumbles. “Endeavor’s statistics on property damage and captures resulting in death are––”
“You are not Endeavor. You are Midoriya Izuku. Your mother and I have watched you grow so trust us when we say that you could never be like that. Your heart is too big.”
Inko sighs. “I can see that this is going to take a while to sink in. Izuku, please come to us the next time you’re feeling guilty. Remember how we deal with your anxiety? What the therapist said about support pyramids? If you don’t want to talk about it with Toshinori or I, then at least tell us so we can find someone you can talk to.”
“Okay.”
“We are going to work on this together, as a family,” Inko says, patting Yagi-san’s shoulder. “Okay?”
“Of course, Inko.”
“Okay.”
Yagi-san lets out a heavy sigh. “Seriousness aside, I am very proud of you. Congratulations on your license, my boy.”
“Thanks,” Izuku says, cracking a small smile.
“Let’s get inside,” Inko says, popping the car door open. “I have some katsudon to prepare.”
Izuku perks up. “Katsudon?”
Yagi-san and Inko exchange a look, chuckling fondly.
Iida and Izuku end up meeting up at least once a week to study. Sometimes they go running or to the gym together, but most of the time they end up in the library or a cafe going over the UA entrance exam material.
Studying with Iida is surprisingly fun. He was stiff and overly formal at first, but once they found out just how much in common they had, they fell into an easy friendship. It turns out Iida has read a lot of the same quirk theory books Izuku has. As a kid he was curious as to why his quirk manifested in his calves while his brother had his engines in his elbows which led him down the rabbit hole of quirk theory and quirk genetics research. Izuku shared his own experience of being quirkless and was happily surprised when Iida didn’t seem put off by it.
“There’s nothing wrong with being quirkless,” Iida says when he notices Izuku getting teary-eyed while sharing his story. “Quirkless people are just as capable as those with quirks, sometimes even more so! I once read this article about a woman whose quirk erased her own memory every few days….”
Despite all the hype and the jumble of nerves that made its home in Izuku’s stomach everytime he thought about it, his first day on the job at The Mighty Agency goes very well.
He spends most of the day running around with various managers and handlers, getting a feel for the building and the various secretaries and other personnel working there. Everyone who works for All Might are under very strict non-disclosure agreements, but Yagi-san and Inko both agree that Izuku would be safest if he wore a face mask while he was there. He picked a soft cloth mask with little repeating All Mights on it. The staff seem to like it, from the way they keep cooing at him and calling him adorable.
Yagi-san, puffed up as All Might, just smiles and shakes his head.
He gets his own office, which Izuku thinks is absolutely wild. It’s tucked into a little corner on the same floor as Yagi-san’s office, completely decked out with a large desk, filing cabinets, and an adjoining door that leads directly to Yagi-san’s. Two of the four walls are made completely of glass, showcasing downtown Musutafu. Yagi-san assures him that not only is it only see through one-way, but the glass is also bullet-proof, shock-proof, and generally Izuku-proof, so he doesn’t need to worry about accidentally activating One for All and blowing a hole in the side of the building.
He gets a couple lectures on avoiding the media and how to keep a low profile. Yagi-san sets him up with his own account on the agency’s database and gives him the highest security clearance. He shows Izuku how to access any and every file he might need and then walks him step-by-excruciating-step through writing up a villain incident report. Yagi-san tells him he’ll be working with CCTV footage and police reports until he can use One for All well enough to follow him around during patrols and take first-hand accounts.
It’s… a lot more bureaucracy than he’s expecting.
The highlight of his day is definitely when Yagi-san hands Izuku a case holding his brand new hero costume. David Shields, who makes all of All Might’s gear, personally designed Izuku’s costume based on Izuku and his mom’s suggestions.
His very first hero costume! And it’s designed by the support gear legend and All Might’s rumored ex-boyfriend, David Shield!
(Although, now that All Might is kind of a father figure to Izuku, he feels a little weird about how many fan theories he’s read debating the nature of David and All Might’s relationship. He was always strictly focussed on the support gear aspect of their friendship, but well–– some of the shipping memes were funny. Izuku resolves to never tell Yagi-san about that corner of the internet.)
“Can I try it on now?” Izuku asks as soon as the sleek, dark green case is placed in his hands. The top is engraved with his hero name, Deku, in the same font that The Mighty Agency’s logo is in. Underneath it is a small bunny motif.
Yagi-san chuckles at Izuku’s excitement. “Go right ahead, Young Midoriya. The locker room is down the hall. Your locker is the green one. The lock has already been programmed with your fingerprint, so you should be able to open it.”
“Wow, so cool!”
Izuku trots off to the locker room, clutching the case to his chest.
Izuku’s locker stands at the far end of the locker room, next to a large red, blue, and yellow locker that can only be Yagi-san’s. The whole place is sleek and clean, with smaller lockers along the wall probably belonging to staff members and benches along the middle outfitted with touch screen controls. Izuku resolves to explore the function of those later, hopping over to his locker so he can get his hero costume on as soon as physically possible.
As soon as Izuku lifts a finger to touch his locker it opens outwards, metal unfolding like paper. The first thing Izuku sees is himself, reflected through the mirror covering the entire back of the locker. There’s a hook slightly above eye level, probably to hang his costume up. The doors of the locker have shelves with medical supplies, compression tape and sleeves, and a couple other random things Izuku might need. Someone also took the time to stock a couple reusable All Might branded water bottles for Izuku to grab and fill up after changing.
“It’s like an Iron Man movie,” Izuku mumbles to himself.
The mirror on the back lights up at the sound of his voice, the words ‘Hello, Deku!’ glowing neon green in front of him. The interface displays the current weather, recent police code calls, and the time in the corner. Izuku reaches out and lightly taps the police codes. He gasps as the menu drops down to show a full list of crime incidents that have been called in recently, and which police precincts in Musutafu they were reported in.
Woah.
That seems pretty useful.
He wants to spend more time exploring the locker’s technology–– he wonders if the agency would let him look at the code. Maybe he could find a way to include a humidity display, since high humidity seems to make his bones ache more than it used to. Then Izuku remembers that Yagi-san is waiting outside to see Izuku’s new costume.
Izuku sets the briefcase down on the bench inside the locker and pops the lid.
“Holy shit,” Izuku whispers, eyes wide as he takes in the contents.
Much like the locker, the case expands out into three tiers, all full of shiny, professional grade hero costume material. First, Izuku puts on the requested under armor. He fits a compression sleeve onto the arm that he broke and then slips a light wrist guard on over that. His knees get light, flexible pads that should fit easily into his boots.
Yagi-san, Inko, and Izuku all agreed that Izuku’s role as an intern would mainly be crowd control, incident documentation, and first aid–– at least until he learns to control his quirk better. They designed his hero suit with that in mind, always intending to alter it as he became a more battle oriented hero. His current costume is designed for mobility, so Izuku knows not to expect any heavy armor or bulky guards.
Izuku slips on a lightweight jumpsuit. It’s made of some kind of tough but stretchy material, the color so dark green it’s almost black. It has white and neon teal accents in patterns that mirror the ones in All Might’s young age costume. There’s a white band on his left shoulder with a red medical cross on it. Izuku’s worked hard on his online first aid and paramedic classes, and he hopes to be certified by the time All Might lets him out on the field.
Next come the gloves, which Izuku is most excited about. They’re white gauntlets that go up to almost his elbows, with flexibility around his wrists for movement. The fingers give away to a retractable black mesh for if he needs his fingertips to type on a data pad or take a pulse. Izuku tests out the retractability feature.
Swip!
The mesh retracts into the knuckles of the glove and Izuku can see his scarred, slightly crooked fingers again. He leaves them like this while he puts on the rest of the costume.
The belt buckles securely around his waist and carries a small pouch for supplies and communication devices. He also gets a lightweight, flat white backpack with more medical supplies. David Shields improved upon Izuku’s design and had the pack strap to his torso with three horizontal buckles to reduce the chances of it getting caught on anything. It sits snugly against his back.
Izuku makes a happy, giddy noise in his throat when he sees the boots. They’re not red, like he wanted, but David Shields can certainly design an aesthetically cohesive costume. They’re mostly plain black with a few neon aqua accents to match the rest of the suit. They’re light and flexible so Izuku can dash around during fights and they go up to above his knee for support. Izuku is thrilled to find the insides are bright red, as well as the soles, like some kind of fancy designer boot.
As Izuku zips up the boots and stands up fully, he catches sight of himself in the mirror.
Izuku looks… heroic.
For the first time since this all began, Izuku feels like a hero. He pulls out his license from his wallet and holds it up in front of him, his costume clad reflection blurry in the background. He did it. He’s taking his first steps into the rest of his life, as a hero. As someone who saves people.
He quickly retrieves his phone from his discarded pants pocket and takes a mirror selfie, first holding up a peace sign and then a finger heart. He sends them both to his mom and then, after a lot of deliberation, sends the peace sign one to Iida.
“Young Midoriya, is everything al–– oh.”
Izuku turns around, happy tears clinging to his lashes as Yagi-san steps into the locker room.
“It’s perfect,” Izuku breathes out. He stands differently in his hero costume, chest puffed out and shoulders back. Spine straight, grinning broadly. Like All Might.
Yagi-san beams right back at him. “My boy, it looks fantastic. Let’s see the mask.”
“Right!” Izuku almost forgot.
They decided that Izuku should try to hide his identity for as long as possible, since All Might has a lot of enemies and Izuku is pretty vulnerable as a minor. Izuku initially wanted a cowl in the shape of All Might’s iconic grin but pretty much everyone vetoed the idea. The compromise between Yagi-san’s embarrassment and Izuku’s insistence on an All Might related aesthetic was a running bunny ear motif to mirror All Might’s hair antennae.
(“Please stop calling them antennae,” Yagi-san begged, tugging self-consciously at his locks.
“They’re iconic!” Izuku said. “For the longest time my hero stan twitter name was Antennae of Justice!”
“How am I more embarrassed about this than you?” Yagi-san groaned.)
The result is a black mask that goes up under Izuku’s eyes, covering his freckles. There are little horizontal slits in the material that look like whiskers. The mask extends upwards at the corner of Izuku’s jaw into chunky antennae that nestle in his curls like metallic bunny ears. They cover his ears and house a communicator that will connect to All Might’s while they’re working. Izuku presses a button on the side of the mask and a green visor snaps up, shielding his eyes.
“Incredible,” Yagi-san says. “I hardly recognize you!”
Izuku turns back to the mirror. With the mask on and the obviously professionally made hero costume, Izuku doesn’t look anything like the awkward, stuttering middle-schooler he usually is. He just looks like a particularly short Pro Hero.
“Can we go out on patrol?” Izuku begs. He takes off the mask for maximum puppy dog eye effect, looking up at Yagi-san pleadingly. “Please? Just for a couple minutes?”
“My boy, we agreed you wouldn’t make any public appearances until you can use One for All without breaking any bones,” Yagi-san says.
Izuku pouts.
Yagi-san caves almost immediately. “I suppose we can stick to the rooftops so you’re not seen. It is getting dark, after all.”
Izuku spends the next few weeks finishing up his first aid courses and training with Yagi-san at the Mighty Agency’s gym. He’s gotten very good at the obstacle courses Yagi-san sets up for him, but he still can’t use his quirk without hurting himself. They’re at the hospital repairing Izuku’s bones almost every time he tries to use his quirk.
After school, Izuku usually drops by Yagi-san’s store to pick him up and the two of them take the train to the agency. Then they split up as Yagi-san puffs up into full All Might form and Izuku settles into his office–– now turned into a little control room with a triple monitored computer and a bunch of All Might posters on the walls. Izuku listens and watches All Might take down villains through Yagi-san’s in-ear communicator and the CCTV cameras he has access to. Izuku has gotten so good at hero paperwork.
It’s not really a skill he can brag to anyone about, but whatever. He’s amazing at incident reports.
One night, Izuku is walking back home when a pair of villains decides to try to rob the Ozaki’s grocery store again. By the time the police show up, Izuku has the two villains restrained with zero damage to the store, if you don’t count the knocked over shelf of chips. Detective Tsukauchi gives him a very disappointed stare until Izuku pulls him aside and shows him his provisional license.
“You know, you’re technically not acting with instruction of a hero,” Tsukauchi tsks, ruffling Izuku’s hair. “I could still arrest you.”
“I’m sure if you called All Might he’d tell you that he definitely instructed me,” Izuku says with his best innocent smile.
Tsukauchi scoffs, shaking his head.
“Yeah, yeah, you have the Pro of all Pros backing you up, I get it.” He waves off the nearby officers and pats Izuku on the shoulder. “Get home, kid. Without fighting any crime this time, okay?”
“I can’t make any promises!” Izuku chirps, skipping away.
It’s been weeks and Izuku still hasn’t gotten anywhere with using One for All injury free.
He’s able to dial down the percentage he uses to 1%, which is about as much as he can handle without fully shattering his arm again. He ends up with a lot of minor fractures, but compared to the horrific state his arm was in after the license exam, it’s almost nothing.
On the brightside: Izuku’s pain tolerance is pretty high now.
Yagi-san takes every injury pretty hard. Izuku suspects he might be blaming himself for Izuku’s trouble with One for All. He said he was able to wield it right away with no problems. Despite it all he continues to come up with new ways to try to teach Izuku.
Including… inviting a senior citizen to their training sessions?
Izuku steps into the agency gym one day to find Yagi-san conversing with an old man about half his height. When Izuku comes into the gym they both turn to look at him. Yagi-san beckons him forward.
“This is him?” the man asks Yagi-san, eyebrows raised.
“Yes, this is Midoriya Izuku, my successor,” Yagi-san introduces them. “Midoriya, my boy, this is Gran Torino. He was a friend of my predecessor and my homeroom teacher at UA!”
“Hello, Gran Torino-san!” Izuku chirps, bowing. “It’s nice to meet you!”
“Well,” Gran Torino says, “he certainly doesn’t look like much.”
Izuku would protest, but he’s well aware of how plain and non threatening he looks.
“Then again, you weren’t much to look at when Nana brought you to me, eh Toshinori?” Gran cracks with a smile, elbowing Yagi-san in the side. “You were like a piece of paper! A stiff breeze would have blown you away!”
“Yes, I was rather… waifish,” Yagi-san grumbles. Gran Torino continues cracking jokes at Yagi-san’s expense.
Finally, Gran Torino seems to tire of teasing Yagi-san because he turns back to Izuku and eyes him up and down. Then, despite the fact that he’s in casual clothing and is shorter than Izuku, he raises his fists and drops into a fighting stance.
“Fight me,” Gran Torino commands.
“W-What?!” Izuku between Yagi-san and Gran Torino, wide-eyed. “F-Fight you? Gran Torino-san, I don’t––”
“You’ve got a license! Toshinori here had to have taught you something, right? And drop the honorifics, kid, fight me!”
“I-I can’t–– I’ll break my bones!” Izuku blurts out.
Gran Torino lowers his fists. He squints at Izuku, trying to determine if he’s serious or not, and when he’s met only with earnest, doe-eyed panic, he whirls to face Yagi-san.
“He breaks bones?”
Yagi-san winces. “Young Midoriya has been having trouble wielding One for All. That’s why I called you in.”
Gran Torino makes a face. “Don’t ya just, you know––” he throws a couple punches at the air “–– and boom, right? What’s so hard about that?”
“I have a theory,” Izuku pipes up, shyly shifting so that Yagi-san is in between him and Gran Torino. He really doesn’t want to fight him. “Y-Yagi-san said that One for All is a stockpile quirk, right? Well, when you consider just how strong Yagi-san’s made the quirk in his career alone, I think it makes sense that it’s so powerful. Like, All Might has been active since his debut in America about 30 years ago and he’s only gotten stronger and stronger since–– uh, minus the, uh, incident. Anyway, I think maybe it’s been feeding into itself when it gets used, like a kind of loop––”
“Oh, thank god he has a brain,” Gran Torino interrupts. “Between you and Toshinori at least one of you has some brain cells.”
Izuku sputters. “Y-Yagi-san is a genius! No other hero has the tactical skills and honed battle instinct as––”
“You’re really something,” Gran Torino says. “You seriously can’t use it without breaking your bones?”
Yagi-san sighs heavily, looking very stressed. “We’ve tried everything. I even used the egg in the microwave metaphor, but no matter what, the power is too much.”
“The nurse at the hospital says if I come in with another broken bone, I can get a free check-up,” Izuku says proudly. “Like a stamp card!”
“Young Midoriya, I think she was joking.”
“Aw.” Izuku frowns.
“Oh, Toshinori, he is precious,” Gran Torino cackles. “He’s gonna have the masses eating out of the palm of his hand. Is he always this earnest?”
“Just wait until you see how passionate he gets about stopping crime,” Toshinori says. “He’s like a puppy.”
“I’m not–– hey!” Izuku waves his hands as if that will stop the two old men from laughing at him. “Aren’t we supposed to be training or something?”
“Right,” Gran Torino rolls his shoulders and cracks his knuckles. “We’ll figure out the bone breaking thing later. For now, I need to see where you’re at. Fight me.”
“I’m not going to fight you!” Izuku exclaims.
“You don’t have to use your quirk,” Gran Torino dismisses. He heads towards the middle of the gym where a white ring is painted onto the floor. After receiving a nod from Yagi-san, Izuku follows.
“The first one pinned or out of the ring on the floor loses,” Gran Torino says. He hops up and down on the balls of his feet, moving with surprising fluidity for his age. He reaches down and removes his socks and shoes, placing them neatly outside of the ring. Izuku narrows his eyes suspiciously. Yagi-san never mentioned what Gran Torino’s quirk was. And, something about the way he emphasized on the floor makes Izuku extra suspicious.
“Do you lose if you exit the ring, or if you hit the floor outside of the ring?” Izuku asks, eyeing a couple boxes and half walls situated close to the ring.
Gran Torino gives him an impressed smile. “You lose if you hit the ground.”
“Okay.” Izuku shakes his limbs out, dropping low into a defensive stance. “Okay, let’s go!”
The only warning Izuku gets is the slight shift of Gran Torino’s left leg before he’s flying at Izuku almost too fast to see, curled up tight like a cannonball. Izuku yelps and drops to the mat, rolling and popping up just in time to see Gran Torino ricochet off the far wall of the gym, hurtling back towards Izuku without touching the ground at any point.
“Is your quirk being a bouncy ball?!”
Izuku squawks as he takes Gran Torino’s hit to his left shoulder, stumbling and just barely managing to keep himself in the ring. Gran Torino lands in the ring across from him, feet digging into the mat to stop his momentum.
“I’ll tell you since you need all the help you can get,” Gran Torino says. “It’s called Jet. I can shoot air from my feet.”
“That’s amazing!” Izuku exclaims. “Does the air come from your surroundings? Can you store it for larger blasts or––”
“Focus, kid!” Gran Torino launches himself at Izuku again, but this time Izuku doesn’t duck or roll. He leaps to the side, using his tumbling and parkour lessons to run along a wall adjacent to the ring, landing back inside it as Gran Torino bounces off the wall.
“You stealing my moves, squirt?” Gran Torino asks with a laugh, pivoting again to fly at Izuku.
“I––” Izuku rolls again, barely dodging as Gran Torino grazes the top of his head. “–– I’m here to learn from you, aren’t I?”
Gran Torino cackles. He’s perched in the rafters now, looking at Izuku from above. “I forgot what it was like to have a student who actually wants to learn. You should take a page from his book, Toshinori!”
“I graduated already,” Yagi-san grumbles. He’s tucked himself into a corner of the gym to avoid getting hit by Gran Torino’s wild pin-ball movements.
As the fight continues Izuku finds the most effective strategy for avoiding Gran Torino’s hits. He uses his size to his advantage, tucking and rolling to make himself as small a target as possible. He sticks low to the ground, hoping to catch Gran Torino at a bad angle and prevent him from snagging Izuku and throwing him out of the ring.
Izuku throws exactly one punch, but Gran Torino is too fast. He easily catches Izuku’s arm and tries to use Izuku’s own momentum to launch him out of the ring. Izuku stops himself at the last moment, catching himself on his palms and springing backwards blindly.
The fight drags on for what feels like ages but is probably only a handful of minutes. Izuku knows that he is in no way capable of winning this fight, but he’s sure as hell not going down without a fight. Besides, Izuku has been fighting against hopeless odds for as long as he’s been alive. He can last a couple more minutes in the ring with Gran Torino.
Of course, as soon as he thinks that, Gran Torino flips in mid-air and expels a blast of air from his feet, coming back at Izuku. Izuku had grown used to the rhythm of attacks and was expecting a couple more seconds to recover while Gran Torino pinballed off the opposite wall.
Izuku has no time to dodge or sidestep, he’s still on the ground. He powers up as small of a percentage of One for All as he can, focussing on only his fingertips as he presses his hands to the mat and pushes himself, trying to roll away.
Slam!
Izuku blinks up at the ceiling, dazed. He raises his head.
“Young Midoriya!”
“You alright?”
Izuku is clear across the gym, laying half-slumped against a wall under a whole mess of gym equipment. The mat with the ring drawn in it has a large tear where Izuku used to be, foam spilling out of it. In between Izuku and the mat is a clear path of destruction where Izuku must have flown, launched like a ragdoll by his own quirk.
“Ugh,” Izuku groans, thumping his head back down. “I did not mean to do that.”
Gran Torino, who hurried over as soon as he saw Izuku go flying, snorts. “Clearly.”
“Young Midoriya,” Yagi-san jogs over, frantically looking Izuku up and down. “Are you okay? Don’t move, you might aggravate your injuries.”
“I think I’m alright, just my fingers hurt.”
Izuku winces, glancing down at his fingers, which are swollen and purple. Yagi-san and Gran Torino follow his gaze. Yagi-san’s brow furrows further and Gran Torino hisses with sympathy.
“At least it wasn’t my whole arm, this time?” Izuku offers. He gets to his feet, rolling his shoulders and shaking out his legs. “I think my mom packed a couple finger splints in my first aid bag. Let me go get them and then I can try again.”
“Aren’t you in pain?!” Gran Torino asks, looking very concerned.
“Yeah, a little,” Izuku shrugs.
“I was wrong,” Gran Torino says, looking at Yagi-san. “He’s just as crazy as you.”
“Let’s get you to the hospital,” Yagi-san says to Izuku, herding him towards the door. “Ah, this is the second time in as many weeks. Thank god you’re under the agency’s health insurance.”
“Wait, I know someone who can help,” Gran Torino pulls a cell phone out of his pants pocket. Izuku has no idea how it stayed there during the fight. “She’s closer than the hospital, and she might just be able to knock some sense into you two.”
While they wait for Gran Torino’s contact to show up, they sit on one of the benches lining the gym walls and go over Izuku’s moves in the fight in detail. Gran Torino praises his strategy of making himself small and rolling away, but reminds him to always keep his eyes on his opponent. Yagi-san has some things to say about Izuku’s tendency to favor his right leg, which becomes obvious in drawn out fights. Since Izuku can’t take notes like he’d like to, he pulls out his tape recorder and starts filling a tape with their suggestions.
“The first thing we’re gonna do is teach you to use less power. If you go through every hit with enough force to level a city block, you’ll end up hurting yourself and others. Do you know how to moderate your power?”
Izuku grimaces. “Yeah, but that was already only 1%. It was only so strong because I concentrated it into my fingers. Last time I used 1% with my whole arm it only gave me a fracture.”
“Oh, yes, only a fracture,” Yagi-san mutters sarcastically. “Not like it gave me and your mother a heart attack or anything.”
Izuku looks at him sheepishly. “Sorry.”
“So, you’re saying that using the same amount of power in a more concentrated area gives you more kickback than using it on a larger area of your body,” Gran Torino says. He looks at Izuku patiently, as if expecting something from him.
“Um, yes,” Izuku says.
“So….” Gran Torino prompts.
“So, um, I should just keep using it in my whole arm until I can get down to fractions of a percent?” Izuku says, hoping it’s the answer Gran Torino is looking for.
“You can’t just break down your power if you’re gonna be fighting villains, kid. How are you gonna know how much power each person needs to be taken down?”
“Um, I don’t… Oh!” A lightbulb goes on over Izuku’s head. “I shouldn’t lessen the output, I should increase the parts of my body I use it in!”
“There you go.” Gran Torino pats Izuku’s head. “You think that just because the air comes out of my feet I only use my feet to fight? Use your whole body. Your quirk should be an extension of yourself.”
“Ah, why didn’t I think of that?” Izuku whines, momentarily forgetting himself and accidentally using his broken fingers to brush his curls out of his eyes. “I–– ow! I should be distributing One for All throughout my whole body!”
“When you activate your quirk you direct it to the limb you’re using to attack, right? Try just passively activating it in your whole body without moving to strike.”
“I’ll try it now!” Izuku jumps up, reading himself.
Both Gran Torino and Yagi-san place hands on his shoulders to push him back down into the bench.
“Not so fast!”
“My boy, your fingers!”
“Oh, right.” Izuku frowns, kicking his feet back and forth. “Gran Torino, who did you say your––?”
“Sorahiko, this better be good!”
“Chiyo, it’s been too long!”
Izuku watches as Gran Torino gets up to hug the old woman who just walked into the gym.
“Shuzenji-sensei,” Yagi-says, “h-how did you get in?”
“Drop the sensei, Toshinori. I haven’t been a teacher in a long time and you certainly aren’t a student anymore. And did you really think I didn’t demand access to your agency when you made me your primary healthcare provider?”
“Ah, of course.”
“Still not the sharpest tool in the shed, I see,” Recovery Girl teases lightly. She and Gran Torino share a laugh.
“Chiyo, I want to introduce you to Midoriya Izuku. He’s Toshinori’s successor and I have a feeling you will be seeing him a lot considering he has absolutely no sense of self preservation.”
“R-Recovery Girl!” Izuku exclaims, rushing into a bow. “It’s an honor to meet you–– again! I don’t know if you remember, but I participated in your first aid booth at the provisional license exam last month. I didn’t get to tell you at the time, but you’re one of my favorite heroes! I based my costume’s jaw guards off of your visor!”
Recover Girl gives him a smile as she shuffles up to him.
“Ah, yes, the one who almost disintegrated his bones during the exam. I see you haven’t learned since then,” she says, eyeing his broken fingers.
Izuku flushes. “I-I’m working on it. Yagi-san and Gran Torino are helping me!”
Recovery Girl’s sharp gaze snaps to the two men, who automatically shrink back.
“It’s uncharted territory….”
“I met the kid today, don’t look at me like that.”
Recovery Girl sighs. She gestures for Izuku to present her with his hand, which he does. He’s read about her quirk online–– when she was a newly debuting hero she did a fantastic interview for Japan Medical Monthly. Izuku had to scour his library’s print archives for a copy, but it was so worth it. She presses a quick peck to his hand and instantly Izuku feels his energy drained. Curiously enough, the well of power he feels from One for All feels just as full as it usually does. Izuku wonders if maybe he can find a way to redirect that energy so he doesn’t get tired after healing.
Recovery Girl carefully removes the splint from Izuku’s finger, gently examining it. Once she deems it correctly healed she gives his hand a little pat and then reaches into her purse and pulls out some gummies.
“Eat these, they’ll restore your strength,” she says. Then she turns back to Yagi-san and Gran Torino. “I’m assuming you want me on call for his training sessions.”
Yagi-san nods guiltily. “We’ve been going to the hospital, but they don’t understand One for All, so….”
“You should have called me.”
“In any case,” Gran Torino says. “I’ll be in town for the rest of the week. We’ll see if I can’t get him to at least be able to use the damn quirk without hurting himself. No more broken bones on my watch, got it kiddo?”
Izuku finishes chewing his gummy before he answers. “The nurse at the hospital said that when you break bones they grow back stronger, so my bones should be, like, super strong now, right?”
Recovery Girl gets a pained look on her face. “Please don’t break your bones on purpose to make them stronger.”
“I won’t! I’m just saying!”
(“I’m guessing Mirai doesn’t know about him?”
“I’ll… figure out how to tell him eventually.”
“Better do it soon, Toshinori. That kid’s going places fast.”)
After that, Izuku meets with Gran Torino every day after school. There are a couple false starts, but Izuku only breaks his pinky once before he’s able to fully distribute One for All throughout his body. Izuku gets so excited he accidentally launches himself into the ceiling, which, ouch. It leads to the discovery that he’s slightly more resistant to damage when he’s fully wreathed in One for All. Izuku has decided to call this Full Cowling, which Gran Torino teases him for. He says that Izuku is just as dorky as Yagi-san was in high school, but Izuku chooses to take it as a compliment.
Things are going well. Izuku enjoys his training with Gran Torino so much that, after some begging, Gran Torino decides to stay in Mustafu for the rest of the month. He trains with Yagi-san until he needs to go on patrol as All Might, then he works on his intern assignments until it’s time for him to train with Gran Torino. He’s finishing his homework on time, he’s talking to his therapist again–– minus all the One for All stuff–– and he’s even making time to hang out with Iida.
As usual with Izuku’s life, this is when things start to get messy.
The day the HPSC releases the updated provisional license registry is absolute chaos.
The Pro Hero registry has always been public, but ten years ago–– in an attempt at full transparency with the public–– the HPSC started adding in provisional license holders as well as rescue responders and reserve hero license holders. Japan’s Board of Registered Heroics has a publicly available, searchable site where you can look up license numbers, license suspensions, and any red flags surrounding a license holder. It was modeled after the system used for registered nurses, something Inko always brings up smugly.
The update of the registry is almost always newsworthy. Media companies usually have specialized journalists whose entire job is checking the registry for any scandals. Izuku remembers when a huge story broke a couple years ago because Charmer’s license was suspended for accusations of embezzlement. His hero agency had tried to cover up his absence over the past year with claims of bad health, but once the registry updated with the flags on his license, the truth came out. It was the biggest media storm of the decade.
Until now.
Izuku’s phone wakes him up at 7 AM on the one day of the week he’s allowed to sleep in. It buzzes like a box of bees on his nightstand as every All Might related news source he has receives notifications. The Google alerts he has set for All Might news fill up his lock screen. His Fans of Might discord server is having a meltdown.
Izuku’s eyes widen. He quickly gets out of bed, picking up his phone but not daring to unlock it. He goes into the livingroom and flips on the TV, opening up the morning news.
Please, please be safe, Izuku begs. I saw Yagi-san last night, there’s no way something could have happened.
It turns out, Izuku should have been more worried for himself.
“Breaking news!” Reporter Miyagi says, “The Pro Hero registry updated just minutes ago and is already making headlines. Number one hero All Might seems to have sponsored an intern in the last provisional hero license exams. The registry indicates that a young hero by the name Deku has….”
The rest fades away to static in Izuku’s head.
That’s… that’s him. They’re talking about him.
“... since not much is known about this mysterious intern. Deku is listed to be just 14, according to their profile on the registry. Now, all Might is notorious for not taking on any interns or sidekicks and is currently the only single-hero agency in Japan. Let’s go to Pro Hero expert Shimizu Akihiro for his analysis on the situation.”
The screen splits into two as Miyagi and Shimizu discuss what All Might’s new intern could mean for the country as a whole. Izuku buries his head in his hands and screams.
Okay. It’s not that bad, right? The only publicly available information should be his sponsor, his age, and his hero name. They don’t have his real name, at least, so he and his mom should be safe from any villains or reporters that want to track them down to their home. They don’t even have his quirk name, so it’s impossible to search for him through the quirk registry. It’s fine. It’s fine, it’s great, everything is going to be––
“Young Midoriya!” Yagi-san is pounding on Izuku’s front door.
Izuku bolts to the door, flinging it open and throwing himself into Yagi-san’s arms.
“What do we do?!” Izuku asks frantically. “They–– Yagi-san they’re talking about me on TV!”
Izuku is so panicked he can’t even be embarrassed about Yagi-san gathering Izuku up in his thin arms and carrying him back into the living room. Yagi-san deposits Izuku on the couch and folds himself down next to him, both of them talking over each other. Inko emerges from her room, drawn out by all the commotion. She takes one look at the two of them and sighs heavily, shuffling into the kitchen.
Five minutes later Izuku and Yagi-san are still trying to reassure each other that everything is perfectly fine when Inko shuffles back into the living room with tea for all three of them.
“Okay, what’s going on now?” She asks. She remains calm even as Izuku and Yagi-san’s voices crash over her like a distressed tidal wave.
“Inko, I am so sorry––”
“They’re saying awful things about All Might––”
“–– it’s not your fault, my boy––”
“–– Mighty News Weekly is calling it a PR disaster––”
“––should have applied for the information to be classified––”
Inko pinches the bridge of her nose. “Again. Communication skills, you two.”
Izuku makes a distraught noise and gestures to the TV. The morning news is running a chyron on the bottom of the screen reading ‘Deku: The End of the Symbol of Peace?’
“Oh, dear,” Inko murmurs.
Hero Herald @HeroHerald_MU • 12m
.@AllMightOfficial Sponsors 14-year-old protege?! Does this mean the Symbol of Peace is retiring soon? Read our breakdown here: bit.ly/9kji2
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david loves hawks @mrkeigos • 14m
is anyone else like… super concerned that the hpsc approved a child to the prov exam?? like ua is already problematic for letting 1st years take it. keigo has hinted at how hpsc took advantage of him as a kid and now deku is going thru the same thing
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Crime Fighter’s Beat @CrimeFightMag • 15m
Here’s what we know about @AllMightOfficial ‘s new intern, Deku! bit.ly/8ok9l
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liv @ hero con tyo @allmightsthighs • 20m
does anyone actually know if deku is all might’s new intern?? like is it confirmed?? maybe he’s just a kid’s friend and all might decided to sponsor him we dont know. all might publicly announced he would stop taking interns and sidekick applications after night eye so like why (1/?)
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show thread
Hot Heroes Now! @HotHeroPub • 22m
If you have ANY information on @AllMightOfficial ‘s new intern Deku, send it in to [email protected] ! We will provide payment!
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kimmy (semi ia for school) @jeanistsbest • 23m
lmao not all might trending ww for endangering a child 💀💀 maybe if he stanned loona
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“Tomura, it seems you may have a rival.”
Izuku is already walking to school the next day by the time he musters up the courage to check his phone. He ignores all the news notifications and discord messages and goes straight to Iida’s texts.
Iida Tenya !! 🏃🏻 • Yesterday, 7:11 AM
Midoriya-kun! You are all over the morning news! I read the paper over breakfast and the front page of The Hosu Herald is about you.
Well, it was about your hero persona, rather.
I apologize for double texting! I am sure you’re busy with your agency’s PR team. Please let me know when you get a free moment, I would like to call to check in on you!
Me • 8:23 AM
no need to apologize!!! i’m very grateful youre checking up on me at all !!!!
yeah it’s kind of crazy over here right now. i dont plan on revealing my identity for a long time so pr just told me to keep my social media private and to not get caught going into the agency building which. is going to be difficult since i work there but all might said he’d find a way in for me
and dont worry about double texting !! i do that all the time :D im doing it right now !! triple texting even !
Iida Tenya !! 🏃🏻 • 8:24 AM
I see. As I am not officially registered as an intern for Iidaten, I’ve not yet had to meet with our PR team, but I imagine it was quite overwhelming! Again, do let me know when you are free. The entrance exam date is approaching, and I still cannot for the life of me remember anything about the quirk regulation laws prior to this century.
(Thank you for your patience as I figure out text messaging etiquette. I have never had a friend to text before you.)
Me • 8:24 AM
iida- kun !!! you’re my first real friend too :D !!
i’m free saturday afternoon! maybe if we finish reviewing early we can spar? i’ll ask all might for the agency gym’s key :D
Iida Tenya !! 🏃🏻• 8:24 AM
I look forward to it!
✓ Read 8:24 AM
Izuku really should have seen this coming.
“De–– Midoriya!”
Izuku flinches, automatically turning on his heel so his back isn’t to his opponent. Bakugou doesn’t bother slowing his momentum as he sprints towards Izuku. He barrels forward, shoving him up against a wall.
“What,” Bakugou hisses out, low and absolutely terrifying, “the actual fuck?”
“K-Kacchan, I c-can explain!” Izuku looks around frantically. It’s after school and most kids are walking home or to the train station. None of them look in their direction, already used to the familiar sight of Izuku getting the shit kicked out of him. “Not here!”
Bakugou growls, but steps back. He grabs the sleeve of Izuku’s blazer and marches him down the street, pulling him into a fairly secluded overpass.
“Talk,” Bakugou barks.
“I….” Oh god. Izuku has no idea what to say, and the longer he mumbles and fidgets, the angrier Bakugou seems to get.
“I, uh, I d-don’t know what this is about,” Izuku says finally.
This is, evidently, the wrong thing to say. Bakugou’s hands spark dangerously, popping and fizzing.
“Do you think I’m fucking stupid?!” Bakugou hisses. “Hero Deku, are you kidding?! You’re fuckin’ lucky no one around here pays attention to you! You’re lucky I’m the one who figured this shit out. Any other extra would have already sold your name and address to the fuckin’ vultures on the news, you absolute dumbass!”
“I-I figured no one would remember that you call me that….” Izuku says, nervously edging away from Bakugou’s detonating hands.
“Oh, you figured, huh?! And, what, you thought that I was dumb enough to forget, too?!”
“I don’t think you’re d-dumb, Kacchan,” Izuku says automatically. Bakugou makes a sound like a kettle on a stove and suddenly Izuku isn’t afraid anymore.
Because, well–– it sucks. This whole thing completely fucking blows. Izuku is–– what did Hero Weekly say the other day? He’s the youngest person in ten years to get his provisional license, and the first person under 18 to get his license without being enrolled in hero school. He’s been All Might’s intern for a month. He handles sensitive villain case information and trains with Gran Torino, an actual Silver Age of Heroics legend, and has a quirk with enough raw power to blow his limbs off.
And here he is, getting yelled at by a kid that used to beg Izuku’s mom not to shut the lights off during sleepovers because he was afraid of the dark.
Some of this newfound calm must show on Izuku’s face because Bakugou, impossibly, gets angrier.
“How the fuck did you trick All Might of all people into sponsoring you?!”
“It’s actually a pretty funny story,” Izuku replies, “I broke a man’s hands.”
“He sponsored a quirkless dipshit like you because you broke some fucker’s hands?! That seems overboard for a fuckin’ charity case.”
“I’m not a charity case,” Izuku snaps back. “And I’m not quirkless.”
Izuku may be half-convinced that Yagi-san only gave him a quirk out of pity, and he may be so deeply insecure about himself and his abilities that it keeps him up at night–– but like hell is Izuku going to let Bakugou believe that All Might risked his image for a charity case. Fuck that.
Bakugou laughs cruelly. “You can’t still be in denial. You’re quirkless, so just––”
Izuku activates Full Cowl.
(The thing about One for All:
It’s old. An ancient power passed down from person to person, stockpiling power as it went. Izuku is the ninth holder–– that’s nine lives, nine lifetimes’ worth of pure energy stuffed into one teenager. Izuku can always feel it buzzing under his skin, innocuous most of the time until he calls it to the surface and lets it wrap around him, lets it light him up from the inside. It raises hairs, activates people’s fight or flight response, their hindbrain flashing with neon warnings of danger and wrong and run.
Under the overpass, in the dark shadowy place under that bridge, Izuku ignites. He lets the electricity spark and crackle over his skin, feels the rush in his veins and the ruffling of his hair as all that raw power envelopes him. His eyes glow a toxic green. He knows this because he sees them reflected in Bakugou’s, his eyes wide with fear.
Izuku isn’t proud of it, but it makes him feel good. It makes him feel powerful.)
–– and as soon as it flares to life in him, Izuku extinguishes it. He stands there, plain in his gakuran with his unremarkable fluffy hair and smattering of freckles. Bakugou gapes.
“You–– You––”
Izuku waits.
“You fucking liar!” Bakugou explodes. “Were you lying this whole time?! All these years? Just to make me look like an idiot? Congratulations, asshole! Let me go put on my fuckin’ clown makeup and run around in my clown shoes, you filthy fucking liar!”
Izuku is so tired of all the anger. He’s–– he’s just tired.
“I wasn’t lying,” Izuku says dully. He’s… disappointed. A part of him had always thought that maybe if he just had a quirk, maybe he and Bakugou could be friends again. Obviously, he was wrong, but then again he wasn’t really expecting to be right. He was just hoping.
Izuku always hopes for the impossible.
“What the fuck do you call pretending to be quirkless for years then, huh? You expect me to believe you just randomly manifested that shit?”
“Maybe I wished hard enough that the universe took pity on me,” Izuku responds sarcastically. He feels so drained.
Bakugou’s eyes almost pop out of his face with rage. “Listen here you little––”
“There was a villain attack,” Izuku says, the lie rolling off his tongue easier than it used it, “and we found out that I’d always had a quirk, it was just hidden. It didn’t activate because my body wasn’t strong enough to handle it. I broke my arm in 20 places the first time I used it.”
Izuku rolls up his sleeves to show him. The scars wrap around his arm like tiger stripes, some raised and puffy, some just hairline cracks over his skin. You can hardly see the freckles now.
“Honestly, up until recently I broke my arms every time I used it,” Izuku admits. “All Might has been helping me, since our quirks are so similar. That’s why he took me on as an intern, and that’s why he sponsored my provisional license.”
Bakugou studies the scars on his arm, eyes darting between them and Izuku’s face until Izuku starts to feel uncomfortable. It’s quiet for a while, just the sounds of dripping water and Izuku shifting from foot to foot as Bakugou thinks. Finally, he says something.
“That’s bullshit,” Bakugou says, infinitely calmer than he was minutes ago.
“Wh–– I’m telling the truth.” Just not all of it.
“No.” Bakugo narrows his eyes. “Something isn’t adding up. You’re a shitty liar, Deku.”
“I’m not lying,” Izuku says weakly.
“You are. Or you’re not telling me something.”
“Why should I have to tell you anything?”
Izuku is so tired, he’s so tired, he’s so tired. In between his school work and studying for UA with Iida and training with Gran Torino–– in between hopping around the city to observe All Might while also staying hidden and dodging cameras. Izuku has no time to just exist anymore. At night he lies awake worrying about slipping up and revealing his identity, endangering his mom. He worries about accidentally exposing All Might’s secret and the societal repercussions that would follow. He worries about overdoing One for All and actually blowing a limb off. More often than not he wakes up from nightmares in a cold sweat and lies awake until dawn breaks and his phone chirps to remind him to go out on his daily run.
He has been barely holding it together for so long.
To his horror, Izuku starts to tear up.
“Why should I trust you with anything? Why do you think you’re entitled to it? I’m so tired, Kacchan. Y-You’re so horrible to me and now you’re asking me to trust you with s-something I can’t tell anyone. My mom doesn’t even know the full extent so why–– Kacchan, why are you so angry at me?”
Bakugou watches him warily. “I… I don’t know.”
Izuku looks at him, utterly lost. “You don’t know why you’re mad?”
“No,” Bakugou answers honestly. “I… usually don’t. I just get so mad and….”
“That sounds like something you should work on,” Izuku says, not unkindly. Bakugou bristles, but he doesn’t yell. He just watches Izuku wipe his tears and lean back against the wall behind him, sagging like a puppet with its strings cut.
“Can you trust, this one time, that I’m not doing this to specifically spite you? Can you just help me out this once?”
(Katsuki… doesn’t know what to think. Deku has never asked him for help before. Only offered it, unprompted. It’s weird to see him like this, earnest, ever smiling Midoriya Izuku all worn down with stress. Katsuki has seen him shaking with fear, has seen him with tears pouring down his freckled face, but he’s never seen him look this pathetic. He looks like the weight of the entire world is on his shoulders. Despite himself, Katsuki softens.)
“You will explain it to me one day,” Bakugou says firmly. Izuku counts this as a win.
“Take some anger management classes and I’ll think about it,” Izuku responds, emotionally drained enough that his usual filter is shot to hell.
“You talk back now?” Bakugou raises his eyebrow.
“Interning at the most intense hero agency in Japan will do wonders for your self confidence.”
Bakugou snorts. It’s not a happy sound and it’s not friendly, but it’s also not violent and that’s all Izuku can really ask for right now. Izuku gathers himself up, readjusting his backpack on his shoulders. He turns his back on Bakugou, making his way out of the overpass.
“I need to go to my internship,” he throws over his shoulder. “I’m serious about therapy.”
“Yeah, yeah,” is all Izuku gets in return, before he’s turning the corner and out of sight.
(The next day, Bakugou calls him ‘Midoriya’ in class. It’s still spit with Bakugou’s usual disdain, but at the very least, Izuku knows he’ll keep his secret.)
Now that the cat (or bunny, as Yagi-san teased) is out of the bag, Izuku is allowed to be seen on patrol with All Might.
He’s still finishing up some of his first aid certifications, but Yagi-san says he trusts that Izuku knows enough to help people until the real EMTs arrive. Still, he instructs Izuku to hang back and keep any bystanders from getting in the way. Izuku still needs to observe and record fights like before, but at least now he doesn’t need to hide out on rooftops or behind news vans. It also helps that by now he’s able to use Full Cowling well enough to be almost as fast as All Might, bouncing around a crime scene like a––
A… bunny. Okay, maybe Yagi-san had a point there.
It’s Izuku’s first public appearance at All Might’s side. All Might is handling all the fighting, so Izuku pushes down his nervousness and does his job. He directs citizens, sparing a wave or two when they realize who he is and call out his name. After one person makes the connection, his name travels through the crowd like a wave. People take him seriously when he directs them to stand back. A high school girl is hit with a stray piece of debris and Izuku quickly tends to her wound, managing to remain calm the whole time.
He makes a mental note to send the Wild, Wild Pussycats a thank you note. Their advice during the provisional licensing exam is really coming in handy.
The poor villain that decided to challenge All Might is taken down relatively quickly. Yagi-san taught Izuku to always try reasoning if it didn’t seem like anyone was in immediate danger, but the villain had thrown a punch before All Might could even get a word in. The resulting fight is quick, but Izuku still makes sure to jot down as many details as he can one he’s deposited the injured girl with the paramedics.
It’s as he’s standing near the edge of the crime scene, double-checking his notes when one brave reporter steps up to talk to him. Izuku tamps down his automatic panic.
“You’re Deku, aren’t you?”
“I am Deku,” Izuku confirms, grinning under his mask and hoping his smile shows in his eyes. “Everything’s going to be okay. All Might has the situation under control, so please step back while he completes his arrest!”
The reporter gapes at him, like she didn’t really expect him to be Deku. She fumbles for her tape recorder, thrusting it at Izuku’s face. “D-Do you–– would you mind giving me a statement? Introduce yourself to the world?”
“Uh,” Izuku looks over his shoulder. All Might is already cuffing the villain so he figures it’s safe enough to talk to her. He looks back at the reporter and immediately forgets all the PR training he’s had.
“Um,” Izuku says dumbly. “I–– uh. Hi? Hello, I’m Deku!”
He gives a dorky little wave before realizing it’s a recording and no one besides the reporter will see him. He winces and awkwardly lowers his hand.
“I’m, um, just here to support All Might! P-Please respect my privacy until I become an official sidekick!”
The reporter latches onto that. “So, All Might intends to take you on as a full sidekick?”
“Uh! I have to go, um, tend to some wounds!” Izuku says, quickly escaping to a very obviously uninjured All Might. All Might raises his eyebrows, bending at the waist so Izuku can speak to him. God, he really is so tall.
“What’s wrong, Deku? You seem flustered.”
“All Might, I messed up,” Izuku whispers. “I accidentally implied that I’d be your sidekick in the future to that reporter over there.”
All Might’s grin stays in place, but his brow furrows slightly. “But, of course you’ll be my sidekick! I’d even say you’ll be promoted sooner than you think.”
“B-But–– we didn't t-talk about––!” Izuku bounces with barely contained joy. “Oh my god, I’m gonna be your sidekick.”
All Might laughs, a great booming noise that echoes down the city streets. He ruffles Izuku’s hair with one of his large, calloused hands and Izuku playfully swats at him.
“My boy, how many times will I have to tell you that I intend for you to succeed me?”
“Probably a million before I start to believe it,” Izuku answers honestly, giving him a sheepish grin.
Deku’s First Appearance in Public: Just Who is All Might’s New Pint-Sized Intern?
by Kurihara Yuka for Musutafu Times
Musutafu–– and all of Japan–– was blown away by the surprise appearance of All Might’s new intern, Deku, this Saturday. The heroes were seen taking down a minor villain in downtown Musutafu around noon. Deku (pictured below) seems to be a medical support oriented hero, which begs the question: why go for a provisional license and not a support license?
Read More …
mt lady call me @irenestans • 2h
omg… he is TINY. look at the way he hops around and how quickly he took care of the bystanders and that girl that got hit by debris??? we stan!!
[video of Deku assisting All Might and administering first aid]
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replies
miruko says trans rights! @rabbitherowife • 1h
hit tweet oomf. also even tho hes wearing a mask u can practically hear the smile in his voice while he helps that girl?? how adorable??? a mini all might
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zaira⁷ | stream life goes on @edgeshotlgbtq • 1h
mini all might… mini might
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(In downtown Tokyo, on the top floor of an expensive highrise office building, a group of executives plan.
Deku might be the best thing to happen to the Hero Public Safety Commision. If they can get their hands on him.)
To say Izuku is overwhelmed would be a severe understatement.
By the end of the week, the Mighty Agency’s PR team has completely flipped their stance on Izuku’s public appearances. Yagi-san still insists Izuku keep patrols to a minimum to reduce the likelihood of him getting hurt or cornered by the media, but PR manages to negotiate him up to at least 1 public patrol every two weeks. Izuku immediately leaves all his All Might stan group chats and discord servers. He starts to feel weird about it when the other mods, some of whom he’s known for years, start to stan Deku. PR agrees that having his own social media accounts would be a bad idea at this point, but they do buy the @ProHeroDeku handle from some random twitter user for future use.
They end up tweeting something from All Might’s official account about respecting Deku’s privacy and calling it a day. This, of course, just makes the media more desperate for Deku content.
In an attempt to hide from the media, Izuku ends up doing a lot of background work again. He files police reports, combs through fight footage, cleans up property damage. This is how he ends up meeting his second platonic soulmate.
“Excuse me? Are you the Mighty Agency’s representative?”
Izuku tears his gaze away from the destroyed building to find a girl, about his age, striding towards him. She’s shorter than him and has brown hair cut in a cute little bob. She’s also terrifyingly efficient.
“My name is Uraraka Ochako, with the Uraraka Construction Co,” she introduces herself. “My parents had to attend to one of our other properties, but I am more than capable of handling any questions or concerns you have.”
“O-Oh! Hey! Hi, hello, I’m Deku!”
Uraraka cracks a small smile. “I know.”
“R-Right, of course.” Izuku is, after all, in full hero costume. “Um, it looks like it’s just us today. I handle the insurance paperwork at the agency, so….”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Uraraka says. “To be honest, I was really nervous! I thought I’d have to deal with some stuffy old person talking down to me, but I’ve seen you on TV! We’re the same age, aren’t we?”
“I think so.” Izuku smiles hesitantly and hopes he can at least see it in the way his eyes crinkle over his mask. “I know what you mean. You have no idea how many people talk down to me.”
They tour the destroyed building site for an hour, Uraraka pointing out concerning areas and giving Izuku estimates on material and labor rates. The Mighty Agency is one of the only hero agencies in Japan that hire small, private companies for property damage instead of handing it off to the HPSC. Izuku had no idea why up until now. It’s obvious that Uraraka is trying to give the agency a fair price while also making sure her company is taken care of. It must be a pretty small company if they’re sending their teenaged daughter to negotiate, after all.
Yagi-san said it’s important to support small businesses, especially since they’re statistically more likely to be victims of villain attacks.
Uraraka and Izuku manage to keep it professional as they assess damages and work out a payment plan. However, Izuku completely loses his cool when he discovers her quirk.
“We need to see how much piping is under this slab,” Izuku says. They’re standing in front of a large concrete slab, which crushed some major plumbing structures when the building went down. “I could lift it, if you want to take a look?”
“Here, we can both take a look.” Uraraka looks around, confirming they’re alone. Then, she touches the slab of concrete.
It floats up, as if gravity just decided it didn’t apply to the slab anymore. Izuku gapes as the mess of destroyed pipes underneath is revealed. Uraraka hums thoughtfully.
“Yeah, we’ll probably need to completely redo the… Deku, are you okay?”
“Your quirk is so cool!” Izuku completely ignores the pipes. “Do you have a weight limit? Does it float anything you touch or does it have to be an inanimate object? Can you float people? Is it floating or are you creating some kind of invisible suspension…?”
Uraraka flushes under the attention. She presses both hands together, all ten fingers touching, and the slab falls with a heavy crash.
“Um, I’m, uh, technically not supposed to use it on the job,” she admits sheepishly. “I don’t have a public quirk use license, but… I figured it would be okay?”
“It is!” Izuku rushes to reassure her. “I won’t tell, I promise! I just think your quirk is so amazing–– and, wow, it must be pretty useful for construction, right?!”
“My dad has a similar quirk. He got his work related quirk use license and started the company right out of high school, but he won’t let me get my own license so I’m kind of stuck to just using it when no one’s looking.”
“That’s too bad,” Izuku says sincerely. “I can think of, like, a million applications! Uraraka, you could probably do just about anything you want!”
Uraraka’s eyes widen and she looks away quickly. Izuku immediately feels awkward. Was that a weird thing to say? He talks to Iida that way all the time–– but then again, Izuku has a feeling that Iida’s socialization skills might be even worse than Izuku’s. Izuku quickly changes the subject, ushering them through the remaining tour of the destruction site. When they loop back to their starting point, Uraraka turns to him.
“Um, before you go,” Uraraka says, looking shy for the first time today, “c-can I ask you something?”
“I, um, can’t tell you my name or introduce you to All Might, sorry.”
“Oh my god, do people just straight up ask you that?! No, no, I know you probably have to keep a lot of secrets–– I was just going to ask you about being a hero?”
“Oh. Oh! Yeah, I can answer that! Sorry for assuming the worst.”
Uraraka waves a hand. “Nah, don’t worry about it. I’m sure you get a lot of nosy reporters and–– anyway, i-it was really nice, what you said earlier about me being able to do anything. I wanted to ask about your experience with All Might because I’m planning on applying to hero school….”
“Really? Me, too!”
“You still need to go to hero school? Woah, I thought you were like, a full pro already?”
“Nope! All Might said there’s a bunch of stuff I can’t learn from just one hero, anyway. Where are you planning on applying? I really want to go to UA!”
“Oh, same!” Uraraka’s eyes sparkle with excitement. “I mean, I’ll go anywhere that’ll take me, but UA has the best scholarship program and plus Thirteen works there!”
“You like Thirteen? They’re amazing! Definitely one of the top rescue heroes to ever work in Japan. Oh, I once read an interview where they talked about how their quirk worked underwater….”
By the time Izuku and Uraraka finish gushing about various rescue heroes, the sun is threatening to set over the horizon. Izuku wants to be her friend so bad, but he knows he’s not supposed to give out his contact information when he’s in costume. She asks him so many interesting questions about heroics and offers her own thoughts on collateral damage and who should be held responsible. Izuku feels like they could talk forever.
They do part ways eventually and as soon as Izuku’s back at the agency he emails her the relevant documents for her company’s work. In his excitement, Izuku accidentally makes a typo in the body of his email. Uraraka emails him back with the proper documents from her end, and then sends a separate email that’s just a repeat of Izuku’s typo twenty times.
It makes Izuku laugh, all alone in his office, dozens of meters above downtown Musutafu.
Notes:
okay! that's it for this week!! now that we've got a bunch of stuff out of the way I can finally edit the tags and summary LOL
Some notes:
• The chapter title is from Dangerous by Big Data feat. Joywave.
• Surprise! This whole fic was an excuse for me to write medic!Izuku LMAO. If you want a visual on his hero costume, I did a messy edit/doodle here.
• The description of One for All when Izuku and Bakugou are under the overpass is based off this one tumblr post I read BEFORE I even got into BNHA about how since it's a centuries old stockpile quirk, it's probably ver scary to be around when it gets activated. Like people instinctively react with "!! danger !!" when Izuku activates it next to them. I'm sorry this is such a long description but if anyone knows that I'm talking about PLEASE drop me a link because I've been holding onto this headcanon since before I saw/read BNHA and they deserve all the credit but I can't find the post anywhere ;__;
EDIT: This is the post I'm talking about!! (Thank you awan_putih !)• Next week's chapter is 14.8K and will go up on December 11th!
Chapter 4: Give 'em hell, give 'em teeth, like you taught me
Summary:
Izuku: has a provisional license, regularly saves lives, is mastering the most powerful quirk in the world with no experience using a quirk
Also Izuku: I should be with the other average kids
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Izuku and Yagi-san have been fortunate enough to get in all their training and patrols within Yagi-san’s All Might time limit so far.
Today, their luck runs out.
Izuku has a couple of big exams coming up at school, so they rearrange his schedule temporarily to give him time after school to study. Izuku trains with All Might in the mornings and then goes to school. He finishes as much schoolwork as he can before five and then goes to the agency for his costume before meeting All Might at whatever point in his patrol route he happens to be at. It’s a bit messy, but it works well for a week. Izuku feels confident, coming into school after a morning spent training with the number one hero in the country. He doesn’t even look in Bakugou’s direction most days.
It’s this newfound confidence that has Izuku begging for an extra thirty minutes of training time that morning. Yagi-san, as Izuku has come to discover over the years, can’t say no to Izuku unless he has a really good reason. They train up until the last minute, with Izuku practically sprinting to school with toast in his mouth to avoid being late.
The rest of his school day passes as usual. Things start to go wrong when he’s suiting up for patrol.
“Hero Deku! Villain situation alert in 50 meters!” the mirror in his locker chirps.
50 meters? That’s right outside the building.
Izuku hastily pulls on his costume. He quickly slides his mask on, connecting his comms as he sprints down the stairs of the agency. The elevator will be too slow.
“All Might? Come in, there’s a situation outside the agency.”
“En route, Deku. ETA fifteen–– ack!”
“All Might!? All Might, come in!”
Static through the earpiece. Izuku stumbles down the remaining flight of stairs and tears through the lobby. Through the glass front doors of the agency, Izuku can see some kind of smokey, cloudy mass swirling around the street in front of them. The receptionist has the door to the agency open, a medical mask over her face as she calls for bystanders to come in for safety.
“M-My boy, it seems I’m out of time for today,” All Might, sounding weak, says through the comms. “I-I’m so sorry. I must have exerted more energy than I thought. Hang back and wait for––”
“I can do this,” Izuku interrupts.
Inside the swirling mass is a moving figure. Izuku can barely see them through the smoke, but the winds blow and for a second, Izuku has a direct line of sight. Two suspects, closely intertwined. One–– average height and weight, dark hair, no discernable mutation quirk from this distance–– is holding the other up. The second–– taller compared to their companion, light hair, bright yellow shirt–– is waving their hands in the air, as if shaping some invisible pottery.
An instant later, the gap in the smoke closes again, reducing the two villains into hazy silhouettes. Izuku takes stock of the environment. Overturned cars, panicking civilians, no other Pro Heroes in sight.
The smoke shifts again and Izuku sees them–– three kids, maybe middle school judging by size–– huddled in the alleyway directly opposite from the agency building. The villains are between Izuku and them.
“I can do this,” Izuku repeats into the comms. All Might is quiet as Izuku begins to move.
“You can,” Yagi-san says, softly but with conviction. That’s all Izuku needs.
First: pull the villains’ attention to him, try to lead them away from any buildings or people. Unfortunately, the Mighty Agency lies in the heart of downtown Musutafu, so the chances of leading them to a completely uninhabited area for a fight is slim to none. Izuku knows the building of the Mighty Agency can withstand forces equal to one of All Might’s 30% power punches, but it is also packed with evacuated people. He’d rather not risk it.
“Hey!” Izuku shouts, with all the authority he can muster. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
(It’s… not Izuku’s best line. Whatever, it’s his first solo fight, can you blame him?)
“Ah, the man of the hour!” A gravelly voice calls out from the middle of the smoke cloud. “Or should I say child of the hour?”
A high, tittering laugh comes from the cloud. Izuku powers up Full Cowl to 8%, the most he can do right now without hurting himself. It’s a good thing he does, because suddenly a car is being launched at him. Izuku bats it away from the front doors of the agency and it skids harmlessly along the empty road.
The kids are still in the alleyway. Izuku needs to draw the villains away.
“Sorry All Might couldn’t be here,” Izuku calls, dashing down the deserted road to try to draw them his way. “Guess he just didn’t think you were worth his time.”
“Oh, on the contrary,” the higher voice shouts, “we’re here for you, Mini Might!”
“What better way to teach the Symbol of Peace a lesson than to destroy his protegé?” says the rough voice.
The cloud seems to orient itself towards Izuku, swirling closer to him. Once they’re clear of the alley entrance, Izuku sees the kids dart out and into the agency building. Good, that’s every visible civilian in a relatively safe place. Now, Izuku can fight.
The villains continue their evil monologue. Izuku is so over it.
“We––” Izuku dodges as another car hurtles towards him, “–– are Cyclone and––!”
“–– Fumée!” finishes the deeper voice.
“Very original,” Izuku says drily. Over his comms, Yagi-san laughs.
Izuku dodges as a plume of smoke is sent towards him. He hastily hits a button on the side of his mask, closing up the vents in it so he doesn’t breathe the smoke in. He has no idea what Fumée–– presumably the one with the smoke quirk–– can do with their smoke, but he’s not going to find out. Izuku holds Full Cowl, crackling with energy as he brings his hands together in front of him in a superpowered clap.
The resulting wave of pressure blows the smoke away from Izuku and exposes Fumée and Cyclone. Fumée has smoke pouring from his mouth, and he’s firmly attached to Cyclone’s back in a kind of twisted piggyback ride. Cyclone is the tall one that was waving her arms earlier, obviously a couple decades older than Izuku. Based on the name and the hand gestures, Izuku guesses she has some kind of air manipulation quirk.
Izuku uses their surprise at being uncovered to dart closer, leaping forward ten meters in an easy, single jump.
“Fuck!” Cyclone makes a swatting motion and Izuku’s hit with a powerful wall of air coming from his left. He flies into a fire hydrant, but manages to get to his feet just as Fumée sends another plume of smoke at him.
Izuku flicks his fingers, blowing it back again. Cyclone and Fumée look frustrated at being repeatedly exposed.
“You brat!” Fumée growls.
“Come on, kid, let us make a martyr of you! You wanna die a hero, right?”
“I’d prefer to not die at all,” Izuku quips. This time, he jumps over the car flying at him, touching down on its roof in midair and using it to push off as he throws himself at the villain duo.
He needs to separate them. They obviously know how to use their quirks in tandem, switching between forceful air blasts from Cyclone and smoke attacks from Fumée, all the while obscuring their location with a swirling vortex of smoke. If Izuku can get one cornered, the other won’t be as effective.
He aims for Cyclone. Up close Izuku can see that she’s using repeated downward bursts of air to keep her and her partner afloat, giving the appearance of hovering. Izuku crashes into them, latching onto Cyclone with an iron grip on her waist and spinning them with enough force to make Fumée let go of Cyclone’s back.
Izuku and Cyclone crash hard into the side of an abandoned van, denting the metal. Fumée flies in the opposite direction, but Izuku doesn’t see him land. He manages to get one half of the quirk suppressant cuffs on Cyclone before she recovers from the landing and punches him in the face.
Izuku’s head snaps back from the force. Thanks to his mask, his nose isn’t broken, but the visor protecting his eyes definitely is. He’s knocked back and off of Cyclone, who slams a hand downward in front of her, pinning Izuku to the ground with a pad of air.
“So violent for someone so young,” she tsks, coughing out some blood. “Is it because of all the violent video games your generation plays?”
“I play animal crossing, boomer,” Izuku grits out.
He manages to flick a finger in her direction, sending a pressurized blast that slams her back into the dent in the van and breaks her concentration enough for Izuku to get to his feet.
Fumée then comes up behind him and hits him over the head with a broken off car side-view mirror.
Shit.
Izuku goes down and it’s only thanks to him maintaining Full Cowl at 8% that he’s not knocked out completely. Gran Torino warned him about keeping his eyes on his opponent.
Izuku rolls out of the way as Fumée brings the car mirror down on the spot where Izuku’s head used to be. Izuku plants his fingertips on the ground and uses a small burst of power to flip himself onto his feet. The world spins. He hears a faint beating in his ears.
Fumée stands in front of Cyclone, wielding the car mirror. Smoke is still pouring out of his mouth, but he doesn’t launch any attacks at Izuku. Cyclone must be the one responsible for the force behind the smoke attacks, then.
“You’re a handful,” Fumée snaps, looking very much like a cornered wolf. “Alright, you’ve made your point, little hero. Let us go.”
“You destroyed a city block and tried to kill me, and you think I’m going to let you go?” Izuku looks at them incredulously. “You’ve broken, like, a bunch of laws.”
“Let us go and no one else gets hurt,” Cyclone says. She’s recovered enough to stand and she rises to her full height now, palm pointed up to the sky. “Pretty bad idea to fly over someone who can control the air, huh?”
Izuku’s gaze follows her hand up. The beating in his ears earlier wasn’t a result of the hit over the head. It was the sound of a news helicopter hovering above them.
“All Might,” Izuku says urgently into his comms, praying they still work after the hit, “news helicopter, 200 meters up. Tell them to get out of the way.”
Static. No response.
Cyclone smirks, keeping her palm up. “That’s a good boy. Just stay right there.”
“This won’t be the last you see of us,” Fumée taunts, turning away. “I’d sleep with one eye open, Deku.”
Cyclone moves to follow. Her hand drops. Izuku sees his chance.
Never turn your back on your opponent, right?
In a second, he has Cyclone on the ground, arms pinned to her side. Fumée has no time to react as Izuku sweeps his legs out in a feat of flexibility that he will definitely feel in his back later. Fumée goes down hard next to them, but Izuku isn’t concerned with him. He already has Cyclone’s other hand in the quirk suppressing cuff.
“You have no idea the kind of people you serve,” Cyclone hisses at him, her face twisted with rage. “The Commission––”
“I don’t serve the Commision,” Izuku interrupts. “I serve the public.”
As soon as he realizes his partner is down, Fumée gives up. He lays, panting on the concrete as the helicopter’s blades beat overhead.
“So naive,” Fumée spits, allowing Izuku to cuff him. “I almost feel sorry for you.”
“Yeah, you and everyone I grew up with,” Izuku says offhandedly. Then, Izuku unbuckles his first aid backpack and settles on the ground between the two villains.
“Now, tell me what hurts. You took some pretty hard hits and the paramedics might not be here for a while.”
Japan Trends
1 • Trending
Deku
598k Tweets
2 • Trending
I play animal crossing boomer
Trending with Deku, Mini Might
3 • Trending
#NextGenMight
Trending with Deku, Mini Might
4 • Trending
#IServeThePublic
Trending with Deku, First Responders, Hero Code, Nurse Appreciation
cas (dm limit) @lurkersshot • 2h
did deku just take down two villains while yelling about animal crossing and calling them boomers… we HAVE to stan go deku you short king
23k retweets 709 quote tweets 45.2k likes
deku lockdown @smallmightstan • 3h
To everyone who thought Deku was some cute little bunny themed rescue hero: put your clown makeup on. That boy is feral. Did you see the way he tackled that villain at the end? And then treated their wounds? Duality! We love to see it !
60.2k retweets 1.3k quote tweets 90.4k likes
Musutafu Times @Times_MUJP • 5h
EXCLUSIVE: Interview with the helicopter camera crew behind the viral Deku villain fight footage. Full Article: bit.ly/K9Jk1
13k retweets 230 quote tweets 18.9k likes
Bee @ hq s4 @wildwildkenma • 6h
Is anyone else still a little horrified that this kid is running around like a full pro? Isn’t he like 12?
14 retweets 1 quote tweets 54 likes
Japan’s New Sweetheart? Here’s How Hero Deku Captured Two Dangerous Villains (And Our Hearts)
by Kato Kichiro for Buzzfeed JP
What’s cuter than a tiny kid with fluffy hair and a smile you can see in his eyes? A tiny kid who can also kick villain ass! Deku, All Might’s 14-year-old intern, just became Japan’s adorable adopted son. Footage from a villain fight on Thursday…
Read More
Hiro (!! prov lic exam friend 💕✨ !!) • 3:46 AM
“I dont serve the HPSC I serve the public” Thats fuckin right
Looked a bit rough for a second there but the news said you’re okay
Good job kiddo. Glad you didn’t break any bones
Me • 3:46 AM
hiro!!!! omg i can’t believe you saw that im so embarrassed 😣😭
And i dont break bones anymore !!! im waaayyy stronger now so don’t worry okay 🤜🤜🤜
Hiro (!! prov lic exam friend 💕✨ !!) • 3:46 AM
WTF why are you awake? Don’t babies need like 12 hours of sleep? Go to bed
✓ Read at 3:46 AM
“It’s time to make our move. Seto, draft up an email to All Might.”
Izuku lands roughly, concrete breaking up in chunks under his heels. He winces. He's going to have to do property damage paperwork for that later.
At least he’ll get to talk to Uraraka. Ever since Izuku’s big solo fight against Cyclone and Fumée he’s been more or less on house arrest. His internship time is spent strictly in his office. The first time he tried to patrol with All Might after the fight, they were swarmed with reporters so quickly that a villain almost got away. Yagi-san and Izuku both agreed that it would be best for Izuku to return to desk duty until the media storm died down.
Of course, things rarely go to plan.
Just one break, Izuku begs the universe, I’ll be good I swear!
He made the mistake of stepping out for lunch in full hero costume. He was just going to grab an egg sandwich from the conbini around the corner. Five minutes out of the building, tops! Somehow, he was spotted and by the time he got back to the agency, the street was swarmed with reporters.
So, obviously, Izuku did the logical thing. He ran.
He had to do a full circuit of downtown Musutafu before he lost everyone, and that was with Full Cowl at 5%. And now he’s managed to crack the pavement in front of the agency while landing, great.
“You are writing up the collateral report for that, right?” the receptionist, a no-nonsense older man named Omori, asks Izuku pointedly as he trudges into the agency.
“Y-Yes, sir!”
“Please stop calling me sir, Deku. You technically outrank me.”
“Sorry, sir–– Ah, I mean Omori-san.”
Izuku scampers away before anyone else can give him a disappointed adult stare. The other employees of the Mighty Agency are nice, but they have the tendency to either ignore him or try to parent him, which is deeply uncomfortable for Izuku. He thinks his mom is doing a fantastic job with him, considering what a handful he is. He’d like to see any other person raise the mess of anxiety and reckless heroism that is Midoriya Izuku— and as a single mother, too.
It’s been two months since Izuku officially started interning with All Might, and in that time he’s basically turned his office into a little nest. He’s moved a lot of his hero merchandise to his office since the agency has way better security than Izuku’s apartment. Some of this stuff is collector’s items, and Izuku will die before he lets it get stolen or damaged. He put in a request to finance for a “decent couch” which they chose to interpret as a large, sprawling L-shaped sectional. It’s not so much a couch as it is clouds and everything soft and comfy in the world condensed down into a couch shape. It’s Yagi-san’s favorite place to nap after patrol, nodding off while Izuku types up reports.
His computer turns on and unlocks as soon as Izuku sits down, facial recognition automatically pulling up his last opened program.
Izuku’s heart sinks.
From: [email protected]
Subject: I’m venting so much you might as well call me an imposter
Deku-kun,
Hey! Before you worry, no one is in immediate danger and the files you requested have already been forwarded. If you keep showing up to the company office expecting danger everytime I whine about my teen drama, my parents will start to think you’ve become our personal bodyguard LOL.
Jokes aside, I’ve been feeling a little down lately. In your last email (the personal one, not the one with the steel beam receipts) you mentioned that bottling things up is bad and that you talk to a therapist. I never really thought about therapy as something brave but the way you said it made me realize that it takes more courage to reach out for help than it does to hold it in. I was thinking about it and I realized that outside of work emails, I’ve kind of been using you as a vent outlet. I feel like I’ve been taking advantage of you, since you never vent back. I don’t want you to think that you’re a burden or that I’m not willing to listen to your problems too!
I know you probably have a lot of important hero stuff to do and a ton of friends to talk to, but I want you to know that I’m here for you, too! You listen to my insecurities and money problems and petty family drama all the time, so it’s only fair that I listen to you!
That’s what friends are for, right?
Uraraka
p.s I saw this really funny tumblr post comparing footage of you hopping around while you fight to gifs of bunnies. I put the link in the attachments of this email :D
Friends. Uraraka called them friends.
It makes Izuku feel heavy with guilt, just skimming the email one more time. Uraraka has been so kind to him, despite the fact that most of their interactions are job related. It’s true that they blur the line between professionalism and companionship, but Izuku kind of thought that maybe they could just keep it like this for a while. Izuku doesn’t want to have to cut off contact with one of the only four people in the world who treat him like a person and not a liability.
Back when Izuku first started working, PR gave him a very stern speech about trusting people. They gave him a crash course on how to spot undercover journalists, how to read body language, how to scan for bugs in a room. They also told him to avoid getting close to people he meets as a hero, at least until he’s an adult and can make better judgment calls.
And Izuku knows, okay? If it was just him, he’d have been adding Uraraka to a groupchat with Iida and tearfully declaring his platonic love to them ages ago. The reality is that no matter how nice she seems, no matter how much Izuku trusts her, he doesn’t trust her with his mother’s safety.
Izuku can’t be selfish. His mom and Yagi-san’s lives are on the line if he messes up.
The guilt sits heavily in his stomach. He doesn’t feel hungry anymore. The egg sandwich got crushed while he was escaping the media, anyway. He looks around his cozy little office, tucked up into the highest, quietest corner of the building and dozens of meters away from any other person. Suddenly it feels less like a sanctuary and more like an isolation cell.
Izuku sighs. He slips his hero mask back on and heads to the roof.
All Might finds him up there, an hour later when his patrol finishes. He must read something in the way Izuku is sitting, slouched into himself with his legs tucked up and his back against the half-wall running along the edge. He doesn’t greet Izuku with his usual exuberance. Instead he lands gently (how can someone so big be so soft?) and approaches Izuku cautiously, powering down until it’s not All Might anymore, just Yagi-san.
“Is everything okay, my boy? Did something happen?”
“Just…” Izuku struggles here. He’s been getting better about talking about his feelings with Yagi-san, but a small part of him is still scared that if he looks too vulnerable, Yagi-san will decide he’s not hero material after all.
“Whatever it is, you can tell me,” Yagi-san encourages. “Or, if you’re more comfortable, we can book an emergency session with Dr. Takamoto. I know you had to skip your appointment last week because of that villain attack.”
“It’s not a therapy thing,” Izuku says.
“I see. A One for All thing?”
“Not really.”
“A general hero thing?”
“I–– y-yeah.” Izuku curls up tighter, hiding his face in his knees. He hears the sounds of Yagi-san lowering himself to sit, folding his lanky limbs into a shape that fits next to Izuku. He sits close enough for Izuku to know he’s there, but not crowding him, just like Inko taught him for when Izuku has panic attacks.
For some reason, this makes Izuku feel even guiltier. Yagi-san is so good to him. He’s nice and understanding and he tries his best to be whatever Izuku needs. Like his mom, and Iida, and Uraraka. What did Izuku do to deserve such kindness? Stop one crime? Weasel his way into Yagi-san’s heart after years of being the annoying kid neighbor? It’s only because Yagi-san is perhaps the kindest person to ever walk the Earth that he hasn’t asked for One for All back. Izuku can only hope that he’ll still want to be Izuku’s friend when this is all over.
“Can you tell me about it?” Yagi-san asks. “It might make you feel better.”
Izuku peaks up and sees Yagi-san giving him an encouraging smile. He unfurls a bit.
“Yagi-san, how did you decide who to reveal your identity to?”
Yagi-san looks surprised.
“Ah, honestly, my boy, I didn’t. Everyone who knows was either trusted by my mentor or they found out by accident. You and your mother were the only ones I chose to tell. For a long time after my mentor died, the only one who knew about me was Gran Torino, but by then I had already moved to America.”
“Oh.”
Yagi-san keeps talking about how he chose Izuku, which doesn’t square right with Izuku’s imposter syndrome. He’s stuck between his instinct to blindly trust Yagi-san and his own internal insistence that he’s somehow tricked everyone into thinking he’s something he’s not.
“Was it lonely?” Izuku asks.
“America?”
Izuku nods.
“Yes,” Yagi-san says bluntly. “Luckily the universe shined down on me and brought me to David, completely coincidentally. But before that, yes, I was terribly lonely. I like to think if we had met some other way–– if I didn’t save him as All Might before meeting him as Toshinori–– I would have told him. The companionship was worth risking my secret.”
“H-How do you know, though? How do you decide if it’s better to tell someone or safer to be lonely?”
Yagi-san considers him for a moment.
“Is this about the Iida boy? I thought he already knew, and seeing as he himself comes from a heroic family, I’d bet that he knows the value of secrecy.”
“It’s not about Iida, I met him as Izuku so it was fine. I want–– There’s, um, this girl I know. I think we’d be really good friends but she only knows me as Deku.”
“Ah, yes! Young Uraraka.”
Izuku jolts, surprised. “How did you know?”
Yagi-san chuckles. “My boy, you’ve always worn your heart on your sleeve. The two of you are inseparable when we meet with the Uraraka Construction Co. I rather thought the two of you were already friends.”
“We are! I mean, basically, but….” Izuku trails off, feeling frustrated. “I don’t know. It feels like I’m lying to her? By not being my full self? You know that I, um, didn't really have any friends before. And I have Iida now, which is great, but I just feel like Uraraka gets me in ways that he doesn’t. I actually think the two of them would get along really well, if I could introduce them somehow.”
Yagi-san hums, thinking for a moment.
“My advice is to go with your gut,” he says finally. “If your heart is telling you that she’s trustworthy, then I say go for it. You need to remember that you’re still a teenager, young Midoriya. Interaction with same-aged peers is invaluable for the developing teenage brain.”
That makes Izuku smile a bit. “Did you read that in one of the parenting books Gran Torino sent you?”
“I–– No, that is to say I did read–– my boy, please stop laughing at me!”
Izuku’s giggles trail off. He feels so much lighter after talking to Yagi-san.
“I would like to encourage you to reach out to more people your age,” Yagi-san says. “However, don’t forget you have mostly unrestricted access to the most extensive government databases. Maybe run a background check before you decide to trust her fully.”
“A-A background check?! Isn’t that an invasion of privacy? I-I couldn’t!”
“You don’t have to. Ask one of the people in intel to do it for you and only notify you if there are any red flags. My boy, do you think I moved into your apartment building without doing full background checks on every tennant?”
“Oh. Okay, yeah, that makes sense. Thanks Yagi-san, I feel a lot better.”
“No problem, my boy! Now, as much as I love our rooftop adventures, it is getting chilly out here. Have you eaten yet? Perhaps we can get takeout and drop by to surprise your mother at work.”
Izuku waits until the next time they see each other in person to reveal his civilian identity to Uraraka. The Mighty Agency may have the best cybersecurity in this hemisphere, but Izuku is also naturally very paranoid. Databases can be hacked, emails can be leaked. Izuku pulls Uraraka to the side after they finish assessing the newest destruction site. The site is restricted, but Izuku guides them into a small shed at the edge of the property that managed to stay standing.
“Um, Uraraka? There’s something I wanted to tell you….” Izuku trails off, fidgeting awkwardly.
“Are you dying?” Uraraka blurts out, panicked. “Is everything okay?!”
“I––!” Izuku turns bright red under his mask. “I’m not–– no! I’m okay! W-Why is that the first thing you thought of?!”
“Oh my god, I’m so sorry! I shouldn’t have assumed!”
“No, don’t apologize! I didn’t mean to worry you, even if I wasn’t really… um! Anyway!” Izuku’s voice squeaks at the end.
Uraraka lets out a loud, relieved laugh. Izuku buries his face in his hands.
“That was so awkward.”
“I’m sorry for yelling at you, I panicked.”
Izuku lowers his hands and sends her a little smile. “It’s okay. I, um, actually wanted to tell you that I’m really glad you’re my friend. I’ve been thinking lately and––”
Izuku takes a deep breath, squaring his shoulders. He reaches up and pulls off his mask.
“Hi,” Izuku says, smiling shyly. “I-I’m Midoriya Izuku.”
Uraraka’s eyes fill with tears. She flings herself at him, wrapping him up in a tight hug as she babbles in his ear.
“Deku-kun! This is so–– I’m so–– Thank you for trusting me! I didn’t think we would ever–– I won’t tell anyone, I promise! It’s nice to meet you, Midoriya-kun!”
Izuku chuckles, hugging her back just as fiercely.
“I honestly trusted you after the second time we met, but I have to be pretty careful with my civilian identity. My mom–– oh, I can’t wait for you to meet my mom! She’s going to love you! A-And now I can introduce you to Iida-kun! Do you remember him? I think I mentioned him in a couple emails but not by name.”
“This is the best day of my life. What time does your internship shift end? Let’s go get boba tea! I wanna hang out with you as Midoriya! We have so much to talk about.”
Izuku grins so hard his cheeks ache.
User: All Might
[Files]
–– Inbox
–– Trash
From: [email protected]
Subject: An exciting opportunity for Deku!
All Might,
I hope this email finds you in good health. As you may know, the Hero Public Safety Commission has had our eye on your intern for a while. Since all previous emails have received no response I took it upon myself, as Chair of Recruitment, to personally reach out. We’d like to offer your intern a place in a customized program tailored to train him specifically. I’ve attached the full documents to this email, but I will summarize our major offers below.
Our first order of business would be transferring training responsibility from your agency to the Commission…
Read More
December brings colder weather and achy bones.
Izuku gets new gloves from David Shields with built in warmers so his joints don’t lock up while he’s on patrol. Inko jokes about having two arthritic heroes to watch after, but she still insists on pushing warm mugs of tea into Izuku and Yagi-san’s hands whenever the two of them sit still long enough.
Luckily for Izuku, the media seems to have eased off camping out in front of the agency. Some hero in Osaka got caught up in a scandal which drew national attention away from the whole Deku thing. He gets stopped on patrol still, but usually one look from All Might is enough to get the more aggressive reporters to leave them alone. Izuku finally gets all his medical certifications. PR gives him a couple more classes on public image. Bakugou leaves him alone at school.
The villain fights Izuku gets pulled into are never as difficult as his first solo one was. Yagi-san has been careful with his time as All Might and they’re rarely separated. There are a lot of pictures floating around the internet of Deku following All Might around like a puppy. PR warned him about limiting his internet usage–– which he does! Mostly. But he’s basically grown up with his brain wired directly to the internet and the past few months of no All Might fandom content has been driving him crazy.
He’s lurking on his old Fans of Might discord chat–– under a new, anonymous account–– when Yagi-san comes into his office one day.
“Oh, you’re still here? I thought you went home for the week, I was going to nap on your couch.”
Izuku smiles. “Go ahead, Yagi-san, I’m not really working on anything that needs concentration.”
Someone in the discord sends a photoshopped picture of a samurai wielding a sword and cradling a cat protectively. The samurai is labeled ‘All Might’ and the cat has little bunny ears drawn on with the name ‘Deku’ over it. Izuku is very glad Yagi-san can’t see his monitor from where he stands.
“You shouldn’t be working at all! I thought I told you to take the week until the new year off.”
“I can’t just leave you to do all the work,” Izuku says, minimizing the cat meme. “Crime rates go up on holidays! I saw this statistical study on crime rates in Tokyo last Christmas and how the lack of on duty heroes contributed to––”
“My boy,” Yagi-san interrupts. “While I think it’s sweet of you to worry, I assure you I can handle it.”
“I-I know you can handle it,” Izuku says, “I just don’t think you should be working by yourself. I’m off school, so what else would I be doing?”
“Playing video games? Resting? Hanging out with friends? Normal teen things.”
Normal teen things.
“Please,” Izuku begs, joy creeping into his voice, “Yagi-san, please continue. I need to know what you think ‘normal teen things’ are.”
“Don’t make fun of me! I just today learned what a ‘yeet’ is!”
“A yeet!” Izuku repeats, dissolving into laughter.
Yagi-san rolls his eyes. He settles down onto the couch. “I know I’m out of touch, no need to rub it in. That isn’t very lit of you, young Midoriya.”
“Oh my god,” Izuku wheezes. He scrambles for his phone, opening up his camera. “Yagi-san, please repeat that.”
“Okay, okay, enough. Seriously, go home. You’re overworking yourself. Go be a teen!”
“I honestly don’t really know how,” Izuku admits, still giggling a little. “Before I got my license my ‘normal teen’ activity was scanning the internet for hero news.”
“You have friends to figure it out with, now,” Yagi-san reminds him. “You’ve been working so hard my boy, and once you start high school it will only get more intense. Live a little!”
“Uraraka did mention doing something for the holidays….”
“Perfect!” Yagi-san beams. “Now go! Shoo! Go be a normal teen!”
It turns out both of Izuku’s friends are also bad at being normal teens.
Uraraka is so busy with her family’s company and maintaining her grades for her scholarship that she doesn’t really socialize with her classmates. Iida goes to a fancy private school with really small class sizes and none of his classmates are very friendly with him. Izuku thinks this is a great injustice. These people have the privilege of seeing Iida and Uraraka every day and they’re not jumping at the chance to be friends? Izuku would kill to be able to see them every day! Who knows how different Izuku’s life would be if he had gone to school with them.
Since Iida’s out in Hosu and Uraraka only commutes in from the countryside for work, the three of them haven’t really been able to hang out in person. Video chats are nice and all, but most of the time Izuku’s exhausted from his internship and ends up falling asleep on call. He’s excited to have a full day to just hang out with his friends, nothing else planned.
Christmas Eve is usually a couple’s holiday, but they don’t care. It’s the only time Uraraka will be free and both Iida and Izuku are off from any intern duties.
Izuku is so excited he’s bouncing. He’s going out! With friends!
UA here we come!! ✨🤜🙏
zoom 🏃🏻 • 1:12 PM
Uraraka, have you boarded your train yet? Do be careful! Public transportation at this time tends to be crowded.
uwuraka 💕 • 1:12 PM
Iida please chill I’ll be fine
Yes I’m on the train
I’m so excited guys !! I saved up just for this!!
bunny boi 🐇💚 • 1:12 PM
me too !!!
being an intern pays pretty well but it usually just goes right back into all mights pocket because i spend it all on his merch lmao 😭
zoom 🏃🏻• 1:13 PM
Midoriya-kun, you are his employee! Can you not simply ask the agency or All Might himself to give you merchandise for free?
(Also, can one of you please change my nickname? I still haven’t figured out how to do it…)
bunny boi 🐇💚 • 1:13 PM
omg :O no !!! i can’t ask for free merch !!! i’m supporting his brand! !!
also sorry iida lol friendship with uraraka means you get silly nicknames its part of the deal
uwuraka 💕 • 1:13 PM
Deku you work for the agency >:[ it’s your brand too !
Oh my stop’s coming up! Can’t wait to see both of you!!
Izuku pockets his phone and looks around the station. He’s not the tallest person, but he hopes Uraraka can still find him. He’s wearing his brightest All Might hoodie, but he knows he’s rather plain looking. He cranes his neck, standing on tiptoes to try to look around. Iida should be here by now, too.
“Midoriya-kun!”
As if on cue, Iida emerges from the crowd, power walking to Izuku’s place near the wall. He’s wearing a long, navy blue overcoat with the crispest button up shirt Izuku has ever seen tucked neatly into smart looking khakis. Even just his shoes are nicer than Izuku’s entire outfit. The put-together effect is ruined though when Izuku notices how flustered Iida is, his glasses fogging up from the heat of his face.
“Hey, Iida! Are you alright?”
“I apologize! I meant to meet you twenty minutes ago so we could receive Uraraka together, but I underestimated the amount of time it would take me to navigate this station. I do not often come into Tokyo without my brother.”
“It’s okay, Iida, don’t worry about it!” Izuku rushes to reassure him. “I-I don’t really come to this area much either! I mean Musutafu is pretty similar, but ah–– I had to take so many transfers so it’s fine, really!”
“Still! It is important to be punctual, especially for social events! I wouldn’t want you or Uraraka to think I didn’t value our time together!”
“Iida, really––”
“How did you two function without me?”
Their attention snaps to Uraraka, who appears to have been standing by and watching their conversation for a while. She’s all bundled up in her cute little coat with her hand on her hips, looking at the two of them in amusement.
“Were all of your conversations like this before you added me to the chat?”
“Uraraka!”
“Uraraka, it’s nice to finally meet you in person!”
Uraraka accepts hugs from the both of them, bodily lifting Izuku up when he hugs her.
“You’re so tiny without all your gear!”
“Uraraka!” Izuku blushes. “Shh, no work talk in public. Plus, I’m taller than you!”
“Right, right!” She gives him a dazzling smile and then reaches into her backpack. “Anyway, I got you guys stuff!”
“You didn’t have to––”
“That’s so kind of you––”
“Hush, hush.” She hands them both small envelopes. “It’s, uh, n-not much, but––”
Izuku is already in tears. “I love it!”
“You haven’t even opened it yet, you goof.”
Izuku doubles down. “I said I love it! It’s a gift from you, I don’t care what it is. I already love it!”
“I, too, purchased presents for you two. I hope it’s to your tastes. I’ve never had friends to gift shop for before, but my brother assured me that it was the thought that counts!”
Now Izuku is really full on sobbing in the middle of this busy train station. “Iida! I can’t believe both of you bought presents. I only got you guys food….”
Iida perks up. “Could it be––?”
“De–– Midoriya, did you bake for us?!”
Izuku blushes. About two months ago he took up baking as a hobby to destress and help gain back some dexterity after breaking his hands so many times. Turns out kneading dough and holding tiny measuring spoons is pretty good for Izuku’s messed up hand muscles. He’s been baking pretty much nonstop in between school and his hero duties–– something his mom lovingly complains about and their neighbors adore. Izuku doesn’t want to brag but he makes a pretty banging shortcake.
Izuku shyly hands over the bags he’s been carrying, containing tupperware with a variety of baked goods. He stayed up all night last night, partially from excitement but mostly to make sure he gave his friends only the best confections.
“Midoriya-kun, this means more than anything money can buy,” Iida says, bowing his head with reverence as he accepts his gift bag.
“I’m so excited to try it!” Uraraka is already cracking open one of the containers. “Those cookies you made while we were FaceTiming the other day looked so good.”
“I have had the pleasure of eating one of Midoriya-kun’s creations once before,” Iida says, a far-away, dreamy look on his face. “He brought brownies to one of our study sessions. It was the most heavenly thing I’ve ever consumed.”
“You guys,” Izuku whines, thoroughly embarrassed and with happy tears still running down his cheeks, “stop, it’s not even that good.”
“We better get going before Midoriya floods the station,” Uraraka jokes, herding the two boys towards the exit. “Come on! We can open our presents at the boba tea place before we go to the Christmas Market!”
They spend the afternoon catching up and unwrapping their gifts. Uraraka got Izuku a homemade Deku phone charm. It’s just a tiny bunny charm that she painted green with nail polish but Izuku loves it so much he starts up a fresh round of tears. Iida bought him a stack of really nice, high quality notebooks. He said he’d seen how worn and beat-up Izuku’s were and decided he needed some durable ones to survive his hectic life. This also reduces Izuku to tears.
Izuku’s baked goods pair nicely with their milk tea and by the time they finish they’re all feeling the effects of a sugar high. They bounce their way onto a train to the Christmas Market in Shiba Park.
Izuku looks around the traincar as they travel. It’s packed so he’s pressed close to Iida and Uraraka, he and Iida sandwiching Uraraka between them. He sways with the movement of the train, lightly brushing against them. Here it’s warm–– slow, syrupy heat that seeps into Izuku’s bones. He can still smell the lingering sweetness from the tea shop on them, sugary and homey and exactly what Izuku thinks friendship should smell like. Comforting. Under the harsh fluorescent train lights Iida and Uraraka glow, like stars that Izuku’s managed to trick into spending time down on Earth with him.
Uraraka notices him spacing out. “Hey, bun. You good?”
Izuku blinks back to himself. “Y-Yeah. Just… excited to see the market!”
“Ah, of course! I read online that the Tokyo Christmas Market is one of the most popular holiday activities for Tokyo residents and tourists alike! We should try the waffles while we’re there. Though I’m sure nothing will be as delicious as the treats you gifted us, Midoriya-kun.”
“Those macarons,” Uraraka sighs.
Izuku grins. He doesn’t know how much longer he’ll get to keep them. Once they start UA and meet people who aren’t as anxious and messed up as Izuku they’ll probably drift off. Izuku will be sad to see them go but he won’t blame them. How could he when they’ve given him this already?
So, for now, this is enough. This is more than enough.
Published to HelpfulHeroes.com on Jan 1.
Helpful Heroes Weekly’s Top 10 Up-and-Coming Rescue Heroes to Look Out For This Year
by Mayeda Hana for HelpfulHeroes.com
[full article]
10. Deku (intern, The Mighty Agency)
And rounding out our list at number 10 is a name most wouldn’t expect to see for years to come. That’s right, Helpful Heroes is making two exceptions for Deku, seeing as he isn’t a rescue hero–– or even a full hero at all! The young intern only holds a provisional hero license, yet footage from his fight against Crusher as well as the countless times he’s administered first aid to victims during All Might fights has firmly cemented him on our To Watch list.
Those are our picks for the top 10 rescue heroes to watch this year. Let us know if you agree in the comments below.
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After their next family dinner, Yagi-san sits Izuku and his mom down at the table with a heavy face.
“We need to talk about UA,” he says.
Izuku cautiously straightens. “W-What about UA? Iida, Uraraka, and I took a practice written exam the other day and I did fairly well.”
Izuku had actually gotten perfect points on the practice exam, but that doesn’t mean anything when it comes to UA. Principal Nedzu is not someone Izuku underestimates and there are rumors that the exams in recent years have been ramping up in difficulty to combat the oversaturation of applicants.
“I’m glad you and your friends are prepared,” Yagi-san says. His face is still so uncharacteristically grim, which really raises Izuku’s anxiety levels. “I’m more concerned about… certain outside forces trying to influence your decision to go to UA.”
“What?”
“Toshinori, what’s going on?”
“I received a very concerning email from the HPSC the other day.” Yagi-san pulls out his phone and taps the screen a couple times before handing it off to Inko to read the email. “They expressed interest in taking Izuku into a specialized training program, similar to the one Hawks did as a child. It’s an all expenses paid six month training camp to start and then a couple more programs to bypass his high school degree. They made it pretty clear that they would fully take over his training and provide you two with whatever financial support you needed during the program.”
“Isn’t this a good thing?” Izuku asks hesitantly. “I mean, UA has always been my dream, but you’re losing time, Yagi-san. If I can expedite my training then I can become a full Pro and help you out sooner, right? Plus, then mom wouldn’t have to work so hard. Or maybe we can negotiate a partial program, or….”
Izuku trails off when he notices how pale his mom has gotten. She’s finished reading the email and passed Yagi-san back his phone.
“They’re threatening you, Toshinori,” she says. It’s not a question.
Yagi-san sighs.
“Yes, there are a few thinly veiled threats to cut HPSC funding to some programs I set up through the Mighty Agency. I initially deleted the email as soon as I read it. The HPSC can be quite manipulative. I’m still trapped in some contractual obligations they put on me when I signed as a teenager fresh out of UA and I don’t trust them anywhere near Izuku. However, I thought it only fair to present you both with their offer. It’s not my place to make decisions for you, young Midoriya.”
“I–– I don’t wanna do anything you wouldn’t approve of,” Izuku says quickly. “If you think they’re tricking me somehow then I don’t wanna do whatever dumb training program they’re offering. I wanted to go to UA anyway!”
“It’s not just a training program,” Yagi-san says. “What happened to Hawks is a bit of an open secret among Pros and only recently has the public begun to suspect that the HPSC hasn’t been forthcoming in how they trained him. They trapped him in a deal as a child–– even younger than you are now, my boy–– and as a result he’s been turned into a puppet for the HPSC’s agenda. I know for a fact that several Pros offered him a contract in their agencies to give him some freedom from the Commission, but whatever contract they have with him must be air-tight since he’s never accepted.
“You think they want to put Izuku under the same training? Turn him into another Hawks?”
“It would make the most sense, even just from a marketing perspective. They could combat the bad press and public speculation about Hawks’ mistreatment and capitalize on Izu–– Deku’s rising popularity. He’s already more-or-less a Pro Hero child star so there wouldn’t be any accusations on them grooming another child-soldier.”
Inko looks horrified.
“Of course, this could just be a genuine offer. I may be biased against the commission for the way they’ve used the All Might image to push certain laws through the Japanese government. They could truly want the best for you, my boy.”
Izuku shakes his head. “N-No, I… I can’t believe I even considered it. Hiro–– from the license exam–– he even warned me that the Commission would come after me. I just didn’t really think they’d notice me, of all people.”
“Yes, being the protege of the number one hero will do that,” Yagi-san says tiredly. “I’m sorry, both of you. I know the media attention hasn’t been easy to deal with.”
“I think you and Izuku have been doing your best with the situation you’re in. Hero politics aside, I think UA–– or even better, a regular high school–– would be the best option for you, Izuku. You need to interact with kids your age. I’m worried that the only friends you have are related to your identity as Deku.”
“Iida and Uraraka are great friends!” Izuku defends. He’s only known them for a short amount of time but he’d readily die for them.
“I know, love,” his mom soothes, “but still, it would be good for you to talk to normal teens.”
“Normal teens don’t like me,” Izuku says.
“I… yeah, okay.” Inko concedes. “Maybe if we can find you a good regular high school? One with a better harassment policy than Aldera? I could switch a couple shifts and we can look at some private schools.”
Izuku frowns. “Mom, you just changed your shifts at work! You already do so much, you don’t have time to tour schools.”
“I always have time for you,” Inko says with no hesitation. “I will do anything to keep you safe, Izuku.”
Izuku’s eyes well up. “Mom.”
“If a normal high school is what you both want, I will be more than happy to cover the costs,” Yagi-san cuts in quickly before both Midoriyas can dissolve into tears. “While I agree that having friends outside your hero persona would be good for your mental health, I think that UA would be a good fit. As much as I’d love to continue mentoring you daily like this, you are right, my boy. I’m running out of time. There are things that I can’t teach you. UA will let you explore other aspects of heroism, too. I’ve been training you to be a battle hero who operates in densely packed urban settings, but once you get older you may find your calling to be rescue missions, or humanitarian aid abroad. I want you to keep your options open and I believe UA would be the best place for that.”
Izuku nods. “Yeah, I’ve always wanted to go to UA. Mom, I know you’re worried but UA is really safe! All the teachers are Pros, I’ll be fine!”
Inko bites her lip. “The decision is yours, Izuku. I’m just so worried, after how your junior high treated you.”
“UA has a strict no harassment policy,” Yagi-san reassures. “Maximum security, too. And… ah, I’m really not supposed to tell anyone, but I’ve been offered a position on the staff, so if anything happens I can be at Izuku’s side in no time. Your son will be safe there, Inko. I swear on my life.”
Inko searches his face for a moment, then relaxes. “I will hold you to that, Toshinori.”
“I would expect nothing less.”
The two smile at each other and some of the tension runs out of the room.
“I’ll be fine, Mom! Besides, I have a quirk now. The only thing they can bully me for is being a nerd, but UA is one of the hardest schools to get into in the country! Everyone else will be nerds, too!”
Inko’s face wobbles, like she’s torn between laughing and frowning. “No one will bully you, period Izuku. If I hear about any harassment I will have words with your teachers.”
“Looking to add more names to the list of Pros you’ve punched?” Yagi-san teases.
Inko chuckles. “I don’t think I can top punching the Symbol of Peace, can I? But I am serious. You come to me if anyone bothers you, okay Izuku?”
“I’ll be okay, don’t worry!”
Inko, predictably, still worries. “Applications open up soon, right? How dangerous is the exam?”
“Mom, I run around stopping villains regularly. The exam should be fine.”
“I know, baby, but you also regularly land yourself in the hospital. Toshinori, what does he have to do for the practical exam?”
“Fight giant robots––”
“Actually, he––”
Izuku and Yagi-san stop. Yagi-san frowns.
“My boy, how did you know that the entrance exam involves robots?”
“I did some research,” Izuku admits. “Over the past fifteen years, since Principal Nedzu was elected by the board, there’s been four types of practical exams for the hero course. There’s an obstacle course, a rescue simulation, a series of escape rooms, and the robots. Past applicants can’t really go into details on the exams, but there’s pretty good documentation on what type of exam is held every year. The robots haven’t been used in the past five years and the obstacle course was used the past two years in a row. I figured it was pretty likely that this year would be the robots, but I also prepared for the rescue simulation.”
Inko and Yagi-san sit back, stunned. Izuku smiles sheepishly.
“For a long time I, uh, thought I’d have to take the exam quirkless. So, I did a little research to prepare.”
“A little,” Inko mutters, shaking her head fondly.
Yagi-san grins sunnily. “My boy, you never cease to amaze me. How long did it take you to–– no matter! It’s irrelevant. You won’t be taking the general exam.”
“What?”
“Ah, this was meant to be a surprise, but it seems I really can’t keep secrets from you.” Yagi-san, ever one for dramatics, puffs up into his hero form. He knocks back his chair and jolts the table, filling their tiny kitchen with smoke.
“Young Midoriya! I am officially recommending you to the hero course at UA, as your mentor and sponsor!”
“What?!”
“Yes! I–– ack!” Yagi-san coughs, deflating back down with a small splatter of blood.
“Toshinori!”
“Yagi-san!”
Yagi-san waves away their concern, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket and wiping at his bloody nose. “Sorry, sorry. I was just so excited! Yes, my boy! It is my greatest honor to submit a formal recommendation to UA on your behalf.”
“I–– I don’t––” Izuku, unsurprisingly, bursts into tears. “Y-Yagi-san!”
“Oh, Izuku,” Inko mutters. She stands and retrieves a tissue box from the living room, depositing in front of him with a fond sigh.
“You–– you’re using your UA recommendation for–– for–– for me?” Izuku gets out in between heaving, joyful sobs. “UA only gives Pro Heroes one in a lifetime! Why me?”
Yagi-san pats his shoulder, looking at Izuku like the answer is obvious. “Even after all your accomplishments you’re still asking me that question. Of course I’m using it on you. I named you as my successor, did I not?”
“Yes, but––! What if––?” Izuku cuts himself off. Just as soon as they’d started, his tears stopped. It starts to sink in. All Might chose him.
“What if what? What if I change my mind? Find another student?” Yagi-san shakes his head, laughing as if he found the idea absurd. “Listen to me, my boy. I could interview every young prospective hero in the world and I would not change my mind. I stand by my decision. There will be other heroic students. There will be others who have a big heart, like you, or who wish to make the world better, like you.
“But there will never be another Midoriya Izuku.”
Yagi-san looks at him, fiercely proud as his smile stretches all the way across his gaunt cheeks, eyes crinkling at the corners. Izuku feels warm under his gaze, like laying out in the sun.
Now, it’s Inko’s turn to cry.
“Mom? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing!” Inko laughs, tears streaming down her face. “I’m just–– I’ve been waiting so long for someone else to see how special Izuku is. Thank you, Toshinori.”
Yagi-san chuckles, gazing at the Midoriyas with open affection on his face. “Yes, well. In any case, my recommendation only holds as much weight as the next hero’s. And despite his license and internship, Izuku will still have to take the written exam and do a practical demonstration along with the other recommended students.”
“I’ve been studying for the written exam since I could read,” Izuku says, “and my quirk doesn’t even break my bones anymore! I can do this!”
Izuku can not do this.
Yagi-san didn’t mention socializing would be part of the exam. Socializing with kids his age, in front of their mentors and what feels like every Pro Hero Izuku has ever looked up to in his life, ever. He feels incredibly small and lonely, tucked into himself in a corner of gym Gamma while everyone else mills about.
He’s taking the exam in full hero gear, minus the first aid backpack. Principal Nedzu and All Might both agreed that it would be safest for Izuku if the other students didn’t see his face or learn his name. Since the media has heavily documented Deku’s quirk in action, any demonstration Izuku did during the exam would obviously trace back to him. It would be a different story once Izuku got into UA–– assuming he passes–– but for now he has his face safely hidden under his mask. Unsurprisingly, this means that the other students either blatantly stare at him or avoid eye contact like he’ll snap at them if they look too long. They whisper a lot. It makes Izuku feel small.
Yagi-san couldn’t be here today. It’s fine. Izuku understands why, of course he does. He’s down to only three hours in his All Might form, and with Izuku at UA taking his exam, someone had to patrol. Of course, understanding why Yagi-san couldn’t be here doesn’t mean Izuku can’t wish against all logic that the gym doors would swing open and Yagi-san would stride in smiling to save Izuku from his social anxiety.
“Kid,” someone grunts.
Izuku yelps as someone falls from the ceiling, dangling from a white cloth upside-down like a spider.
“You need to be more aware of your surroundings,” the spider-man says, flipping himself and using his scarf to lower himself until his feet are touching the floor.
“You always this jumpy?”
“N-No, just a little nervous for the exam….” Izuku looks closer at the man. Wait, is that––“Eraserhead?!”
The man–– Eraserhead: Aizawa Shouta, teacher at UA, and Izuku’s second favorite hero of all time, holy shit–– looks surprised. “How do you know who I am?”
“You’re the best underground hero in Japan,” Izuku says, shock completely ruining his filter, “and you were awarded by the Hero Public Safety Commission three years in a row for best hero school teacher. You took down the Furutani gang a few years ago and someone leaked the CCTV footage of you fighting Laughing Crane while the hostages escaped. I watched that video a thousand times, the way you used your momentum to take down––”
“Okay,” Eraserhead cuts him off, looking overwhelmed. “That’s enough. Where did All Might even find you?”
Izuku perks up at the mention of his mentor. “Actually, it’s a funny story. I, uh, stopped a hero merch shop robbery.”
“Right.” Eraserhead hasn’t stopped staring at him. “Well, I guess I don’t need to introduce myself then. All Might asked Nedzu for someone to look out for you while you were taking the exam, and since I’m the only staff member that doesn’t grade the recommended exams, you’re stuck with me.”
“Oh, okay!” Izuku smiles. “Is it okay if I ask you some questions, Eraserhead?”
“Call me Aizawa.”
“Okay, Eras–– er, Aizawa-san! There isn’t a lot of info online about your quirk–– of course, because you’re an underground hero and there’s safety concerns and–– anyway! I’ve always wondered how you activate it? It’s some kind of erasure, right? So you can erase people’s quirks, but can you do more than one target at a time? I watched the Laughing Crane video and I didn’t see you touch him, but in another video–– the fight with Doctor Pink, also CCTV–– you punched him before his slime quirk was disabled! But, if it’s contact based, then that doesn’t explain your goggles as a support item, so––”
“Do you always talk so much?” Aizawa interrupts.
“Um. Yeah. Sorry.”
“Nedzu owes me a week-long vacation after this,” Aizawa sighs. He straightens his spine, cracking his back as he rolls his shoulders. “Alright, I appreciate the curiosity. A well informed hero is a good hero, and all that jazz. But I can’t answer most of your questions. Actually, after this I’m going to talk to my agency about trying to get the footage of me fighting pulled so no one else can do… whatever it was you just did. Is that part of your quirk? Analysis?”
“Oh, uh, no. I just have super strength, kinda like All Might.”
Aizawa blinks down at him. “So you’re just… like this. Naturally.”
Izuku has no idea what he means by that. “I just like heroes a lot.”
“Right, well. The practical is starting soon, go line up with the other kids.”
Izuku looks towards the middle of the gym, where the other students have started to congregate. Thirteen, who is the main facilitator of the practical, waves him over.
After Present Mic collected their written exams earlier he said that they’d have an hour to rest before the practical started. Has it been an hour already? Izuku completely lost track of time talking to Aizawa. He was so distracted by Aizawa that he forgot to be nervous.
Izuku catches Aizawa smiling a little out of the corner of his eye. Oh. Maybe Aizawa let him ramble on purpose.
In the two months since Yagi-san brought up the entrance exam, Izuku has been stressed. At least with the general exam Izuku had years of research to fall back on. He has no idea what to expect with the recommended students exam. Will it be harder? Probably, since it’s geared towards kids who have a Pro or some other high ranking government official recommending them. UA implemented the recommended student system about a decade ago and since then the selection process has been kept quiet.
It’s just a test, Izuku thinks to himself, I can pass a test. I’ve passed many tests in my life.
The written exam had been just fine. The interview was even easier. Principal Nedzu just asked him a bunch of questions about how working at the Mighty Agency was and then, bizarrely, asked if he could look at Izuku’s quirk analysis notebooks. The only one he had on hand was the current pocket-sized one he keeps on him at all times, just in case he meets someone with a really cool quirk. Nedzu only leafed through it for a minute, tops, before handing it back to Izuku with a wide smile. Izuku still has no idea what that means, but he was terrified.
“Alright!” Present Mic exclaims, clapping his hands together. “Welcome to the practical portion of the test! Can I get a yeah?!”
“Yeah,” Aizawa mumbles under his breath, with as much enthusiasm as a comatose sloth.
“I’m going to give you all numbers and split you into groups of six.”
Izuku’s heart drops to his stomach. Please, please, don’t let this be another paired exam.
“Your group of six will race against each other on this!”
Present Mic spreads his arms dramatically as the back half of gym Gamma drops into the floor to reveal an open field. The field is littered with various artificial environments. Izuku can see a fake cliff face as well as a lake and what looks to be a tunnel that is actively on fire. He gulps.
“The obstacle course is three kilometers long and will loop back here in gym Gamma! Just follow the red path on the ground. We’ll record your time from here, but don’t worry if you’re not the fastest. There are a few hidden score systems in place!”
Present Mic gives them a conspiratory wink. Behind him, Cementoss grumbles something about how he wasn’t supposed to tell them that.
“Okay! Let’s get you into groups!”
Izuku is handed a large sticker with the number 9 on it which he quickly sticks to the front of his costume. Present Mic announces the group numbers and then Izuku really can’t avoid social interaction. Aizawa sees him hesitate as he spots his group, already clustered together and chatting.
“Go on, kid,” he says, nudging him towards the group. “They won’t bite.”
“They might,” Izuku mumbles. Aizawa snorts.
Izuku cautiously makes his way towards the group. There’s a tall girl with a long, spiky ponytail who’s talking to another girl with dark green hair and pointy teeth and a tall, broad boy. He laughs loudly, voice booming as the girl with pointy teeth says something funny. Next to them, not speaking but definitely following the conversation, is a boy with blonde hair and teeth on the outside of his mouth. A little farther away is Todoroki Shouto.
Because of course.
Of course he gets pitted against the son of the number two hero when Izuku shouldn’t even be here. Izuku should be taking the general exam with the rest of the normal, average prospective hero students.
The Todoroki family was constantly in the news when Izuku was younger. Endeavor had a whole media campaign–– probably to save his image since citizens were starting to call him harsh and unapproachable–– spotlighting him as a “family man.” Izuku can’t remember seeing much about the family in recent years, but Endeavor always brings up his youngest son, Shouto, in interviews.
Todoroki isn’t conversing with the other students. Instead he’s looking right at Izuku.
Izuku squeaks. Thankfully, the sound is swallowed up by his mask.
“H-Hi,” Izuku greets, sliding himself a little closer to the group.
“Oh, holy shit,” the girl with pointy teeth says, “you’re––!”
“Deku!” the loud guy booms. He bows enthusiastically, a huge grin stretched across his face. “It’s so nice to meet you! I saw your takedown of those bank robbers last month, truly incredible! I’m Yoarashi!”
“My name is Tokage!” says the girl with pointy teeth.
“I’m Yaoyorozu.”
“Hey, I’m Honenuki.”
“Todoroki.” The other boy tilts his head, his dual-colored eyes locking with Izuku’s. “Why are you here?”
Izuku shrinks, stunned by the flat, almost accusatory question. “W-What? Um, I’m here to t-take the exam?”
“Aren’t you already a Pro?” this time the question is from Tokage.
“O-Oh, no, I’m not. I only have a provisional license. I-I’m a student just like you!”
From the looks on their faces, they don’t think Izuku is like them at all. Izuku shrinks into himself, feeling terribly small. Stupid. He’s so stupid. What, two kids his age became his friends after the countless ones that ostracized him and he suddenly thinks he can handle social interaction? Izuku can’t believe he let himself think even for a second that he was anything more than the weird, powerless kid relegated to the back of the classroom.
Present Mic announces that the first group will start the race soon. It’s not Izuku’s group, but they do migrate closer to the starting line to observe.
“Don’t mind Todoroki-kun,” Yaoyorozu whispers to him, giving him a small smile. “Our families know each other. He doesn’t mean it personally, he’s just a bit tense.”
“Anyone would be if that was your dad,” Yoarashi grumbles, glaring across the gym.
On the far wall of the gym the students’ sponsors have gathered. There's a notable space between everyone else and Endeavor, just standing there casually on fire. Izuku shoots a nervous look at Todoroki, who was definitely close enough to hear that.
“My old man’s a piece of shit,” is all he offers, aggressively casual in the way he addresses them all.
Todoroki Shouto is not what Izuku was expecting. Izuku agrees with him, though. Endeavor definitely isn’t anywhere near Izuku’s favorite heroes list. Endeavor is so far off the list he might as well be in space.
“Well, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” Yoarashi says.
Todoroki bristles.
“They had a bit of an… argument earlier,” Yaoyorozu tells Izuku. “I didn’t really hear what it was about, but it’s probably best to stay out of it.”
That’s honestly the worst thing she could have said to him. Izuku has no idea how to stay out of things. He physically cannot stay out of things. He had to get a whole government issued license because of his inability to stay out of situations. Izuku looks away and tries very hard to tamp down on his savior complex.
The first group of students is sent off with a shot. One student with springs for legs quickly takes the lead, but loses it when they fall into a covered up pit. So there are traps along the path. That’s good to know. Izuku is pretty fast with Full Cowl at 8% but that speed could lead to carelessness. It might be best to hang back for most of the race and then overtake first place with a last minute burst of speed. This way, his competitors can set off any traps and Izuku will have time to dodge.
The entirety of the track can’t be seen from the gym, so after the group turns a corner it’s a while before Izuku’s able to see them again. The spring kid is now missing and the three students sprinting towards them look a little worse for wear. One of them is soaking wet and another is running with a notable limp. Izuku’s stomach clenches with anxiety. Just what’s going on with this race?
“Deku.”
In the time Izuku’s been observing the race, Todoroki has managed to sneak up on him. Izuku gulps. Yaoyorozu and Yoarashi are a little farther away, completely absorbed in the race. Izuku won’t be able to count on them for help if Todoroki decides to completely verbally destroy him here.
“Y-Yes, Todoroki-kun?”
“I’ve seen you fight. Endeavor makes me study footage of you so I know what the competition is like.”
Competition? Izuku? Dorky, fumbling Izuku? As competition? What is there to compete over in the first place? Endeavor couldn’t have known that Deku was going to the UA recommended students’ exam, or even that Deku would apply to UA in the first place.
“I’m stronger than you. That is an objective fact. You fight like someone who doesn’t know how to use their quirk, even if you do have power that can rival All Might’s. Your best skills are clearly all medical and support related, yet you still engage villains in combat. Your takedowns are sloppy and, from what I can observe, mostly lucky.”
Todoroki delivers all of this with the most flat, uninterested look Izuku’s ever been faced with. He doesn’t say it meanly, like Bakugou might, but it’s not like the kind of gentle criticism Iida would provide either. It’s like Todoroki is just stating facts, which to be fair, he is.
“I… You’re right.”
Todoroki blinks slowly. Izuku thinks this might be the equivalent of a surprised gasp for him.
“I’m not very experienced yet,” Izuku continues, flashing a little self-deprecating smile. “The only reason I’m here is because of All Might. I’m just trying my best to be worthy of his support.”
Todoroki narrows his eyes. “I don’t know why All Might has his eye on you, but he does. I will beat you, and not because Endeavor wants me to. I will beat you with only my ice to prove that I don’t need my old man’s fire to take down the next All Might.”
Izuku is torn between being scared shitless from the promise of a take down or extremely flattered that Todoroki just called him the next All Might. That last bit is bothering him, though. Half-white, half-red hair, mentions of both fire and ice. It’s not hard to figure out that this must be Todoroki’s quirk. But… to only use half of it by choice? When Izuku is fighting to save people in real villain attacks with only 8% of his own quirk? Something mean and frustrated flares to life in Izuku’s chest.
“You’re right,” Izuku says again, this time sharper. Todoroki raises an eyebrow. “I’m sloppy. I’ve gotten way luckier than most do. But I’m trying. I’m trying so hard it breaks me sometimes. I’m putting all my effort into doing my best, so if you want to beat me so bad, why aren’t you trying too?”
Todoroki’s lips press into a thin line. He doesn’t respond, but he doesn’t walk away either. He and Izuku silently watch the next three groups run through the obstacle course, standing side by side.
“Group 5, please line up at the starting line!”
Izuku gulps, settling into place between Yoarashi with his number 8 sticker on his chest and Todoroki, who is number 10. Yoarashi glares over Izuku’s head at Todoroki.
“Watch yourself, Deku,” Yoarashi says, “You don’t want to get burned by Endeavor junior over there.”
“I’m nothing like him,” Todoroki hisses back. “What’s your problem?”
“You and your ‘I’m better than everyone’ attitude is my problem,” Yoarashi fires back.
“G-Guys, the course is gonna start soon,” Izuku tries to cut in. He’s promptly ignored.
“We’re up against All Might’s intern and you’re still worried about me?”
“I hope Deku here leaves you in the dust. Maybe it’ll teach you humility.”
“Please, leave me out of this!”
“You’re being rude for no reason.”
“You’re being rude for no reason!”
“And,” Present Mic shouts, raising a racing pistol into the air, “start!”
Izuku was caught up in the middle of the argument, literally, and forgot to power up Full Cowl before the shot went off. Immediately, the other students race forward. Yoarashi throws his arms back with a burst of wind and jets down the path. Todoroki freezes the ground in front of him and skates forward with enough speed to rival an Olympic level skater. Tokage literally explodes into a bunch of tiny pieces of herself, all of them zooming forward in the air. By the time Yaoyorozu is producing a scooter from her stomach–– absolutely wild, Izuku will have to ask about her quirk later–– Izuku has powered up Full Cowl at 1% and is running a bit behind Honenuki, avoiding Todoroki’s ice trail.
Honenuki notices Izuku hanging back. He smirks at him–– something that is deeply unsettling since, again, his teeth are on the outside of his face.
“Sorry, Deku!” He calls back, dipping to press his palm against the ground. “I need all the advantage I can get!”
Izuku’s about to ask what he means when suddenly he’s sinking.
The ground has swallowed up his leg, causing him to faceplant ungracefully into the hard track. His leg sinks down to mid thigh, feeling like he’s trying to swim through quicksand. When Izuku catches himself on his hands, those start to sink too. Yaoyorozu shoots by him on her scooter, giving the softened ground around Izuku a wide berth.
Dead last. Izuku is dead last and slowly sinking, in full view of the UA teachers and every other recommended student. Fantastic.
Izuku channels more power into Full Cowl, bumping all the way up to 3% to launch himself out of the ground. He uses a little too much which sends him flying up into the air. He executes a flip, something Gran Torino taught him when they were doing aerial drills, and hits the ground running.
Did that look cool? Izuku hopes for the sake of his reputation as Deku that it looked cool.
He maintains 3% and sprints forward, bypassing the first obstacle in one leap. The path runs directly through a large pool, with fencing preventing them from going around it. Izuku spots movement in the water and a second later a large, mechanical shark breaks through the surface and bites at a piece of Tokage that’s whizzing by. Yaoyorozu has ditched her scooter and produced a motorized raft.
Izuku hits the ground on the other side of the pool harder than he intended, cracking the track. He continues running, spotting Honenuki ahead of him touching the ground and this time diving into the softened track.
Izuku reminds himself about Hiro’s ‘don’t make friends with the competition’ rule from the licensing exam. No matter how impressive his competitors’ quirks are he can’t stop to make friends. He has to focus! No friends!
The next obstacle is a narrow tunnel wreathed in flame. There are puddles of water everywhere, left over from Todoroki. Izuku powers himself up to 8% and holds his breath, dashing through the tunnel so quick that he doesn’t even feel the heat. The resulting air vacuum extinguishes the flames. Oops. Looks like Tokage and Yaoyorozu won’t have a problem getting through.
“Thanks, Deku!”
As if on cue, a couple of pieces of Tokage zip past him, one of them knocking into his shoulder and making him stumble. Honenuki emerges from the ground in front of Izuku, also passing him now. He can hear and engine behind him which means Yaoyorozu is catching up as well. Great! Izuku just can’t keep up, can he?
He powers back down to 3% and sprints forward. Even at 3% he should be able to outpace the rest of them. It’s an endurance test, Izuku just has to keep his cool and think resourcefully. From the looks of the fighting up ahead, Yoarashi and Todoroki will slow each other down enough that Izuku can overtake them at the last minute.
They’re about halfway through the course now when the track starts to incline upwards, leading them into a series of raised platforms. Izuku laments the exam’s limitations. To make things fair, Principal Nedzu had him disable any technology in his hero suit since the other students would just be in regular work out clothes. Izuku’s boot boosters and the distance display in his visor aren’t related to his quirk and therefore weren’t counted as support items, which means they’re both powered down. This would be the perfect opportunity to test them both! He mentally sends an apology to David Shields.
Honenuki is slowly but surely crawling his way across the flimsy ropes connecting platforms. Tokage is breaking up and reforming herself onto new platforms. Izuku smiles under his mask. It’s like the transporters in that one pre-quirk sci-fi show, Star Trek! Izuku hops past both of them, feet barely touching the ground as he bounces across the platforms and back onto solid ground.
He runs down the ramp on the other side and has to quickly dodge a mini iceberg.
“Stay out of my way!”
“Seriously, what is your problem?”
Ah. Izuku has caught up to Todoroki and Yoarashi.
Izuku powers down completely and just runs with his natural speed. He doesn’t want to get caught in the crossfire so he hangs back, eyeing them warily.
Todoroki shouts something that’s swallowed up by Yoarashi’s whirlwind vortex. Another hunk of ice is picked up by the wind and tossed up into the air, landing behind Izuku. Neither of them notice. This is getting dangerous. Someone could get seriously hurt.
Yoarashi yells at Todoroki. Izuku can’t hear the entire thing but Yoarashi’s tone is certainly not friendly. He catches the words “monster” and “Endeavor” which makes Izuku wince. Yoarashi seemed so nice earlier and even though Todoroki was cold and standoffish, Izuku doesn’t think he’s a bad person. He has no idea what’s going on there, but his protective instincts flair to life. Before he knows it, he’s powering back up to 3% and catching up with them.
“Um, excuse me!”
Both of them tear their glares away from each other and focus on Izuku. Todoroki instinctively sends a wave of ice at him, which Izuku dodges.
“Woah! Hey, I just want to talk!”
“This is a race!” Yoarashi shouts.
“I know, but you two are being kind of destructive! You’re both super powerful and it’s kind of tearing apart the obstacle course. I’m worried someone will get hurt!”
“Worry about yourself.”
“Apologies, Deku, but maybe Todoroki-sama here should watch himself, then!”
Neither of them even sound the slightest bit concerned. Izuku isn’t going to be able to reason with them, and running this close to all of Yoarashi’s wind and Todoroki’s icy blasts is draining his energy. He lets himself fall back and resolves to just keep an eye on them. There are a couple of close calls, but Izuku manages to keep pace without having to go above 3%. He gets a little tangled up when they pass through an artificial jungle, but he gets through it. Yoarashi and Todoroki have slowed down significantly, the constant use of their quirks obviously wearing them down. They get sloppy. A robot jumps out at them and Todoroki covers it with a wave of ice so large it blocks up the pathway.
Izuku vaults over it, noting that they’re nearing the artificial cliff face. Yoarashi and Todoroki are yelling at each other again. Both of them are shaking from exertion.
Izuku sees it happen in slow motion.
He’s not sure what either of them said, but it obviously upsets them both. Todoroki tries to catch Yoarashi’s ankle but his ice is too slow. In a burst of energy, Yoarashi jets towards the cliff. He sends a pressure wave towards the cliff to dislodge some of the boulders at the top, obviously trying to cause a landslide to block off the track behind him.
What Yoarashi doesn’t see is that Todoroki also darts forward, right on his heels.
Izuku watches in horror as a large boulder begins to fall. He doesn’t need his visor’s displays to know that Todoroki is at the end of its trajectory. He’s exhausted from quirk use. They’re too far away for any of their teachers to help and Yoarashi’s wind probably can’t stop a boulder. He’ll be flattened.
“Watch out!”
Izuku powers up a punch at 8% but something slips. It might be the adrenaline or the leftover self-doubt from his talk with Todoroki earlier or it might just be that Izuku doesn’t have as much control as he thought. Either way, something slips when Izuku is blocking off his power at 8% and suddenly his arm is lighting up with way more energy than he intended.
He’s already swinging. There’s nothing he can do.
Izuku hits the boulder with full power, powderizing half of it upon impact. The rest of the boulder smashes back into the cliff face, exploding into a shower of harmless pebbles. Izuku’s momentum sends him flying past Todoroki, skidding along the track, scraping across the dirt and scuffing up his body armor.
David is gonna be pissed.
Izuku doesn’t need to look to know that his arm is broken. It feels cold, too, which means his whole sleeve is gone. Ugh, and there goes his gauntlet as well. Todoroki runs to where he’s landed, lying face down in the dirt. Izuku struggles to his feet and hopes he doesn’t look completely pathetic.
“Why would you do that?!” Todoroki demands. He’s staring at Izuku’s arm, horrified. “You were serious about breaking yourself earlier. Why did you—?”
“I had to. That boulder would have crushed you.”
Duh? Is it the adrenaline and pain or is that a pretty obvious question?
“Todoroki-kun I have no idea what's going on with you. You won't use your fire, fine—“
“His fire—“
“— your fire, Todoroki-kun. Yours! It's your power and you should have used it! You could have been hurt! What if I wasnt there in time?”
“I didn’t need you to save me!” Todoroki snaps, looking panicked, and wow, isn’t that familiar?
“I know,” Izuku sighs, smiling, arm dangling pathetically from his shoulder, “but you used so much ice earlier. I was worried that you might overuse your quirk. Your hands are shaking. ”
Todoroki’s eyes widen. He looks down at his frosted over arm, as if he himself didn’t even notice.
“W-What…?” Todoroki looks back at him, seeing him for the first time. “Who are you?”
Izuku grins deliriously. He can feel blood dripping down his knuckles and splattering on his shoes.
“Don’t tell anyone, but I’m Midoriya Izuku, and I hope we can be friends!”
Todoroki opens his mouth to say something, but by then the teachers have already reached them. Yoarashi has also rushed back, apologizing profusely and bowing so aggressively he hits his head on the ground. Aizawa uses his capture scarf and a piece of wood to give Izuku a temporary splint. Yaoyorozu catches up to them and produces a little stretcher that they coax Izuku into. Snipe has to threaten him with a full trip to the hospital to get him to lay down. They rush him to Recovery Girl, Izuku protesting the whole way.
“Wait!” he says. “I haven’t finished the exam yet! I can continue, I promise! My legs aren’t broken!”
Aizawa blinks down at him. “Kid, you just saved another student. Don’t worry, you passed.”
“But, the rest of the obstacle course? My time?”
“You saved a life, Deku.” Aizawa shifts the stretcher handles to one hand so he can open the door to Recovery Girl’s office. “We could do without the self-sacrificial streak and that combined with your, frankly, horrifically high pain tolerance is going to be a problem, but I think everyone in that room can agree that you have potential.”
“But, it’s not fair to the other students,” Izuku tries one last time. “They still have to take the full assessment. I just did what anyone else would do.”
Aizawa and Snipe exchange looks. Aizawa gives him a surprised, almost fond, look.
“No,” he says, “not everyone would do what you did.”
Aizawa and Snipe set him down on a cot, Recovery Girl already hooking him up to a blood pressure monitor and fussing over his mangled arm. Snipe leaves, probably to continue proctoring the exam, but Aizawa stays.
“I thought we were past your bone breaking phase, but it seems I was wrong,” Recovery Girl scolds, unwrapping his arm. “Deku. Really?”
“That boulder would have crushed him! I’m not delicate enough with 8% to tackle him out of the way or anything.”
Recovery Girl sighs. She gives Izuku a look which definitely means Gran Torino and Yagi-san will be hearing about this later. Izuku is honestly more embarrassed than in pain. He really should have a handle on his power levels by now. He bites his lower lip. How can he expect to get into the most prestigious school in Japan if he can’t even handle his own quirk?
Aizawa said it was fine, and he doesn’t seem like the type of teacher to lie just to spare a student’s feelings. But, well, Izuku has always been a worrier. So, he has to ask, just one last time, just to soothe his anxieties.
“So, I really passed?” Izuku asks Aizawa, peering up at him hopefully. “I’m… going to be a UA student?”
Aizawa grins, wide and honestly very scary.
“Welcome to UA, Deku.”
(“Good luck with that one, Eraserhead,” Snipe says to Aizawa later.
“I can already feel my hair greying.” Deku— Midoirya Izuku’s file is open in front of him. This kid has had four hospital visits in the last two months. What the fuck.
“Hey, if he’s that stressful you can always transfer him over to 1-B with Vlad.”
“Like hell am I letting Vlad ‘literally bleeds himself dry for the greater good’ King get anywhere near this kid,” Aizawa hisses. “We are trying to teach him to stop self-sacrificing.”
“Aw, he’s attached already,” Snipe says to Thirteen. “I think All Might might’ve beat you to the adoption papers, though.”
“Get out of my office.”
“We’re in the breakroom.”
“Out!”)
Notes:
Okay! That's it for this week!! A few things:
• As much as I'd love the satisfaction of izuku destroying the entrance exam, it really wouldnt be fair to the other applicants if Izuku, essentially a pro hero, was in the same testing arena as them LOL
• Please dont be mad at inasa or todoroki. They’re middle school kids and angst + drama is natural. The only problem is that they have a lot of power at their disposal yikes
• Next week’s chapter is 18.3k which is !! very much over the 10-12k chapter lengths i’ve been aiming for. All the chapters have been considerably chunkier than I expected so I've dropped the chapter count from 13 to 10
• Another announcement: I have officially caught up to what I had written before I started posting. I will try my best to keep up with weekly updates but i’m a uni student + i have a full time job so i’m can’t promise I won’t drop to biweekly updates, sorry !! please be patient with me <3
• Chapter title is from Buttercup by Hippo Campus!
Chapter 5: I hope the roof flies off and we get blown out into space
Notes:
before i begin i just wanna say that some of you in the comments are very good at predicting things !!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
From: [email protected]
Subject: Invitation to a UA Groupchat
Hello Deku!
I hope this email finds you well. I am unsure if you remember me, but my name is Yaoyorozu Momo. We met last week at UA’s entrance exam for recommended students. I was quite concerned for your health after the exam, but the teachers all assured us that you would be fine.
I’m emailing you to invite you to a text messaging group chat with some of the other future UA recommended students. Presently, the group chat consists of myself, Todoroki, Honenuki, and Tokage. How serendipitous that our entire exam group was accepted to UA! Yoarashi was also offered a spot, but declined for whatever reason. Aizawa-sensei informed us after the exam that you, Todoroki, and I would be in his 1-A homeroom class this upcoming school year. I send my most sincere congratulations and am looking forward to learning alongside you!
I hope this is the right email address to contact you through. I will attach my cell phone number at the end of this email. Please text me if you wish to be added to the chat. Tokage and I are thinking of setting up a small outing to get to know each other better before the school year starts.
Regards,
Yaoyorozu Momo
“You absolutely cannot keep doing this to your arms.”
Izuku winces. He opens his mouth to protest.
Recovery Girl shuts him down immediately. “I am serious, young man. You could lose them.”
They’re at the hospital the day after the exam because Recovery Girl was concerned about the integrity of Izuku’s bones. For good reason, it turns out. She insisted on getting him x-rayed and checked out, nudging the doctors into running seemingly infinite tests on him. Yagi-san and Inko agreed to the prodding, of course, after they heard about what happened during the exam. Izuku has sat through 5 different “stop breaking yourself” lectures today, one of which was from Gran Torino over FaceTime.
He didn’t even know Gran Torino knew how to use a cell phone, let alone FaceTime.
Izuku hangs his head, thoroughly chastised as Recovery Girl goes on about the consequences of another severe injury. The room they have him in is in the pediatrics ward. There are little cutesy dog posters on the pastel yellow walls. In the corner is a wood block tower.
“It’s not like I try to break my bones.”
“Yes, well, it doesn’t seem that way. Look at this, your tendons are hanging on by a thread. Plus, the rapid breaking and mending of your phalanges has made them crooked. You’ll most likely have chronic pain, and that’s because you are lucky that you didn’t just lose your fine motor skills completely.”
Izuku rubs his hands. “I know. I-I’ll do better.”
Yagi-san enters the room carrying two cans of coffee.
“Inko had to go back to work, but she told me to remind you that you’re in charge of dinner tonight,” he says. He passes a can to Izuku, who uses the cold metal to soothe his aching fingers.
“Toshinori,” Recovery Girl turns to Yagi-san. If Izuku has gotten enough lectures to count as class credit, then Yagi-san should have a full degree by now. Recovery Girl is at least gentle when she reprimands Izuku. She doesn’t extend that same courtesy to Yagi-san.
“I saw the reports. We’ll discuss what that means for his fighting style. For now, I think it’s a good idea to ease off of your training, my boy. At least until we can figure out what direction you want to go in.”
“I know what direction I want to go in,” Izuku protests. “I want to be the number one! I want to save people with a smile!”
Yagi-san smiles at him, but it’s tinged with worry. “And you will. But you don’t need to Detroit Smash all the time to be that kind of hero.”
Recovery Girl slips out of the room quietly, throwing something over her shoulder about calling another bone specialist.
Izuku sighs, frustrated. “What am I supposed to do if I can't punch?”
Yagi-san reaches into his bag and pulls out a worn, heavily used notebook, flipping through the pages. Izuku recognizes it as the one he took notes in during Izuku’s training sessions.
“You're quite fast, my boy,” Yagi-san begins, mumbling. “We could try to develop your speed into offensive moves, similar to how Correr or Ingenium fight. We could also try weaponizing the air blasts that you do with your fingers. Or perhaps a style more similar to Miruko’s fighting style? You quite liked kickboxing when we tried it out, did you not?”
Izuku stares at the notebook in Yagi-san’s hands, touched that he's taken so many detailed notes. It seems Izuku is just as much of an influence on Yagi-san as he is on Izuku.
“I only liked kick boxing because it reminded me of Miruko,” Izuku admits. “It made me feel… cool.”
“Perfect! She’s notorious for not working with others but it doesn't hurt to ask! You could learn a lot from her!”
Izuku mumbles under his breath.
“What was that my boy?”
“I said, but she's not you.”
Yagi-san softens. He clucks his tongue and reaches out to ruffle Izuku's curls, his kind face sporting a soft, fatherly smile, the one that he reserves especially for Izuku.
“Of course she's not, but you admire her, do you not? She's a fantastic role model.”
“But I wanna be like you,” Izuku says, gazing up at Yagi-san with glossy-eyed admiration. “Y-you're— All Might is a punchy hero.”
“I am touched you look up to me so much,” Yagi-san says, “but that’s not what I want for you. I’m not training you to be another me, I want you to surpass me. I’ve made many mistakes, my boy. I want you to be better than that. Don’t box yourself in trying to fill my–– All Might’s–– shoes. Just be the best version of yourself you can be, that’s all I ask of you.”
Izuku doesn’t say what he’s thinking: that he’s the best version of himself when he’s emulating All Might.
“I’ll send out an email to her agency, try to see if we can set up a training session or two,” Yagi-san decides. “Now, drink your coffee. We’re going to be here for a while longer, I think.”
Yagi-san sends the email. Miruko doesn’t have time to train him, understandably, but she does send him a very long, encouraging email that includes her training regimen and some exercises to improve his balance and mobility. She offers to email him again in a month's time to check up on his progress, with maybe a potential shadow or week-long internship if she has the time. She said something about looking out for another bunny themed hero, which makes Izuku feel invincible. Miruko acknowledged him! How incredible is that?
As the school year comes to a close, Izuku works on his new fighting style. He asks Iida for tips, which ends up being joint training sessions, which then ends up with Uraraka cheering them on through FaceTime as Iida kicks Izuku’s ass.
A couple days after Yaoyorozu adds him into the UA recommended students group chat, Izuku gets a text from Todoroki.
Todoroki Shouto • 11:32 AM
Deku. I just saw that Yaoyorozu added you to the group chat. I’ve been meaning to contact you after the exam, but I didn’t know how. I’d like to apologize for my behavior and to thank you for saving me.
Me • 11:32 AM
todoroki! don’t worry it’s fine haha i break bones all the time
Todoroki Shouto • 11:32 AM
That’s...worrying.
Still. I’m sorry. I’m not usually that aggressive.
Izuku bites his bottom lip, thinking. He doesn’t really have time to talk right now, but something has been bugging him since he met Todoroki. He’s basically a walking red flag (no pun intended). Izuku has never been the biggest fan of Endeavor and Todoroki’s obvious dislike of his own father coupled with the fact that he didn’t use his fire even in a life threatening situation is concerning to say the least.
Me • 11:33 AM
hey is it okay if i call you right now?? iwanna ask about something but my hands are kind of busy
Todoroki Shouto • 11:33 AM
I usually don’t like phone calls, but I feel I owe you a verbal apology. Go ahead.
Izuku dials. Todoroki picks up immediately.
“Deku?”
“Hey, Todoroki! Ah, you can just call me Midoriya, just don’t tell anyone. We’re going to be classmates after all!”
“Right. Midoriya. Again, I’m sorry for––”
“Don’t worry about that! Really, I was fine! I’ve broken my bones for sillier reasons, so it really isn’t a big deal. I, uh, excuse me for being blunt but I wanted to ask about your quirk?”
Silence. Then, hesitantly, Todoroki hums for Izuku to continue.
“W-Well, something you said before the obstacle course started has been bothering me. You said something about only using your ice side, without your father’s fire? I–– oops! Don’t worry about that, just dropped something, ha–– um, I w-wanted to know why you think about it like that? Like they’re two separate halves?”
Todoroki is quiet on the other end of the line. There’s some shuffling and the sound of a door closing quietly before he responds.
“I’m quite literally two halves,” he says. “Did you not notice?”
“Oh no, I mean–– I guess? But, um, quirks work a bit differently than appearance and–– well, did you know that genetically people aren’t just half from their mother and half from their father? If we’re talking just DNA then you’d have to count mitochondrial DNA, which you inherit from your mother and anyway there are a bunch of special cases where––”
“Midoriya,” Todoroki interrupts gently, “what’s your point?”
“Well, I was thinking and I think maybe your quirk isn’t actually half-ice half-fire? I think your actual quirk has something to do with exciting energies? Um, I’m not a scientist or anything like that but I had an interest in quirk genetics when I was younger and the current understanding of the quirk factor in humans doesn’t work with half-and-half or even multiple type quirks. But–– oof, yikes! Ha, ignore that–– there’s been a couple recorded cases of quirks with similar split abilities to yours that all ended up being a result of a singular quirk!”
“That’s… a lot to take in.”
Izuku winces. “Sorry, I kind of have the tendency to ramble….”
“I hadn’t noticed,” Todoroki deadpans.
“Anyway, my actual point is–– I’m not sure what’s going on with you and your dad, and it’s not my place to ask. I don’t have a relationship with my dad at all, so I can’t tell you how to live your life. I just want you to consider that maybe using your quirk isn’t using something he gave you. Maybe it’s just using your own power.”
Todoroki is quiet.
“And! And, even if it was two quirks or a half-quirk or whatever. It still wouldn’t be his quirk. It still belongs to you and you should be able to use it to help yourself, regardless of what he does. You should have autonomy over your own abilities, Todoroki-kun.”
“I….” Todoroki exhales heavily. “I really needed to hear that.”
Izuku smiles and hopes Todoroki can hear it through his voice. “I figured. Um, for what it’s worth, I know we don’t really know each other but if you want to talk about shitty dads I’ll listen. I never really liked Endeavor anyway.”
“Why not?”
“Well, he’s kind of very obviously an asshole.”
Todoroki snorts. It’s quiet and ungraceful and the single most joyful sound Izuku’s heard from him so far.
“You’ve got that right.”
“Sorry, not to derail this conversation, but I had to do some case studies on him for my internship and uh, he really lacks a lot of charisma. And a grasp of, like, collateral damage laws plus–– oh, shit!”
“Are you alright?”
“Y-Yeah, just––” Slam! “...Ow.”
“De–– Midoriya,” Todoroki says slowly. “What are you busy with right now?”
“Um. You know, just… things.”
Bam!
“Midoriya. Are you fighting crime as we speak?”
Izuku winces. He adjusts his headset as the villain he’s fighting makes another swipe at him. Todoroki’s voice is quiet through his earpiece, but Izuku can still hear the incredulous tone.
“If I say yes will you make me hang up?”
“Yes. No. I don’t… you just gave me more therapy and quirk advice than I’ve had in the past 14 years of my life and you did it while fighting a villain?”
“I’m very good at multitasking, plus it was an important conversation to have! I was really worried about you!”
The villain–– a young guy with an invisibility quirk that he can turn on and off–– aims another punch at Izuku. Izuku takes the hit, letting his shoulder give so he can use the momentum to pull the villain in closer, grabbing his arm. He forces the villain’s hand down and quickly snaps a pair of quirk suppressing handcuffs onto him. Outside the bank, All Might has already successfully captured the rest of the villains.
“You–– I––” Todorki lets out a kind of low gurgling noise that Izuku thinks might be a laugh. “You’re impossible.”
“Why does everyone say that about me? I’m just trying to be a good friend!”
“We’re friends?”
“Oh. Um, w-we don’t have to be if you d-don’t, uh––”
“I wasn’t intending on making any friends at UA,” Todoroki says bluntly, then softens, “but… maybe I can make an exception.”
Izuku beams under his mask. “Todoroki-kun! That’s good, because if you had told me you weren’t here to make friends I would have taken it as a direct challenge.”
“This is touching, but aren’t you supposed to be reading me my rights or something?” the villain interrupts.
“R-Right! Sorry, let me get you to the police–– uh, Todoroki-kun? Is it alright if I call you back later?”
Todoroki hums an affirmative. “Perhaps if you have time, I could… tell you about my father.”
“Okay. I’ll talk to you soon!”
Izuku hits a button on the side of his mask to hang up. A successfully stopped bank robbery and a new friend in one day!
Things are really looking up.
(Over the next few weeks Todoroki tells Izuku about his childhood. He gets the story in bits and pieces, most of it whispered over the phone at midnight because that’s the only time Todoroki can be sure Endeavor won’t barge into his room to drag him to training.
Izuku uses his credentials at The Mighty Agency to access every file for every single arrest Endeavor’s been a part of. He starts combing through them and looking for prosecutable offenses, saving them all into a folder on his work computer. He has no idea what he’s going to do with it all, he himself is a minor and he doubts the HPSC would listen to him without attaching some kind of catch, but he compiles the evidence anyway.
It’s something to do that isn’t busting into Todoroki’s house and gathering up him and his siblings to live with Izuku and his mom.)
Izuku’s first day at UA, his dream school, is off to a disastrous start.
“Just one more picture!”
“Mom, we’re going to be late!”
“My boy, I have a car, remember? We’ll get there on time.”
To start, Izuku woke up late. He was up late last night, first texting Uraraka and Iida in excitement and then stress baking. Then, he tried to go over all his notes on the known staff of UA just in case someone, for some reason, quizzed him on them. He doesn’t know what his line of thought was there, his brain doesn’t tend to make a lot of sense when he’s anxious. He panic-texted Todoroki at 3 AM to ask a random question about sharks, which Todoroki actually replied to with a surprising amount of accurate facts.
In the weeks between the entrance exam, Izuku’s anxiety about attending UA has only grown. It got a little better when both Uraraka and Iida passed the general entrance exam–– with Uraraka in third place, too, Izuku is so proud of her–– but the more Izuku thought about it the scarier it seemed.
Then, this morning, Izuku could not, for the life of him, figure out how to tie his tie. Despite all the baking the night before, his hands felt cold and stiff this morning. He fumbled around uselessly for about 10 minutes, consulting google and tugging ineffectually at it, before caving and just leaving it as a misshapen lump. Yagi-san came over for breakfast, all dressed up in a yellow pinstripe suit with his teacher badge on a lanyard. He gave Izuku and his mom a long speech about what an honor it was to uplift the next generation of heroes. Izuku was so overcome with emotion he cried into his tamago kake gohan.
So, here he is, with a lumpy, too-short tie and tear stained cheeks, trying valiantly to smile while his mom snaps picture after picture of him and Yagi-san.
“Can we please go now? I promised Uraraka and Iida-kun I’d get there early to introduce them to Todoroki.”
It takes them another ten minutes to escape Inko. They bundle themselves into Yagi-san’s car, Izuku still fussing with his tie.
“Oh, David sent me pictures of some new designs for your gauntlets. They’re on my phone if you want to look while we drive.”
Yagi-san unlocks his phone and hands it to Izuku. They pull out of their apartment building’s underground lot and start driving towards UA. Izuku idly flicks through the photos, making a few comments here and there while Yagi-san drives.
“These are nice, but–– oh! You’re getting a call, Yagi-san.”
“From who?”
“Detective Tsukauchi,” Izuku says, taking note of how the detective’s contact name in Yagi-san’s phone is ‘Naomasa’ with a little dog emoji. There has to be a story there and Izuku will get to the bottom of it. This is prime blackmail material.
“Put it on speaker, my boy.”
“Hello?” Tsukauchi’s voice is a little muffled through the phone speakers.
“Naomasa, hello!”
“Hi, detective!”
“Oh.” There’s a small pause. “Hello, Midoriya.”
“We’re on our way to school,” Yagi-san says cheerfully. “First day!”
“Oh, yes! Congratulations.” There’s some shuffling from the other end of the line, then Tsukauchi says, quieter, “Should I call back?”
“Whatever you’re going to say to me, you can say in front of young Midoriya!” Yagi-san declares. “We all know how terrible I am at keeping things from him anyway.”
Izuku giggles fondly.
“Ah, yes, it’s just that… Toshinori, it’s about the situation.”
Yagi-san frowns. “The… oh. Oh. Yes, I should explain some things first. I’ll call you back.”
He nods at Izuku, who mumbles a goodbye to Tsukauchi. The car is awkwardly silent as they arrive at UA, Yagi-san parking them in the staff lot. Izuku fidgets.
“Is… everything okay, Yagi-san?” Izuku ventures.
Yagi-san sighs. “I’m just trying to figure out the best way to tell you this.”
Izuku immediately panics. That sounds bad, like really bad. This isn’t the tone that Yagi-san uses to let Izuku down when he can’t make it to an extra practice session, this is something different. Something heavier.
Yagi-san takes a deep breath. Izuku holds his.
“There is something about One for All that I haven’t told you. Something about who it came from.”
Izuku sits in rapt silence as Yagi-san tells him the whole story. All for One and his brother, the stockpile, the death and violence and resilience and hope. He tells him about Nana Shimura’s death and he glosses over the details but the pain in his voice runs so deep it makes Izuku’s chest ache with secondhand heartbreak.
“So, you think he might be back?” Izuku asks quietly once Yagi-san finishes.
Yagi-san nods. “I fear I was not enough to stop him. I never meant to pass this burden down to you, my boy. Please believe me when I say that if I had known passing One for All to you would get you involved, I wouldn’t have done it.”
Izuku flinches. “D-Don’t say that. Even if you d-didn’t give it to me, I would have been involved.”
Yagi-san stares at him, not comprehending. “What do you mean by that?”
“Y-You would have been in danger, and I care about you a lot. So I would have been involved. I wouldn’t l-let you fight him alone, quirk or no quirk,” Izuku says. And it’s true. Even if Izuku had no idea about All for One or the great battle of good versus evil that Yagi-san is tangled up in, Izuku would have seen him struggling. He would have noticed if he disappeared or got hurt again, and Izuku would have done something. Yagi-san was his mentor long before he passed down his quirk to him.
“My boy,” Yagi-san says softly.
Izuku lets out a heavy sigh. “So, Tsukauchi thinks he’s found something?”
“Yes, but I think that’s enough for today. It is your first day afterall. I’m sorry to have dropped all this on you on what is supposed to be a joyous occasion. It seems I continue to have the worst timing.”
Izuku smiles. “It’s okay. In a weird way, it made me feel less anxious about today. First day nerves just seem so small compared to, you know, a centuries old super villain hellbent on destroying us.”
Yagi-san blinks, looking torn between laughing and frowning. “That’s… certainly one way to put it.”
Izuku doesn’t have enough time to introduce Uraraka and Iida to Todoroki and Yaoyorozu before class starts, thanks to the talk in the car. He isn’t late but it’s a close thing, sliding into his seat behind Bakugou just as the bell rings.
The second the bell rings, a yellow caterpillar inches its way to a standing position at the front of the room. It unzips itself to reveal Aizawa’s tired, unimpressed face.
“You’re all in your seats… good. I’m Aizawa, I’ll be your homeroom teacher for the year.”
Izuku, who knew Aizawa would be his teacher and has known for weeks, still practically vibrates with excitement. UA really is on a whole other level. His homeroom teacher is one of the top underground heroes in the country! How did Izuku get so lucky?
Aizawa hefts a box onto his desk. It’s full of gym uniforms.
“Put these on and meet me out on the field. Locker rooms are down the hall and to the right.”
“Sensei!” It’s Iida, of course. “What about the syllabus?”
“We’ll go over it later,” Aizawa says. “Get moving.”
Everyone stands, lining up to get their uniforms. As Izuku gets closer to the desk, Aizawa calls out to him.
“Midoriya, stay back. I need to talk to you.”
It’s the first day. The first five minutes of the first day, how is Izuku in trouble already?
As soon as all the other students have filed out, Aizawa turns to him with a serious expression. Izuku gulps.
“We should have discussed this earlier, but will you be letting your classmates know your hero identity?”
“Huh?”
“I talked to Yagi this morning— I know, by the way. He was vague but given the general public don’t know Deku’s name and how protective he seemed of you, I’m assuming you’re keeping your identity a secret?”
“Y-Yeah.” Izuku blinks. “I, um, didn’t even think about telling them. I would like to keep it a secret, if that’s okay with you Aizawa-sensei.”
“It’s not my call to make, kid, but I think that’s the smart choice. If you told the class, we’d probably have to go the NDA route and because you’re all minors, all your parents would need to sign off on any legally binding documents. That’s your 19 classmates plus 43 adults and that’s way too many people to rely on keeping a secret.”
Izuku scrunches his face up. “Ah, yeah, I’d rather not tell anyway? I don’t want anyone to treat me differently. T-Thanks for asking me though.”
“Don’t thank me, it’s literally my job to keep you safe.”
“R-Right! Oh, but–– um, like five other students already know.”
Aizawa’s eye twitches. “How did you manage to make five friends already? The day hasn’t even started.”
“I didn’t? Or, well, Todoroki and Yaoyorozu know from the entrance exam, obviously. We have a groupchat with Tokage and Honenuki in 1-B and all four of them promised not to tell. I met Uraraka as Deku and Iida when I got my provisional license, so… oh, also Ka–– Bakugou. He’s my childhood friend and he figured it out.”
Aizawa signs heavily. He looks longingly at the sleeping bag on the floor, like he wants nothing more but to crawl back in.
“Alright, just–– for your safety, don’t tell anyone else without telling me first, got it? I’m trying to protect you, problem child.”
“P-Problem child?” Izuku stutters.
“I can already tell you’re going to be a handful.”
“S-Sorry, Aizawa-sensei,” Izuku says, bowing his head, “I didn’t mean to cause you so much trouble. I know me being here is probably really difficult and inconvenient and––”
“Christ, kid, not like that. I didn’t mean it in a bad way. You deserve to be here just like everyone else, alright? If I didn’t think you had potential I would’ve told you after the recommended exam.”
“Oh!” Izuku brightens up, smiling up at him. “Thank you! That means so much coming from you! You’re one of the coolest active Pro Heroes on top of being a teacher so it really means a lot that you think I have potential! I won’t let you down, I promise!”
Aizawa stares at him blankly. “I suddenly understand how you already have five friends.”
Izuku beams.
“Okay, enough. Grab a uniform and get changed.”
Izuku takes a gym uniform from the desk and scampers off to the locker rooms. By the time he gets there everyone else has already changed and is waiting out by the field. Izuku quickly pulls on his uniform. At least now he doesn’t need to feel awkward and self-conscious about all the scars criss-crossing down his arms and shoulders. He doesn’t think anyone would be insensitive enough to ask, but still.
Izuku really has absolutely no idea how he’s going to hide his status when his quirk literally causes him to give off lighting and generates enough force to level a building. He’s just going to hope that none of his classmates watch Deku fights closely enough to see the similarities.
“Everything okay?” Uraraka asks him when he finally catches up to the rest of the class. They’re still waiting for Aizawa.
“Yup!” Izuku flashes her a quick smile. “Just, uh, stuff related to… work.”
Uraraka raises her eyebrows. “He knows?”
“Of course, he’s our teacher. He’s trying to help me keep it on the downlow.”
“That’s a relief,” Iida butts in, “considering how bad you are at keeping secrets.”
“Iida!” Izuku protests.
“You told me your full name, age, the school you attended, and your personal phone number within ten minutes of meeting me.”
Izuku scrunches his face up. “Okay, point taken.”
“Alright, let’s get started,” Aizawa calls out, striding onto the field. He’s ditched the yellow sleeping bag and is dressed in a black jumpsuit with his capture scarf draped around his neck and shoulders. He looks unimpressed already.
“Today, we’re doing a Quirk Apprehension Test.”
Another test. Izuku hopes he doesn’t break any bones this time.
Then, Aizawa explains the test they’re about to take and Izuku thinks maybe he should break a bone or two.
A fitness test, but they can use their quirks? And last place is expelled? Already, Izuku is brainstorming ways to get the highest scores possible without using enough power to hurt himself. His anxiety levels skyrocket as he thinks about every way this test could go wrong for him. He did not get arrested several times, break his body a dozen times, and face off against real life villains just to get expelled on his first day at UA. He didn’t even apply to Shiketsu! He has no backup plan! He shudders to think of what he would’ve done if he was still quirkless.
(Although, now that he thinks about it… he bets he would have found a way. Izuku is remarkably stubborn and scarily resourceful, afterall.)
He’s distracted from his downward anxiety spiral by a quiet sniffle to his left. A floating gym uniform is standing a bit away from him, the shoulders of the material hunched, sleeves hanging down dejectedly. Ghost? No, invisibility quirk. Duh, Izuku. The first two students step up for the 50-meter dash, and Izuku’s invisible classmate sighs heavily.
“Oh no,” she mumbles, voice clearly distressed. “How am I supposed to…?”
“Um, excuse me?” Izuku says, because apparently he can’t stand to see another student upset even as he himself is panicking.
The girl squeaks. “You noticed me?”
“A-Ah, yes? Of course? I just, um, wanted to tell you not to worry too much. I-I mean–– I don’t mean to tell you how to feel! Your feelings are valid! I just meant that, uh, you can do it!”
Izuku winces as his voice breaks at the end.
“O-Oh. Thanks, uh… what’s your name?”
“I’m Midoriya,” Izuku says. Based on the way the uniform shifts, Izuku thinks she may be offering her hand for a shake.
“I’m Hagakure.” Izuku tentatively stretches his hand out to where he thinks hers might be. He’s a little off, hitting her wrist instead of her palm, but eventually they’re able to shake.
“I know Aizawa-sensei seems scary, but I heard he’s a really good teacher. Just try your best and I’m sure you’ll do well!”
“I don’t think I will. My quirk isn’t super physical,” Hagakure says anxiously. “I mean, obviously.”
“That doesn’t mean it’s not useful, though,” Izuku rushes to reassure her. “And, for what it’s worth, I think your quirk is super interesting! Is it invisibility or does it have something to do with light waves?”
“Oh, I’m actually not sure. I mean, we just kind of assumed it was just invisibility, no one’s ever done any tests or anything.”
Iida finishes the 50-meter dash with a time of 3.04 seconds. When this is called out, Hagakure seems to fold further into herself.
“I’m definitely getting expelled,” she whispers. “Crap. My parents were so proud of me for getting in.”
“You’re not getting expelled,” Izuku says. Hearing the despair in Hagakure’s voice, the way she seems to wilt under the sun, shoes shuffling against the track nervously–– something about it all reminds Izuku of himself. How many times has Izuku stood at the back of the crowd as his middle school classmates competed during fitness tests? How many times did they trip him or yell things to distract him so he’d fail? Sure, it’s not the same thing, but something inside Izuku can’t just let him sit back while Hagakure fails. She got into UA, she must be driven. Her quirk has so many uses for heroics, it would be a crime to let her hero career end here.
“You won’t be last place,” Izuku promises her, making a decision. “Just try your best, okay? Don’t worry about anything else but doing the best that you can do.”
“Midoriya, Hagakure. You’re up.”
Izuku and Hagakure step up to the starting line, getting into ready position. Aizawa and Iida stand at the finish line, each with a stopwatch so they can record Izuku and Hagakure’s times.
“Go!”
Izuku sprints forward. He doesn’t activate his quirk.
“Midoriya, 7.02 seconds,” Aizawa calls as Izuku crosses the finish line.
“Hagakure, 7.15 seconds!” Iida says.
“Woah, way better than I did in middle school!” Izuku turns to Hagakure. “How about you?”
“I also did better than I did in middle school.” It’s hard to tell, but Izuku thinks she might be smiling.
“That’s great!”
Izuku gets 56 kg on the grip strength test. He does better than average on the long distance run. His standing long jump almost clears the sandbox, thanks to all the leg exercises he’s been doing. Izuku doesn’t use his quirk for a single test. After the push up test, Aizawa calls him out.
“Midoriya, why aren’t you using your quirk?”
It’s not very loud, and he doesn’t single Izuku out in front of the whole class, but the people around him definitely notice. Hagakure notices.
Izuku gulps. Aizawa wouldn’t expel a recommended student on the first day would he? Actually, thinking about what Izuku knows about Aizawa (namely, the fact that he expelled his entire homeroom class last year) he just might be that kind of teacher. Izuku’s pretty sure Aizawa doesn’t care that Izuku is All Might’s intern, he’d expel him anyway. But Izuku made a decision earlier, and he’s going to stick to it.
“I’m trying to prove something, sensei,” Izuku says carefully, with as much respect as he can.
Aizawa raises an eyebrow. “Oh? And what are you trying to prove?”
“This test is biased,” Izuku says, a little louder than he intended because of his nerves. “I-It’s not the best way to measure our potential. N-Not everyone has a physical quirk, or a quirk that would give them an advantage in a test like this. You d-don’t have a physical quirk yourself. Plus, last place in a class full of students with potential doesn’t mean that y-you have no potential.”
“And you think everyone in the class has potential, Midoriya?”
By now the whole class has finished the push up test and is watching him.
“I think everyone here is trying their best,” Izuku says firmly, “and I think that means they deserve to be here.”
“You really think everyone here would make a good hero?”
“Not yet,” Izuku amends. Then he flashes Aizawa a wide grin. “But we’re here to learn, aren’t we sensei?”
For a second, Izuku is sure Aizawa is going to expel him on the spot. Izuku just challenged his methods in front of the whole class. Forget what Aizawa said earlier about Izuku’s potential, or the fact that Izuku has an actual license for hero work. Aizawa opens his mouth and Izuku is positive that the next words out of his mouth are going to be “you’re expelled.”
Instead, Aizawa chuckles.
“Alright. If you’re prepared to come in last place, I won’t stop you. Let’s move on to sit ups.”
Izuku does the rest of the tests without activating his quirk. He’s tempted, during the ball throw, when Bakugou uses his explosions to launch the ball hundreds of meters away. He can feel One for All buzzing under his skin. Even just 1% at the right angle would beat Bakugou’s distance. He doesn’t use it, though. He still throws farther than the national average. Most of his scores are way above average. Fighting crime and training for years really does wonders for your body.
“Alright, here are the scores.”
A large board with their names and ranks light up. Izuku takes a small moment to be petty and smug when he sees that both Todoroki and Yaoyorozu beat out Bakugou. Then, even though it was his goal, his heart sinks when he sees himself at last place.
“Oh, thank god,” Hagakure whispers next to him. She’s two spots above him.
Izuku offers her a kind smile. “See? I told you it would be okay if you just did your best.”
“But, Midoriya, what about you?”
“I’ll be––”
“Anything you want to say, Midoriya?” Aizawa asks him. His face gives nothing away.
“I….” Izuku holds his head up even as his hands shake. “If you think I have no potential, then I’ll respect your decision to expel me.”
Aizawa cracks a grin, wide and honestly very creepy. “I’m not expelling you, Problem Child. It was a logical ruse.”
There are various cries of outrage and sighs of indignation. Izuku sags, only saved from not collapsing with relief by Hagakure catching him on her shoulder.
“Midoriya was right. The test was unfair. Most tests are. Bakugou, you scored first on the entrance exam. What would you do if there was a civilian trapped in a building?”
“Blast them out!” Bakugou declares.
“Congratulations, you’ve destroyed the building and potentially buried the civilian in rubble,” Aizawa says sarcastically. “Midoriya. You scored last just now. What would you do?”
“Check for immediate threats, assess structural integrity, then move in for extraction if it’s safe,” Izuku says automatically, repeating the things that Yagi-san has been drilling into his head for years now. “Call for backup if they’re prone and the building is stable enough to support a medical team.”
Aizawa nods approvingly. Bakugou seethes.
“I don’t expect you all to know that already. You are all here to learn. I am here to teach you when to use your quirks and when not to. There will be times when you won’t be able to use your quirks and you will need to be prepared for that. One test does not define your potential. The ruse was just so that you’d try your best.”
“Aizawa-sensei,” Izuku whispers, still a little shaky with relief. “That was so mean.”
Aizawa’s grin softens into something a little more sympathetic, sadder. “The world is mean, kid.”
Izuku nods. He knows.
After the quirk apprehension test, Aizawa waves in the vague direction of the cafeteria and tells them to be back in class after lunch for a safety lecture. After changing and stumbling around the hallways until some nice upperclassmen showed them the right way, class 1-A make it into the lunchroom.
Iida tows Izuku and Uraraka over to a table so they can settle down to eat. Izuku brought lunch today, a cute bento that his mom prepared for him. It matches Yagi-san’s. He wonders where he is, if he’s settling in okay or if he’s eating alone in the teacher’s lounge like Inko predicted he would.
Izuku is distracted from these thoughts as he spots Todoroki and Yaoyorozu standing a bit removed from the rest of the class in the middle of the cafeteria. They’re not talking to each other, fidgeting awkwardly. Todoroki is looking right at Izuku.
Izuku excuses himself from Iida and Uraraka and goes to check up on them.
“Hey, do you guys wanna meet my friends?” Izuku offers the two of them an encouraging smile. Their groupchat with the kids in 1-B isn’t quite as chaotic as his group chat with Iida and Uraraka is, but Izuku likes to think they’ve become pretty good friends since meeting. He texts Todoroki directly more than he speaks in the chat, so he at least knows that the two of them are friends. Yaoyorozu was nice to him during the entrance exam, and was kind enough to not make him feel alienated even as Todoroki and Yoarashi tore each other apart in front of him. The least Izuku can do is to help her out when she’s so clearly out of her element.
“Oh, I wouldn’t want to intrude,” Yaoyorozu says.
“It’s not intruding! It’s the first day, we’re all getting to know each other.”
“You seem to know plenty of our classmates already,” Todoroki says. He nods over Izuku’s shoulder. Izuku follows his gaze to see Bakugou glaring daggers at him.
Izuku gulps. “Ah, that’s just Kacchan, don’t worry about him.”
“Kacchan?” Todoroki narrows his eyes suspiciously. “You missed it but earlier he yelled at that red haired kid for no reason.”
Izuku winces. “Yeah, that sounds like him. But Iida and Uraraka are really nice! Come on, I’ll introduce you guys!”
It turns out, Izuku doesn’t have to do much work at all. As soon as they sit down, Uraraka pounces. Izuku would have thought that her naturally bubbly and enthusiastic personality would clash with Todoroki’s more reserved nature but they quickly bond right away when Uraraka teases Izuku about face planting during the quirk apprehension test. Todoroki joins in with his own flat yet scathing remarks.
Izuku doesn’t mind being the butt of the joke. He’s just glad all his friends are getting along.
Aizawa stops him one last time at the end of the day.
“Midoriya, one more thing?”
Izuku gulps. He hopes he really isn’t going to be expelled for what he pulled during the quirk apprehension test. Aizawa doesn’t seem angry, though, and Izuku has a feeling that if he was going to expel him he’d do it infront of the whole class. As a lesson.
“Is everything alright, sensei?”
“I wanted to ask you for a favor.”
Izuku hums curiously.
“You know how to fight without your quirk, don’t you? The way you moved during the test earlier and a mysterious gap in your file leads me to believe that you’ve been trained to be able to fight without your quirk. Am I correct?”
Izuku gulps. “Y-Yeah, uh. My quirk is pretty destructive so Ya–– All Might, uh, trained me to fight without it.”
“I’m impressed,” Aizawa says. “Most heroes rely too much on their quirks. Anyway, the reason I’m asking is because I have this student who approached me for help. He didn’t make it into the hero course during the entrance exam, but his performance and drive got him into general education.”
“Oh!” Izuku perks up. “Is he quirkless, too?”
Aizawa zeroes in on that. “What do you mean ‘too’?”
“Ah! Nothing!” Izuku scrambles. “Just–– I mean! Um. Anyway, this student you’re mentoring?”
“I’m letting that go for now, but I trust that you’ll come to me if it’s anything important, right?” Aizawa says, borderline threateningly. “If this is something that will affect the way you learn you will let me know, right?”
“R-Right!” Izuku squeaks.
“Alright. The student I’m talking about has a nonphysical quirk. He asked me for help training for the Sports Festival because he wants to transfer into the hero course.”
“Oh! Like you did!”
Aizawa narrows his eyes suspiciously. “How do you know so much about me?”
Izuku flushes. “I wasn’t–– It’s not about you, personally! I just did a lot of research on UA! I thought I’d have to get in quirkless so….”
Aizawa frowns, but lets it go. “Again. We’re going to talk about all that later, but for now I wanted to ask if you’d be willing to come to a couple training sessions and offer him some advice or spar with him. I understand if you’re too busy––”
Izuku, sensing another opportunity to make a friend, jumps at the chance. “I’ll do it!”
Aizawa blinks slowly. “Kid. I didn’t even say anything about the student or when we’re training.”
“I’ll make time! I want to help, sensei. Besides, isn’t helping people what heroes are supposed to do?”
Izuku beams. Aizawa’s lips press into a thin line, like he’s trying not to smile. “Yes, that is what heroes are supposed to do, Midoriya.”
“Just, uh, am I helping him as Midoriya or as Deku?”
“That’s up to you. While I think advice from a working intern would be valuable, something tells me that he’d respond better to another student. Are you just going to hover there or are you coming in?”
“Huh?”
“Not you, kid.” Aizawa nods towards the door to the classroom. A single, golden lock of hair sticks out from the doorframe.
“Ah, sorry. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.” All Might steps fully into the room, shutting the door behind him. He deflates.
Aizawa snorts. “Please, you couldn’t spy on us if you wanted to. You have as much subtlety as an elephant.”
“I like elephants,” Izuku says quickly. Aizawa gives him an exasperated look and Yagi-san chuckles fondly.
“Is everything alright? Did you need young Midoriya for anything else?”
“We’re done here. Midoriya, I’ll let you know about the other student’s training schedule. Focus on settling into UA for now.”
“Okay, sensei!” Izuku chirps. He turns to Yagi-san. “Ready to go home?”
“All set, my boy!”
(Over Izuku’s head, Shouta raises an eyebrow at Yagi. My boy? He’s not listed on Midoriya’s file as his biological father. How interesting.
Perhaps Snipe wasn’t joking about the adoption papers.)
UA’s Newest Staff Member: All Might
by Asai Kin for Tokyo Times
MUSUTAFU, 3 P.M.–– In a statement released this morning, UA High School revealed Pro Hero All Might as the newest addition to their staff. UA stated that All Might will teach a couple of the heroics classes. Principal Nedzu and The Mighty Agency have both confirmed that All Might is working as a student teacher until he earns his full teaching credentials. The Symbol of Peace joins an all-star staff full of notable Pros such as the Voice Hero: Present Mic (rank 23, peak 12) and Snipe (rank 54, peak 43).
Read More…
(“Sensei, I think we might have a lead on All Might’s brat.”)
Izuku’s first week at UA ends with him buried under a collapsed building.
It’s not his fault this time, honest! He knows he attracts danger, but this time it really isn’t anything he did. He didn’t even use his quirk!
Let’s backtrack:
“I’ve been informed that All Might intended on having you all fight in team battles during today’s Foundational Heroics class,” Aizawa opens homeroom with, voice flat and unimpressed. “I’m not letting you go into that without at least a crash course on indoor battle safety. Buckle up because this isn’t going to be fun but it is important and there will be a quiz at the end.”
The class groans. After their nerve wracking first day with Aizawa every other class has been surprisingly boring. UA may have a reputation for having one of the most unorthodox, non-traditional hero courses in the world, but at the end of the day they’re also still a very prestigious high school with a set curriculum. A curriculum that is about as thrilling as it would be at literally any other high school in the country. Calculus is still calculus, even if you’re being taught by a Pro Hero. Izuku has been downright ecstatic to be taught by Pros, but even he can admit that spending almost an hour going over Cementoss’s syllabus was mind numbingly dull.
The exception to the mundanity has been homeroom with Aizawa.
Maybe it’s to keep them on their toes or maybe Aizawa just genuinely wants them to suffer–– whatever the reason, he’s been teaching them like they’re in their fourth year of a university level heroics course and not a week into high school. Izuku has been a working member of a Pro Hero agency for the past six months and even he’s lost sometimes. He’s filled half a notebook with the notes from the past four days alone. Aizawa assures them all this information is just to expose them to it and that they won’t be tested for a while, but Izuku absolutely does not trust that. Two words: logical ruse.
(Is Izuku bitter about the first day? Maybe. Perhaps. It’s possible.)
“Sensei!” Iida exclaims, raising his hand so quickly it ruffles his own hair a little. “Will this quiz be multiple choice or free response?”
“Multiple free choice response,” Aizawa responds. Iida’s face scrunches up as he tries to figure out what that means.
An hour later they have the basics of fighting in enclosed spaces down. Izuku wrote so quickly that his hand started to cramp up. He’s been having trouble with his hands since his last hospital visit. They only really feel functional when he’s using his quirk, but he can’t just activate One for All in the middle of class. He’s already trying to figure out how to use his quirk without giving his identity away. Aizawa shows them a lot of videos of heroes with destructive quirks accidentally leveling buildings as a cautionary tale. He makes them sit through an incredibly dry lecture about load bearing walls.
There’s no quiz. Logical ruse.
“Alright, it’s almost time for Foundational Heroics so just––”
“I am here! Coming through the door like a normal person!”
Izuku struggles not to snort as Yagi-san–– All Might here–– swings his hulking body through the comically large 1-A door. He’s wearing one of his awful brightly colored pinstripe suits. This one is baby blue which clashes horribly with his bright fuschia tie. Inko teased him mercilessly when they left for school this morning.
“All Might. Fantastic,” Aizawa says flatly. “Okay, class. Go get your hero costumes. Open the case now and make sure any requested support items are there. I will not run down to Power Loader’s lab for you if you find out you’re missing anything in the middle of the exercise.”
All Might raises a bushy blonde eyebrow. “You’re accompanying us to Ground Beta?”
“I’m certainly not letting you handle 20 teenagers by yourself. Have you ever babysat before? Teaching heroics is like that, but all the kids have a savior complex and access to scary amounts of power.”
All Might–– who babysat Izuku–– just keeps grinning like he’s been to hell and crawled out alive. Izuku feels bad. Those early years were rough. He was as much of a trouble magnet at ten as he is now, only worse because all his chaos was confined into a tinier body.
“It’s perfect!”
“The support department’s attention to detail is very impressive! It’s such an honor to be outfitted with their work.”
Iida and Uraraka have both already grabbed their briefcases from the wall and cracked them open, admiring their costumes inside. Iida is holding a heavy looking helmet that looks exactly like his older brother’s. Uraraka is slipping round gauntlets onto her forearms over her blazer, twisting her wrists to admire them.
“Did you end up going with the pressure points like we talked about?” Izuku asks her.
“Yup!” She holds her arm out to him and Izuku takes it, observing her gauntlets. They’re sleek white with pink accents, rounded to match her space theme.
“Good! I hope they help with the nausea.”
“Where’s your costume, Midoriya?” Iida asks before realization hits him and his entire face freezes. “I mean––”
“I-I’m still working on the designs for it,” Izuku says loudly, just in case anyone is listening. “I’m just going to wear the standard gym uniform for now.”
Uraraka glances down at Izuku’s backpack, where his full Deku suit is safely hidden in case of emergency. She and Iida exchange looks, nodding in understanding. The three of them had met up before the school year to help each other design their costumes. They never ended up coming up with something for Izuku that wasn’t hilariously bad or a dead giveaway for his identity as Deku.
“Let’s get moving,” Aizawa calls out. The entire class stops chattering and migrates out the door towards the lockers. It’s not until they’re boarding the bus to get to Ground Beta that Izuku sees Todoroki’s costume.
“Is this seat taken?”
“No, you can sit–– Uh.”
Izuku looks up to see Todoroki standing in the aisle next to Izuku’s empty seat. Izuku takes several deep breaths. He thinks about the least funny things he can: villain capture paperwork, the lack of quirkless representation in the media, integrals. He reminds himself that even though he and Todoroki are close now, it would be unacceptable to burst into laughter.
“Go ahead,” Todoroki says flatly. “You can laugh.”
“Todoroki-kun,” Izuku wheezes, dissolving into a fit of hysterical giggles. Todoroki slides neatly into the seat next to Izuku, not saying a word, and Izuku practically hacks up a lung next to him. Izuku is sure his face is bright red from laughter.
Todoroki looks like a popsicle left on its side to melt. A frozen robot cracked in half. Like a video game iceberg that stopped loading halfway through.
“Why?” Izuku chokes out.
“I designed it before I met you. I was still doing the whole ice only thing.”
“Can’t you just melt it?” Izuku gestures to where the entire right side of Todoroki is covered in ice.
Now Todoroki looks a little embarrassed. “It’s not actually ice. It’s part of the costume.”
Izuku reaches over and knocks it lightly with his knuckles. Plastic.
“Midoriya, please,” Todoroki says after Izuku crumples in his seat, hands over his face to try to contain his laughter. “I’m a changed person now.”
“I want to ask about the glowy eye thing but I need oxygen so I won’t.”
Izuku takes a second to breathe. He catches the corner of Todoroki’s mouth lifting in a little half-smile. It makes Izuku proud of how far they’ve come since the recommended student exam. Todoroki is still quiet most of the time but now it’s more of a socially awkward, well-meaning silence as opposed to open, raw resentment for the world. Progress! They’ll work on getting Todoroki more friends when he’s ready.
He and Izuku don’t exactly chat on the bus ride to Ground Beta. It’s more that Izuku goes on and on about whatever he’s thinking about, switching topics back and forth rapidly while Todoroki nods and hums along. Sometimes Todoroki will make a comment to let Izuku know he’s listening. He even makes a few blunt observations that make Izuku snort. He loves Todoroki’s own little brand of deadpan humor.
Todoroki stays close to him as they get off the bus at their destination. All Might and Aizawa start sorting them into partners and Izuku crosses his fingers, hoping to get partnered up with Todoroki. He’s been keeping Izuku updated with his progress at training more with his fire. Izuku would love to see him use it. He bet he could come up with some creative combo moved for the two of them.
“Midoriya and Tokoyami. You two will be hero team A.”
Okay! New person, no need to freak out, maybe Izuku can make a new friend––
“You’ll fight against villain team D. Jirou and Bakugou.”
Izuku genuinely thinks he might be cursed.
Aizawa and All Might explain the basic premise of the exercise. Two teams fight, villains try to protect the paper mache bombs while the heroes try to neutralize the villains or the weapon. They have twenty minutes. The teachers let the class get to know their partners while they do one last check to make sure the mock city has been properly prepared for the battle simulations.
Izuku spots his partner, Tokoyami, hovering near the outskirts of the group. He goes over to introduce himself.
“H-Hi,” Izuku greets awkwardly.
“Hello,” Tokoyami says back, just as awkward.
They stand there silently for a while, not interacting. Izuku has had Iida and Uraraka for enough time that he’s forgotten how awkward it is to talk to new people. How did he become friends with them? With Todoroki? Izuku suddenly can’t name a single thing he can do to make this situation less stiff and uncomfortable.
“Um,” Izuku says smoothly, “so, we’re fighting Kac–– uh, Bakugou. And Jirou.”
“Yes, it seems we are.”
They fall silent again. Tokoyami doesn’t try to engage with him.
Izuku gets it, okay? He recognizes the hunch in Tokoyami’s shoulders, the way he’s curled in on himself slightly. He doesn’t make eye contact with Izuku, holds himself very still and doesn’t make any sudden movements. He has a bird head. Izuku knows the bullying statistics for kids with mutant type quirks. They’re just as bad as the stats for quirkless kids.
Izuku sees himself, before Iida and Uraraka. It wasn’t that long ago that Izuku was going to school every day just hoping that even one person would show him the slightest bit of kindness. So, Izuku pushes down his social anxiety and natural wariness for strangers and instead chooses to be kind.
“I like your costume,” Izuku says, giving Tokoyami a small smile. “The cloak looks heavy. Is the material projectile proof?”
Tokoyami looks surprised. “Why yes, it is. I requested it to be tear and fire resistant as well and this is what the support department gave me.”
Up close Izuku can see that the fabric has a slight sheen to it, a subtle sparkle. It’s almost vanta black, seeming to suck the light out of its surroundings with only the occasional glimmer piercing through, like distant stars.
“Did you request the sparkles, too? It’s beautiful! Like constellations, almost!”
Tokoyami’s feathers fluff up a bit. His hand comes up to rub at the back of his neck shyly. “A-Ah, you noticed. Yes, I was going for a bit of a celestial theme. Afterall, nothing is more hauntingly beautiful than the deep oblivion of space.”
“I know we just met, but I think it really suits you, Tokoyami-kun. Is your quirk space related at all?”
As soon as Izuku asks, a dark mass erupts from Tokoyami’s cloak. It’s a thick, flickering and shifting black bird-like form. It’s absolutely beautiful.
“Fumikage, I like him! He’s nice!” it squawks.
“D-Dark Shadow! Enough, do not––! Midoriya, I am so sorry about him.”
The dark mass–– Dark Shadow–– has fully slinked out from under Tokoyami’s cloak and approached Izuku, butting his hands with his head like a cat. Izuku giggles and pats his beak obligingly. He’s cool and fluid beneath Izuku’s fingers, like petting running water without the sensation of getting your hands wet.
“This is your quirk?”
“Yes, this is Dark Shadow. I apologize on his behalf. He’s usually more reserved in the daytime, I have no idea what overcame him.”
“He’s nice!” Dark Shadow crows, nuzzling Izuku’s palm. “He noticed my stars!”
Now that Izuku looks, Tokoyami’s cloak isn’t the night sky it was just moments ago. It’s just a piece of heavy fabric draping over his shoulders. Dark Shadow, instead, seems to shimmer with the same mysterious void Izuku observed earlier.
“That was you? Incredible! Do you have to connect yourself to the Tokoyami-kun, or can you move freely? Or is it that you can phase yourself with materials?”
Tokoyami answers him, as Dark Shadow has now wound himself fully around Izuku, like a cool, shadowy blanket. “Dark Shadow can manifest however he pleases. Oftentimes he molds himself into a dark mirror of myself, but when we’re out in the open he tends to hide in my clothing.”
“That’s amazing! And he’s sentient as well! That’s so cool! Do you know how rare sentient quirks are? I mean, you probably do but still! It’s only about 0.4% of the quirked population and I’ve never heard of one as versatile as yours. You really are unique, Tokoyami-kun!”
Tokoyami seems to get flustered, but it’s hard for Izuku to tell. “I wouldn’t–– I mean, I’ve always considered him more of a curse than a–– that is to say––”
“You’re really awesome. I’m glad we’re partners!”
Izuku beams at him.
“Ethereal,” Tokoyami mutters under his breath.
“What was that?”
Tokoyami shakes his head, ruffling his feathers a bit. “Nothing. It seems the testing arena is almost prepared. Shall we go over a plan of attack?”
“Right!” Izuku nods.
The plan they come up with is kind of shoddy and haphazard. Izuku doesn't know the full extent of Jirou’s quirk but it probably has something to do with hearing. Bakugou is easy to predict because he’s unpredictable. He’s going to go after Izuku, but whether he’ll do it right away or try to corner him is unknown. Izuku will serve as the distraction while Tokoyami and Dark Shadow neutralize the bomb. It’s simple, straight forward, and the most boring plan that Izuku has ever come up with, but it’s functional.
The only problem is that Izuku can’t use his quirk.
He’s thought about it a lot and decided it’s just too distinctive. He can get away with his green hair. In a world of quirks, Izuku’s green hair and eyes are rather plain. The scars up and down his arms don’t necessarily scream hero work, so that’s not an issue. He has the body type of a particularly muscular high school student but in a school full of hero trainees, that isn’t uncommon. The real problem is that Izuku lights up like a Christmas tree anytime he accesses One for All. He’s tried only using small percentages and limiting his attacks to pressurized air by flicking his fingers, but no matter what he does he ends up sparking green. Until he can figure out how to use his quirk in a more subtle way, Izuku will have to train quirkless in front of his classmates.
Ironic. Izuku has a quirk now, but he still needs to fall back on all the plans he made when he was still quirkless.
Bakugou glares at him, right before he and Jirou enter the training building. It’s a mean look that honestly terrifies Izuku even if it isn’t as viscous as it would have been a couple months ago. Izuku has to remind himself that he literally has a license for fighting villains. He beats up people a thousand times meaner than Bakugou on a regular basis. This is a controlled training session. Nothing is going to happen.
Ha.
It’s a disaster right away. Tokoyami and Izuku split up and, predictably, Bakugou goes straight for Izuku.
“Tokoyami, don’t forget the signal!” Izuku throws over his shoulder before he begins running for his life.
The building they’re in is a mess of corridors, some leading to rooms with adjoining doors to other rooms, some just ending in a dead-end. Bakugou is fast and accurate with his explosions, but he’s not very precise. This distinction is important for Izuku.
“Get back here and fight me!”
Bakugou is slow around corners, and the two to three seconds between when Izuku turns and when Bakugou follows gives him a gap to trip him up. Izuku flings open doors, leaving them swung out in the hallways to block Bakugou’s line of sight. Bakugou blasts right through them.
Izuku races through what is supposed to be an imitation office. He yanks at the drawer of a metal desk, successfully pulling the drawer free. Then he ducks through the next doorway and waits.
“Quit running, shitty nerd!”
Bakugou’s quirk is tough on his shoulders and forearms. He’s been using it continuously, in little bursts, to try to catch up with Izuku. His hero costume features heavy looking metal gauntlets. So, when Izuku steps behind Bakugou as he barrels through the doorway, he swings the metal drawer as hard as he can at Bakugou’s right shoulder.
There’s the clang of metal against metal as the drawer hits the metal neck brace protecting the back of Bakugou’s neck, but it otherwise connects solidly. Izuku only used his natural strength, but that combined with Bakugou’s forward momentum sends him crashing forward into a wall with an ungraceful squawk. Izuku drops the drawer and escapes out the door Bakugou just came through, really running for his life now.
“Asshole!”
Izuku allows himself a small smile. Bakugou is slower to follow and now obviously favoring his left arm.
“Tokoyami, any updates?”
“I know where the bomb is, but Jirou knows that we have arrived. She has her… ear extensions… plugged in to the floor. If I try to approach now, I cannot guarantee that Dark Shadow and I will be able to overpower her.”
Izuku grimaces. They have no idea if Jirou has a big offensive move up her sleeve, and they’re split up.
“Okay, I’ll try to get up–– Ah!”
Bakugou, probably impatient of their little cat and mouse game, just straight up blasts through the wall to Izuku’s left. He swings his heavy gauntlet clad arm at Izuku, managing to smack him directly in the face. Izuku’s nose begins pouring blood.
“Where’s your fancy quirk now?” Bakugou taunts, winding up for another hit. Izuku gets his feet back under him and springs right, but still gets clipped on the shoulder.
“Kacchan, I can’t––”
“What, too good for a little training exercise?”
Bakugou lets off an explosion aimed at Izuku’s right ankle, the one he rolled on patrol yesterday. Crap. He must have noticed the change in Izuku’s gait and purposefully aimed for it. Izuku needs to stop underestimating Bakugou’s observational skills.
“You know why I can’t use it!”
“Sounds like excuses to me! Fucking fight me!”
“Didn’t we talk about therapy? What happened to that?!”
Izuku stumbles away, racing down the hall as Bakugou follows, screaming the entire time.
“Fuck you! My therapist could kick your therapist’s ass!”
“That’s not the point of therapy, Kacchan!”
“Midoriya!” Tokoyami says over the comms, “please continue whatever you’re doing right now! Jirou flinched and unplugged herself from the floor. I suspect the noise from your fight may be too much for her.”
Izuku’s eyes widen with realization. They must be close to the bomb if the noise is enough to affect Jirou now.
“Tokoyami, use us as a distraction!” Izuku says.
Izuku darts as close as he dares and feigns a punch to Bakugou’s left side. Immediately, his hands come up to block Izuku, explosions forming in his palms. Izuku barely manages to yank his arm away from it, but the resulting boom leaves his ears ringing.
“Fight me properly, shitty nerd!”
“How am I the nerd when you’re the one with better grades?”
Izuku gets a blast thrown at his chest for that one, but he manages to duck back, rolling into a backflip. Then–– contrary to all his self-preservation instincts and every lesson he’s learned since he was four–– Izuku tries to get Bakugou to explode on purpose.
“Hey, Kacchan, remember when we were kids and you had a whole All Might shrine in your room?”
“You had one too, asshole!”
More explosions. Izuku takes one to the shoulder, but he’s honestly so used to dealing with Bakugou that he barely registers the pain. Izuku spares a moment to acknowledge that that’s kind of messed up and he should talk to his therapist about it. Then he continues poking the bear.
“Do you still have that limited edition holofoil All Might card? Hey, didn’t you frame it?”
“Shut the fuck up!”
Over the comms, Izuku can hear Tokoyami and Jirou scuffling. He just needs to keep Bakugou occupied long enough for Tokoyami to overpower her and secure the bomb.
“Kacchan, remember our matching All Might onesies?”
“Die!”
Bakugou goes in for a right hook. Izuku knows this right hook–– has seen him throw it, been on the receiving end, experienced it landing more times than he can count. Izuku knows its exact trajectory. He steps in close and brings a hand up to catch Bakugou’s wrist.
Except–– maybe Bakugou has been working on being less predictable, because instead of a tightly clenched fist, his palm is open and building up an explosion extremely close to Izuku’s face.
Izuku panics. He flinches back on instinct and his control slips for just a second. Just a small rush of power, a single green spark flies from his twitching fingers.
Immediately, Bakugou goes rigid. He tenses, left arm coming up and ready to take a blow. From the gaps where his gauntlet is crossed in front of his face, Izuku can see his red eyes wide and shiny with genuine fear.
Izuku and Bakugou fling themselves away from each other, scrambling back. Bakugou pants, face pale and hands shaky.
“Enough fooling around.” He squares his shoulders, bracing his right elbow with his left hand. His fingers press against the triggers of his grenade gauntlets. “These things aren’t just for show. I’ve been storing up my sweat this entire fight. Thanks for the runaround, nerd.”
Izuku backs up. They’re in the center of the building, away from any windows.
Aizawa’s voice comes in warbly over both their comms. “Bakugou, don’t––”
But Bakugou is already pulling the trigger.
Izuku takes a second to distantly note how cool it is. Then, he’s tucking and rolling away and under a desk as a wave of heat and pressure disintegrates the area left of where he was just standing. There’s a cool breeze. Izuku pops his head up and sees a gaping hole cutting clean through half the floor they’re on, exposing them to the street below. The beam was at an angle and now about a quarter of the level below them is missing, too.
“Kacchan, what the hell?!”
“Shut the fuck up, I didn’t mean for it to be that big! I was scared!”
“You?! Scared? Of, what, me?!”
“Your dumb fucking green lightning shit is unsettling, asshole!”
Izuku doesn’t have time to process the fact that Bakugou not only willingly admitted he was scared, but that he was scared of Izuku. There’s just way too much to unpack there and Izuku doesn’t have the emotional energy to try to untangle Bakugou’s issues right now–– and you know what? Not his responsibility, frankly.
“What was that?” Tokoyami asks over the comms, sounding panicked. “Midoriya, are you alright? The whole building shook.”
“That was… Kacchan.”
The floor below Izuku’s feet starts to slope. Something below them gives out and the floor slopes even more, knocking both Izuku and Bakugou off balance.
“Shit!”
Bakugou hits the ground as another shudder wracks the building. He goes sliding, his big grenade gauntlets useless for grabbing onto handholds. He slides right through the gap in the floor before Izuku can do anything.
Izuku panics for a second before realizing that Bakugou can literally fly. There’s the sound of distant explosions and a heavy crash followed by loud swearing. Bakugou will be fine.
“Midoriya!”
Izuku straightens from his crouch behind the desk he used as a shield and sees Tokoyami and Jirou in the stairwell to their floor. Both of them are covered in plaster dust and look a little scuffed up.
Izuku takes a step towards them. The whole building creaks again, shaking. The wall behind Izuku, knocked out of place by the blast, begins to tilt. With it, the whole building shudders. Crap. Load bearing wall. Izuku barely registers moving, but suddenly he’s backed up against the wall with his legs braced to keep it upright.
“The building’s going to come down! Jirou, check the floor below us, I saw Kacchan fall!”
Jirou hesitates, but ultimately leaves, vaulting down the stairs.
“Midoriya, we need to go as well!”
“I’ll be fine! Just get out and let me know when everyone’s out of the building. I’ll try to set the wall down gently.”
Izuku shifts his weight a little. There’s a distant crash and through the gaping hole in front of them, Tokoyami and Izuku watch an entire chunk of concrete complete with a still intact window tumbles down from one of the floors above them.
“Oh, this is bad,” Izuku observes.
“Midoriya, let’s go!”
“If I move the whole building could come down! Just–– go! Make sure Kacchan and Jirou are out and I’ll jump out when everyone’s safe.”
“Midoriya, that is insane. You cannot possibly hold it up, just come with us.”
The building quakes and there are more distant crashes. The stairway below Tokoyami’s feet is shaking.
“Go, Tokoyami,” Izuku insists, fully lighting up with One for All. “I’ll be fine.”
(Fumikage always thought of himself as a black hole amongst stars. Seeing Midoriya now, lit up from the inside with some kind of green, pulsing energy–– it scares Fumikage. There’s something unknowingly ancient about the power emanating from him. Something that scares even Fumikage, who revels in darkness.
On the surface Midoriya is a nebula, but perhaps he is more like Fumikage than previously thought. So much power cannot be contained to one point without collapsing in on itself, after all.)
Izuku watches Tokoyami reluctantly flee. He shifts his shoulders against the concrete, trying to concentrate more energy to the skin on his back and shoulders. He hopes he doesn’t get too scraped up from this. Or, you know, crack his skull. That would also suck.
The building gives another ominous creak.
“Midoriya,” Aizawa says over the comms. “Bakugou and Jirou are on the street. Tokoyami just exited the building. Where are you?”
“Uh,” Izuku says. “I’m, uh, holding it up.”
“Holding what up?”
“Um, the building.”
Silence.
“Problem Child, I swear to God––”
“If I move, it’ll collapse! It’s fine, I’m like, 8% invincible––”
“8% invincible is not invincible at all! Fine! Fine, just hang on, I’m sending All Might in. Do not move.”
“Okay, sensei!” Izuku chirps.
Dust swirls in the air. Izuku sneezes. The building collapses on him.
Twenty minutes later All Might digs Izuku out from the rubble looking extremely worried. Izuku lets All Might princess carry him out of the wreckage, fussing and clucking like a mother hen. Izuku is fine! Everyone is overreacting. What’s one little collapsed building going to do to him?
“You have a concussion,” All Might informs him after asking Izuku a series of hard to follow questions. What does he mean they’re at UA and why are there two of him?
“If there are two of you now then that means I went from having zero dads to two dads,” Izuku mumbles. “That’s double the amount of dads I had before.”
All Might frets even more.
“Just stay awake, young Midoriya. I’m taking you to Recovery Girl.”
“Oh no,” Izuku slurs, “she’s gonna call Yagi-san.”
“Your mother is going to kill me,” All Might mumbles under his breath, moving as quickly as he can without jostling Izuku too much. “I’m a dead man walking.
Izuku blinks and suddenly he’s under a warm blanket in the infirmary. Recovery Girl is pulling away from him, presumably from healing him. He feels very tired and fuzzy, like a stuffed animal that was washed too many times. Frayed around the edges.
“What…?” Izuku blinks hard. The bright lights in here hurt.
“Congratulations, Midoriya, you’ve found a way to scare Toshinori without breaking an arm,” Recovery Girl says.
Izuku squints hard at the ceiling, trying to remember. “Did I… break a leg?”
“No broken ones,” Recovery Girl tells him.
“Oh!” Izuku smiles faintly. “That’s great.”
Then he remembers.
“Ah… a whole building, huh?”
“A whole building, Problem Child.”
It’s then that Izuku realizes that Aizawa is in the room. He’s standing to Izuku’s left, behind Yagi-san who has folded his gangly limbs into the chair at Izuku’s bedside.
“Bakugou has been lectured. He’s on academic probation for reckless endangerment and he’ll be taking remedial classes for his destructive impulses on top of his personal counseling sessions. I wish you had told me about the history between you two, but I don’t blame you for not trusting me completely yet. That’s on me. The two of you are never going to be paired together in an exercise again, not without your consent. Also, you’re sitting out the next few Foundational Heroics classes.”
Izuku opens his mouth to protest, but Aizawa cuts him off.
“This isn’t a punishment. You’re healing. Plus, it’s not like you need it anyway. We’re just going over the basics of hero law and safety procedures, no practicals. I’m sure you get enough of that at the agency.”
Izuku whips his head towards Yagi-san, pleading with his eyes.
“On the brightside, Principal Nedzu has offered private lessons to replace Foundational Heroics for the week,” Yagi-san offers, like it’s something to be excited about. From the sympathetic wince Aizawa gives him, it is not.
Izuku deflates, slumping back into his cot. His head still feels fuzzy.
“Okay, fine,” Izuku concedes, though he didn’t really have a choice.
(For a moment, after watching that building come down over Midoriya, Shouta felt like a helpless teenager again. His heart aches in all the spaces that Oboro used to be.
He made a promise to himself a long time ago. He will do anything to keep his kids safe. He schedules his class for a rescue simulation with Thirteen, planning to dedicate at least half the day to focus on urban environment rescue.
It’s a good thing the USJ was free to book.)
When they get home, someone is waiting in front of Yagi-san’s door.
Izuku immediately shifts to cover him, standing in front of Yagi-san and dropping into a defensive stance. The other figure is tall, taller than Yagi-san is. He’s thin but obviously athletic. The dimly lit hallway doesn’t allow for much detail but Izuku sees the gleam of glasses. A potential weak spot. If he tries to attack, Izuku will go for his eyes.
“Who are you?” Izuku asks.
The figure steps forward.
“So,” Sir Nighteye says, “were you going to tell me you have a successor now or was I just supposed to find out from the news like some kind of civilian.”
Yagi-san winces. “I was going to tell you, eventually.”
“Seriously, Toshinori?” Nighteye tsks, giving Izuku a once over. “He’s barely standing.”
“Let’s not do this out here. Come in. This talk is long overdue.” Yagi-san steps out from behind Izuku. He unlocks his apartment and gestures for them to enter.
As soon as they’re inside Yagi-san’s apartment, he starts fussing over Izuku. He settles him down onto the couch with a fresh ice pack for his head. He brings him a whole pile of fluffy blankets, stopping just short of tucking him in like he’s a toddler. He even fetches Izuku a can of his favorite brand of green tea, the ones he keeps in his fridge just for Izuku.
Nighteye watches all of this silently, standing in the middle of Toshinori’s living room and looking very out of place. He’s all crisp lines and neat edges, his suit impeccable and his posture ramrod straight. He clashes against the homey, worn furniture of Yagi-san’s apartment. On Yagi-san’s fridge is a rough doodle of Izuku, his mom, and Yagi-san that Izuku drew when he was 10. Nighteye flicks his gaze between the drawing and Izuku. He stares down his nose at Izuku.
“Apologies, Mirai, you caught us at a bad time,” Yagi-san says, finally settling down onto the couch next to Izuku. He gestures for Nighteye to sit across from them, in the armchair. “Rough day at school.”
“It’s the first week,” Nighteye says flatly. “He looks like he’s been hit by a train.”
Yagi-san winces. “Ah, you know how UA is.”
“Does he have to be here for this?”
“Izuku’s mom doesn’t get home until six, and he needs to be watched.”
“You’re babysitting.”
“I’m right here, you know,” Izuku butts in finally. He struggles to sit up fully, but his body feels heavy and his head still hurts.
“I’m trying to fix that,” Nighteye says without missing a beat. “Send him home, I’m sure he can take care of himself.”
“He had a concussion. And anything you can say to me you can say to him.”
“A concussion in his first week of high school,” Nighteye says. “Toshinori. Surely, you see what’s wrong with this picture.”
“Mirai,” Toshinori warns.
“Did you even look through the applications I sent you?” Nighteye continues, like Yagi-san didn’t say anything. “Young Togata seems quite promising. I’m planning on offering him an internship at my agency this year. If you would just meet the boy––”
“Mirai, stop.”
“If not Togata, then what about Morales? I sent his profile to the agency as well. He’s based in America but he did an exchange program recently. I’ve seen footage of Deku’s fighting and his lack of control with One for All is worrying. Morales has a mobility quirk that would pair beautifully with––”
“Mirai,” Yagi-san says sharply. It’s the angriest Izuku has ever heard him. “Enough. I did not look at the profiles. I will not look at the files. I’ve made my choice and nothing will change that. My successor is Izuku. It was always going to be Izuku.”
Tense silence. Izuku looks back and forth between Nighteye and Yagi-san, eyes wide.
“Toshinori,” Nighteye says, devastatingly soft, “you’re making a mistake.”
“Nothing you say will move me on this. Izuku has already done a remarkable job filling in the gaps for me. I am quite proud––“
“I will not sit by and watch you destroy yourself and your legacy,” Nighteye says sharply, looking desperate. “Please, Toshinori, listen to me. You are making a mistake.”
“I’m not,” Yagi-san says firmly. He places a hand on Izuku’s shoulder. “Izuku is the best of us. I’m sure of it. You’ll see it, one day.”
Nighteye looks at Yagi-san for a long time. They seem to have a whole silent conversation with just their eyes. Finally, he looks away from Yagi-san and directly at Izuku, for the first time since he’s arrived.
“Second semester,” he says curtly. “My agency. You’re going to intern for me.”
“It would be an honor,” Izuku says sincerely, because despite all the condescension and mean remarks, Sir Nighteye is still the biggest All Might fanboy out there and Izuku respects his elders.
“Once you’re well, we will spar. I need to know what I’m working with. And I expect the paperwork for a co-agency internship to be in my inbox by Monday. Bubble Girl will handle the transition. I will need any files pertaining to your training as well as a full medical history.”
Yagi-san smiles faintly. “Of course.”
Nighteye stands.
“Before you go,” Izuku speaks up, remembering something Yagi-san told him about Nighteye, “which way does the number one hero never turn?”
Nighteye tilts his head. “What was that?”
“Which way does the number one hero never turn?”
“Which way does the number one hero never turn? I don’t know.”
“Left,” Izuku says, a shit-eating grin on his face, “because he’s All Right.”
Nighteye lets out a surprised snort. He quickly schools his face back into its usual stoic expression, but his eyes are lit up. Izuku tries not to look too smug.
“Not a completely awful joke, Midoriya. Perhaps you have potential after all.”
Heroics Daily @HeroicsDailyPress • 15m
BREAKING: Hawks makes official statement regarding contract with HPSC. Opens up about “training” under Commision. Full article: bit.ly/93KjnL
45.2k retweets 2,299 quote tweets 18k likes
bailey | hq manga spoilers @atsumusets • 20m
HOLY SHIT?? Ok i know he was dodging a lot of questions and the HPSC probs have him under a tight NDA but did keigo kinda imply that they’re super controlling and manipulative??? like on national television???
34 retweets 2 quote tweets 187 likes
BunnyIdol @mirukoimsingle • 22m
Can we please wait for the full official statement this time?? International twitter is already freaking out about fan translations when we don’t even have the full transcripts from hawks’ interview. Miruko’s interview won’t even be released until next week so i think we should all (1/13)
4.5k retweets 98 quote tweets 6.3 likes
Victor @edgeshotnoticeme • 23m
Are we all just going to pretend like the previews for these articles don’t have BOTH hawks and miruko mentioning deku??? Like whats going on??? Hes still like a kid intern right wtf
12.3k retweets 938 quote tweets 20.1k likes
It turns out getting a building dropped on him is grounds for a week off internship duties, too. Who knew? Not Izuku.
It’s hard to be bitter about it. It’s hard to think anything about it at all other than complete relief. He loves hero work and the time he spends at the agency doing reports or at All Might’s side on patrol are the moments that Izuku lives for. However, he’s also a teenager attending school full time. He had to do his English homework for Present Mic twice the other day because he accidentally submitted the first copy to finance as a collateral damage report.
(That was an interesting conversation to have with the head of finance. Izuku apparently freaked out some poor intern who thought that Deku just submitted all his reports in English.)
Principal Nedzu is terrifying. Izuku loves him.
Izuku only does private lessons with him for four days while he heals up, but they are the wildest four days of Izuku’s life. Within the first thirty minutes of their first lesson, Izuku has learned how to access the American government’s hero database and diffuse two types of bombs. Nedzu then has him do a full case study of Pro Hero Mercury’s career, which results in the discovery that his kill rate is way higher than the national average. Nedzu takes Izuku’s analysis file and promises him that Mercury will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, and then some.
There’s a manic gleam in Nedzu’s eyes when he says “and then some” and Izuku, again, is both scared and thrilled at the same time.
But that isn’t the highlight of Izuku’s week. The highlight of his week is meeting Shinsou Hitoshi.
“Midoriya, this is Shinsou. He’s the student I was telling you about.”
“Hi!” Izuku says, way too loudly. “I’m Midoriya! It’s great to meet you!”
Shinsou squints at him, like he’s looking directly into the sun. “Yeah. Sure.”
Izuku grins, undeterred. “Aizawa-sensei didn’t tell me much about you, but you’re in General Studies, right? And you want to do some training for the Sports Festival! That’s great! It’s not for another two months, but you’re already preparing, huh? That’s so cool!”
Shinsou ignores him. “Sensei, why is he here?”
The three of them are standing in Gym Gamma thirty minutes after school on the first day of Izuku’s “rest” week. Izuku is still kind of jumpy after his lesson with Nedzu which makes him bounce on his heels, his chunky red sneakers squeaking against the gym floor. The sound echoes. Aizawa and Shinsou look at him like they want to murder him.
“I’m here to help!” Izuku says.
“Midoriya has experience in the Pro Hero world,” Aizawa explains. He begins rolling out a sparring mat. “He’s good at quirkless hand to hand, too. You can learn a lot from him.”
Izuku has never had a teacher speak highly of him. He’s never had a teacher treat him with anything other than open disdain. Izuku beams.
Shinsou looks like he doesn’t believe that. He eyes Izuku up and down, mouth tilting into an unimpressed line.
“So, what are you then? A legacy hero or something?”
“Oh, no. My mom’s a nurse!”
“Alright, this is how it’s going to go,” Aizawa says. The mat is now fully set up, with a large ring printed on it similar to the mats Izuku spars on with Gran Torino. Aizawa has a timer and a clipboard in his hands. “You’re going to spar. The first time you’ll do it quirkless. The second time, Shinsou I want you to use your quirk.”
Shinsou objects. “Why can’t Midoriya use his quirk?”
“You’ll die,” Aizawa says flatly.
Shinsou pales.
“That’s not true! You won’t die! I can control it!”
“The point here isn’t for you to control your quirk. This isn't about you, Midoriya. We’re here to help Shinsou. So, first time quirkless, second time Shinsou uses his quirk. Got it, brats?”
Izuku raises his hand, like they’re in class. Aizawa pinches the bridge of his nose.
“Yes, Midoriya?”
“Are there any rules? Like, no head strikes, no eye gouging?”
(‘Eye gouging?’ Shinsou mouths at Aizawa. Aizawa gives him a terrifying grin.)
“Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. Also, no biting.”
“Okay!” Izuku nods, determined. He steps onto the mat, turning to face Shinsou, who mirrors him. They both drop into fighting stances.
“Ready? Start!”
The match is over instantly.
Shinsou is tall, and clearly underestimates Izuku. He doesn’t know how to settle his weight. Izuku takes a running leap at him, catching him with his thighs around Shinsou’s ribs and twisting until Shinsou hits the mat face first under him. Izuku has his hands pinned and his weight squared on Shinsou’s back in under a second. Once Izuku has him down, Shinsou doesn’t even try to fight it. He goes limp like a prey animal.
Aizawa clicks the stopwatch. “Four seconds. Impressive.”
“What,” Shinsou wheezes, face pressed to the mat, “the fuck.”
Izuku gets off him, offering Shinsou his hand. Shinsou batts it away like a disgruntled cat. Izuku tries not to feel too bad about that.
“Are you a ninja?”
“Um. No?”
“What was that?”
“Years of mixed martial arts training and about six months of field work.” Izuku blinks up at him, wide-eyed. “Was it… are you okay? I didn’t hurt you, right? My mentor says I have a tendency to land too heavily. Are your ribs okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“Ready to go again?” Aizawa asks, resetting the timer. “Remember, Shinsou. Quirk this time.”
Shinsou grimaces, darting his eyes in Izuku’s direction. “Do I have to?”
“Do you want to be a hero?”
Evidently, that’s a yes, because Shinsou settles back into a fighting stance. This time he drops his center of mass lower.
“Go!”
Izuku doesn’t attack immediately this time. He doesn’t know what Shinsou’s quirk is or how it’s activated. Aizawa mentioned something about a nonphysical quirk. That could manifest in an infinite number of ways. Izuku circles his opponent, eyeing him carefully and keeping his guard up. Shinsou watches him just as warily, arms up and eyes forward.
“What?” Shinsou asks finally. “No fancy moves this time?”
“No––”
Instantly, Izuku’s mind clouds over. It’s like walking through a thick fog, all hazy smoke and cool mist behind Izuku’s eyes. It’s dark here. There’s someone moving in the darkness. There are multiple someones moving. Izuku feels the flutter of a cape against his mind, dark hair twisted in a high bun, the impression of big gloves on his shoulders––
“–– a minute and twenty seconds. Good job.”
Izuku blinks back to himself. He’s laying on the ground and Shinsou has him pinned to the mat. He has no idea what just happened.
“Huh?”
Shinsou gets off him quickly. “Sorry.”
“What–– Was that your quirk?”
Shinsou nods curtly, not looking at him.
“That was–– That was so––”
Shinsou visibly braces himself.
“Incredible,” Izuku breathes out. He bounces to his feet in front of Shinsou, mouth going a mile a minute. “Was it some kind of sensory deprivation? A higher brain function shut down? How did you activate it? You didn’t touch me so it can’t be physically, but you did–– Oh! That’s it, right? It’s verbal?”
Shinsou looks surprised. “It’s brainwashing. I just brainwashed you.”
“That was so cool! Can you do it again? Wait, wait, let me get my notebook!”
“You’re not scared? You’re not scared.” Shinsou looks at him, bewildered. “Why aren’t you scared?”
“Huh? Why would I be scared?”
“I just mind controlled you!”
“Uh, yeah,” Izuku says, “and it was super cool. No wonder you want to be a hero! You could use it in so many different situations. Oh man, I bet arrests and hostage situations would be so easy. And villain interrogations, too! How many people can you control at once? Is there a time or distance limit? Do they always lose their memory afterwards or can you plant suggestions in their minds?”
Shinsou flounders. He looks to Aizawa for help.
“He’s just like that,” Aizawa explains. “You’ll get used to it.”
The next few training sessions pass the same way. The first half is Izuku and Aizawa demonstrating takedowns and hand to hand while Shinsou tries his best to get at least the basis down before the festival. The latter half is helping Shinsou train his quirk.
And trying to befriend him. That too.
“Look, I appreciate your help, but I don’t need you to be my friend. Just teach me what you know and we never have to interact again,” Shinsou says, which Izuku’s brain immediately interprets as a challenge for friendship.
“Okay,” Izuku says slowly. “If you really don’t want to be friends….”
Izuku trails off, waiting for Shinsou to object. He does not. Aizawa watches on, amused, from a distance.
bbmirukosimp reblogged lgbtsmountlady
proheroesmoreproblems
Deku goes to Ketsubutsu. Hear me out.
I know I have a reputation on this hellsite for posting wild and unfounded theories but I am positive I’m right about this one. Forget the secret son theories, forget the government plant theory, I’ve cracked the case with this one.
It makes sense. All Might conveniently starts teaching at UA the same year his intern (and, presumably, personal student) is of the age to enter high school. This kid is obviously gunning to be a hero, so he’s probably going to attend hero school. One would expect that Deku would attend the very hero school his mentor is teaching at, correct?
EXCEPT THAT’S COMPLETELY WRONG!!!!!
The best way to throw people off the Deku scent would be to send him to literally any other high school than the one his very public mentor is teaching at! He can’t attend Shiketsu, because Shiketsu has their hero class rosters and entrance exam results open to the public. He wouldn’t go to Seiai since it’s too far from The Mighty Agency and the press has spotted Deku on patrol recently. Ketsubutsu would be perfect. It’s close enough to continue his internship, has a private roster list, and no one would expect the number one hero’s student to go to one of the lower tier hero schools! Foolproof!
It would be pretty idiotic for Deku to attend UA. Thank you for coming to my TED talk, no I don’t take criticism.
10,728 notes
#All Might #Pro Meta #op youre right and you should say it #plus weren’t there reports of some dark curly haired guy at ketsubutsu #someone who goes should track him down lmao
Izuku is a little on edge at the start of today’s training session.
Earlier today, the media broke into UA. For a few terrifying minutes, Izuku was sure that they’d found him. He thought that they had somehow found out he, Midoriya Izuku, was Deku and they were here to interrogate him on why he had the audacity to think little, plain, boring Midoriya was worthy of the Symbol of Peace’s time. He worked himself up to almost a panic attack, hands buzzing with numbness and breath coming short until Uraraka and Todoroki coaxed him back to himself. Uraraka led him through a breathing exercise while Todoroki held his hands between his own, using his quirk to warm them up. During this time, Iida managed to herd them into an alcove to avoid the stampeding students and calm the entire student body.
That’s why Izuku had no problem handing off Class Representative to him once they’d gotten back to class.
Izuku still can’t believe he was elected in the first place. Him. Walking disaster, has “troublemaker” for a middle name, stutters even around his closest friends–– him! He’d spent the entire class period trying to think of a way to bow out of the responsibility without seeming ungrateful. The truth was that even if he wanted to be Class Rep, his schedule with his internship patrols and training with Shinsou just took up way too much of his time.
(He has no free time. He hasn’t been able to try out a new baking recipe for ages.)
All of this is still swirling around Izuku’s brain when he meets Shinsou and Aizawa for training after school.
Training sessions started as something for Shinsou, but Aizawa pretty quickly realized that Izuku could also benefit from learning how to moderate his force. It turns out when Yagi-san said he “tends to land heavily” that was putting it lightly. Shinsou has described Izuku’s takedowns to be “like getting hit by a bus, which–– God I wish.” Aizawa has to warn him repeatedly to go easy on himself.
Today, Aizawa has Shinsou and Izuku spar against him, as a team. He says this is to build both of their teamwork skills. Izuku thinks he just wants to give Shinsou a break from Izuku’s repeated takedowns.
It’s brutal. Aizawa doesn’t pull any punches, which Izuku appreciates. He and Shinsou almost get a win when Shinsou manages to snag Aizawa with his quirk. Unfortunately, this was right as Izuku was going in for a tackle, which knocked him out of Shinsou’s control pretty easily. Aizawa had them both wrapped up in his scarf within seconds.
“Take a break,” he says after releasing them. “You’re getting sloppy. What did I say about communication?”
“Right.”
“Sorry, sensei.”
The boys both grumble, feeling sore. They make their way to their stuff, piled by the door to the gym. Shinsou chugs a whole water bottle, and then opens another. He collapses in a gangly pile against the wall, his eyes drooping with exhaustion.
Izuku slumps down next to him.
“You know, I don’t think I’ve said it yet but I think what you’re doing is really brave.”
Shinsou lowers his water bottle. “What do you mean by that?”
“I mean, it takes a lot of guts to challenge UA. If you win and ask to be transferred into the hero course, you’re basically saying that UA made a mistake putting you into Gen Ed. Even attempting it takes courage. Aizawa-sensei is the only one to successfully jump departments in the last 50 years.”
“Midoriya, how do you know that?”
“Because I wanted to do the same thing,” Izuku admits. He looks down at his hands, rough and scared. Physical evidence that he’s not the same person he was a year ago. “I, uh, grew up quirkless. I wanted to be a hero more than anything so I researched every possible way to do it. I even tried building my own support items, but my mom stopped that after the second time I took apart our microwave.”
Shinsou tilts his head, as if seeing him for the first time. “You grew up quirkless?”
“My quirk manifested really late,” Izuku lies. “I’ve only been able to use it for a couple months. So, for most of my life, yeah. I was quirkless. Other than it barring me from applying to most hero schools, I didn’t really have a problem with it. But other people did.”
Shinsou makes a low noise of understanding. Then, hesitantly, he says, “I get that.”
“You do?”
“People used to say I have a villain’s quirk.”
“A villain’s quirk? That’s ridiculous! Your quirk is perfect for hero work, plus a quirk can’t be villainous in the first place! That’s like saying you have a villain’s arm or something.”
Shinsou snorts. “Yeah, well, you’re like the only one who thinks like that. Besides my moms and Aizawa-sensei.”
Izuku nudges Shinsou’s shoulder with his own. “And you, right?”
Shinsou is quiet. Izuku’s heart breaks a little.
“Well,” Izuku says, “if you don’t believe in yourself, then I’ll just have to believe in you enough for the both of us.”
Shinsou changes the subject. “What were you even gonna do, anyway? The Sports Festival events are random every year.”
“Mm, they’re not though,” Izuku says. He leans over and snags his backpack, opening it up and pulling out one of his older notebooks. “There’s a pattern, it’s just really complicated. I had to go back to the founding of UA to get enough data to notice it, but it is predictable. From there, I just brainstormed ways to take out the competition. Nedzu explicitly allowed sabotage as a valid strategy when he became principal ten years ago, so I was ready to just find a crowbar and start taking out kneecaps.”
Shinsou barks out a surprised laugh.
“You’re deceptively scary, Midoriya. I respect that.” Shinsou squints at him consideringly, then nods with approval. He pulls out his phone. “Wanna see my cat?”
Izuku lights up. “Please!”
Shinsou swipes through his phone, pulling up his photo app. He taps on a folder containing 14,248 photos of the same adorable, slightly grumpy looking calico cat. Shinsou scrolls through, tilting his phone so Izuku can see. It really is the cutest cat Izuku has ever seen.
“This is Hippo. She’s a bastard and I love her. My moms said they found her outside the orphanage the day they came to pick me up. She likes to chew gravel.”
“She’s perfect,” Izuku declares, mesmerized as Shinsou swipes through more photos of Hippo. “She’s too good for this world. I would die for her.”
Shinsou pauses. “I’m not sure if that’s a joke.”
“It’s not.”
“Again. You’re a little scary.”
Izuku chuckles. “Why did you name her Hippo?”
“It’s short for Hippocampus.”
From across the gym, Aizawa lets out a surprised snort and quickly turns away to hide his smile. Shinsou is focused on his phone, so he doesn’t see, but Izuku does.
Yagi-san and Inko agree to let Izuku go back to work under the condition that he sticks to paperwork for the next week. It’s not so bad, honestly. Now that Uraraka lives nearby for school, she gets to accompany him to the agency office and do work for her parents’ company there. Sometimes Iida joins them and the three of them work or study quietly in Izuku’s office until it’s time to go home. Izuku is working on getting Todoroki to join them soon.
Today, none of Izuku’s friends are here. Week two at UA is shaping up to be way more intense than week one, if that’s even possible. Izuku doesn’t blame the two of them for not wanting to do work on a weekend, but since Yagi-san needs to patrol it means Izuku will be alone in his office for the entire day.
This is when the HPSC decides to pounce.
He has no idea if they knew he’d be alone today, but it doesn’t matter. Half-way into the morning Izuku gets a call from the agency’s front desk.
“Hello, Deku?”
“Hey,” Izuku responds, already reaching for his facemask. “Is everything okay? Is there an emergency?”
“No, no emergency,” the secretary says slowly. Izuku cradles the phone in between his ear and shoulder so he can use both hands to pull on his gauntlets.
“Why do you sound so nervous, Sakata-san?”
A heavy sigh. “The Hero Public Safety Commission is here.”
Izuku squeaks.
“The HPSC? What…?”
“Should I buzz them up, sir?”
“T-That’s not–– Uh, no. No, I’ll come down to see what they want. Thank you Sakata-san.”
“Alright. I’ll let All Might know what’s going on,” Sakata says, because she’s the best person in the world and can definitely hear how nervous Izuku is just through his voice.
Izuku makes sure his mask is firmly in place before stepping out of his office. The HPSC are here? Why? What do they want? Has Izuku done something wrong? Has All Might? Izuku can’t think of a single reason why the HPSC would send in-person representatives to the agency unless it was something big.
The whole way down to the lobby, Izuku bounces on his heels nervously. He distantly registered the J-pop song playing in the elevator, the hum of the cables, the quiet beep as he descends through the floors. He needs to calm down. It’s going to be fine! They’re probably just here to say hi and check up on him. He can’t be too visibly nervous. Yagi-san said the Commission can smell fear.
The elevator dings and the doors open, exposing Izuku to the lobby. There are three agents standing near the front desk, talking with Sakata-san.
“H-Hi,” Izuku says hesitantly. In unison, all three representatives snap their attention towards him, turning to face him fully. Izuku resists the urge to shrink into himself. “I-I’m Deku. All Might is out on patrol, so I-I’m managing things for now. Can I help you with anything?”
“Deku!” The middle representative says. “Just who we were looking for!”
She’s tall, made even taller by her sharp red high heels. She has her dark green hair pulled back in a severe high ponytail. Dusted along her cheekbones are some reflective rectangular patches of skin.
“I’m Hattori Mi, I work with the HPSC’s branch for young heroes. These are my associates, Otani Yoichi and Nakada Masa.”
Otani gives Izuku a wide, plasticy smile. His stare is intense, with his bright blue eyes that have horizontal slits for pupils, like a goat’s. “A pleasure, Deku. You’ve made quite the splash in the hero world.”
“You’re all anyone’s talking about over at the HPSC’s main hub,” Nakada adds. He’s shorter than the other two, closer to Izuku’s height. He has two pairs of iridescent dragonfly wings sprouting from the back of his work blazer.
“Nice to meet you all,” Izuku says as neutrally as he can. “W-What was it that you needed me for?”
“We’re here for your six month evaluation!” Hattori says cheerfully.
“Evaluation?”
“Yes! Every six months all interns under eighteen are required to submit an agency evaluation to ensure they’re being taken care of! You also need to renew your internship status with our database.”
“Usually you submit these online, but we decided to pay you a visit in person!” Otani continues, his grin distinctly sharklike. “You know, since you’re such a special case.”
Izuku gulps.
He wants to turn them away, but he knows they’re telling the truth. He remembers All Might’s manager telling him about his evaluations when he first joined the agency. Has it already been six months? It feels like just yesterday Izuku was stopping conbini robberies. Now he has three HPSC agents looming over him in his agency’s lobby.
“Right.” Izuku pushes down his instinctual fear of authority figures. “Of course. My office is upstairs.”
The elevator ride is extremely awkward. It becomes pretty clear that the HPSC agents have an agenda. They ask him leading questions about school, exaggerating their complaints of their own time in high school. Nakada makes some kind of comment about wishing he had the option to not go to high school when he was Izuku’s age. It’s so obvious it makes Izuku cringe with secondhand embarrassment. Are they aware of how much they sound like car salespeople?
(Except, in this metaphor, the car is an inescapable contract binding Izuku and his hero career to the HPSC for the rest of his life.)
They file into Izuku’s office. Izuku is painfully aware of all the All Might posters he has hanging up behind his desk. His limited edition 2nd generation Silver Age All Might figure stands proudly atop his filing cabinet. There’s an All Might blanket draped over the back of the couch. A singular Miruko poster grins down at them from the far wall.
“Charming!” Hattori chirps. She settles elegantly into one of the chairs across from Izuku’s desk and Otani folds himself into the other chair. Nakada stands.
“O-Oh, I’m so sorry! Let me go get more chairs!”
“No need, son! Sitting makes my wings uncomfortable, I’m good to stand.”
Izuku internally cringes at the overfamiliarity. Son. Not even Yagi-san calls him that.
The actual evaluation goes smoothly. The three agents and Izuku all seem to want to get it over with as quickly as possible, so they don't linger on any questions. Yes, Izuku has access to proper medical care after patrols. No, he doesn’t work more than 35 hours a week. Yes, the agency is accommodating his school schedule. After each response, Hattori writes something down in a little file she pulled out of her briefcase. The scratch of her pen on paper sounds impossibly loud in Izuku’s ears.
“Alrighty then!” she clicks her pen and shuts her folder. “Now that that’s out of the way, how about we discuss your options?”
“Options?”
“Of course! The work you’ve done under All Might has been incredible. You’re a gifted young man, Deku. You could have your choice in hero programs. The HPSC just wants to make sure you’re aware of that.”
“A-Ah, yeah.” Izuku rubs the back of his neck nervously, the fine mesh of his gauntlets are grounding against his clammy skin. “I, um, saw some of the emails with program offers. I’m not really interested, sorry.”
“Did All Might show you every offer?” Nakada asks. “We wouldn’t want you to miss out on an opportunity just because something slipped under his radar.”
“I-I’ve seen them all,” Izuku lies.
“That’s a shame,” Hattori says slowly. She clicks her nails against Izuku’s desk, shiny and sharp like talons. “We’re offering a lot of financial aid. I’m sure your mother would enjoy a break from the hospital, no?”
It’s at this moment that Izuku realizes. They’re from the Commission. They have access to his full intern profile. His legal name, his mother’s name, his entry in the quirk database, probably even their address. His blood runs cold.
“Thank you, but no thank you,” he says firmly. “We’re doing just fine. I’m not interested in help from the HPSC.”
Hattori opens up her briefcase again, slipping out a different folder. This one she opens and places on Izuku’s desk, facing him.
“If you just take a look at some of the housing packages we’re offering––”
“That’s enough.”
All four of them snap their heads towards the door. There, in all her righteously furious glory, is Inko Midoriya.
“Hi, mom!” Izuku grins, sagging with relief. Inko looks absolutely livid. There’s no doubt in his mind that she’s about to eviscerate the HPSC agents. He sits back to enjoy the show.
“Deku is a minor. You cannot be trying to get him to sign legal documents without his guardian present.”
The tirade that follows is truly glorious. All Might arrives halfway through, but hangs back when he sees Inko going off. He hovers in Izuku’s doorway and the two of them exchange grins over the heads of the thoroughly chastised HPSC representatives. Izuku nearly cheers. Everyone thinks all his chaotic energy is his own, but he’s always known it came from Inko. He is his mother’s son, through and through.
“If you ever try to corner my son like this again we will be pressing charges,” Inko finishes with, her smile sharp and slightly unhinged. “I’m sure the Commission wants to avoid that, especially with all the controversy surrounding Hawks’s recent statements?”
“Yes, Ma’am,” Hattori says quietly. “We apologize on behalf of the Commission. We’ll take our leave now.”
All Might then makes his presence known, his grin huge and dark and honestly kind of scary. “I’ll walk you out.”
As soon as they’re out of the room, Inko collapses back onto Izuku’s couch. Izuku immediately goes to her.
“That was so scary,” he says. “They were really insistent. They brought up your job.”
“Don’t worry about me, baby. We’ll make sure they never do this again.” She runs her fingers through his hair, heaving out big breaths. “Wow. It’s been a while since I raised my voice like that.”
“It was so cool!” Izuku gazes up at her in admiration. “How did you even know to come? How did you get here so fast?”
“I was already on my way. I got off work early and wanted to surprise you and Toshinori when your secretary called me.”
As if summoned, All Might appears back in the doorway to Izuku’s office. He shuts the door and deflates down, settling down onto the couch next to Inko.
“The audacity,” he says.
“I know, Toshi.”
Yagi-san gives Inko an approving smile. “That was quite terrifying, Inko. I thought you were scary after I broke that mug the other day, but this was a whole different level. I am impressed.”
“Are things in the Pro Hero world usually this intense?”
“Oh, Inko,” Yagi-san says, smiling wryly, “you have no idea.”
(“About the operation for next week: Kurogiri, do you know how to work a camera?”)
Notes:
That’s it for this week (and maybe a while) !! Anyway, a couple things:
• Chapter title is from Wilson by Fall Out Boy
• next chapter isn’t done yet so i don’t have a good word count estimate but uh… expect it to be around the same size as this one (SORRY HAHAHA)
• hello! You may have noticed that i un-anonned this work!! Weird to be introducing myself when we’re already 60k in but hi i’m xylo!
• i’m xyloophones on tumblr and @_xylophones on twitter !! I’m more likely to respond on tumblr tho so feel free to come talk about bnha with me !!
Chapter 6: The screaming, heaving fuckery of the world
Summary:
Izuku’s whole world falls apart on a Tuesday.
Notes:
Just a warning in case you missed the tags: there’s some canon typical violence in this one! Buckle up because we're getting a little intense today pals.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Izuku’s whole world falls apart on a Tuesday.
But before that:
“Nice one!” Izuku shouts, dodging Shinsou’s swipe at his ribs. “You almost got me!”
“Don’t be so friendly,” Shinsou grumbles, going in for a leg sweep. Izuku jumps, landing close to Shinsou and using his extended leg as leverage to bring him down to the mat. He smiles down sunnily as Shinsou curses, struggling for a bit before conceding.
“But we are friends,” Izuku protests, helping him back up. “You told your classmate we were friends!”
And he did. It only took about two weeks of training with Aizawa and Izuku’s unwavering, aggressively positive friendly advances, but Shinsou now considers them friends. Izuku knows this because Shinsou said it himself this morning, when Izuku greeted him as they passed in the halls. The student Shinsou was walking with, another class 1-C member, had asked Shinsou who Izuku was and Shinsou responded curtly with “a friend” which almost had Izuku joyfully sobbing in the middle of the hallway.
“I just didn’t want to mention we were training,” Shinsou excuses, looking away. “I need my classmates to underestimate me for a better shot at taking them down.”
Izuku grins, biting down on the urge to point out that, technically, Shinsou isn’t competing against his 1-C mates, he’s competing against 1-A and 1-B. Shinsou also, pointedly, does not deny that they’re friends. Izuku counts this as a victory.
“Alright, brats, pack it up,” Aizawa calls from the bench where he was observing. He stands up and stretches, arching his back like a cat. Shinsou unconsciously mirrors him, even blinking slowly in the way that a cat would after a nap. Izuku fights back a smile. They’re so similar it’s a little eerie.
Izuku checks his watch.
“We’re ending early?” Shinsou asks, on the same wavelength.
“I have to do some prep for tomorrow’s USJ trip and Midoriya has work.”
Shinsou raises an eyebrow at him as he begins rolling up the practice mat. “You work?”
“Uh. Yes.” Izuku tries to think about a way to lie about his job without it being incredibly obvious that he’s lying. Shinsou has gotten very good at seeing right through him. “I, uh, do paperwork. For… people.”
“Paperwork for people,” Shinsou says flatly.
“Yup! Just regular, normal paperwork for regular and normal people.”
Aizawa lets out an exasperated sigh. “Just get going, Problem Child. Don’t forget, we’re leaving early tomorrow. Don’t stay up too late.”
Right. Because Izuku let Aizawa know that he was switching to the evening patrol shift at the agency.
Patrol shifts are a big deal when it comes to Pro Heroes. The most coveted patrol times are morning and afternoon shifts, with the ideal time being right around noon. It’s the shifts for the flashier heroes, the veterans, the ones who need the public to see them out and about. The All Mights of the world. It’s usually the shift that sees the most media coverage which is great if you’re trying to raise your ranking. Evening, midnight, and dead hour shifts are typically given to sidekicks. It’s the time of day with the most crime, but takedowns during those shifts are also almost never covered.
Up until now, Izuku has been tagging along with All Might during his afternoon patrols. Because of All Might’s reputation, it’s usually enough to just show up and drop into a fighting stance for the villains to give up. There’s always a camera crew or two around as well, crowds of spectators and reporters alike vying for their attention.
But tonight, Izuku gets to experience a real patrol. No cameras, no posturing. Just pure crime fighting and justice without the nosy eyes of the media.
“Don’t worry, sensei,” Izuku says as he leaves, “my mentor will take care of me!”
Izuku had to beg for weeks to get Yagi-san to even consider letting Izuku accompany him on a night shift. First, Yagi-san argued school times, but when Izuku pointed out that an evening shift would actually work better with his class times, he quickly switched to the danger argument. Izuku has been training hard with his quirk, but he can still only control about 8% of it. That’s still an extraordinary amount of power, even if he’s not very precise with it. That paired with him settling into his new leg focussed, shoot style combat strategy has him feeling like his training progress has been setback by a couple months. He’s also bad at estimating how much force he needs. He’s torn up the concrete around the agency so many times the front desk staff is starting to just keep damage report forms in the lobby.
Yagi-san finally relented when Izuku’s mom, of all people, said she thought he was ready. His mom has a tendency to be overprotective, but this time she just beamed down at Izuku, ruffled his hair, and said that he could handle it. Yagi-san already struggles saying no to one Midoriya, so if both Midoriyas are on board he’s basically helpless.
Izuku waits until he gets to the agency to change into his hero suit, since it would be pretty bad if anyone spotted Deku leaving UA’s campus.
“Ready to go, my boy?” All Might asks him, once Izuku has emerged from the locker rooms in his hero gear.
Izuku grins, bright and eager under his mask. “Ready!”
It’s April, so the sun has just begun to set when Izuku and All Might head out on their 6 P.M. patrol. Yagi-san only has about three hours in All Might form typically, depending on whether or not his old injuries are flaring up on that day or not. He and Izuku can stretch those three hours into a six hour patrol with careful breaks for rest in between All Might appearances. Izuku handles a lot of the arrests on those days. The villains have started realizing that if they’re seeing Deku, All Might must be nearby. Today, because of the added danger factor of an after dark patrol, Yagi-san has decided that they’ll only be patrolling for the amount of time he can hold his All Might form.
Izuku looks at their shadows cast on the pavement by the setting sun: All Might with his broad shoulders and hard angles and Deku at his side, his compact body not casting much of a shadow at all. He likes the look of them next to each other. Izuku doesn’t really believe in fate, but a small, hopelessly idealistic part of him thinks that he was born to be here.
He’s so excited for this patrol shift.
“What are we doing first?” Izuku asks excitedly, bouncing around All Might as he walks. “Looking for bank robberies? Government official assassination attempts? Ooh, are we going to check out the piers Detective Tsukauchi thinks are a port for illegal weapon imports?”
All Might lets out a booming laugh, a big hand coming down gently on Izuku’s shoulder to stop him from hopping around so much. “None of that! We are going to walk people to their trains!”
“Huh?”
“It’s the end of the work day. This is when most muggers target people, as they’re tired and leaving their jobs. We’re going to go to the less trafficked parts of the city and offer to walk people to their stations!”
“But….” Izuku frowns, shoulders slumping. “Oh, okay. That’s not very….”
“Exciting? No, it is not!” All Might says, still grinning. How do his cheeks not ache constantly? “But, it is important, young Deku. Stopping violent crime is a hero’s job, but so is making people feel safe on their way home!”
“Well, when you put it that way…”
All Might chuckles again, ruffling Izuku’s hair. “I was just like you when I was younger, always ready for the next villain fight! Remember, my boy, what’s truly important is not just saving a person’s life, but their heart as well. That’s what it means to be a hero.”
The shadows on All Might’s face are harsh, but Izuku can still see the way his eyes soften, gaze fixed on some far off point. The words feel borrowed, like he’s just repeating someone else.
“Did your mentor teach you that?” Izuku guesses.
“Ah, yes. Nana, she––” All Might breaks off. “Yes, she taught me that.”
“She sounded incredible. I wish… I could have met her.”
“She would have loved you.”
He says it with such conviction, like it’s an undeniable truth for him. Izuku wishes more than anything that he could have met her, the hero that turned inspired Yagi-san so much. He bets he would have loved her, too.
“She always said that volunteer work was the true job of a hero,” All Might says as they continue walking. “Take your mother for example. The volunteer work she does at the women’s shelter is truly admirable. Not to mention her job at the hospital. Really, nurses are the backbone of the healthcare industry and….”
Izuku listens to All Might sing his mother’s praises with a fond smile on his face. He’s so happy that someone besides him has noticed just how incredible Midoriya Inko is. All Might is Izuku’s favorite Pro, but his mom has been and always will be Izuku’s favorite hero.
The shift passes slowly.
All Might and Deku are a common enough sighting in downtown Musutafu, where the majority of their shifts cover, but out in these quieter blocks any hero sighting is a bit rare. Izuku thinks about what Hiro said about rougher blocks getting less hero protection and resolves to talk to All Might about changing their patrol routes to start coming out this far. The first few people who request escorts look so relieved to see them. It makes Izuku feel guilty for not doing anything sooner.
They split up after a while, All Might trusting him to signal if Izuku runs into any trouble. It turns out there are a lot of people who appreciate a hero escort. Izuku only stands on a corner for a couple minutes before a pair of middle school boys approach, asking if he can help them find their bus stop.
It’s only after walking the fourth person through the dimly lit streets that Izuku really starts to get what All Might said earlier. The girl Izuku is escorting–- a high schooler going home after cram school–– is jumpy the entire walk to her train station. She sticks close to Izuku’s side, head on a swivel as they walked. He can practically feel the anxiety radiating off of her.
After a quiet, tense walk to the station, Izuku is ready to bid her a good night and move on to the next civilian in need, but she stops him.
“D-Deku-san?” she asked hesitantly. “Would it be alright if you waited with me? Just until my train gets here?”
“Of course.”
The station is completely empty. The only sounds are the occasional distant rumble of trains and the low buzz of the overhead lights. The fluorescent lights wash out her face, leaving her ghostly pale, her wide eyes darting all around the station to search for threats. She’s obviously tense, even in a well lit station with a hero at her side.
The longer they stand there in silence, the worse Izuku feels. Isn’t he supposed to be a hero who saves people with a smile? He doesn’t just want to offer physical protection, he wants to ease her anxieties, too.
So, Izuku swallows down his own awkwardness and starts talking.
“Um, if you don’t mind me asking,” Izuku begins, “w-what are you studying?”
She turns towards him but her eyes are still darting around. “Oh, um. I want to study psychology. At the University of Tokyo.”
“Woah, that’s a great school! That sounds interesting. Why psychology?”
“I think it’s i-important. To understand. Um, I’m interested in child psychology and how the manifestation of, uh, quirks affects development.”
“Oh! That’s really cool. I think you’re right, that is an important field to explore.” Izuku gives her an encouraging smile.
She smiles back hesitantly, shoulders beginning to relax. “Thanks. I know it’s kind of nerdy….”
“There’s nothing wrong with being nerdy, especially if you’re helping other people. I used to– I mean, a friend used to attend these youth support groups for quirkless people and a lot of the kids would talk about how most of their friends’ personalities completely changed after their quirk manifested.”
“Oh, yes! That’s become an area of interest in research over the past few years! There was an observational study in America done by UC Berkeley that….”
It turns out, once she gets comfortable she doesn’t stop talking. The girl goes on for about ten minutes about the subject and by the end of her rambling she’s stopped checking the exits so much. Her body language is much more open and she’s started gesticulating with her hands, eyes lighting up. It makes Izuku feel warm. He smiles under his mask, glad that for at least ten minutes she let go of some of the tension.
She’s interrupted from going on about another study when her train arrives. The look on her face when she realizes is precious. She gives Izuku a sheepish smile.
“S-Sorry, I tend to ramble. Thank you for waiting with me, Deku-san. A-And for letting me talk to you. I was kind of nervous earlier”
“It’s no problem!” Izuku chirps. “I didn’t mind! It was really interesting!”
She gives him a little wave as she boards the train, turning back to face him.
“Have a safe trip home,” Izuku says, waving back.
“Thank you,” she says again, with such sincerity it makes Izuku blush. Then the doors slide shut and she’s gone.
After that, Izuku starts to push past his own natural awkwardness and social anxiety to talk to citizens as he escorts them. He finds that it puts them at ease, to have someone to talk to as they walk. It makes the streets seem a little bit brighter, the dark alleys a little less shadowy. Less like they’re walking with a hero bodyguard and more like they’re walking with a friend. Izuku meets a business man who loves his two kids more than anything in the world, an old woman taking community college classes for fun, and a college student on their way home early to surprise their boyfriend.
The college student has a tiny Gang Orca charm on their backpack. Izuku compliments the charm and asks if Gang Orca is their favorite hero.
“He is, but you’re definitely a close second,” they say, laughing as Izuku blushes and sputters. “I saw your fight with All Might in block 3 the other day. Plus, Gang Orca’s never walked me to the station before.”
“I-I’m not a hero! I’m just an intern!”
“You're keeping a broke college student safe on their way home through a shady neighborhood,” they say, tossing their bangs out of their eyes. “Seems pretty heroic to me.”
“I–– I don’t––” Izuku cuts himself off, suddenly reminded of what his therapist said about learning to accept compliments. “T-Thank you.”
“No problem!” The student grins at him, pausing before they descend the steps into the subway. “Hey, before I go can I ask something?”
“Sure!”
“Are the rumors true? Is All Might really your dad?”
“D-Dad?! He’s not––! I-I mean–- No! No, All Might isn’t my dad. What do you mean by rumors?”
The student chuckles. “Don’t worry about it, just a theory I saw on reddit. Alright, have a nice night Deku!”
Izuku tells all of this to All Might–– minus the secret son theory–– when they meet back up after their shift is over. He babbles excitedly about all the people he got to meet, talking All Might’s ear off even after they’ve changed out of their costumes and get into the car to head home.
“I take it you had a good first evening shift, then?” Yagi-san asks, smiling fondly as Izuku gesticulates so wildly he accidentally hits himself in the face.
He can’t help it! He just feels so… good! Like he’s really making a difference–– really helping people!
“It was great! Really quiet though, I didn’t run into any villains at all. Not even a convenience store robbery or mugging.”
“Yes, I noticed that, too. It was an unusually quiet night tonight,” Yagi-san notes.
“I mean, that’s good, right?”
“I would certainly never hope for crime to occur, but it is odd for this time of day to be so quiet. It’s not very consistent with the statistics Naomasa emailed me last week.”
Something Yagi-san has been trying to teach Izuku is that he can’t be everywhere at once, he can’t save everyone all the time. It’s a lesson that he admitted took him a while to learn himself, and that even to this day he has the tendency to spread himself too thin. Yagi-san’s solution to this has been to study crime data and statistics to decide where and when he’s most needed. It’s become really important over the past few years for him to spend what little time he has as All Might in the places that need him the most. He’s so busy all the time, even after handing his hero merch shop over to a young couple. Tsukauchi emails him crime statistics every week to help him plan out patrols.
“It’s getting warmer,” Izuku says, trying to remember what Yagi-san and Tsukauchi taught him. “Don’t crime rates usually go up?”
“That they do, my boy. Now that I think about it, this whole week has been rather quiet. I’m a little concerned.”
Izuku nods, on the same wavelength. “Like the calm before a storm.”
They exchange a look, Izuku only catching a glimpse of Yagi-san’s face as they drive past a streetlight, the light through the car window briefly illuminating his gaunt features. He looks just as wary as Izuku feels.
Something big is coming, they just don’t know what.
Max @gangorcasleftfin • 1h
holy shit deku just walked me to my train??? he made sure i got to my station and didn’t leave until the train doors closed to make sure i was safe?? he’s so nice irl yall omg?????
3k retweets 70 quote tweets 12.3k likes
replies
replying to @gangorcasleftfin
arthur @ kny finale @tanjiros • 1h
Alright, where can I send Deku a thank you note + edible arrangement for keeping my partner safe on their way home to me? I am just a poor college student but this kid deserves the world.
2 retweets 15 likes
replying to @tanjiros
Max @gangorcasleftfin • 1h
PLS SKLFDJ he’s honestly so sweet what a good egg
23 retweets 2 quote tweets 67 likes
Station 9 News @StationNineMST • 2h
All Might and intern Deku spotted in Block 9 escorting civilians on their way home. View pictures and first hand accounts in the full article: bit.ly/J93Ka1
12k retweets 67 quote tweets 25k likes
Star Magazine: Hero Edition @StarMag_Hero • 3h
Publicity stunt or genuine hero work? Hero intern Deku seen in Blocks 9 and 12 walking people home. Are Mustafu taxpayer dollars funding a glorified bodyguard? Read more on our website: bit.ly/ky8T2
4k retweets 894 quote tweets 6k likes
view 13.4k replies
When Izuku and Yagi-san get home that night, Inko is slumped over the dining room table, asleep. Izuku double checks the time. It’s not that late, barely pushing 9 PM. He frowns, looking over at Yagi-san. Yagi-san looks concerned, immediately crossing the room to kneel in front of Inko. He gently shakes her shoulder.
“Hmm?” Inko mumbles blinking blearily down at Yagi-san. “Oh… Toshinori. You’re home.”
“Inko, you fell asleep at the table again. You didn’t have to wait for us, if you were tired you should have just gone to bed.”
Inko yawns, straightening up in her chair. She checks the clock above the oven. “No, I— oh, goodness. It’s already 9? I have to get ready for work.”
Izuku frowns. “But you worked this morning.”
“I asked for more hours,” Inko explains sleepily. She yawns again.
“Mom, why would you ask for more hours? You already work so much!”
“Don’t worry about it, honey.” She stands and goes to Izuku, ruffling his hair. “You two must be hungry after patrol. I’ll fix you up something.”
She shuffles into the kitchen. Yagi-san follows her.
Izuku sighs. His mom has looked so tired lately. He’s been around less, thanks to internship duties and school on top of training with Aizawa and Shinsou, but mornings will always be for Izuku and his mom. Lately, all their mornings have been full of Inko trying to prepare breakfast, still half asleep while Izuku does as much as he can get away with before she shoos him out of the kitchen. Even Yagi-san, who usually doesn’t come over until it’s time for the two of them to drive to UA, has noticed the change in Inko’s energy levels.
Izuku settles into his mom’s recently vacated seat. The table is still warm from where her cheek was pressed against it. He’s just opened up his phone to scroll through social media when he hears Inko and Yagi-san’s voices carrying from the kitchen.
“... not a big deal, Toshinori.”
“Just let me help… exhausted, and it’s not… I can pay….”
It’s that last bit that sticks out to Izuku. Pay.
UA is an expensive school. There are scholarships in place and various financial aid programs, one of which Izuku is a part of. Thanks to Uraraka’s grades and a couple essay competitions she won, she has a full ride for the next three years. Izuku’s situation isn’t like that. He may not be paying full tuition, but it’s still a hefty amount. He only managed to see the edge of a bill once before his mom swooped in and tucked it into a folder.
Yagi-san and Inko’s voices get louder. Neither of them are the type to yell when they get upset, but the apartment is quiet and has thin walls. Izuku hears everything.
“It’s just a couple extra shifts. No big deal.”
“You’re exhausted, Inko. Please, just let me help out. I’m not using the money anyway.”
“We’re fine. I’ve been saving up for UA since Izuku was four. I can handle it.”
That almost makes Izuku cry. Since he was four? Even after the quirkless diagnosis? His mom has believed in him this whole time?
“You don’t have to handle it alone. Izuku is my responsibility as well––“
“He is my son.”
Not yours.
Izuku flinches. The kitchen is silent for a moment before his mom speaks again, quieter.
“I’m so sorry, Toshi. I didn’t mean–– I’m tired, but that was out of line.”
“No, no, you’re right. He is your son, Inko. You call the shots.”
Izuku can’t see Yagi-san’s face, but just the sound of his voice clues Izuku in to how much that comment must have hurt him.
“No, I didn’t mean it. Really. You’re part of this family, too, I just–– I can provide for him. The other parents, at PTA meetings, used to say–– because I’m a single mother and— They would––“
“Shh, it’s alright.”
“T-They would say awful things about Izuku and I could never do anything about it. But this is something I can do, Toshi. I can’t train him like you or anything, but I can do this.”
“You do so much already, Inko. Please, let me––“
“I don’t do enough.”
Inko’s voice is more muffled than it was earlier. Izuku gets up from his seat and sneaks over to the kitchen doorway, peering in. Yagi-san and Inko are hugging, Inko’s face pressed into his chest. She’s crying.
“That’s not true.” Yagi-san cards his fingers through Inko’s hair. “You’re a fantastic mother, Inko. Just look at how amazing Izuku turned out.”
Inko laughs wetly, muffled against Yagi-san’s shirt. “Yes, he really is something, isn’t he?”
Yagi-san catches sight of Izuku in the doorway. He gives him a small, sad smile.
“He’s incredible,” Yagi-san says, never looking away from Izuku. Izuku rushes forward and wraps himself around his mother’s back, startling her slightly. He presses his face down against her hair. When did he get taller than her? And has Yagi-san always fit so perfectly into Midoriya group hugs?
“Mom, you’re the best,” Izuku rushes to say. “Don’t listen to anyone else! You’re the best mom in the world and I’d rather just have one of you than a million other parents and I–– I’ll fight anyone who––“
“Izuku, honey, don’t fight civilians.”
“–– I’ll send strongly worded letters to anyone who says otherwise!”
Yagi-san chuckles. Inko takes a deep breath and gives them both one last tight squeeze before detangling herself from them. She swipes at her eyes, laughing at herself quietly.
“Always tears with us Midoriyas, huh, Izuku?”
“Crying is a healthy way to release emotions,” Izuku defends.
“Right as usual, my boy.”
Izuku and Yagi-san end up kicking Inko out of the kitchen and preparing dinner themselves. Izuku has gotten better at cooking over the past year, but Yagi-san remains a lost cause. At least he can make rice, even if it isn’t exactly the most complex culinary feat. They finish cooking fairly quickly and soon Izuku is serving his mom and settling in to tuck into his own meal.
They eat quietly for a bit before Izuku decides to broach the subject.
“Mom,” he says delicately, “I think, um, if Yagi-san is okay with it, I think you should accept his help.”
Inko looks up at him, heartbroken for a moment before Izuku rushes to explain.
“I’m worried about you. You work so hard on top of cooking according to my diet plan and managing our bills and everything. Plus, you always make time to talk to me about school and stuff. I just… don’t want things to be like it was after Dad left.”
It’s a touchy subject, and Izuku knows it. The only reason he’s okay with bringing it up is because he and his mom are so much better than they used to be. They have Yagi-san now, and his mom has her own friend group outside of work and Auntie Mitsuki.
“Izuku… it’s not the same thing.”
“I know! I know, but….” Izuku bites his lip, fiddling with his chopsticks. “You worked so much after he left, and I get why! I know you were j-just trying to support us and then we had to move and everything… but! But y-you were so sad and tired all the time and I don’t want you to feel like that ever again.”
Izuku looks at his mom. Her kind, wide green eyes are glossy and fixed on him. Always looking only at him. When he was younger, Izuku used to thank any god that was listening that he looked so much like his mom. She’s the picture of kindness in his mind.
“I’m going to work hard to save people, and that means you too Mom. I’m going to support you, so for now, please let Yagi-san support both of us. I mean, it’s not that different from cashing in Dad’s checks, right?”
The corners of Inko’s mouth lift. “Oh, it’s very different. For one, Toshi actually talks to us.”
Izuku laughs. Even Yagi-san, who always looks uncomfortable when Izuku’s father is brought up, chuckles.
“Okay, I guess… you could pay half.” Inko says finally. Yagi-san wrinkles his nose.
“Inko, I’m really not using my hero salary for anything. Please, let me––“
“Half.” Inko says sternly.
“Half,” Yagi-san concedes.
The rest of the night passes quickly, with Inko and Yagi-san allowing Izuku to gush excitedly about the rescue simulations he’ll be doing in class tomorrow. When Yagi-san leaves after dinner, things still seem a bit strained. Izuku thinks he might still be thinking about Inko’s comment. He doesn’t know how to reassure Yagi-san that he basically is Yagi-san’s son without dying of embarrassment. Plus, maybe that isn’t even what Yagi-san is upset about. Why would he want Izuku for a kid anyway? Izuku is a disaster.
Inko has to leave for work, but she assures Izuku that she’ll be there in the morning to send him and Yagi-san off to school. Just like she always does.
(Maybe things are still a little stiff when Yagi-san and Izuku leave for UA. It’s fine. They’ll work it out later, after school.
He’s my son. Not yours.
The unspoken words echo around Izuku’s head for the rest of the morning. Even though he knows his mom didn’t mean it, it hurts. He can’t imagine what’s going through Yagi-san’s head right now.
Not yours.)
That morning Iida spends about fifteen minutes trying to organize everyone into lines for a seating arrangement but the seating layout of the bus throws all of it out the window. Everyone shrugs it off good naturedly, piling into the bus without a second thought. Izuku hangs back.
“You okay, Iida?” he asks quietly, gently bumping their shoulders together. Despite his stiff and overly formal demeanor, Iida is a surprisingly tactile person once he becomes friends with someone.
“I am doing well,” Iida responds automatically, before dropping his voice a little. “I simply… I’m feeling a little uneasy. I’m not sure why. I apologize for the whole seating debacle, I just feel better when things are organized.”
Izuku nods in understanding. Iida had confessed to him that he gets anxious when things around him aren’t ordered. Feeling out of control used to trigger intense panic attacks when he was younger, especially back when both his parents were working Pro Heroes and he and Tensei would watch them fight villains on the news. His anxiety manifests very differently from Izuku’s, but it was one of the first things the two of them could relate over.
“It’ll be okay, Iida,” Izuku soothes, leading him onto the bus. “At least with this seating arrangement we can sit next to each other and still talk to Uraraka and Todoroki. Do you wanna talk about why you feel tense?”
Iida shakes his head. “There isn't a particular reason. I simply… have a bad feeling.”
Izuku frowns, but lets it go. They climb onto the bus and settle into the seats near the front. Izuku is just wrapping up an interesting conversation with Tokoyami about stealth based heroes when Asui, one of the classmates he has yet to talk to, catches his attention.
“You know, Midoriya, you haven’t used your quirk in class yet,” she says. Izuku stiffens.
“Ah, yeah, haha.” Izuku smiles woodenly. He does not elaborate.
“Yeah, I have to admit I’m really curious!” chimes in Kirishima. He’s seated next to Bakugou, his left side permanently quirk activated to deal with the sheer amounts of heat and tension radiating from Bakugou. Kirishima, though, seems mostly unphased. “Is it something subtle? I don’t really have a flashy quirk myself. Hardening is kind of lame when you compare it to powers like All Might’s.”
“But your quirk is so cool, Kirishima!” Izuku rushes to defend. “Hardening is super useful for heroics. I bet you’re going to do really well during today’s rescue exercises, too! Besides, it’s not the quirk that makes the hero.”
Kirishima grins sunnily at him. “Woah, that was such a manly thing to say! You’re totally right! Gah, you sound just like Crimson Riot!”
Izuku perks up. “You like Crimson Riot? No way, he’s such an old hero, I never get to talk to anyone about him!”
Kirishima opens his mouth, probably to continue gushing, but Bakugou cuts him off. “Can you two nerds do your fanboy thing some other time. You haven’t answered the question, Midoriya. Why haven’t you used your quirk in class yet?”
Izuku gulps. Bakugou glares at him. He’s probably still bitter about the Battle Trial exercise, which seems unfair. Izuku is the one who had a building dropped on him after all. Izuku turns away from him to address Asui.
“Well, Asui, I––”
“Call me Tsuyu.”
“Okay, uh, T-Tsuyu… um, my quirk is kind of hard to control so I-I don’t want to–– can’t! Uh, I can’t use it until I can get a little better with it.”
Todoroki, Uraraka, Iida, and Momo all avoid looking at Izuku, probably out of second-hand embarrassment. He knows he has his “lying” face on, but he really can’t help it. He’s not a great liar.
“That’s pretty suspicious,” Tsuyu says bluntly. “But I’ll respect your decision, Midoriya.”
Tokoyami has been staring a hole into the side of Izuku’s head this entire conversation. Izuku tries to avoid looking at him. He knows that Tokoyami saw him activate One for All before the building went down, but he hasn’t brought it up so neither will Izuku. He can only hope that Tokoyami either didn’t see him properly or that he hasn’t made the connection between him and Deku yet.
Kirishima seems to sense how uncomfortable Izuku is because he swoops in to his rescue. “Well, whatever your quirk is I’m sure it’s super cool! Man, there are so many cool quirks out there. Have you seen that clip of Edgeshot flattening himself into a spear? That was so awesome!”
“Edgeshot’s quirk is really versatile,” Yaoyorozu agrees. “I think Fat Gum’s quirk is also very interesting. I’m hoping to intern with him at some point.”
Oh, that makes a lot of sense. Yaoyorozu and Fat Gum both have powers related to stored energy and body fat. Izuku thinks that interning with him would be an excellent idea.
“Mount Lady’s quirk is super cool, too!”
“Yeah, and Godzillo’s!”
“I think Deku has a pretty cool quirk.”
Izuku and his friends fall silent. His blood runs cold as he turns to look at Kaminari.
“What? You guys don’t think so?” Kaminari tosses his head, flicking his bangs out of his eyes. “I think he’s super cool.”
“You’re only saying that because his lightning is like yours, only green,” Jirou says.
“Hey! That’s not the only reason! Plus, isn’t his quirk like super strength or something? Not electricity?”
“I don’t think it’s ever been confirmed,” Kirishima says. “I agree, though. Deku is super manly. So mysterious!”
Bakugou, impossibly, gets even redder. He’s shaking with repressed rage, which Izuku would find hilarious if he himself wasn’t also shaking–– but from fear of being found out.
“I think the mystery adds to his charm,” Hagakure chimes in. “Hey, he’s our age, isn’t he? Wouldn’t it be super cool if he went to UA? Ah, I think I read somewhere that he goes to Shiketsu, though….”
“Yeah,” Bakugou says calmly, looking directly at Izuku, “wouldn’t it be super fucking cool if Deku went to UA?”
Kirishima, not picking up on the tension, continues to gush. “Bro, that would be the best! I bet he could give some really good advice on stopping villains!”
“He’s probably not even in hero school,” Uraraka butts in. Izuku mentally sends his thanks. Uraraka Ochako is a lifesaver and Izuku loves her to death. “I mean, he’s basically a Pro. Anyway, I think Gunhead has a cooler quirk!”
From there the conversation, thankfully, steers away from Deku. Izuku tries not to let too much relief show on his face, but from the looks Tsuyu is giving him, he must not be successful. She doesn’t call him out, though, so Izuku counts it as a win.
When they finally arrive at the USJ, Aizawa herds them all off the bus and inside where Thirteen is waiting for them. Uraraka basically cuts off all the circulation in Izuku’s hands from squeezing them in excitement. He doesn’t blame her though, not when he had to tamp down on his own excited squeal. Izuku, Uraraka, and Tokoyami stick together, all quietly gushing about Thirteen and their quirk. Tokoyami apparently appreciates the beauty in its destruction, or something like that.
Izuku isn’t entirely sure what Tokoyami said since he was too busy gazing around the USJ in awe.
It’s huge, first of all. The dome of the facility arches high above their heads to accommodate for the tall structures around them. They’re standing elevated at the entrance, before a set of stairs that leads down to a main plaza with a fountain and several branching paths that lead to the different areas of the USJ. From where they are, Izuku can spot an artificial mountain range, some destroyed skyscrapers, a large lake, and several smaller domes.
“So, this is where our tuition money is going,” Kaminari mumbles, also looking dazed at the sheer size of the place.
“Gather in close,” Aizawa calls out to them, standing at the top of the stairs. “Thirteen will explain the lesson plan today.”
Izuku frowns. Wasn’t All Might supposed to be here today? Who better to learn rescue from than the man who made his debut rescuing hundreds of people? Yagi-san even seemed excited, too. Something doesn’t feel right. Aizawa and Thirteen are exchanging hand signals, Thirteen holding up three fingers and then putting them all down. Is All Might out of time for today? But, he seemed fine when they parted ways in the parking lot. He’s not even supposed to be at the agency today, when would he have run out of time?
Neither of them say anything to the class. Instead, Thirteen starts describing the different rescue simulations they’ll be running today and some general safety tips. They’ve been lecturing for a solid ten minutes before Tokoyami nudges Izuku’s side, brow furrowed and feathers ruffled.
“Midoriya, I am sensing a dark disturbance nearby,” he whispers. Dark Shadow has untangled himself from Tokoyami’s cloak and draped himself protectively around Izuku’s shoulders, snapping his beak testily.
“What do you mean?” Izuku whispers back, eyeing Aizawa warily. He doesn’t want to get in trouble for talking during Thirteen’s lecture, but something in Tokoyami’s voice worries him. He seems anxious.
“Dark Shadow is sensing something. Other people.”
“Besides our classmates? Maybe just being in a new environment is making him anxious?”
“Something is wrong,” Tokoyami insists. “Dark Shadow is always aware of our surroundings. If he senses other people, there must be other people. Something is wrong.”
Izuku trusts him. He raises his hand to catch Aizawa’s attention.
“Yes?”
“Sensei, there’s––”
A gasp ripples through the crowd of students, interrupting Izuku. Behind Aizawa, at the center of the main plaza, something shimmers and shifts. Something ripples and the fabric of space and time tears. Darkness bleeds into existence in front of the fountain, like a drop of ink spreading through water.
A hand reaches out and then someone steps through.
Yagi-san 💪🌻 • 8:03 AM
Izuku! I am texting you to let you know that I will not be present during today’s USJ training! Shortly after we parted ways earlier I was called into the agency for some emergency villain fights! I apologize.
I have faith that you will do well in today’s exercises! If I am not back by lunch, ask Aizawa to retrieve your bento from the staff lounge. It’s in there along with my own.
Have fun in class today, my boy!
Izuku watches in mute horror as the first villain–– because that must be what this is, right? A villain attack?–– steps through. Izuku can’t see much from this distance, except that he has a shock of white hair and that he’s covered in severed hands. After him, more villains pour from the portal, filling the USJ’s main plaza. They come in all shapes and sizes, some hulking and large with obvious mutation quirks and some shadowy, nimble, moving like the guys you see pushing drugs on street corners. Izuku has taken down enough petty criminals to recognize the type.
Kirishima, timid for the first time since Izuku met him, is the first to speak. “S-Sensei, are those…?”
“Those are real villains,” Aizawa says, donning his goggles as his scarf floats to life around him. He squares his shoulders, uncurling his normally slouched posture to stand protectively in front of the class. “Kaminari, can you get a message to campus?”
Kaminari fiddles with his support item, rapidly clicking through the different buttons and channels on the side of his headset. He looks frantically up at Aizawa, eyes wide and shiny with desperation.
“Nothing’s going through! They must be jamming my signals!”
If this worries Aizawa, he doesn’t let it show on his face. He just nods, never taking his eyes off the crowd of villains amassing by the fountain. “Okay, keep trying. Stick together. Thirteen, get them out of here.”
Izuku steps forward without thinking, subconsciously ready to follow Aizawa into battle. “You can’t fight them alone, sensei!”
“Midoriya, stay with the others.” Aizawa gives him a significant look. Oh. That’s a direct order from a Pro Hero, and since Izuku only has a provisional license and not a full one, he has to listen.
“But, sensei,” Izuku argues, “y-your fighting style is specialized for one-on-one fights! There’s so many––”
“I’ll be fine. Go,” Aizawa says. He dismisses Izuku with a wave, quirk already activated judging by the lifting ends of his hair. “You’re in charge, get them out of here. I’ll handle it.”
And then he’s gone, already halfway down the stairs with three villains in his wake.
You’re in charge.
Izuku squares his shoulders, and shifts into hero mode.
“Iida, Tokoyami, Kaminari, and Ashido,” Izuku calls out, turning towards his classmates. “The four of you need to get out of here. Run along the perimeter of the dome. There should be a weak point, look for service doors or places where the support beams meet. Ashido, you said you can control the corrosiveness and viscosity of your acid, right?”
Ashido nods. “If I concentrate it I can probably melt through most construction metals in a couple minutes.”
Izuku hums. “Good. Okay, Tokoyami should cover you while you melt a hole in the dome. Once you get out–– Kaminari, you need to try to find a way to call for help. If there’s still no signal, go on foot. Iida, you run towards the main campus. Ashido, you were really fast when you skated on your acid during the quirk apprehension test. You need to go the opposite direction of Iida, find a way into the city to call for help, just in case the main campus is compromised, too. Ah, wait–– and Hagakure, go with them. If they get caught you can still slip away and get help.”
“Why should we listen to you?” Mineta butts in. He looks panicked, eyes darting between where Aizawa is fighting the villains and where Thirteen stands at the top of the stairs, guarding them from anyone who makes it past Aizawa. “W-What makes you think you know best?”
“Just do what he says,” Uraraka says.
“We should listen to Midoriya,” Todoroki adds.
“You’re just a kid, too, why should we––?!”
Surprisingly, it’s Bakugou who comes to his defense.
“He knows what he’s talking about, dipshit, unlike your dumb ass.”
The rest of the class seems to take that as the final answer. Ashido, Kaminari, and Tokoyami gather together and start making their way to the edge of the dome. Hagakure and Iida hang back.
“Midoriya,” Hagakure says, “I’m not sure I can––”
“You can,” Izuku says firmly, with absolute faith. “You can, Hagakure. It’s like the quirk apprehension test, remember? Didn’t I tell you that you could do it?”
Hagakure is quiet. Then, Izuku feels a soft pat on his shoulder. “Okay. Stay safe.”
“I cannot just leave,” Iida says. “It’s unheroic to––”
“Iida,” Uraraka interrupts softly. “You need to do this. You’re the fastest. Besides, we have bunny boy here to keep us safe.”
She gives him a conspiratory wink, smiling shakily. She’s scared, but she puts on a brave face. Iida accepts this, bowing his head before turning on his heel to catch up to the others.
Izuku turns back to the ones left.
“Okay, we need to stick together and––”
“Unfortunately, you won’t be doing that.”
Black mist swirls into existence between the students and Thirteen. A man materializes, his features all shrouded with mist, eyes glowing yellow. He must be responsible for the portals. Some kind of teleportation or warping quirk. Izuku quickly takes stock. The portal down by the plaza is now gone, all the villains having passed through. If he took this long to warp up here, he must only be able to open two gates at a time.
“Get away from them!” Thirteen yells. “They’re just kids!”
“Hmm, yes, most of them are,” the mist man says. He’s looking directly at Izuku. “We have no use for the rest of you, kindly hand over De––”
“Die!”
“Take this!”
Kirishima and Bakugou both leap at the mist man, quirks activated. Izuku very clearly sees them both land what should be hard hits, Bakugou with a large explosion to the villain’s sternum and Kirishima with a hardened punch to his abdomen. The villain doesn’t move, doesn’t even flinch.
“How troublesome,” he says, exasperated.
“Hot Topic motherfucker, you have to have a weak spot,” Bakugou spits out, grinning ferally. “You’re wearing clothes, and I’m betting that fancy metal choker isn’t just a fashion statement, huh, Silent Hill?”
“My name is not Silent Hill, it’s Kurogiri,” he sighs. “Youths, so troublesome. It seems I always end up babysitting.”
Then, there are portals everywhere.
Izuku was wrong. Before he knows it, his classmates are all falling away, dropping who knows where. Next to him, Tsuyu falls through a portal before Izuku can grab her. In the distance, he sees a portal open up above the artificial lake and a green speck falls from it. Hopefully they’re all somewhere in the USJ. Hopefully Kurogiri isn’t dropping them from heights that would kill them.
Half the class is gone before Thirteen leaps in. They snap open their gloves, activating their quirk to suck up Kurogiri.
“Such a unique quirk, my master would love to meet you,” Kurogiri says, unphased. Izuku is behind Thirteen and even he can feel the sheer vacuum of it, the raw power ripping through the air. The villain remains unmoved. “You should be more careful with it. If you don’t use it properly, I’m sure someone else could.”
Izuku watches in horror as a portal opens up between him and Thirteen, its partner bursting to life in front of Thirteen’s open palm. The consequences are instantaneous. The back of Thirteen’s suit is ripped open, sucked into the void of their own quirk. They scream, falling to their knees and shutting off their quirk, but it’s too late. Izuku sees blood, lots of it.
Izuku hears them weakly say “I’m sorry,” before they fully collapse, back a ragged mess.
“Thirteen!”
Izuku feels sick. He rushes to their side, along with Uraraka. He manages to get his hand under their helmet, feeling for a pulse. It’s weak, but it’s there. Todoroki slides to his knees beside them, quickly icing over Thirteen’s back to try to cool the skin and apply pressure so they don’t bleed out.
“Now that the others have been taken care of,” Kurogiri turns back towards them. In the time it took Izuku and his friends to stabilize Thirteen, he warped away the rest of the class. Now it’s just Izuku, Uraraka, Todoroki, and him.
“Midoriya Izuku, come with me and no one else needs to get hurt,” Kurogiri says, remarkably calm for someone who just brutally mutilated another person and dropped two dozen teenagers to their potential death.
Well. He is a villain, after all.
“Me?”
“We’re not letting you take him,” Uraraka says fiercely. She stands, putting herself between Izuku and Kurogiri.
“Midoriya, you have the most battle experience,” Todoroki says, also standing. “What’s the plan?”
The plan? There is no plan. How could Izuku have possibly prepared for this? He wasn’t expecting to be attacked by villains in one of the most secure institutions in Japan. He didn’t wake up today and map out what he would do if he and his most beloved peers were suddenly thrown into the deep end, surrounded by an unknown number of hostiles and without a way to call for help. Izuku has been training to handle dangerous situations for years, but he’s still a kid.
Except–– Except Uraraka put herself between Izuku and a dangerous villain without even thinking. Except, Todoroki trusts his judgement. Their classmates followed Izuku’s instruction blindly. Izuku can’t afford to panic right now.
He has people to save.
“I’m close range and I can take hits, let me handle taking him down,” Izuku says. “Uraraka, fight mid. Guard Thirteen. My quirk will tear up the ground so you should have enough concrete chunks to use as projectiles, like we talked about, remember? Todoroki, long range support. Try to use your fire to keep him close, I don’t want him falling back for backup.”
“Got it!”
“You can count on me, Midoriya.”
And then, he’s not Izuku anymore. He’s Deku.
Kurogiri opens up a portal beneath Izuku’s feet, but Izuku is faster. He powers up Full Cowl to 5% and flips over the gap in the floor, somersaulting forward. He uses the forward momentum to continue his roll, feet kicking out to try to sweep Kurogiri’s feet.
He’s aiming for the ankles. He has his gym uniform on, so he doesn’t have the heavy shin guards and leg supports of his full hero suit, but he is wearing his boots. They’re steel toed, and if he can manage to hook his feet around Kurogiri’s ankles and take him down, Todoroki should be able to ice over his face. If he can’t see, there's a chance he wouldn’t be able to activate any more portals.
But Izuku’s legs go right through Kurogiri’s ankles. His pant legs flutter, hanging limply. Passing through Kurogiri’s body sends an unpleasant cold jolt up Izuku’s leg. It’s like trying to kick a ghost.
“So, you’ve chosen to be difficult,” Kurogiri tsks. He opens up another portal underneath Izuku and this time, Izuku falls through.
He lands on top of Todoroki in an ungraceful sprawl.
“Sorry!” Izuku rolls off him quickly.
“I’m fine! Uraraka, watch out!”
To cover for them, Uraraka sent out a couple chunks of concrete, throwing them weightlessly and then deactivating her quirk at the last minute so their full weight hits Kurogiri. One of them solidly hits the metal bracer around his neck. As the concrete tumbles to the floor, another portal opens up and deposits it directly above her head.
Izuku is there in an instant, tackling her out of the way. The concrete lands behind them with a hefty smash, breaking up into pieces.
“You okay?”
“I’m good, thanks for the save!”
Izuku is up, a green blur as he rushes Kurogiri again. Todoroki herds Kurogiri towards Izuku’s blows, throwing up ice walls and flares to keep him contained. Uraraka keeps supporting him with her makeshift projectiles, calling out instructions to duck or jump as she covers his blind spots. Izuku keeps his kicks light and fast, feeling out for the edges of Kurogiri’s body. Nothing seems to land, either passing harmlessly through his limbs or getting sucked into a portal.
“You’re wasting your time and endangering your friends,” Kurogiri says. He doesn’t even sound out of breath. “Just come with me––”
“What do you even want him for, you creep?!” Uraraka heckles. The distraction is enough for Izuku to wind up a roundhouse kick, aiming up at Kurogiri’s neck.
It lands. Yes! Izuku’s boot clangs loudly against Kurogiri’s bracer, sending him stumbling back directly into Todoroki’s wall of fire.
Something Bakugou said earlier comes back to him.
I’m betting that fancy metal choker isn’t just a fashion statement.
Of course. Why protect something unless it can be damaged?
“Aim for his neck!” Izuku shouts back at his friends. “Go for the bracer!”
“Got it!”
“Right!”
Izuku, Todoroki, and Uraraka–– now with a solid direction–– are a hurricane.
Izuku doesn’t need to think twice about calling out directions. If he asks Todoroki for an ice pillar to bounce off, he knows he can jump blindly and it will be there. Uraraka times her concrete chunks for when Izuku needs to dance back and take a breather. Todoroki and Uraraka work out some kind of rhythm where Todoroki makes ice chunks for Uraraka to launch with her quirk. Kurogiri continually opens portals, but Izuku doesn’t need to worry about his friends. He can hear them yelling warnings out to each other.
“Up!” Izuku shouts. Todoroki stomps and sends a small glacier at Izuku, launching him upwards with the force of it. Izuku arcs over Kurogiri, flipping himself upside down.
“Uraraka, face!”
Uraraka floats shards of ice and then kicks them hard, sending them flying like daggers at Kurogiri’s face. Kurogiri instinctively warps them away, attention fully on sending the shards flying at Todoroki. Izuku’s hand darts out just as he’s at the apex of his jump, clamping down on the back of Kurogiri’s bracer. He pours 8% into his arm and uses his momentum to drag Kurogiri down.
Izuku completes his flip, the force of it slamming Kurogiri onto the concrete. He’s arrested dozens of villains now, Izuku knows how to complete a take down. Neutralize, pin, cuff.
Cuff.
Izuku doesn’t have cuffs.
He sits there, weight pressing down on Kurogiri’s bracer, and realizes that he doesn’t have a clean way to end this. Izuku is maintaining 8%, arms straining to keep Kurogiri down as the villain scrambles beneath him, unable to open up any portals. Kurogiri bucks, dislodging Izuku long enough to open up a portal 15 meters above them. Izuku panics. A fall from that height would kill someone.
He lifts Kurogiri up by the bracer and slams him face first down onto the ground, trying to knock him out.
“Insolent child!” Kurogiri slurs, dazed but not out cold.
“Todoroki, can you freeze––? Uraraka, behind you!”
A villain has snuck up behind Uraraka, his hands blown out into large, blunt weapons. Uraraka turns just as Todoroki throws up an ice wall. It’s a weak wall, but it absorbs a blow that likely would have cracked Uraraka’s skull. Izuku tenses, all his instincts screaming at him to bolt towards her, to protect.
A couple other villains rise from the stairs, having gotten past Aizawa. Todoroki tries to keep them at bay with fire, but his left side isn’t as controlled as his right. They dodge, closing in on Uraraka, who has taken down the last villain and is crouched protectively over Thirteen’s still prone body.
“Call them off!” Izuku demands, grinding Kurogiri’s bracer hard against the concrete. “Tell them to stop!”
There are too many villains, and Uraraka and Todoroki have never had to continuously use their quirks in a drawn out fight like this. With Izuku essentially benched as he holds Kurogiri down, they won’t last long enough for help to arrive.
Kurogiri just laughs, bloodied and brittle.
A villain breaks away from the pack and darts in close to Todoroki. They have a knife. They lunge, going for Todoroki’s throat. It’s a close call, they barely manage to graze him before Uraraka hurls some debris at them, knocking the knife out of their hands.
It’s close enough that Izuku flinches while watching, terrified that one of the most important people in his life might have their throat slit right in front of him.
The flinch is all Kurogiri needs. In an instant, he and Izuku are engulfed in black mist, the ground falling away as Kurogiri warps them elsewhere. The last thing Izuku sees before Kurogiri rips him away from his friends is Uraraka and Todoroki’s terrified faces, both reaching for him. A scream gets caught in Izuku’s throat, but no sound escapes.
There’s no air here.
Shinsou 🐱 • 9:32 AM
Hey the school’s on lockdown. Snipe just got called away and two of the third year TAs are watching us. Is Aizawa sensei with you?
Shinsou 🐱 • 9:41 AM
They’re evacuating us into gym gamma but your class isn’t here. Pretty embarrassing to be holed up in the same place where you and Aizawa sensei wipe the floor with my face daily right ha ha
Tell me the hero course just has a special separate lockdown place
Shinsou 🐱 • 9:43 AM
1-B just arrived
Are you okay ha ha
Shinsou 🐱 • 9:56 AM
you usually text back so fast
are you actually not reading these or do you have read receipts off ha ha
Shinsou 🐱 • 10:17 AM
there are ambulances outside why are there ambulances outside
i overheard one of the thrd years say there was a villain attcak on your class are you and aizwa ok
midoriya can yuo please text bcak
i swear i’ll stop denyign that we re friends
ha h a
When Izuku opens his eyes again, he’s greeted with a pair of hard, red eyes staring right back at him.
Izuku instinctively scrambles back, passing right through Kurogiri, who lets out a pained groan.
“I’ve retrieved the boy, Shigaraki,” Kurogiri says to the man in front of Izuku. “He’s quite the handful.”
“Excellent!” Shagaraki crows.
It’s the hand man from earlier, the first one who came through the portal. Up close he’s even scarier–– the skin around his eyes and throat all shiny and tight with scar tissue, embalmed hands hanging off his limbs, and greasy white hair hanging over his face all topped off with a manic grin. He gives off the most menacing, unhinged aura Izuku has ever been in the presence of. He moves closer and Izuku panics, lashing out with his heel in a harsh kick.
Shigaraki’s head snaps to the side, the hand on his face flying off to the left. It would be comical if it wasn’t, you know, a severed hand on the face of a villain trying to kill Izuku and his friends.
“You–-!” Shigaraki whips his gaze back to Izuku, eyes burning with fury and blood dripping from his mouth. He advances, palms outstretched. “You brat, I’ll––!”
“Tomura, remember the plan! Do not kill him!”
“Midoriya!”
Familiar, rough cloth winds itself around Izuku’s body and yanks him away from the villains. Aizawa catches Izuku against his chest and immediately pushes Izuku behind him, crouching protectively in front of him. Izuku wants to cry with relief. Aizawa looks a little tired, but is otherwise fine considering he’s been fighting nonstop since the beginning.
“Didn’t I tell you to stay out of trouble, Problem Child?”
“Sorry, sensei,” Izuku says with a relieved smile, “they were really persistent.”
“Eraserhead!” Shigaraki exclaims.
“Oh, here we go,” Kurogiri mutters. He doesn’t have visible irises so it’s hard to tell, but Izuku is almost positive that he’s rolling his eyes.
“So glad you could join us!”
“Well, that makes one of us.”
Shigaraki grins, unfettered. “Perfect! You get a front row seat as we destroy hero society!”
Aizawa narrows his eyes suspiciously. Izuku takes this opportunity to observe their surroundings, trusting Aizawa to protect him from the villains in front of them. They’re in the middle of the plaza, where the portal first opened up earlier. It seems like the majority of the villains that entered have either scattered throughout the USJ or were knocked out by Aizawa, because only about two dozen remain from the maybe hundred that Izuku saw earlier. The leftover villains–– probably hired muscle, inexperienced, low tier criminals from the way they hold themselves–– are hanging back behind Shigaraki and Kurogiri, as if waiting for a signal.
Something else catches Izuku’s attention. A camera, big and bulky like the kind that news crews use, set up on a tripod a little ways away. Next to it and connected by a mess of cables and wires is a laptop.
Shigaraki follows Izuku’s gaze.
“So you’ve noticed our stream set up.”
“Stream?”
“I had it all set up so perfectly, but then All Might had to go and ruin all our plans by not showing up!” Shigaraki grouses, hands coming up to scratch at his neck. “Poor Midoriya. You would know a thing or two about absent fathers, wouldn’t you?”
“H-How do you…?”
“We know all about you, Midoriya Izuku or–– do you prefer to go by Deku?”
Izuku jolts as fear hits him and seeps down to his bones. So, they know. They know enough to know that Izuku’s father isn’t around, they know his full name which likely means they know his mom’s name. Izuku feels the weight of the world crashing down around him. He swallows hard.
“You’re not much to look at when you’re not in costume and with All Might, are you little rabbit?”
He doesn’t respond to the taunt, pushing down his own alarm to focus on the other thing Shigaraki said. They had plans involving him and All Might. They were specifically looking to catch Izuku alive. Izuku needs to get them talking. They’ve already given them their names, any other pieces of information would be invaluable to Detective Tsukauchi’s investigations later.
“You said plans. What were you going to do to All Might?”
“We had a fun little two player game planned for you and your dear mentor, Deku,” Shigaraki says gleefully. Izuku flinches at the sound of his hero name. “We were going to have you two fight to the death, one-on-one, Mortal Kombat style! I had blackmail and hostage incentives ready and everything. Then we would have streamed it to the entire world as All Might brutally murdered his own protege! What a perfect way to expose how corrupt hero society is!”
Aizawa snorts. “He’s crazy if he thinks All Might would harm a hair on your head.”
“Totally deranged,” Izuku agrees. Shigaraki dissolves into full blown villain maniacal laughter. Kurogiri, still recovering from the earlier fight, just watches on in clear exasperation.
There’s a story there. A weakness. They don’t have the dynamic of a typical villain duo. There’s something childish about Shigaraki, for all his terrifying intensity. And it’s almost like Kurogiri is supervising, instead of a partnership. Izuku has spent hours studying villain cases and analyzing hero fight footage, he knows how to exploit a weakness. He just needs to get the right opportunity, the right opening. Already, he has a plan half formed. If only he can get––
“Enough! No point reminiscing on a corrupted save file,” Shigaraki says, snapping out of his little episode. He looks at Izuku, deadly serious. “New plans. Get in the ring.”
He gestures behind himself, towards the fountain. Izuku can see that they’ve set up a sloppy fighting ring around it, the lower level villains all surrounding it like a living fighting cage. The camera is situated off to the side, lens trained on the center.
“What?”
“If All Might isn’t here to prove just how brutal heroes actually are, then we’ll have to settle for just you. You’re going to fight until you kill someone, little hero.”
“Um,” Izuku says intelligently, “no, I’m not.”
“Aw, you think you’ll have a choice when you’re fighting for your life!” Shigaraki’s tone is playful but his eyes are cold and hard. “How naive!”
“Fight willingly or we will make you,” Kurogiri says menacingly.
“Over my dead body,” Aizawa spits.
“That can be arranged!” Shigaraki gestures towards them. The low level villains break formation and start attacking.
“Midoriya, run!” Aizawa shoves him back, but Izuku doesn’t leave his side, instead whirling around to cover Aizawa’s back as they’re surrounded. The first villain makes a strike, but Aizawa easily wraps them up in his capture scarf, using them to bat away another villain.
“How many did you take out before I got here?”
“Kid, you need to––”
“No time! Sensei, please, I need to be briefed.”
Aizawa grumbles under his breath, but complies. “I estimated about 110, 120 hostiles initially. Half ran further into the USJ. I engaged with 33, incapacitated 31, 2 fled, no casualties.”
Izuku nods even though Aizawa can’t see him. A villain charges him, but Izuku knocks them cleanly away with an air flick. His body thrums with One for All, bouncing around the little semicircle he’s cleared out behind Aizawa.
“There is no need to be so difficult,” Kurogiri calls to them, standing off to the side and watching with Shigaraki. “If you would just cooperate with our plan––”
“Your plan to murder me?” Izuku shouts incredulously. He tucks and rolls under a villain with literal maces for hands. “Your plan to make me fight to the death on live stream?”
“Focus, Problem Child!”
“Sorry, sensei.”
Izuku would like to say that he can hold his own against the swarm of villains attacking, but that would be a lie. Aizawa is doing a lot of the work, with Izuku just flashing his quirk and flicking out air bursts in the hopes that it’s intimidating enough to discourage the villains from rushing him all at once. Izuku can barely handle two villains at a time. If they all decide to attack, he’s done.
Luckily, the attacks slow, the villain’s falling back as they realize just how scarily efficient Aizawa is at taking them down. It gives Izuku a moment to breathe.
“Kid, you need to run,” Aizawa says to him. He nudges Izuku’s back with an elbow, towards one of the paths leading away from the plaza and towards the shipwreck zone. “You need to go track down the rest of your classmates. Gather everyone together and start trying to find a way out. Did Kaminari manage to get a signal out?”
“I sent Ashido, Kaminari, Hagakure, Tokoyami, and Iida to get help. I don’t know if they made it out.”
“Thirteen?”
Izuku swallows, wracked with guilt. “Severely injured. I’m so sorry–– Kurogiri–– but Uraraka and Todoroki––”
“Hey, hey, it’s alright. We’re the ones in charge of your safety. Do you think you can––?”
“This is boring,” Shigaraki says loudly. He steps forward and the crowd parts around him, keeping a clear two meter bubble around him. “Kurogiri, get the Nomu. We might as well use him, even if All Might isn’t here.”
“N-Nomu?”
Another dark, swirling portal opens up behind Shigaraki. What steps out is the single most horrifying thing Izuku has ever seen in his life. It’s big and bulky, so muscular that its skin can’t contain it, rippling and bulging out in red, angry scar lines. One of its arms is probably thicker than Izuku’s entire torso. It towers behind Shigaraki, its face–– if you can call it that–– has an elongated, sharp beak full of pointed teeth. The rest of its head is just an exposed brain, eyes stuck on to the sides as an afterthought. It stands abnormally still.
“Shit,” Aizawa takes up another defensive stance in front of Izuku. “Midoriya, run. Go, get the others and then get help.”
“Meet Nomu!” Shigaraki announces, like a proud child showing off his newest crayon drawing. “He was built to kill All Might.”
“If they think it can kill All Might, there’s no way you can fight it alone, sensei! Come with me, we need to fall back and––”
“Go! I’ll buy you some time.”
“Not so fast!”
Shigaraki dashes forward, crossing the last few meters between them in a blink of an eye. He’s fast. Before Izuku processes what’s happening, and before Aizawa can activate his quirk, Shigaraki’s hand closes around Aizawa’s left arm.
The damage is instantaneous and gruesome. It only lasts for a second before Aizawa’s eyes snap to Shigaraki, canceling his quirk, but by then Shigaraki has already crumbled away the skin of Aizawa’s arm. Aizawa lets out a strangled yelp, staggering back and away from Shigaraki.
“Sorry about that, Eraserhead. I really am a big fan, you know.”
“Sensei!”
“Nomu, stop him.”
Aizawa, still curling his bloody arm close to his body, automatically moves to protect Izuku. He lashes out with a roundhouse kick, quirk on and hair on end as the Nomu suddenly materializes in between them and Shigaraki. Izuku flinches back. Something that big should not be able to move that fast.
The Nomu––grotesque, hulking, unnatural–– swings an arm out, catching Aizawa’s leg in one of it’s fists. It squeezes and there’s a sickening crunch as Aizawa screams. The Nomu drops him unceremoniously, looming over Aizawa’s broken body and waiting for further instruction.
“Stop!”
Izuku flies at Shigaraki. He cocks his fist back and punches hard, knocking out one of Shigaraki’s teeth and bloodying his mouth. Izuku lets out a primal scream, moving too fast to see as he ducks low and swings his leg up high, catching the underside of Shigaraki’s jaw in a brutal front snap kick.
“You fucking brat!” Shagaraki hisses, spitting out blood. He charges at Izuku, hands out, blindly swiping for him.
Izuku dodges as quickly as he can, zipping in circles around Shigaraki as he tries not to get tagged. He chances a glance over his shoulder at Aizawa and almost stumbles. His face is a mess of blood and his left forearm is cracked and gorey, a rough bloody handprint burned into the skin. His leg is bent at an unnatural angle, and Izuku has broken enough bones himself to know that there’s no way he’s putting any weight on it anytime soon. The Nomu has moved from Aizawa’s side and now stands unmoving by Kurogiri, near the fountain.
Izuku takes a risk. He crouches low, waiting for Shigaraki to swing at him again. As soon as he lunges forward, Izuku pours as much power as he dares into his legs and flips as high above Shigaraki as he can, landing next to Aizawa. He scoops Aizawa up as carefully as he can, trying not to jostle his injuries.
“I-It’s a-alright, sensei. I’m fast, I can––”
“Enough of this.”
Before Izuku can even take a step, Kurogiri opens up a portal beneath his feet. He and Aizawa freefall through the air.
“Kid!” Aizawa’s scarf whips out to wrap around one of Izuku’s ankles, keeping them together. Before they can hit the ground, another portal opens beneath them, opening up high above the ground again. Izuku’s stomach does backflips. Kurogiri is probably going to let them fall until they reach terminal velocity. They’re going to hit the ground so hard they’ll need to scrape them off the concrete.
Except–– they want Izuku alive. If Izuku can stay close to Aizawa, they’ll have to deposit them both safely. He tugs on Aizawa’s scarf, trying to draw them together.
The next one of Kurogiri’s portals opens up–– and then snaps closed right after Izuku falls through, severing the capture scarf.
Izuku finds himself falling again, head whipping around wildly to look for Aizawa.
“Sensei!” Izuku yells, just as he sees another portal open up over the shipwreck zone, dumping Aizawa into the water. Aizawa, who has an open wound and is down one leg–– assuming he doesn’t break another hitting the water at that speed. Izuku lights up with his quirk, ready to try to launch himself towards Aizawa, but he’s disoriented from falling for an unnatural amount of time and all his senses are jumbled up.
There’s nothing for him to push off of in midair.
The next portal doesn’t drop him from another height but instead launches him upwards at an angle, sending his body up in a high arc. Izuku yelps, arms windmilling as he reaches the apex and slows. Just as he’s about to start falling again, another portal deposits him back on the ground, face first onto the concrete.
Izuku is shaking, heart hammering in his chest as he clutches pathetically at the pavement, body still alight with One for All. His fingers claw into the concrete, ripping it up in fistfulls and crumbling it into dust. His head is spinning. The sheer relief he feels to be back on solid ground drowns out all his other senses.
“That didn’t need to be so hard. You’re wasting our time.”
A hand grabs the back of his uniform, hauling him up. Shigaraki is holding him with only four fingers, his pinky raised daintily to avoid disintegrating Izuku’s jacket.
How considerate.
Shigaraki drags him over to the base of the fountain. Izuku is still so shaken up that he goes without a struggle, letting Shigaraki dump him in front of the camera. The remaining low-level villains gather around in a circle, resuming the positions they were in earlier. The Nomu stands quietly at the edge of the ring, a silent sentinel as Shigaraki directs someone to set up the video feed.
Izuku watches this all numbly. The fight is unavoidable at this point. Help is on the way, Izuku has absolute faith that Iida and the others somehow found a way out. He knows that once Yagi-san hears about what’s happening no force on Earth can stop him from coming to save Izuku–– All Might form or not. So, he needs to stall for time. He needs to keep the villain’s attention on him while he waits for help to arrive. He has no idea where his classmates are, or if Aizawa survived that fall into the water. He’ll give them all the best chance of survival if he distracts the villains here.
“Okay,” Izuku says quietly. “I’ll play your game.”
“Wonderful!” Shigaraki sends him a bloody grin.
“We’re live in five minutes, boss!” One of the criminals says. Shigaraki clasp his hands together gleefully.
“Excellent! Should we tweet out an announcement?”
“The League of Villains does not have a twitter account, Tomura,” Kurogiri says, annoyed.
Izuku exhales harshly, taking stock. He’s not injured, besides a couple bruises from the fights earlier and the shaky nerves from his fall. He rolls his shoulders and stands, hardening his determination. He needs to do this.
He has people to protect.
Okaasan 🌸✨☀️ • 9:46 AM
I’ve thought about it and I think you’re right baby. Toshi is just trying to help. I’ll talk to my boss about cutting down on hours later today. I’m sorry about how tense things got last night, I’ll make katsudon tonight to make it up to you both. We can talk more when you get home. :)
Maybe we can do something this weekend, like take a daytrip out somewhere! Just you, me, and Toshi, how does that sound? It’s been a while since the three of us got to do something fun.
Wasn’t there a hero cafe in Tokyo you wanted to go to?
🔴 TheLeague is now live!
Shigaraki steps in front of Izuku and addresses the camera once Kurogiri gives him the signal that they’re live. He evil villain monologues for a bit, and his voice is so high and grating it makes Izuku wince, hidden behind Shigaraki and not yet in full camera view. Shigaraki explains his plan to the viewers.
Izuku knows right off the bat that it’s going to be messy. He fights best when he has things to bounce off of. Yagi-san has praised his creative use of his surroundings enough times for Izuku to consider it an essential part of his fighting style. Having things to play off is important for his ability to fight. Especially now, with his new leg focussed combat style–– a style that he developed while fighting in indoor gyms and out on the streets surrounded by buildings and alleyways he could ricochet off of.
The makeshift arena they’ve sectioned off in the middle of the plaza is mostly barren. Besides the fountain, the next thing Izuku could use would be the stairs about 30 meters away. There are also a couple trees and structures to Izuku’s left, but those are too far for him to be able to reach. Izuku feels very small, standing by himself in the middle of this empty concrete courtyard, with a camera pointed at him and several villains lined up, ready to kill him.
Shigaraki finishes delivering his whole villain manifesto and turns to Izuku, using four fingers to yank him forward by the collar.
“Aren’t you excited? Too bad All Might couldn’t be here to witness it.”
“Yeah,” Izuku deadpans, just so over it, “too bad.”
“But not to worry! We still have an excellent stream set up for you, little hero!”
“Poggers,” Izuku says flatly.
Shigaraki throws him aside, sending Izuku stumbling.
“Let’s get this started.”
Shigaraki moves back behind the camera, peering at the computer hooked up to it. He gestures towards one of the low level villains, waving him forward. He’s of average height with dark brown hair and a lean build. Izuku himself is considered plain but this guy is the dictionary definition of ordinary. Then he pulls a knife out of his hoodie pocket and advances towards Izuku.
“Welcome to your hero academia, Midoriya Izuku,” Shigiraki crows, blood dripping from his mouth. “Or should I say, Deku?”
And that’s it. There’s no going back after this. Izuku can only pray that his mom manages to get off of work before the media storms her. Izuku hopes for her sake that no one shows her the livestream. Izuku can’t bring himself to try to look even remotely alright right now.
He feels like the unlucky contestant in a very deeply fucked up game show.
“Round one! Deku versus… what’s your villain name?”
The villain that just stepped up to Izuku shoots Shigaraki a look over his shoulder. “The fuck? I don’t have a villain name, I’m just a regular guy.”
Shigaraki’s eye twitches. “You agreed to this.”
“I agreed to getting paid to fight a kid, not becoming a super villain, but whatever,” the guy grumbles. “I’m Katsuro.”
“Deku versus Katsuro! Fight!”
Katsuro stalks forward, the knife in his hand glinting menacingly. Izuku smiles and activates One for All.
“What the fuck?!” Katsuro springs back, whipping his head around to glare at Shigaraki. “You want me to fight him? I thought you said he was just some kid!”
Izuku can’t see himself right now but he imagines it’s not pretty. He’s scuffed up and disheveled, wrapped up in One for All’s energy with a feral grin stretched across his face. He can feel the power pulsing through him, lighting his veins up in neon pink ley lines running down his arms and crossing over his face. Izuku shifts his weight and the concrete underneath him fractures.
“Hell no, my quirk is fuckin’ useless!” Katsuro shouts. “What’s the point of seeing a person’s weak spots if I can’t get close enough to stab him?!”
“Just fight him!”
Katsuro advances again, but this time with more caution. He swipes at Izuku messily. Izuku side steps and then uses his leg to sweep out Katsuro’s feet, sending the knife skittering away as he hits the ground. Izuku shuts his quirk off and punches him, quickly and relatively safely knocking him out.
“Kill him! No, what are you doing?! Kill him, Deku!”
Izuku ignores Shigaraki and drags Katsuro’s limp body to the far edge of the fountain, propping him up so all the blood doesn’t rush to his head. Just because he’s playing their game, doesn’t mean he has to play by their rules. Izuku promised himself a long time ago that he’d never do more harm than necessary, and he’s not about to break that promise now. After settling Katsuro, he turns back towards Shigaraki.
He smiles with as much false bravado as he can muster.
“Next?”
Shigaraki lets out a truly animalistic growl. “Shadow Ray. You’re up.”
The next villain to approach is a woman about Izuku’s height. Her eyes are completely blacked out and she’s wearing a medical mask over her face. She doesn’t waste any time like Katsuro did, instead she just removes her mask and unhinges her jaw.
A black beam shoots out of her mouth. Izuku hisses as it hits his right arm. Immediately he loses all feeling in it, but not like it’s numb–– like it’s not there at all. He panics looking down at it and clutching at it with his left hand just to confirm that it’s there. He tries to move it and finds that he can’t.
“What–– I-Is that your quirk? Why can’t I feel my arm?”
Shadow Ray doesn’t respond, her mouth closed and lips pressed into a thin line. She doesn’t try to come any closer. The only sign that she’s gearing up to attack again is a faint twitch in her jaw.
Izuku dodges out of the way this time as another void beam shoots towards him. It hits the fountain behind him, thankfully missing Katsuro’s unconscious body. Izuku leaps to the right, trying to draw her fire away from him. He should have been more strategic when dragging Katsuro out of the way earlier, now he has to fight and worry about Katsuro getting caught in the crossfire.
But now Izuku is too far to see her jaw clench. The next ray catches him by surprise, clipping his right foot and making just the end of his pinky toe go numb. Izuku falls. He takes a second to just hate his dumb, longer-than-average pinky toe with his entire being.
Stupid fucking extra toe joint.
His balance is off but he manages to dodge the next beam, and the next, and the next. After a couple moments the feeling in his arm comes back. Thankfully. Izuku has no idea how he’d survive the rest of this fight down one whole limb and with his balance thrown like this.
Izuku rolls. He dodges. He bides his time, and then, when the feeling in his toe comes back–– he strikes.
Shadow Ray has been comfortable, shooting off beams from a distance. Once Izuku closes that distance in one long, Full Cowl fueled jump, it’s over. Izuku knocks her out before she can open her mouth and snags her discarded medical mask off the ground, quickly slipping it back on her face.
“No! You’re supposed to kill them!” Shigaraki rages.
“I told you I’m not doing that!”
Shadow Ray gets deposited next to Katsuro, also slumped against the fountain.
Shigaraki scratches at his neck and face, irritated. He snarls when he makes eye contact with Izuku, chapped lips peeled back and teeth bared like a predator.
Izuku takes a second to just breathe. His skin is hot and feels tight–– hypersensitive to the point where the brush of his jacket on him as he moves has him flinching. It’s a symptom of quirk overuse. He’s only felt this way once before, back when he was still training with Gran Torino. They tried to see how long Izuku could hold Full Cowl for. Back then it was about 3% and Izuku could only hold it for twenty minutes before his skin got hypersensitive and his bones started to creak. His body wasn’t meant to hold this much power for long amounts of time.
He’s been more-or-less holding Full Cowl at 8% for more than half an hour now.
“Flodhest! Do not disappoint me.”
Izuku is shaking as the next villain steps up. He’s not sure how long he can keep going. He hasn’t had any major injuries so far, but that’s been mostly due to luck. If Shadow Ray’s quirk had been more destructive, Izuku would be down an arm and effectively a whole leg–– not to mention the quirk exhaustion he can feel creeping up on him. He needs to hang on, just a bit longer. Just until the Pros get here. If Izuku fails now there’s nothing stopping Shigaraki from gathering up his classmates and mass executing them on livestream to send a message.
Flodhest is huge. He’s muscular and tall with the head of a hippopotamus sprouting off his thick neck.
Hippos have a bite force of 1,800 pounds per square inch, Izuku’s brain helpfully supplies him. Their tusks can grow up to two feet long. They can open their jaws 180 degrees.
Izuku has never hated his late night Wikipedia page binges more than in this moment. He doesn’t need the added stress of knowing that this man probably has one of the strongest bite forces on the planet. Stupid traitor brain.
Flodhest charges with a roar. Izuku flinches back instinctively, tripping over his own tired feet and falling back against the fountain. His nerves scream with pain as his skin scrapes against the rough concrete.
Hippos yawn as a display of aggression, Izuku thinks as Flodhest descends on him, maw gaping open. Izuku powers up One for All at the last second, pushing off the fountain with enough force to send him flying, skidding and rolling around the concrete a good 10 meters away. He looks back, dizzy and disoriented with pain.
In the spot where he just was is the crushed remains of the fountain edge, the rim reduced to rubble. Flodhest stands and turns away from the destruction with concrete and bits of shattered tile falling from his mouth.
“Yikes,” Izuku says weakly.
That bite would have snapped his spine like a glowstick. He needs to end this fight quickly. He won’t be able to dodge another charge like that, especially if Flodhest manages to pin him. The problem is Izuku has no idea how to knock out someone with a hippopotamus head. All his training has been on how to safely incapacitate people with mostly human anatomy.
As Flodhest stalks away from the fountain, Izuku catches sight of Katsuro and Shadow Ray, still safely tucked against the far side of the remaining fountain base. Bingo.
Izuku ignores the strain in his muscles and powers back up to Full Cowl at 8%. He waits until Flodhest starts to charge again and then jumps up as far as he can, landing behind him. Izuku runs through the destroyed fountain, splashing through six inch deep water and vaulting over the opposite fountain rim. He picks Shadow Ray up, turning back around to face Flodhest just as the villain is getting ready to charge again.
“I’m really sorry about this,” Izuku says, before ripping Shadow Ray’s mask off and grabbing the bottom of her chin to open her mouth.
The black beam hits Flodhest in the hip, sending him crashing to the ground. For good measure, Izuku hits him in the legs and both arms with Shadow Ray’s beam. Flodhest roars, facedown on the ground and unable to move. Izuku quickly snaps Shadow Ray’s jaws shut and replaces her mask, making sure she and Katsuro are both still out cold. Then he powers up again to pick Flodhest up, adding him to Izuku’s little corner collection of incapacitated villains.
Shigaraki is shrieking the entire time.
“You’re not following the rules! Sensei said–– Sensei told me––!”
“Fuck your sensei!” Izuku snaps. His mom is going to kill him for swearing on live TV later. Assuming he surivives Shigaraki’s murder game.
“What are you even fighting for?” Shigaraki asks, clearly frustrated. He stomps his foot like a child throwing a tantrum. “Don’t you know what you’re defending? Don’t you know how fucked up heroes are?! They claim to do things for the benefit of society but when it comes down to it you’re all selfish, all of you! None of you are heroic, none of you would stop to help–– not even if there was a child dying on the streets!”
Shigaraki screams, turning to kick at the camera’s tripod. Kurogiri catches the camera before it can hit the ground, quickly righting it as Shigaraki turns back towards Izuku and seethes, eyes burning red with hatred.
“You’re all just tools for violence! What’s the difference between you and me, Deku? We both hurt people, but you’re the one sanctioned by the government. How can you be the solution to society’s problems? Violence breeds more violence.”
“I mean!” Izuku shouts, exhausted, hands thrown up. “You’re right!”
“What?”
“You’re right! The world is fu–– messed up! But there are better things to do than making it worse. I think the Hero Commission sucks, but you don’t see me forcing them into gladiator fights to the death!”
Shigaraki stops to look at him, head tilting thoughtfully.
“Maybe you and I aren’t so different after all, Deku.”
“Uh, yeah we are!” Izuku says. “You’re making a fifteen-year-old fight to the death. I was just trying to get through the school day.”
“Tomura, we’ve amassed quite the viewership,” Kurogiri says. “Even with the signal bouncing, the Pros are bound to show up sooner or later. We need to end this.”
Shigaraki glances at the camera and then at the computer screen.
“Three million viewers! How does it feel to be internet famous, Midoriya Izuku?”
“Great,” Izuku spits out bitterly. He coughs up a little blood. “Hope you make partner on Twitch.”
“Time to wrap things up, I think. We’ve made our point.”
Shigaraki waves his hand. The Nomu–– which has been standing unnaturally still and staring off vacantly into space until now–– comes to life. It lumbers over to Shigaraki and Izuku takes an instinctual step back, fear sparking down his spine as the Nomu stares him down.
“Thank you for dying for your cause, Deku,” Shigarki says sweetly. “I’m sure the Commission will make a martyr out of you.”
He turns to address the Nomu. “Nomu, kill him. Do it slowly, I want All Might to suffer.”
The Nomu prowls towards him. Izuku backs up, stumbling backwards blindly until his heels hit the destroyed edge of the fountain, shoes soaking up spilled water.
A few stray water drops from the broken fountain hit his skin and Izuku hisses. It feels like hot oil from a frying pan, like beads of magma spraying across his arms. Izuku can’t hide the way he’s trembling now, knees knocking together. He can’t fight the Nomu. He can’t. He doesn’t even know if he could power up Full Cowl one more time without passing out, but he won’t make it even a second without his quirk. This thing was built to kill All Might. It snapped Aizawa’s leg like a twig and moved so fast Izuku’s eyes couldn’t even send signals to his brain in time to process it. There are fights you can do quirkless. There are situations Izuku has thought himself out of, working smarter to avoid unnecessary violence. This isn’t one of those.
The scars on Izuku’s arms are starting to reopen, skin too taught with the effort of keeping One for All inside him. Maybe he can sacrifice an arm, one good 100% punch might launch the Nomu out of the USJ and buy Izuku some time while he waits for the Pros.
Where are they? Isn’t anyone coming?
Isn’t anyone going to save him?
“Any last words, Deku?” Shigaraki asks, smiling smugly.
Izuku opens his mouth. He honestly has no idea what he was going to say, but it doesn’t matter. He never gets the chance to say anything. The knife slides into his back so smoothly it doesn’t even hurt at first. And then it hurts like hell.
Never turn your back on your opponent–– but Izuku has been stacking them up behind him like hostages to protect.
Katsuro leaves the knife in him as Izuku falls to his knees. Izuku blinks up at him blearily, head fuzzy with pain.
Huh. Turns out his abnormally high pain tolerance has a limit, and that limit is getting stabbed.
“Sorry, kid. It’s nothing personal.”
Katsuro rubs at his temple, swaying a bit on the spot.
“You hit me pretty hard, you know.”
“You stabbed me,” Izuku wheezes. Izuku tries to breathe, but the expansion of his ribcage pulls at the knife wound. He feels far away from himself, distant even with the sharp pain in his lower back. Shock? Is he going into shock?
“Thank you, Katsuro, I’m glad one of you is competent!” Shigaraki says. “Nomu, finish him off!”
Izuku scrambles back, trying to escape. The other villains–– maybe if he can just get to them, maybe he can come up with a plan. Use Shadow Ray’s quirk again? Maybe–– maybe–– maybe something. Anything. Izuku flips to his hands and knees, yelping as the knife digs in. He can’t pull it out, right? He’ll bleed out faster? Or, slower? He can’t remember. All those medical classes and he doesn’t know what to do with his own stab wound.
“This is just sad,” he hears Shigaraki say distantly. Izuku keeps crawling away pathetically, breath coming faster as the edges of his vision start to darken. He can’t panic, not now. He needs–– he can still do something. He can still––
Izuku senses something coming up behind him–– the Nomu. Without thinking, he lashes out with his quirk, punching at 15%.
Except it’s not the Nomu. It’s Katsuro.
Katsuro goes flying across the plaza. He hits a tree on the other side of the clearing. Even from this distance Izuku can hear a sickening crunch. He falls to the base of the tree in a crumpled heap
The villain— the person— doesn’t get back up. He doesn’t move at all.
Izuku’s heart breaks right there, sitting bloodied and shaking with fear, broadcasted live for the entire world to watch. Izuku’s heart shatters into a million jagged pieces, still in his chest.
“Deku just killed a man! That’s your future hero, society!”
He rushes to Katsuro’s side. He ignores the pain, the quirk exhaustion, the sound of Shigaraki cheering. He scrambles over to Katsuro, dragging his own bruised and broken body over to him. Horrified, Izuku runs his crooked, broken fingers over Katsuro’s face, pressing them clumsily to his neck to feel for a pulse.
“Japan’s sweetheart, Deku, Midoriya Izuku! A murderer!”
“Please,” Izuku begs brokenly, “please, please, please.”
A second. Two seconds–– there!
“He’s alive,” Izuku croaks out.
Tears well up in his eyes, spilling down his cheeks and mixing with the blood smeared around his mouth. He slumps over Katsuro, trying to be careful of the man’s obviously broken legs. He’s alive. Izuku keeps whispering it to himself, keeps his fingers pressed to his pulse point as he sobs over Katsuro’s chest. He’s alive. Izuku starts sobbing hysterically, clinging pathetically to the front of Katsuro’s hoodie. He’s alive. Izuku didn’t kill him.
“Deku?”
Izuku raises his head.
Bakugou stands a couple meters away, at the mouth of a trail leading from the plaza to the USJ’s disaster zones. Behind him, leaning heavily on Uraraka, is Todoroki. Kirishima. Shoji supports Tokoyami and Sero. Ojiro. Then Izuku’s tears obscure his vision and he can’t see any more, can’t see the horrified looks on his classmates’ faces as Izuku shakes and sobs, covered in blood.
“Class 1-A, so nice of you to join us! How does it feel to be classmates with a killer?”
“M-Midoriya?”
Izuku closes his eyes so he doesn’t have to look at Todoroki.
“He–– He’s still breathing,” Izuku says weakly. “He’s alive. Y-You have to s-save him. Please, you have to…”
The last thing Izuku hears before he passes out is a distant “I am here!”
And then nothing.
Notes:
That's it for now! A few things:
• Chapter title is from No Plan by Hozier
• midoriya inko volunteers at the post-quirk japanese equivalent of planned parenthood and you cannot change my mind on that
• [kurogiri voice] now you’re thinking with portals
• No manga spoilers but a certain… someone… beat me to the Trauma Livestream card a couple weeks ago and I’m extremely salty I didn’t get to write/upload this before then >:[
• I just wanted to take a minute to thank all of you. I was super anxious about un-annoning (it really has nothing to do with anyone, i’m just a naturally anxious person) but all of you have been so sweet to me in the comments and i’m just so 🥺💕✨ please know that i would die for every single one of you <3 I wanna do something to give back so feel free to drop oneshot suggestions or things you might want to see in the comments and i’ll see what i can do
• As usual, I’m xyloophones on tumblr and @_xylophones on twitter
Chapter 7: The better part, the human heart
Summary:
Izuku wasn’t really expecting to wake up.
Notes:
This is a 19k apology for how I left things last week <3
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
[Transcript of KTV-3 broadcast at 9:23 A.M., Musutafu, Japan]
[Begin transcript: 00:00:03]
REPORTER KAWANO: Breaking news: This morning a mysterious broadcast hit online streaming service Twitch. Posted by a user going by the name TheLeague, this livestream seems to be happening inside one of UA High School’s remote training facilities. The livestream premiered fifteen minutes ago and involves a UA student identified by name as Midoriya Izuku fighting villains.
REPORTER HADA: Sources online and clips circulating show Midoriya Izuku being named as All Might’s intern, Deku, though nothing has been confirmed for sure. Authorities are working on removing the stream from the site.
REPORTER KAWANO: We’re pulling up the livestream now and–– oh, god!
[indistinct murmurs and gasps, shuffling paper]
UNKNOWN PRODUCER: Shut that down! We can’t air that!
[more gasps, audio cuts off briefly before returning]
REPORTER HADA: Did… Did he just get stabbed?
UNKNOWN PRODUCER: He is a minor, we can’t… [indistinct] … for graphic violence… [indistinct mumbling] … turn that off! He––
[gasps, loud crash, more frantic shuffling]
REPORTER KAWANO: Oh my god! Oh my god, did he just kill someone?
[End transcript 00:08:12]
Twitter Moments
Hero News • 4 hours ago
Identity of Hero Intern Deku revealed in gruesome livestream
Trending with Deku, All Might, UA
Hero Intern Deku had his civilian identity revealed in a livestream involving a fight against a criminal organization. The livestream has since been taken down and all parties involved are receiving medical attention or in police custody.
See Tweets
KBS Mustafu @KBS_MU_JP • 1h
Out of respect for the minor involved we will not be releasing his name in today’s coverage of the #UADekuIncident. We sincerely wish Intern Deku and everyone involved a speedy recovery.
4.2k retweets 156 quote retweets 10.2k likes
jiwon (dm limit) @jiwontweetss • 52m
a kid was forced to fight to the death on livestream and all anyone cares about is his name. you all make me sick.
125 retweets 2 quote retweets 395 likes
237 replies
replying to @jiwontweetss
Ken @kenknowbee • 43m
Right?? It’s so fucked up what society’s priorities are. Maybe that villain was right about hero society.
12 retweets 75 likes
replying to @kenknowbee
jiwon (dm limit) @jiwontweetss • 41m
no. fuck no. you’re part of the problem if you think anything that the villains said was valid when they were saying it while a teenager was fighting for his life. blocked.
34 retweets 177 likes
Hero Daily Japan @HeroDailyMag_JP • 12m
Intern Deku and villain Katsuro reported to be in stable condition. Musutafu General Hospital representatives ask citizens to stop flooding phone lines, as it blocks people with medical emergencies from getting help. More to be added as the situation develops.
23.5k retweets 486 quote retweets 60.3k likes
974 replies
replying to @HeroDailyMag_JP
sam (he/they) @samlovestea • 9m
Thank god. My whole family is literally crying. Intern Deku helped protect my little sister during a villain attack downtown near her cafe. Sending all our love.
54 retweets 983 likes
Twitch Japan ✓ @TwitchJP • 3h
The #DekuLivestream has been taken down and the account associated with it has been terminated. We apologize for the time it took, as the signal was being bounced across many international servers. We’d like to thank @Twitch @TwitchUK and @TwitchKR for help in resolving the situation. Any reposts will be taken down and TOS struck.
12k retweets 1.9k quote retweets 36k likes
Sorena (art block hell) @sorenastanshawks • 2h
STOP spreading the misinformation that Deku killed that villain. Several reliable news sources and Mustafu General have all confirmed they’re both alive and stable. Apparently 2 of UA’s staff were also severely injured in the attack, so don’t act like Deku’s actions weren’t justified.
79.3k retweets 3.6 quote retweets 120k likes
Shiroma (ia for school) @yayshiroma• 52m
YOURE TELLING ME THAT KID THAT COMES INTO MY PARENTS CONVENIENCE STORE ALL THE TIME IS DEKU???????
27.7k retweets 6.4k quote retweets 68.4k likes
replying to @yayshiroma
casey uwu @catboycafes • 31m
WHAT DOES DEKU BUY?? WHATS HIS FAV CANDY PLS I NEED TO KNOW (rip to the villains and also hope deku gets better soon)
12 retweets 75 likes
Jaspreet || stream fancy @oncestwice• 12m
.@AllMightOfficial @UAHigh @HPSC any of you wanna comment on why a CHILD had to fight off a group of villains ALONE for AT LEAST 30 minutes?? we’re waiting
2.9k retweets 89 quote retweets 14k likes
The League of Villains: What We Know and What It Means for Hero Society
By Okura Yori for Hero Times Japan
[Image above: Hero Intern Deku (left), now identified as UA High School student Midoriya Izuku, slumped over the unconscious body of a villain (right) going by the given name Katsuro. Both Midoriya and Katsuro are reported to be in the hospital and stable. Screenshot taken from the now downed livestream and enhanced by the Hero Times Japan media team, all rights reserved.]
Japan–– no, the entire world–- was shocked on Tuesday morning when a brutal livestream seemingly run by a group of villains targeting UA High popped up on Twitch. Twitch has been home to many hero-villain fight streams in the past. In fact the top creator on the site is popular hero journalist Kubo Yasuko— but never has the site seen one like this.
Here are the facts:
- Midoriya Izuku is a first year in UA High’s hero course
- Midoriya Izuku is also Hero Intern Deku, the intern who made a splash as the youngest person to receive their provisional hero license in recent memory and as All Might’s sole intern
- The League of Villains are an organization headed by Shigaraki Tomura whose mission statement is to “dismantle hero society as we know it”
- The League specifically targeted UA to get to Midoriya
- The confrontation resulted in 56 total injured parties, 2 of those being UA staff who were critically injured, 1 of those being Midoriya, and 1 being a villain identified only as Katsuro
So, what does this mean for us? Can we put faith in a hero system that allows this kind of brutality to happen to the children that are expected to grow up to protect us?
Was the use of force by Midoriya justified?
To start, we must first analyze the statements put out by the HPSC. In a tweet on Tuesday afternoon…
Read More
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Izuku wasn’t really expecting to wake up.
“Ow,” he whispers. His throat is dry and scratchy. His head feels fuzzy. The lights are too bright and his skin feels… weird? Like it’s covered in jello.
“Izuku!”
“My boy!”
The overhead lights are blocked out by Inko and Yagi-san’s tearful faces.
“Hey mom,” Izuku mumbles, smiling faintly. “Hi dad.”
Then, he passes out again.
When Izuku wakes up–– for real this time–– it’s night.
The lights in his hospital room are off, only an orange square of light coming in from the hallway to illuminate his surroundings. He’s in a bed, obviously. He can hear the faint beep of his heart monitor and the various tubes and IV lines snaking off his arms and up to the machinery around him. For once, he’s not in any pain. He feels floaty.
“Mom?”
His voice sounds foreign to his own ears. It’s significantly rougher than he remembers it being. Was he screaming?
Oh.
Oh shit. Yeah, he was screaming. A lot.
The memories of the USJ and Shigaraki and Katsuro come back all at once, like getting hit by a freight train. Izuku can still feel the phantom pulse of Katsuro’s heartbeat on his fingertips, the ghost of the knife in his back. Tears well up in his eyes. The tears spill over as Izuku struggles to sit up.
Panic starts to set in. It’s too dark in here. It’s too–– where’s the nurse call button? Where’s his mom and Yagi-san? Why is he alone again?
His fussing makes enough noise to attract attention. A lump at the edge of his bed stirs.
Izuku screams. He tries to power up One for All.
“Wha––? Izuku? Izuku, it’s alright, stop screaming! You’re okay, baby.”
The lights come on just in time for Izuku to see his mom at his side, reaching for his hand.
You’ll hurt her.
Izuku flinches back. Inko’s face falls.
“Izuku, do you know where you are?”
The question comes from Yagi-san, who is still hovering by the lightswitch. Slowly, and without making any sudden movements, he comes closer to Izuku. He has both hands where Izuku can see them.
“Hospital,” Izuku croaks. “I–– s-stay back. I might h-hurt––”
“It’s okay, my boy. You won’t.” Yagi-san comes up behind Inko, who leans back against him. “You’re on quirk suppressants right now.”
That explains why nothing happened when he reached for his quirk in a panic. He tries again, just to test it. He can’t feel it. There’s no usual hum of energy beneath his skin, no comforting electric warmth in his core. It doesn’t feel empty–– Izuku was quirkless long enough to not be dependent on the feeling of his quirk–– but it does feel odd. Quiet.
“Oh,” Izuku says. “I’m sorry.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about.”
“I’m sorry,” Izuku repeats. And then he can’t stop saying it, sobbing as he reaches out for his mom. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
Yagi-san and Inko wrap him up in a tight hug. He feels safe, now that he knows he can’t hurt them. He burrows his face into Yagi-san’s chest as Inko sobs into his hair. They must call for a nurse at some point because someone comes in and adjusts the tubes and monitors around him. They ask him a couple questions about how he’s feeling and he answers them as best he can without letting go of his parents.
Eventually he calms down enough to let Yagi-san go so he can fetch them some water. He doesn’t go far, only to the other side of the room to grab the pitcher and cups, but Izuku keeps his eyes glued on him the entire time. He’s scared that if he blinks, he’ll disappear and Izuku will be back with Shigaraki.
A doctor comes in to tell him about the procedures he went through while he was under. Apparently Izuku’s been out for two days, most of it medically induced so he wouldn’t jerk awake in a panic and aggravate his injuries. A surgeon with the ability to control blood was flown in from Tokyo to fix his stab wound. Miraculously, his arm wasn’t broken from punching at 15%. He’ll have to experiment with that later, once he’s all healed up.
Eventually the sun rises, the sounds of the hospital waking up around them. Izuku takes a nap, and when he wakes up, Detective Tsukauchi is there.
“Detective?”
Tsukauchi pauses his conversation with Inko and turns to give Izuku a small smile.
“Hey, kiddo. Didn’t I say something about staying out of trouble last time I saw you?”
Izuku smiles wryly. “A lot of people tell me that, Detective. You’re gonna have to get a new catch phrase.”
Izuku notes the notepad and pen in Tsukauchi’s hands, the handcuffs on his belt. His smile falls.
“Are you here to arrest me?”
Tsukauchi falters. “What? Arrest you for what?”
“I almost k-killed someone….”
“Oh, Izuku,” Inko sighs.
“The villain going by Katsuro is fine, Midoriya. I’m not arresting you. And even if he wasn’t fine–– it was self-defense. The investigation is still ongoing but considering we have the entire thing on tape, there’s no way any court would rule you responsible.”
Izuku’s lib wobbles, the guilt still eating him up. His fingers feel numb. “B-But I used excessive force. That’s grounds for having my license suspended, o-or flagged, isn’t it?”
“Kid, I’m pretty sure half of Japan would riot if the Commission tried to charge you with excessive force. Don’t worry about any of that right now, alright? We’re just waiting on Toshinori and Nedzu so I can take your statement. They’ll talk to you about what comes next.”
As if summoned, two figures appear in Izuku’s doorway.
“Izuku? Principal Nedzu is here to see you.”
Izuku turns away from Tsukauchi to see Nedzu, absolutely dwarfed by Yagi-san’s tall, willowy frame. His usual amused, vaguely smug expression is replaced with somberness. He and Yagi-san step into the room, closing the door behind them.
“Midoriya-kun,” Nedzu says softly, “it’s good to see you awake.”
“Nedzu has been handling the media for us while we waited for you to wake up,” Yagi-san explains.
Oh, god. Izuku hadn’t even stopped to consider the media reaction.
“Did… um, is everything… alright?”
Tsukauchi coughs into his fist. Yagi-san winces. Inko turns away, quickly busying herself with fluffing Izuku’s pillows and tucking in his blankets. Nedzu just gives him the smallest, saddest smile.
“Everything will be alright, Midoriya-kun,” Nedzu says. He toddles closer to Izuku’s bedside and clambers into the chair next to Inko. Yagi-san sits on the bed next to Izuku’s legs.
“We have a lot to discuss, kiddo,” Tsukauchi says gently, flipping open a notepad. “First, I need to take your statement. We have the recording of the livestream, but we want your side of the story, plus the bits before that. Can you tell us what you remember?”
The story comes out in fits and starts. Izuku accidentally starts in the middle, almost forgetting the entire first fight with Kurogiri until Tsukauchi asks him how he got down to the fountain. He spends too much time reliving those terrifying minutes of freefall and not enough detailing the appearances of the villains he saw but didn’t fight. Finally, he gets it all out.
“I-I’m sorry,” he ends with, not daring to look any of the adults in the eye. “I tried really hard t-to keep it under control. There were just so many and then I didn’t know if Aizawa-sensei was–– Is he okay? A-And Thirteen?”
“You have nothing to apologize for. Both Thirteen and Aizawa are okay. They’re both here in the Hero Wing and are expected to make full recoveries. I’m sure you can visit them later on if you’d like.”
Izuku blinks. “I’m in the Hero Wing? The Hero Wing of Musutafu General? The same Hero Wing that has a bed on reserve for All Might?”
Yagi-san gives him a concerned look. “Of course, my boy. This is my reserved room.”
Izuku swears he almost passes out at that. “I-I’m… not worthy.”
The tension in the room breaks a little. Yagi-san and Inko chuckle and Tsukauchi reaches over to ruffle Izuku’s hair.
“Still an All Might fanboy, huh, kid? Can’t believe Toshinori hasn’t shattered the illusion for you yet.”
“I’m in the All Might room,” Izuku whispers reverently. “Mom, did you get a picture?”
“Izuku, baby, I’m not going to take a picture of you injured in a hospital bed,” Inko says flatly.
“But mom,” Izuku whines, “All Might!”
Once the chuckles die down they wrap up Izuku’s statement. Before he leaves, Tsukauchi tells him that the police are working on investigating the villains–– who have called themselves the League of Villains, very creative. Izuku can’t fault them for that, though. He literally made his own hero name a mean childhood nickname. Which reminds him:
“Okay, how… uh. It’s bad, isn’t it? The media reaction?” Izuku asks, looking at the adults. “Is it, like, Best-Jeanist-losing-the-Best-Jeanist-award bad or end-of-the-world bad?”
Nedzu wiggles in his seat, snout twitching. “I won’t lie to you, Midoriya-kun. It’s bad. But, before we start answering your questions, I just wanted to say on behalf of all the staff at UA: we’re sorry.”
Izuku blinks, stunned. “Sorry?”
“I offer you our deepest apologies. It was a failure on our part–– especially my own–– that these villains were able to hurt you. No words can make up for it, but you deserve to hear it. I am sorry.”
Izuku shakes his head slowly. “Principal Nedzu, it’s not your fault.”
“I take the safety of UA’s students very seriously. Any holes in our security are my fault. I fear in the past few years I’ve grown overconfident in my ability to detect danger, and because of that hubris you’ve been hurt. Please accept my apology.”
Izuku has never seen Nedzu so sincere.The week he spent in private lessons with him was full of maniacal laughter and trick questions, so it’s weird to see him so somber. Izuku mutely nods his head, reluctantly accepting the apology even though he doesn’t think it’s Nedzu’s fault.
“Now, I’m sure you have questions. Is there anything from the attack that you don’t remember or want clarification for?”
“Are my friends okay?” Izuku asks immediately. “I mean, I fought with Uraraka and Todoroki for a bit, but I think I saw him limping after–– when I–– when K-Katsuro was hurt. Is everyone alright?”
“Young Todoroki suffered a mild sprain as well as some cuts and bruises, but was otherwise unhurt,” Yagi-san answers. He smiles a little. “In fact, he, young Uraraka, and young Iida all tried to fight me to see you. I believe the three of them camped out in the waiting room until hospital security escorted them out.”
Izuku’s heart aches. Even after witnessing how brutal and unhinged Izuku is, his friends still cared enough about his well being to wait outside his hospital room.
“Can I see them?”
“I’m afraid you must remain under observation for at least another day, my boy. The doctors who performed your surgery reported no complications, but they’d still like to reduce the amount of people you’re exposed to for another day or so.”
“Okay. Um, anyway,” Izuku turns back to Nedzu. “Do you know how they found out? About me being Deku, I mean.”
Nedzu’s nose twitches. “We did some investigating of UA’s internal systems after the attack. It seems that during the media break in two weeks ago the class roster lists for the hero courses as well as the training schedules for this month were all accessed and downloaded. This was likely the League, as none of the staff had any reason to download information they should already know.”
“You mean… they’ve known my identity since the first week of school?”
“Yes, that is the worrying part,” Nedzu says. “The class roster has been in their possession for at least two weeks. It would not have taken more than a day or two to narrow down the hero course students enough to identify you as Deku, but for some reason they waited until Tuesday to strike. Why could that be?”
“They probably wanted to make a statement,” Izuku thinks out loud. “He–– uh, Shigaraki–– he said a bunch of things a-about ruining All Might’s legacy and exposing hero society. I think that’s why they waited.”
It’s quiet for a moment before Yagi-san speaks up.
“You mean to say, they could have grabbed you off the street at any time?”
Izuku swallows. How many times has he walked home alone while Yagi-san patrolled? How many times has he popped out of the agency office in his civilian clothes for a quick trip to the corner store? Forget all that–– they could have broken into his apartment and taken him at any time. It wouldn’t be hard to find the apartment listing with the Midoriyas as tenants. It’s only because Shigaraki has a flair for dramatics that Izuku is here and not dead in a ditch somewhere, unceremoniously disposed of with no one the wiser.
“How has a class roster been missing for two weeks without anyone sounding an alarm?” Inko asks, voice deadly calm.
“Midoriya-san, you have to understand––”
“Explain to me,” Inko cuts in, “how a villain organization was able to break in and cover it up without one of the smartest beings on the planet noticing.”
“There is no explanation. I assumed it was only a media break in and that was negligent of me.”
“My son was stabbed,” Inko says, voice breaking at the end. “I am getting non stop calls from news stations and journalists and who knows who else managed to get my phone number. Izuku’s full name has been plastered across every newspaper in the country all because no one noticed a class roster being downloaded?”
Nedzu nods, accepting Inko’s tirade, but there’s a considerate look in his eye. Izuku knows that look. He’s planning something.
“For days everyone has been telling me how much danger my son and I are in, but none of you have offered us any solutions. Why is sensitive information like this not on a badge-only accessibility basis? Why doesn’t UA have landline emergency phones at their remote facilities? I can think of a million security measures that could have been taken to keep my son and his class safe. I have to have my badge number recorded and timestamped to access basic painkillers at work, and you’re telling me some villain was able to just access the computer system of the top school in Japan without anyone noticing?!’
Nedzu stops. He tilts his head, considering something as he smiles slightly.
“Those are some astute observations, and a few very good suggestions for security measures, Midoriya-san. I see where young Midoriya gets his cleverness from.”
“Don’t sound so surprised, Principal,” Inko says sharply. “At least one of us is thinking things through.”
Nedzu looks even more impressed. Yagi-san practically radiates fear.
“Midoriya-san, would you be interested in working at UA?”
Inko stops, staring at Nedzu incredulously. “I just spent the past ten minutes ranting about how flawed your school’s system is–– and you’re offering me a job.”
“You have a lot of great ideas. You are a registered nurse, are you not? Recovery Girl could use the help. I’d be interested to hear about how your experiences at a hospital could change the way we provide healthcare to our students.”
Inko sits back, dumbfounded. Then she laughs, high and almost hysterical.
“You’re actually offering me a job.”
“I will let you consider it,” Nedzu says. He scoots over to the edge of the chair and hops back onto the floor, stretching and shaking out his fur a little. “I’m afraid there are many things I must attend to. Yagi has my number, so don’t hesitate to call if you have any more questions for me.”
Before he leaves, he turns to look at Izuku one last time. His beady eyes are focussed, the scar over his right eye catches the harsh fluorescent hospital lights, scar tissue shining dully.
“UA failed you once, young Midoriya,” he says, “but we will not fail you again.”
Then he’s gone.
Inko lets out a deep breath, leaning forward to rest her forehead against Izuku’s bed. Yagi-san reaches over to pat her head comfortingly.
“What a mess,” she says into the blankets.
“Working for UA might be a good idea,” Izuku says. “I mean, this way you could keep an eye on me. Plus, they can probably provide some protection and better hours, oh, and maybe––”
“I won’t work at UA, Izuku,” Inko cuts in gently.
“Why not? I know things seem bad right now, but maybe in a couple weeks, when everything dies down––”
“My boy,” Yagi-san interrupts. Inko raises her head and the two of them share a look. They turn back to Izuku with matching expressions, serious and apologetic. Like they’re about to say something they know Izuku won’t like.
“W-What?”
“Your mother and I have been talking. We think… we believe it might be best if you no longer attend UA.”
The resulting fight is catastrophic.
Izuku sits in stone cold silence as Yagi-san and his mother stutter out their reasoning, explaining that it’s not safe, that now everyone knows what school Deku attends UA will be even more of a target, that their mistakes at the USJ are just too big to be forgiven. They try to let him down easy, but they still manage to trample all over Izuku’s already bloody and bruised heart.
“UA is my dream,” Izuku says once they finish. “I’ve never belonged anywhere, but I belong here. With my friends.”
“You can keep in touch,” Inko says, “or make new––”
“Uraraka stepped in front of a villain for me,” Izuku snaps. “Todoroki saved me multiple times. I won’t leave them.”
From there it gets kind of ugly.
Izuku just–– He can’t believe they want to pull him out of school. After they agreed that UA was the safest place for him to be, away from the public and the Commision. After Yagi-san used his one recommendation pass to get Izuku in. After Izuku literally bled for his classmates. It’s hard to understand their reasoning when, to Izuku, all it sounds like is ‘you weren’t good enough to stay here.’ Izuku knows, logically, that they’re only concerned with his safety, but it really doesn’t register to him. He’s just mad.
None of the three of them are the type to yell when they’re angry, but the argument upsets Izuku so much that the nurses monitoring his vitals from the nurse station come in to tell them to calm down. Izuku says a lot of things he knows he’ll regret later. And then he doesn’t say anything at all, silently fuming and refusing to look at either Inko or Yagi-san.
He can understand his mom wanting to pull him out–– she’s always been a touch too overprotective. But Yagi-san? His mentor, who is supposed to be doing everything he can to make sure Izuku has what he needs to succeed? Can’t he see that the two and a half weeks he’s been at UA have already made him a better hero?
Izuku’s fingers itch to text his friends, but he can’t even do that yet. One of his doctors has an x-ray quirk and Izuku’s not allowed to look at screens until the effects wear off. It makes him feel isolated. Like he doesn’t have any friends at all.
That night, after Yagi-san passes out in the chair next to Izuku’s bed and Inko falls asleep on the futon, Izuku sneaks out of his hospital room.
Izuku isn’t exactly the most graceful person but he somehow manages to drag himself and his IV pole out of the room without waking either of them up. He counts it as a miracle. He’s still on the chemical quirk suppressants, which leave him feeling a little fuzzy and off-balanced, but he still gets all the way down the hall and into Aizawa’s room without getting caught by a nurse.
Heh. Maybe he’d make a good stealth hero after all.
Aizawa isn’t sleeping. He doesn’t even look even remotely surprised to see Izuku hobbling into his room with his IV pole. He just sighs heavily.
“Problem Child. Shouldn’t you be in bed?”
“I wanted to check on you,” Izuku says. He limps over and drops himself into the chair next to Aizawa’s bed. “Are you… okay?”
He is, obviously, not okay. One of his legs is in a cast, propped up by a pile of pillows and some kind of sling. His left arm, the one that was grabbed by Shigaraki, is wrapped in bandages. Besides that, almost every visible bit of Aizawa’s skin is bruised or cut, dark wine stains against his pale skin. He looks tired–– more so than usual.
Still, he just grunts, unphased. “I’m fine. How are you holding up?”
“I’m alright,” Izuku says. Looks like they’re both liars.
It’s quiet for a moment. Izuku didn’t want to get caught, so he didn’t turn the lights in Aizawa’s room on. The only light comes from the full moon, spilling silver beams in from the window. Izuku kicks his feet idly against the linoleum, trying not to think too hard about how close they both came to dying.
“Um,” Izuku breaks the silence finally, “a-after Kurogiri dropped us, how did you… I mean, what happened to you? I-I saw you drop into the water, but no one told me what happened to everyone else.”
Aizawa sighs, tipping his head back to lean against his pillows. “Kid, you’re still processing your own traumatic injuries. You don’t need to hear about mine.”
“It would make me feel better, to not focus on what happened to me,” Izuku says, not above guilt-tripping his teacher. He just wants to know what happened.
“Asui and Yaoyorozu were in the shipwreck zone. After Kurogiri dropped me into the water I blacked out. When I regained consciousness Asui had gathered the villains together with some sort of net that Yaoyorozu made and Yaoyorozu was setting my leg with a splint.”
Izuku nods, absorbing the information. “And the others? Do you know what happened to them?”
Apparently, Aizawa had been briefed on what happened to all his students during the attack. Bakugou and Kirishima ended up in the Ruins Zone. After fighting off several villains, Kirishima managed to convince Bakugou to search for their other classmates. From there they made their way clockwise around the USJ, keeping the group together and picking off villains before they ended up in the center plaza.
Izuku sits quietly after Aizawa tells him all this. He thinks about how scared he was during the attack, and about how much worse it must have been for his classmates. Izuku has six months of villain experience and a very powerful quirk to rely on. His classmates didn’t have that. He doesn’t mean to invalidate his own experiences, but, well–– if he thinks about it, he probably had an easier time.
“I’m sorry, sensei.”
Aizawa raises his head, squinting blearily at Izuku. “What are you sorry for, kid?”
Izuku ducks his head, staring hard at the floor beneath his feet. He walked here barefoot. He doesn’t raise his head as he speaks.
“I couldn’t protect you. Or the others. I’m sorry.”
Aizawa is quiet. Izuku chances a quick glance up. Aizawa has his brow furrowed, looking at him like Izuku just said the sky is green.
“Midoriya,” Aizawa says slowly. “It wasn't your job to protect us. I should be the one apologizing to you. I want to make this very clear. I do not blame you for anything that happened at the USJ. When I said you were in charge, that was wrong of me. I shouldn’t have put that kind of pressure on you. I wish you had listened to me when I told you to run, but again, I don’t blame you for the decisions that you, a teenager, made in a stressful, life-threatening situation.”
Izuku shakes his head. “But they would have killed you, sensei!”
Aizawa tilts his head, shrugging without having to move his injured arm. “Maybe. But that was my call to make. It’s my job to protect you and your classmates. Next time I tell you to run, you run, alright?”
Izuku hangs his head. “I’m sorry, Aizawa-sensei. I just wanted to prove that I was good enough. Next time, I won’t––”
“Hey, no, back up,” Aizawa says. “Prove? Prove what?”
“That I’m worth protecting!”
Aizawa’s face falls, his usual mask of indifference nowhere to be seen. “Kid, you don’t need to prove anything. You don’t need to prove that you're worthy of protecting. Did people in the past, former teachers or something, make you feel like you had to earn their protection?”
“I mean,” Izuku says, “I-I just don’t wanna drag the class down.”
Aizawa looks at him incredulously. “Why the hell do you think you of all students would be dragging the class down?”
Izuku hesitates. “I’ve always brought the class down. Didn’t–– I mean, as my homeroom teacher, don’t you have access to my records. I know my past teachers didn’t, um, have great things to say about me.”
“Oh, good, are we talking about this now?” Aizawa tries to sit up straighter. “Only took a villain attack, huh? Midoriya, I need you to be honest with me: were you quirkless before this year?”
Izuku gulps. This is the easy part, right? He’s not lying by saying yes, he’s just omitting a lot of the truth. And Izuku was going to tell Aizawa anyway. He’s more than proven himself to be trustworthy. Izuku nods.
“That explains a lot.”
“A lot?”
“About why you were so skittish in the first week. And why your behavioral records don’t match what I’ve observed of you in class. You have more marks on your record than the entire hero course combined, including 1-B.”
Izuku winces. “What, um, did they say about me?”
“Mostly that you started a lot of fights. There were a couple comments about you talking back to teachers and dealing with being ‘bitter’ about being quirkless by taking it out on other students.”
Izuku pales. “T-That’s not––! I didn’t, sensei, I swear!”
“I know, kid. I figured as much. I met you personally before I got your records, remember? It was pretty hard to believe that the tiny kid who info dumped on me during the recommended exam was also fighting kids in middle school. I knew something was up, but I figured I’d let you get comfortable in my class before bringing it up.”
Oh god. Izuku probably looks like a menace on paper. That’s not even including his arrest record.
“I want you to know that none of that affects how I grade you, Midoriya. I like to come to my own conclusions about students. I had a bad reputation when I was your age, too.”
“You did?”
Aizawa smiles wryly. “Having a quirk that erased other people’s quirks didn’t exactly make me the most popular kid in school.”
Ah. Izuku thinks back to Shinsou in Gym Gamma, telling Izuku that people called his quirk a “villain’s” quirk. He suddenly understands why Aizawa was so willing to take on an extra student, free of charge.
“Look, I know I’ve only been your teacher for a few weeks, but I want you to know that you can come to me for help. For anything, alright? And this isn’t just because you saved my life. Even if you really were the problem child of the class I would help you because that is what a good teacher is supposed to do, got it?”
Izuku gets a little misty-eyed. He’s never had a teacher be so kind to him before. “Alright, sensei.”
“And if you ever have trouble with any other teacher, you come to me, alright?”
“Okay, sensei.”
“Good,” Aizawa sighs, settling back into his pillows. “Anything else I should know? Hidden quirks? Secret supervillain dad?”
Izuku shakes his head, chuckling at the absurdity of such an idea. He gets to his feet. “Nothing, sensei. I’ll let you get your rest now.”
Izuku pauses as he gets to the door. “Wait, actually… there is one thing.”
Aizawa raises an eyebrow. “Yes?”
“Can I sign your cast?”
Izuku smiles sunnily. Aizawa glares, but reaches over to his bedside table and produces a sharpie. “If you make any eraser puns or write any profanity I will expel you.”
(The next day, Hizashi asks Shouta about the bunny doodled on his cast. Shouta grumbles and complains, but even he can’t deny how cute it is. That kid really is going to be the death of him.)
fourthkindchokeme reblogged rocklockswifey
alrightallmight03
This is a callout post for tumblr user @bonesxgodzillo69 AKA Bones or @/boneseyarts on twitter. A list of some things they’ve done:
- doxxed Deku. They deleted the post, but redacted screenshots to protect Deku’s information are provided below. They used their job at the quirk registry and Deku’s recently revealed civilian identity to find his address, his mom’s name, his elementary school, and his middle school. Deeply fucked up considering the week that poor kid has had.
- Said some really insensitive things about the UA Incident on discord. Screenshots below. I shouldn’t have to tell all of you why it’s wrong to call a child being held hostage and manipulated into fighting “good entertainment” and “dad might angst inspo”
- Called someone with a dog mutation quirk a slur. The post is still up on their blog. They got mad when @mightmightbaby rightfully called them out on their comments & use of Deku’s real name on their posts and decided to call her a whole mess of slurs. Keep in mind that mightmightbaby is also a minor and has been very vocal about mutation quirk discrimination in the past.
- Liked a bunch of tweets from tabloids asking for Deku information for money. Now, I don’t have any proof that they’re planning on selling the information mentioned above to these tabloids, but considering they took down their dox post and then liked all those tweets I’d say it’s pretty likely. How morally fucked do you have to be to sell a kid’s info to all these shady magazines?
Receipts are under the read more. I know a lot of you follow them for their art, but please think about who you’re supporting. This isn’t the first time they’ve been called out for shitty behavior (see the Miruko debut incident) and probably won’t be the last. I know the Pro Hero fandom is a dumpster fire right now but please take a second to spread this so people are aware of what they’ve done, since I’ve been seeing some of their All Might fanart circulating.
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5,218 notes
#call out post #wtf im so disgusted #i followed them i had no idea #catch this fat block lmao how can you say that shit #especially when it was confirmed that Deku is still in the hospital #how can you call yourself an all might stan and shittalk his intern like that
The next morning, Izuku still isn’t talking to Inko or Yagi-san. The doctor lets him know that he’s okay to have visitors, though. As soon as Izuku let’s them know, Uraraka, Iida, and Todoroki are at the hospital.
“Midoriya-kun!”
“Iida!” Izuku looks up from the jello cup he had been devouring. “And Uraraka! And Todoroki-kun!”
The three of them tumble into Izuku’s room. Inko and Yagi-san say something about giving them some space before leaving. Izuku keeps a smile plastered to his face. He tries not to think about how his friends might not be his classmates next week.
“Woah,” Uraraka says, looking around Izuku’s room. “There are a lot of flowers in here.”
“Yeah. It’s mostly from, uh, local hero agencies.” Izuku shrugs, self-conscious. “Uh, apparently the hospital stopped letting strangers send flowers up to my room so they’re leaving it outside. It’s a little, uh, weird? I mean it’s not like I died!”
When he says this, his friends’ faces darken. Izuku immediately feels like the most insensitive jerk in the entire world. Todoroki is the first to approach, gently perching at the edge of Izuku’s bed and looking him over.
“How’s your….” He trails off, making a gesture to Izuku’s entire situation.
“Better than it could have been. Apparently the knife missed any vital organs.”
Todoroki nods. He hands Izuku the bag he’s been holding. It’s a blue All Might birthday themed gift bag, except the “Happy Birthday!” has been crossed out and instead Todoroki has written “Get Well Soon” in sharpie.
“They didn’t have any All Might get well soon bags,” Todoroki explains while Izuku tries not to giggle. Todoroki is just so earnest yet awkward sometimes. “I… hope you like it.”
Inside is a red, blue, and yellow All Might teddy bear. It even has little yellow hair spikes. Izuku beams, hugging it tightly against his chest.
“I love it, Todoroki-kun! Thank you so much, you didn’t need to get me anything.”
“You’ve saved my life twice now, Midoriya. It’s the least I can do to pay you back.”
“Your friendship is payment enough,” Izuku says, still smiling sunnily. This seems to be too much for Todoroki because he quickly stands, steaming slightly, and gestures Uraraka forward, giving her a turn with Izuku.
“It’s not much,” Uraraka says, handing him a soft, green blanket. “I was working on it for your birthday, but I figured I’d just give it to you now. You always complain about the cold and your bones, so.”
“Oh my god, Uraraka.” Izuku blinks down at the blanket in awe. It’s knitted with dark green, chunky yarn. There are little stitched bunnies running around the border. “You made this? That’s incredible, thank you!”
Uraraka blushes, waving her hand. “It’s nothing. I’m just glad you’re okay.”
Iida steps forward next, handing Izuku a small, pink bag with some fancy skincare brand’s logo stamped on it. Inside is an assortment of tubes of hand cream.
“Tensei often complains that being in the hospital dries out his skin, so I thought I’d bring you some lotion! The eucalyptus one is pain relieving and the lavender is for soothing anxiety.”
Izuku immediately cracks open the eucalyptus cream, massaging it into his hands. Izuku actually has a prescription strength hand cream at home, meant for arthritis or for those with quirks that are hard on their hands. The doctors are weaning him off his pain meds since they’re using quirks to speed up his surgery site, and as a consequence Izuku’s hands have been achy and stiff. Izuku beams, looking at the gifts in his lap. He forgets about all the emotional turmoil of the past few days. His friends are so thoughtful.
“You guys really didn’t have to get me gifts,” he says, looking back up at them. “I feel bad, I didn’t get you anything!”
Todoroki snorts. “Midoriya, you’re the one in the hospital. Why would you need to get us gifts?”
The three of them get more comfortable, Iida settling into the chair by Izuku’s bedside while Uraraka takes Yagi-san’s seat. Todoroki perches on the arm of Iida’s chair.
“To thank you,” Izuku responds. “For being my friends, even after… you know.”
It’s the elephant in the room. Obviously, the three of them knew about him being Deku before Tuesday, but now everyone knows. Izuku would understand if they didn’t want to get caught up in Izuku’s mess. Especially Todoroki, who is still struggling with his own very public life as the son of the number two hero.
“Of course we’re still your friends!” Uraraka exclaims.
“I would never abandon you in your time of need.” Iida’s face darkens slightly. “Do not pay attention to anything the media is saying, Midoriya. They don’t know what they’re talking about.”
“Ah, I actually haven’t seen anything yet… Is it bad?”
Uraraka and Iida exchange looks.
“Don’t worry about it,” Uraraka says, leaning forward to pat Izuku’s hand comfortingly. “Just focus on healing up, okay?”
Todoroki, who has been staring at Izuku in quiet contemplation until now, speaks up. “Did you think we’d no longer want to be your friends, Midoriya? Have I–– or any of us–– done something to make you doubt our friendship?”
“N-No, nothing like that,” Izuku scrambles to correct him. “You guys have been amazing friends. I guess I’m just a little… insecure. In general.”
Todoroki frowns, his usual neutral expression slanting downward slightly.
“Honestly,” Uraraka says, “I’ve always kind of been insecure about our friendship, too.”
Hearing that breaks Izuku’s heart.
“What?”
“I mean, you’re so––” Uraraka waves her hands as if to encompass Izuku’s entire being. “So! Much! You’re so cool! And kind and thoughtful and on top of that you do hero work. Real life hero work, like actually saving people. I have no idea why you would want to be friends with me of all people.”
“I agree,” Iida says. Izuku shifts his attention to him. “I never quite figured out what drew you to me that day. I assumed it was my brother, but after it became clear that you and I were genuine friends I… I am embarrassed to admit that I couldn’t quite figure it out. I’m not sure what I did to deserve your companionship, Midoriya-kun.”
“We don’t deserve you,” Uraraka follows up.
“I have always been of the opinion that the world doesn’t deserve Midoriya,” Todoroki adds.
Izuku sniffles, blinking back tears.
“I don’t understand,” Izuku says. “I’m the one that doesn’t deserve you guys.”
Todoroki hums. He gets up and sits down on the bed near Izuku’s legs, in the place he was earlier when he gave Izuku the All Might bear. Izuku clutches it to his chest now, looking up at his friend as he prepares to say something.
“Midoriya,” he starts softly, “do you remember asking me if I could use my quirk to make snow?”
“Huh?” Izuku thinks back. “O-Oh, yeah? Actually, speaking of that, our fight against Kurogiri gave me some ideas for combo moves and I think that if I––”
“Combo moves later,” Todoroki interrupts. “I need to say something, because you told me things I needed to hear a while ago and now I want to return the favor.”
“Oh. Okay.” Izuku looks at him expectantly.
“When you asked me to try to make snow, it changed something in me. I was made to be a perfect villain destroying machine. My father trained me to be a weapon, for hurting other people. No one had ever asked me to do something so gentle with my quirk. Until you. It… reminded me of when my mother would make mini ice sculptures, when I was younger.”
“Todoroki-kun….”
“You changed me for the better, Midoriya. I’m sure Iida and Uraraka have similar stories. You make the people around you want to be better. I started writing to my mother again after that, and maybe–– when I’m ready–– I can try to visit her.”
It’s the most Izuku has ever heard Todoroki talk at once. It melts Izuku’s heart, to see him comfortable enough to be so open and vulnerable in front of the three of them. It makes Izuku feel like maybe… maybe he’s right. Maybe Izuku is deserving of kindness. Maybe he isn’t tricking everyone into thinking he’s worthy of being around.
“That’s amazing, Todoroki-kun,” Izuku says. He gives him the biggest smile he can muster right now. “I’m glad that–– I’m just glad. I’m happy I’m your friend.”
Uraraka gets up and tucks herself against Izuku’s side, hugging him as his eyes well up. Iida comes over too, placing a comforting hand on Izuku’s shoulder as he fully dissolves into grateful tears, babbling about how much he loves his friends.
They stay until visiting hours are over. Iida updates all of them on the goings-on behind the scenes at school. He and Yaoyorozu have started a 1-A group chat to keep everyone aware of all the changes and to just talk about the whole attack. Nedzu has sent out emails to the class representatives detailing some security measures going into effect once school starts again next week.
Izuku doesn’t have the heart to tell them that his mom wants to pull him out of UA. As far as Izuku is concerned, he won’t be leaving UA. He’ll sneak out of the house daily to attend classes if he needs to.
Before they go, they help Izuku rearrange the ridiculous amount of flowers in his room. Yesterday Iida had sent Izuku flowers through the IidaTen agency, but Izuku had no idea they were from him since he can’t get up to read any of the cards. They’re sunflowers–– Izuku’s favorite, since of course Iida remembers everything, even small things said in passing conversation. Izuku asks Uraraka to bring them closer so he can put them on his bedside table.
“Is it okay if I move these?” She’s gesturing to the flowers next to him.
“Oh, yeah, go ahead–– actually… I don’t know who those are from.”
Izuku frowns, peering at the red and yellow bouquet curiously. It’s a standard get well soon bouquet, complete with a little vase and a ribbon tied around the middle. Izuku is pretty sure his mom and the staff cleared out all gifts not from people they know.
“Is there a card?”
“Yup!” Uraraka plucks a plain, white piece of cardstock from the flowers. She delicately moves the vase and sets down Iida’s before crossing the room to hand Izuku the card.
“Huh, weird. There’s no name only a–– oh!”
In lieu of a message and a name is a single, stylized red feather. Izuku flips it to the back, where a messy “be in touch soon” is scrawled, almost as an afterthought. Izuku gapes, staring dumbfounded at the little card in his shaking hands.
“Is everything alright, Midoriya-kun?” Iida asks.
Izuku gulps. He looks up at his friends, eyes wide.
“I think Hawks sent me flowers.”
Shinsou 🐱 • Tuesday, 1:32 PM
Hey. Nedzu let us go for the day and there’s no school for the rest of the week. Mama picked me up and Okaa-san is coming home early from work.
They wouldn’t tell us what happened while we were on campus but I checked the news and saw the broadcast clips. They said you were hurt but stable and that two staff members were severely injured.
Please text me back when you can. Not to sound like a pathetic loser with only one friend but I’m a pathetic loser and you’re my only friend and you almost died, so.
I don’t think I ever told you, but my moms liked the cookies you baked for us the other week. Sorry.
Me • 9:24 AM
shinsou!! i’m so sorry i just saw your texts now!!!
so uh. i guess i have a lot to explain
Shinsou 🐱 • 9:24 AM
DKLSFJZ THANK FUCK
Sorry, ignore that. I accidentally pressed send.
So, regular normal paperwork for regular and normal people, huh?
(I am covering up how worried I am by being sarcastic and salty. Please tell me you and Aizawa sensei are okay)
Me • 9:24 AM
i’m ok!!!! aizawa sensei is ok too. it looks worse than it actually is, according to him
Shinsou 🐱 • 9:25 AM
Good. Being concerned is exhausting.
Especially when it turns out your only friend is All Might’s protege, wow who knew.
Me • 9:25 AM
i’m sorry !!! i wanted to tell you i just didnt wanna make you sign an nda !!! i would’ve told you eventually shinsou i promise pls believe me
also that’s a lie!! uraraka and iida liked you when you ate lunch with us the other day
Shinsou 🐱 • 9:25 AM
Not Todoroki? Ouch.
Me • 9:25 AM
ahhh todoroki kun can be kind of cold at first. don’t worry, he’ll warm up to you eventually !!
Shinsou 🐱 • 9:26 AM
Was that two puns in one sentence ugh I hate you
But really
I’m glad you’re okay. My moms and I wanna visit you in the hospital if that’s ok? Mama made banana bread for you and Aizawa sensei to thank you for helping me train and also, you know, protecting the whole school from super villains
Me • 9:26 AM
BANANA BREAD !!!!!
yes please!! we’re at musutafu general and i’m in room 294
(!!!!!! the all might room aaaa !!!!!!!)
text me when you get here and we can go to aizawa sensei’s room together!
Izuku is stuck in the hospital for two more days before they even consider letting him leave. They say they’ll check in on him again tomorrow, so Izuku just sits tight and crosses his fingers. He felt way more energized after Shinsou’s visit earlier. Hopefully tomorrow they’ll let him go.
“Izuku? Can we talk?”
Ah, right. He’s still giving his mom and Yagi-san the silent treatment.
He knows it’s childish–– but whatever. He’s a teenager. Isn’t he supposed to be angsty and emotional? But then again, he’s always had a close relationship with his mom. This is the longest they’ve ever fought. Not to mention Yagi-san, who mopes quietly in the corner of Izuku’s room like a sad, droopy dandelion.
“O-Okay.”
Izuku is well enough to get up and walk around the room, so he does. He settles onto the couch, if only so that he doesn’t have to have another conversation propped up in his hospital bed. Yagi-san and his mom sit down on either side of him.
“We’ve been thinking about your enrollment in UA,” Yagi-san says. “While we still have our concerns about your safety attending school there, well….”
“I overheard your conversation with your friends,” Inko picks up.
“Mom! Don’t eavesdrop.”
“It was an accident,” Inko says. “Anyway, I heard what Todoroki said to you, about how you helped him. I don’t know the full story, and I’m not asking you to tell me, but I guess I just didn’t realize how close you’ve become to your friends. After how isolated you were in middle school I think I forgot how happy you could get around other kids your age.”
Yagi-san nods in agreement. “You were forced to grow up so fast, my boy. It would be unfair of us to uproot you just when you were finding a place at UA. I’m sorry for coming to a conclusion without talking to you first.”
“So… you’re saying I can still go to UA?’
Yagi-san and Inko nod. “If that’s what you want.”
Izuku slumps back into the couch, going boneless with relief. “Oh, thank god. I thought I was going to have to find ways to sneak onto campus.”
Yagi-san barks out a laugh, breaking the tension in the room. “Nedzu would catch you immediately.”
“Bold of you to assume he wouldn’t be on my side.”
“Point.” Yagi-san ruffles Izuku’s curls, smiling. “I’m glad we worked things out. I don’t like fighting with you.”
“Me neither,” Izuku admits.
Inko opens her mouth to say something, but is interrupted by her phone. She frowns, checking the caller ID, and then groans and silences it.
“How did they find this number? It’s brand new?”
‘You got a new phone?”
“The press has been blowing up my old one, it’s impossible to get updates from Nedzu and work. I thought getting a new number would fix that, but apparently not. I knew the lady at the Apple store was looking at me funny.”
“Are the calls really bad?” Izuku asks hesitantly.
Inko pulls out her old phone from her purse. She turns it on. Immediately it starts vibrating like a box of bees. She shuts it back off.
“I have no idea how they got my personal number, but they also have our address,” she says. “Toshi grabbed some stuff from our apartment earlier and he said the place was swarming with journalists.”
Yagi-san nods. “I snuck in through the roof. They were harassing everyone who came in and out of the building for statements. I’ve never seen Terada-san look so annoyed. Ah, that reminds me.”
Yagi-san gets up to rifle through his backpack. He pulls out a large, familiar All Might hoodie and passes it to Izuku.
“My favorite hoodie!” Izuku quickly tugs it on. He snuggles happily into the material. “Thanks, Yagi-san!”
“It’s no problem at all, my boy. I thought you could use something familiar to comfort you. I know from experience that this room can get quite cold at night.”
Izuku smiles, thinking of all the times he’s pulled on this very hoodie for movie nights with his mom and Yagi, the three of them sprawled across the giant couch in the Midoriyas’ apartment. His smile fades when he realizes they probably won’t be able to do that anymore.
“We’re going to have to move, aren’t we?”
“Yes,” Inko sighs. “I don’t feel safe knowing anyone who wanted to hurt you could easily find our address. I already called Terada-san about it.”
“Yagi-san, will you be okay? I mean, no one knows your civilian identity, so as long as you don’t puff up as All Might and walk in the building you should be safe, right?”
“Yes, well–– um, actually,” Yagi-san says, blushing. “I was thinking that, well––”
“Out with it Toshi,” Inko says.
“I was thinking that maybe the three of us could move. In. Together, that is.”
Izuku blinks. Yagi-san avoids their eyes as he continues.
“It would be easier to keep us all together, for security reasons. As much as I loved our old building, it wasn’t exactly the safest area. Plus, perhaps we could get a place closer to Inko’s job and UA. It would ease a lot of my anxieties if we were all under one roof.”
The room is quiet as Inko and Izuku process that.
“You can admit that you just need someone who can cook a decent meal, Toshi,” Inko says finally, face breaking into a smile.
“T-That’s not––!”
“Yeah, Yagi-san. You basically live with us anyway.”
“Are you both sure about this?” Yagi-san asks, looking hopeful.
“Toshi, you’re my best friend. I can’t think of a safer place for Izuku and I to live than with the number one hero,” Inko says.
Yagi-san starts tearing up. “I thought your best friend was Mitsuki.”
Inko playfully punches his arm. “Don’t tell her, okay? She’ll kill me. And stop crying! We haven’t even moved in yet and you’re already turning into a Midoriya, aren’t you?”
Izuku giggles, happily watching his mom and his mentor tease each other. In his opinion, Yagi Toshinori has been a Midoriya for a long time.
Top 10 Clever Hero Takedowns
3,451,237 Views • Uploaded 2 days ago
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9,126 Comments
Amelia 1 day ago
lol number 1 should be the gator guy vs edgeshot fight the way edgeshot made himself into a muzzle was genius
Ken Mendoza 2 days ago
Can’t believe you had the audacity to include the Deku live stream in the honorable mentions. WTF?? Yeah, using that villain’s quirk against the hippo villain was clever, but that poor kid JUST went through a traumatic event. Don’t you think it’s a little soon to be using him for views?
Ditto73 3 hours ago
Deku should be #1. He was already tired and hurt from the previous fights + panicked/nervous from being filmed and he still found a way to safely takedown that villain
QuestBest 1 day ago
This youtube channel continues to have the absolute worst takes. How is the Kamui Woods vs. Disintegrator fight not on this list? Also pretty fucked up that you included Deku lol unsubscribed
williambic 7 hours ago
deku getting stabbed should be in the top 10 anime betrayals video LMAOOOOO
Izuku finally gets discharged from the hospital. It turns out Yagi-san had been thinking about moving for a while, because he already had potential three-bedroom apartments picked out and ready for Izuku and his mom to pick from. They settle on a secure high-rise in downtown, just a block from the agency and with specific safety measures in place meant for heroes and their families.
These Hero Homes were instated a couple years ago, after a large string of tragic attacks on Pro’s homes that resulted in a lot of civilians caught in the crossfire. The government's solution was to designate certain buildings for Pro’s to live in if they chose. They’re usually fortified with their listings only viewable to those with hero licenses. The added bonus is that there’s no way for the public to ever find a list of tenants.
Inko and Izuku try to go back home exactly once. They pull up in Yagi-san’s car to see several news vans and reporters staked out in front of the building. Yamane-san, who lives across the hall from Yagi-san, exits the building. He’s immediately swarmed by reporters.
“Why don’t we try coming back another time?” Yagi-san says, throwing the car in reverse.
They do not come back.
Yagi-san uses his All Might voice to pull some strings and get the apartment ready for them to move in immediately. Then they burn through some of his hero money hiring a private company to pack up their old places. Izuku feels a bit weird about strangers handling his things, but he figures that most of his hero merch collection is safely stored in his office at the agency so it should be fine. By Sunday, they’ve settled into their new apartment. Yagi-san’s bedroom door has a Deku nameplate to match Izuku’s All Might one, courtesy of Inko.
They spend the week Izuku has off school rearranging furniture and figuring out how to exist in each others’ spaces. It doesn’t take long for them to fall into a rhythm, maybe because they’re all so stressed about the attack or maybe because the family dynamic has always been there. Either way, it’s not long before Izuku is stealing Yagi-san’s hair bands to push his bangs out of his face while he bakes. Yagi-san keeps using his house slippers, so it evens out.
It’s domestic bliss. That doesn’t stop Izuku from trying to sneak out.
“Where do you think you’re going, young man?”
Caught. Izuku turns away from the door to see his mother in the kitchen doorway, arms crossed. She gives him an unimpressed look.
“I was just going to go to the store! We’re out of, uh… chips?”
Inko raises a single eyebrow. She sticks her hand out and a second later there’s the sound of a kitchen cabinet opening as she uses her quirk to pull a bag of chips into her hand.
“Um,” Izuku says intelligently. “Oh. Wow, chips.”
“Izuku,” she sighs.
“I just wanted to get some air! I haven’t walked around for like a week!”
“You are supposed to be resting,” Inko says. “Your face is on every news station in the country. I know it’s hard, but you need to stay here.”
“I’ll be quick, I promise!” Izuku says, inching towards the door. “I won’t even leave the building. I’ll just run up and down the stairs a couple times!”
Inko halts Izuku’s movement by using her quirk to pull his hoodie towards her. Izuku goes with it.
“Mom!” She hasn’t done this to him since he was a kid. He skids across the floor as Inko drags him away from the door.
“You are recovering from a stab wound that very narrowly missed your organs,” Inko reminds him.
“What’s going on here?”
Yagi-san has emerged from his room. He looks back and forth between Inko in the doorway and Izuku sliding slowly away from the door, trying and failing to resist the pull of his mom’s quirk on his clothes.
“Inko, I thought your quirk only worked on small objects,” Yagi-san says.
“Izuku is a small object.”
“Mom! I’m literally taller than you!” Izuku manages to shrug off his hoodie, popping out of the fabric and halting his slow drag across the living room. “Ha!”
Inko starts using her quirk on his shirt. Izuku’s feet squeak against the wood floor as he’s dragged away from the door, arms crossed and pouting as Yagi-san and Inko dissolve into laughter. Izuku gives up pretending to be mad when his mom pulls him close enough for her to hug, wrapping her arms around him and smothering her giggles in his shoulder. Yagi-san pats Izuku’s head.
“You go back to school in two days, Izuku. Surely you can wait that long. Patience is a––”
“A mark of a good hero, I know,” Izuku huffs. “Mom, at least let me help you cook. I’m so bored.”
Izuku isn’t allowed to use the internet for the next couple of days, for his own sake. The Mighty Agency’s PR team is carefully monitoring the ongoing media storm and they promised to alert him and Yagi-san if anything big happened. Well, anything bigger than having your secret identity exposed to the entire world, that is. Izuku has finished his homework a week in advance, read every book he owns, and played so much Pokemon he’s started dreaming in battle sequences. Bored is an understatement.
Izuku can’t wait to go back to school.
r/IAmA
↑↓ 32.1k
Posted by u/fuj1muraxxx
I am a former classmate of Deku (Midoriya Izuku). Ask me anything.
Proof: i.imgur.com/wLMawjU
That’s a scan from our third year junior high yearbook. Midoriya is the one circled in red and I’m the one in the row below him, with the horns. We also went to the same elementary school and grew up down the street from each other. We were pretty close, but we fell out of touch when we started high school and now I know why.
Edit: Thank you for all the questions! I’m doing this mostly for fun but a couple people said they’d like to give tips so my cashapp is ¥fuj1mura1 and my venmo is @fuj1mura1.
Comments
↑↓ heroharmonicaguitar 3.2k points
What was Deku like as a kid? Did you always know he was going to be a hero?
↑↓ fuj1muraxxx 🎤 1.9k points
Oh, definitely. I always knew there was something special about Midoriya. He was real quiet in class and never used his quirk, but I knew he would be great. He was really smart and a really nice guy, too. Sometimes I would forget my homework and he’d give me his and take the fall for me! Our teachers never liked him very much though, no idea why.
↑↓ dewberry 2.1k points
Did you ever see All Might picking him up or dropping him off? There’s a lot of rumors that he’s All Might’s kid.
↑↓ fuj1muraxxx 🎤 1.3k points
No, it was pretty widely known around school that Midoriya didn’t have a dad. A couple kids (not me!) used to pick on him about it. I never saw All Might, but now that I think about it, maybe the absent father rumor was started by Midoriya as a way to protect All Might’s identity.
↑↓ peetstakeda 1.8k points
Was Deku popular? You said you were pretty close friends, did it ever seem like he was hiding something or being fake? Everyone who’s met him says he’s so nice but idk I have a hard time believing someone with such a powerful quirk really is that nice.
↑↓ fuj1muraxxx 🎤 4.5k points
Honestly, yeah, I could always tell something was a little off with him. He never spoke much in class and didn’t really have any friends (except for me, of course). I actually can’t remember seeing him smile even once, so all the reports of people saying he’s always smiling and laughing on patrol are kinda suspicious to me. He has a mask as part of his hero costume, so I have no idea why people say he smiles so much since you can’t even see his mouth.
↑↓ mtladyslad 1.2k points
Dude, don’t you think it’s kinda fucked up to be sharing your friend’s private life and information on the internet? Like, did you get Deku’s permission to start talking about his childhood like this? Deku himself never gives interviews so it seems kinda sus that you’re suddenly showing up with all this info that no one can confirm or fact check.
↑↓ fuj1muraxxx 🎤 932 points
What’s your problem? Obviously what I’m saying is true, didn’t you see the proof at the start of my post? I’ve known Midoriya since we were kids, why would I lie about anything??
↑↓ mtladyslad 4.6k points
IDK man it’s just weird that you plugged your cashapp and venmo because “people said they’d like to give tips” when I just scrolled through all the replies and literally no one mentioned tips or money at all.
I don’t know Deku personally, but I work in downtown Musutafu and since he’s been patrolling with All Might, I and everyone around me feel so much safer. My coworkers all talk about seeing Deku on their lunch breaks and someone always has a friend-of-a-friend who got to talk to the kid. He seems like a good guy and I don’t think it’s right for you to be talking about him on the internet without his permission, especially with how the tabloids have been dragging his name through the mud.
View entire discussion (5.6k Comments)
Izuku’s first day back is a thousand times more nerve-racking than his actual first day at UA was, including those two minutes that Izuku thought he would be expelled.
UA’s entrance gate was clear of paparazzi, thanks to Hound Dog and Ectoplasm standing guard. That didn’t stop the media from parking their vans up and down the road leading to UA, but thankfully no one paid attention to Yagi-san’s beat up Toyota Prius pulling into the staff lot. As soon as Izuku stepped foot in the halls, the whispers started.
He spends the morning right up until the bell hiding in the staff lounge with Yagi-san. The teachers let him be, some of them giving him encouraging smiles or sympathetic pats on the head. Midnight sneaks him some breakfast from the cafeteria, courtesy of Lunch Rush. Aizawa, with his leg still in a cast and his arm bandaged up, gives him a silent nod of acknowledgement before he leaves the lounge early to start prepping for the day.
Then it’s five minutes before the bell rings and Izuku needs to leave the safety and comfort of the staff room to brave the UA halls.
“What if they all hate me?”
“Why do you think they’d hate you, my boy?”
“I don’t know,” Izuku says, shrugging his shoulders and fiddling with his backpack straps. “My brain just feels like everyone might hate me.”
“I don’t hate you,” Yagi-san says patiently. “Your mother doesn’t hate you. Aizawa-san doesn’t hate you. That’s already three people. Your classmates don’t hate you, Izuku. Everything will be okay, trust me.”
It’s the “trust me” that gets Izuku going, trudging down the halls like he’s going to his own execution. He pauses right outside 1-A’s unnecessarily large door. He takes a deep breath to steady himself.
Yagi-san doesn’t hate him. Uraraka doesn’t hate him. Todoroki and Iida and Tokoyami and Shinsou–– though he’s not behind the door–– they all don’t hate him. He takes another deep breath and squares his shoulders. Then he pushes the door open.
Immediately, the room goes silent. Nineteen pairs of eyes blink at him.
Silence.
“Um!” Izuku squeaks. He quickly backs out and closes the door behind him.
Maybe he can do independent studies for the rest of his time at UA. Maybe he can change his name and transfer to hero school in another country. Izuku hears South Korea has a great program in Seoul, and his mom is already fluent in Korean. Really, it wouldn’t be so hard to––
“Midoriya, wait!”
Kirishima pulls the door back open. He gives Izuku a friendly smile, dimples popping out as he gestures for Izuku to enter the classroom. “Don’t go, dude. Class is about to start.”
Izuku reluctantly follows Kirishima back into the classroom. His classmates continue to stare awkwardly back at him. Izuku looks to Aizawa for help, but he’s currently buried in his sleeping bag. Izuku shuffles his feet awkwardly, not knowing if he should introduce himself. Reintroduce himself? Is it weirder to say something or weirder to pretend like nothing’s wrong? Why are they all just staring at him?
“For fuck’s sake, just fucking sit down, Deku!” Bakugou growls.
It’s like a dam breaks. Suddenly, the room is an explosion of sounds.
“Dude, are you okay?”
“I’m so sorry we didn’t get there sooner, Midoriya!”
“Do you want us to call you Deku? Or Midoriya?”
“The news said you had to fight alone for 28 minutes, is that true?”
Aizawa lets out a groan from inside his sleeping bag. He unzips the thing, pulling himself from its warm confines and glaring at the class. Even with all the bandages, his glare is scary. Izuku’s little bunny doodle on his cast does nothing to soften his image.
“Alright, let’s get this out of the way before class starts. Midoriya, would you like to introduce yourself?”
“I-I’m still just Midoriya Izuku!” Izuku says, waving his hands in front of him. “Um, I’m also, uh, Deku? But please don’t treat me any differently! W-We’re all here to learn so, uh, p-plus ultra?”
“Bro, with all due respect,” Kirishima says, “I can’t do that. You almost died for us, that means I’m ride or die for you now. Sorry, I don’t make the rules.”
“Yeah!” Hagakure chimes in. “Your plan worked perfectly, Midoriya. We were able to get out and get help. I’m sorry for doubting you.”
“Dark Shadow and I were willing to raise the forces of darkness for you before we were aware of your hero alter ego. Rest assured, nothing has changed in our eyes. You have our fealty.”
“T-That’s kind of intense, but thanks Tokoyami-kun,” Izuku says. “R-Really, guys. It’s not a big deal.”
“Kiri was right. I think he speaks for all of us––”
“No the fuck he doesn’t!”
“–– all of us,” Mina continues, glaring at Bakugou, “when he says that he’s ride or die for you. If anyone gives you trouble, you come to us alright?”
“I just did what anyone else would––”
“What do you mean ‘what anyone else would do?’” Ojiro asks incredulously. “You got stabbed.”
“The first time I met Midoriya, he broke all the bones in his arm for me,” Todoroki adds quietly from the back of the room. “I think self-sacrifice is just part of how he makes friends.”
Silence again. Then, chaos.
“Quiet down!”
Aizawa activates his quirk, hair floating up and eyes glowing red. Everyone immediately shuts up and sits down.
“All of you will respect Midoriya’s privacy and keep any questions you have for him contained to freetime in between classes, got it?” Aizawa asks, still glaring. “If I hear about anyone bothering him, there will be consequences. Am I clear?”
“Yes, sensei!”
“Good. Midoriya, you can take your seat. Today, we’re going over hero agency tax forms.”
After that initial outburst, the rest of the morning passes fairly uneventfully. He answers a couple of questions in between classes but for the most part, everyone seems to have taken the news surprisingly well. Maybe it’s because they’ve had a week to process or maybe they’ve all been desensitized by being taught by multiple Pro Heroes. Either way, Izuku is grateful that his classmates are being so cool about it.
The worst of it comes at lunch.
Izuku, thanks to his classmates’ endless kindness, has managed to forget that the rest of the world has their eyes on him. As soon as he steps out of the classroom, the whispering starts up. He barely makes it down the hall, Uraraka and Todoroki flanking him, before someone stops them.
“Deku!” A blonde girl with bright red glasses steps in front of him. “Hello, I’m Kishi Mitsuko, third year business student! I’ve been analyzing your social media statistics––”
“My what?”
“––And decided to offer my services to you. I’m a fantastic PR manager, and I think––”
“Don’t listen to Mitsuko, she ranked 11th in midterms,” comes another voice, this time a tall boy with bright blue hair. “Name’s Iwamoto! If you’re looking for PR, I’m your guy!”
“Deku!” Another student says, coming right up to Izuku. “Is it true that you’re looking for potential support item designers? I have some work that––”
Izuku’s breath starts coming faster. He’s overwhelmed.
“Deku, is it true that you’re duel enrolled at Shiketsu? That’s so crazy because my cousin actually––”
“Hey, do you think you could get an autograph from All Might?”
“Oh, Izuku, right? Are you––?”
“Back up!” Todoroki snaps, stepping protectively in front of Izuku. Izuku clings to the back of his blazer. “Give him some space.”
“Hey, let’s go back to the classroom,” Uraraka says, gently taking Izuku’s elbow. “Aizawa-sensei eats in there, he won’t let anyone bother us.”
Izuku nods, still feeling a little panicked. They hurry back to class, shutting the door behind them.
“Is everything alright?”
Todoroki and Uraraka look upset, and Izuku’s sure he’s not exactly the picture of calm either. Yaoyorozu and Iida, who had stayed back to help Aizawa with something, both come over to the three of them.
“What happened?” Yaoyorozu asks. Iida peers through the window in the door, grimacing at what he says.
“It appears a crowd has formed,” he says. “This is a fire hazard.”
“They were harassing Midoriya!” Uraraka huffs. “Let me out there, I’ll teach them a lesson!”
“I know you weren’t threatening physical violence on other students, right Uraraka?” Aizawa says. He’s at his desk, a whole pile of nutritional jelly pouches in front of him. At least four are empty.
“But, sensei––!”
“I’ll handle it.” Aizawa rises from his chair, snagging the capture scarf that was draped across the back. He grabs his crutches and makes his way to the door, which Iida opens for him.
“Don’t loiter in the halls.”
That, plus his quirk activation, has the crowd scattering pretty quickly. Izuku slumps in relief, melting into the nearest desk.
After that, Izuku starts eating lunch in the classroom. It’s not so different from middle school, really–– except now he has friends to eat with and a teacher that doesn’t openly despise him. Word of Izuku’s mobbing spreads to the rest of class 1-A, who close ranks around him. Izuku now gets a minimum of two classmates escorting him places between classes, something he thought was just coincidence until he caught Uraraka planning out shifts.
“We formed a Deku Protection Squad,” she explains to him patiently. Today, they’ve decided to switch it up and eat lunch in Present Mic’s classroom, along with most of the class. “We’re working out shifts for next week right now.”
The notebook in front of her is color-coded and adorned with stickers. It puts Izuku’s hero notes to shame.
“Dark Shadow and I are proud members of this noble squadron,” Tokoyami says. “Uraraka, please put us down for next Thursday.”
“You and Todoroki have a monopoly on Thursdays. Leave some Midoriya time for the rest of us!”
“Guys,” Izuku protests, blushing, “that’s really not necessary.”
“On the contrary,” Iida chimes in, “Midoriya-kun, as your best friend––”
“Hey! Todoroki and I are right here!”
“As one of your best friends,” Iida amends, “and as your class representative, it is my duty to ensure you feel safe at school! If others continue to give you trouble, you can come to me and we will deal with them accordingly!”
Izuku smiles brightly, touched. His friends care so much, in their own dorky and overprotective way.
He doesn’t have the heart to tell them that some whispers in the hallways are nothing compared to what people are saying about him online.
HAT: Hero Analysis Tokyo @HATmagazine • 3h
Ebb and other quirk suppressing drugs on the rise. Ebb related overdose deaths now outnumber opioid-involved overdose deaths in three major prefectures. Full article: bit.ly/kxuY7
12.4k retweets 1.3k quote retweets 20.5k likes
TED Talks @TEDTalks • 1h
The Quirk Singularity: valid theory or pure speculation? Dr. Shimizu uses Intern Deku’s display of strength as a current example of how quirk evolutions may be reaching a breaking point. Watch her talk at @univkyoto here: t.ted.com/skS9q1
32.7k retweets 5.4k quote retweets 87k likes
NIH @NIH • 9h
Is the Volatile Quirk Counseling program doing more harm than good? Why transformation quirked young adults in the 13-25 age group are 3 times more likely to develop an Ebb addiction than their emitter and mutant counterparts: bit.ly/Ijs8Ys
2.4k retweets 60 quote retweets 10.3k likes
New Tokyo Heroics @newtyoheroicsmag • 3d
OP ED: Justified? Or excessive use of force? Here’s why Deku and others with destructive quirks should be regulated, and how the street drug Ebb can help with that. bit.ly/kIshj92S
462 retweets 2.4k quote retweets 1.2k likes
Hunter (check pinned) @huntersopinions • 8h
lmfao someone take one for the team and dose deku all might edgeshot etc with some kinda quirk dampener. fuckers are hopping around crumbling pavement and punching so hard they change the weather and im supposed to feel safe???
246 retweets 6.4k quote retweets 983 likes
replying to @huntersopinions
Hunter (check pinned) @huntersopnions • 4h
lol the mighty agency stans found this tweet 🙄 yall need to accept the fact that you stan weapons of mass destruction. deku on trigger could level an entire city. you just dont see the threat because all you dumbass fangirls think he’s cute
8 retweets 34 likes
replying to @huntersopinions
Moriyama | they/them @moriyamausagi • 2h
How tf do you not see why tweeting about drugging a teenager against his will is a shitty thing to do? Deku is a teenager in hero school ofc he’s still learning to use his quirk. Also, congratulations on managing to slide in some casual misogyny at the end there, asshole.
483 retweets 1.2k likes
replying to @huntersopinions
Korra (honeymoon lockdown ❤️) @satokorra • 1h
Not to mention that Ebb is the most addictive street drug among teens right now. You’re really advocating for a 15 y/o to start taking drugs just so you can feel a bit better about yourself? What next, eugenics? Are you gonna start arguing we should be genetically editing volatile quirks out of the population?
964 retweets 3.5k likes
“Um, Yagi-san? Can I talk to you about something?”
“Of course, my boy!” Yagi-san is seated at their kitchen table, papers littering the surface as he works out next week's lesson plan. Midnight had taken him under her wing and helped him learn the basics of being a good teacher. It’s done wonders.
“Um, it’s kind of… uh, well. Here.” Izuku places an envelope in front of him.
Yagi-san blinks down at it.
“What’s this?”
“My hair,” Izuku says. “Well–– actually only hair follicles contain DNA, so I put some nail clippings in too. I think the best way would be to give you a sample of my blood, but I think that would have to be refrigerated? I’m not sure how passing One for All works, but these are the easiest way to pass on my DNA I think.”
Yagi-san sits quietly, not looking away from the envelope. His face is shadowed, bangs falling limply in front of his eyes.
“Izuku. Why would you give this to me.”
Izuku pauses. Yagi-san is upset? Izuku upset him?
“It’s, you know….”
“I do not know. Please explain it to me.”
“It’s for–– In case I don’t make it. One day.”
Yagi-san is very quiet and very still. Izuku rushes to explain himself.
“The USJ was a close call. A really close call. And I was thinking about what Nedzu said about how they’ve had my name this whole time and I just–– it’s for emergencies. If I think it’s over I’ll just will it to you and t-then maybe when you eat the hair it’ll transfer back to you and you can––”
“No,” Yagi-san says softly.
“N-No?”
Yagi-san slides the envelope back towards Izuku. When he looks up there are tears in his eyes.
“I’m not taking this, Izuku.”
Yagi-san is crying. Izuku made Yagi-san cry.
“B-But what about One for All?” Izuku’s brow furrows. “If I die––”
“If you die, One for All will be the least of my worries,” Yagi-san interrupts. He heaves out a shaky sigh, his eyes looking even more sunken than usual, his sharp cheekbones casting an even harsher shadow on his face.
Izuku frowns. “I-I know, but I still think you should take it. Just in case. All for One is still out there, right? At least this way you could take it back and find a new––”
“I have made myself very clear, I won’t be finding a new successor, Izuku. One for All is your quirk now. Either you will find your own successor when the time comes, or it will die with you. I refuse to–– I can’t even imagine a world in which you’re not–– please. Don’t make me take this.”
Izuku steps back, leaving the envelope on the table. He doesn’t understand why Yagi-san is so upset. It’s not like Izuku is planning on getting taken down by villains, but, well–– it’s a logical safety measure to take. Izuku is sitting on a quirk that may be the only solution to defeating a 200-year-old supervillain. A quirk that has gone through 8 other people. It makes sense to have insurance, right? A back up plan?
Right? Then why is Yagi-san looking at him like Izuku kicked a puppy?
“Sorry,” Izuku says, though he’s not sure what he’s apologizing for, just that he’s upset Yagi-san and he feels bad about it. “I–– Sorry.”
Izuku turns on his heel and runs. Like a coward.
Izuku doesn’t even bother trying to slip away quietly or head to the roof. Since the media storm isn’t dying down, the police have been taking shifts watching their new apartment. It’s unlikely that the press would ever get the address, but after the UA security breach no one wants to take any chances. Izuku steps out of the building and makes a beeline for the squad car parked across the street, getting into the passenger seat. Tsukauchi blinks at the sudden angsty teenager in his car, surprised.
“Everything okay, kid?”
“Yeah, just––” Izuku sighs heavily, slumping back in the seat. “I just needed some alone time, but I figured you wouldn’t let me just wander off by myself.”
“No,” Tsukauchi agrees, “that would make me a pretty bad police escort.”
Izuku sighs again, wishing he could just melt right into the upholstery. The two of them sit quietly for a while, watching the few cars that pass. The street that they moved to is relatively busy during the day, but right now it’s empty. Downtown Musutafu is quiet this time of night. Finally, Tsukauchi breaks the silence.
“Wanna talk about it?”
“No,” Izuku answers automatically. Then, he thinks about it. “Actually, yes. You know Yagi-san pretty well, right?”
Tsukauchi chuckles. “You could say that. He’s my oldest friend.”
“Do you know why he’s… like this?”
Tsukauchi raises an eyebrow. “Like what?”
“I upset him,” Izuku admits, “but I don’t know why.”
Izuku tells Tsukauchi about the conversation with Yagi-san. Tsukauchi must be a great interrogator, because his face doesn’t give away anything when he’s listening. He just sits quietly, humming occasionally to let Izuku know he’s listening. Tsukauchi has full knowledge of One for All and All for One, so he should understand Izuku’s way of thinking. When Izuku finishes, Tsukauchi sighs heavily.
“Midoriya, I’m going to tell you something. Toshinori was an awful driver.”
Izuku frowns. “That’s not true. Yagi-san is the best driver I know.”
“I said ‘was.’ Past tense. You wanna know why he’s so good now?”
“Why?”
“Everyday for a month he made me teach him lessons on how to drive better. For hours we would drive loops around the neighborhood, practicing braking softly and getting him into the habit of always checking his blind spots. He was so determined to be a safer driver.”
“O-Oh.”
Tsukauchi chuckles. “I was ready to strangle him by the second week. For the number one hero, he’s surprisingly clumsy. But he’s nothing if not determined. Pretty soon he was driving steady enough for me to write in the car. Do you wanna know why he wanted to learn to drive safely so bad?”
Izuku makes a curious noise. Tsukauchi smiles softly at him, reaching over to ruffle his hair.
“He told me it was because the special quirkless doctor you needed to see was too far from the train stations. He said he was going to offer to drive you and your mom to your appointments, but he wanted to be a safer driver since you would be in the car.”
Izuku sits back, shocked.
“I had to stop him from buying one of those ‘baby on board’ stickers for his car. He kept insisting that it would make the drivers around him more cautious.”
“B-But… that… I––” Izuku tears up. “That was before One for All. I was 10 when I needed to see the specialist.”
“Yeah,” Tsukauchi says softly. “I know.”
They sit quietly while Izuku absorbs that information. The lengths that Yagi-san went through to make sure Izuku was safe and comfortable on his way to his doctor’s appointments. It’s just one of a million things that Yagi-san has done for him over the years.
“Look, kid. I’m not Toshinori. I don’t know what goes on in his head, but I’ve known him for a very long time and I can say with absolute certainty that he adores you and your mother. He would do anything for you two. You’re like a son to him, Midoriya. Can you see why talking like you’re gonna die soon would upset him?”
Izuku nods guiltily.
“Toshinori’s the type of person that loves with his entire heart,” Tsukauchi continues. “He’s been set on giving you One for All for years. As far as any of us are concerned, it’s your quirk now. I’m pretty sure Toshinori would never want it back.”
“Y-Yeah, he said that.” Izuku frowns, twisting his hands in his lap. “I messed up, didn’t I?”
“You did, but that’s okay. You’re a kid and Toshinori has never been a dad before. I’m pretty sure the both of you are still figuring things out.”
“D-Dad?!”
Tsukauchi snorts. “Toshinori has been trying to adopt you for years.”
Izuku, without missing a beat, says, “Bold of you to assume he’s adopting me when clearly my mom and I have been adopting him since I was like 9.”
Tsukauchi laughs, loud and hearty. The sound bounces around the car, spilling out into the night through the cracked windows. Izuku smiles. Tsukauchi always looks so tired, he’s glad he can see him relax for once. The detective always seems to be working on something. Which reminds Izuku––
“Uh, one more thing?”
“No, Toshinori and I never dated.”
“What?! No, that wasn’t my question!” Izuku squeaks.
“I know, kid, I’m just messing with you. What did you want to tell me?”
“I was talking about the attack with my therapist and I realized something,” Izuku says. “Or, well–– I remembered something. At the time, I didn’t think much about it, but looking back…. Have you found any connection between the League of Villains and All for One?”
“All for One and the League?”
“A couple of times they–– Kurogiri and Shigaraki–– they would say things about a ‘Sensei’ and taking interesting quirks. Could it be All for One? The possibility of another villain out there that can take quirks is low, right?”
Tsukauchi frowns. “Right. I’ll talk to Toshinori about it. The official investigation hasn’t found any connections to any known villains, but obviously no one there knows about All for One except me. I’ll look into it.”
Izuku nods. “Thanks, Detective.”
“You can thank me by going back inside and apologizing to Toshinori. He’s worried sick. My phone’s been buzzing in my pocket for the past five minutes, so get up there before he worries himself to death, alright?”
“Alright!” Izuku jumps out of the car. “Thanks again for the talk!”
Apologizing to Yagi-san is easier than Izuku thought it would be. They sit down and talk well into the night.
When Yagi-san drives them to school the next day, Izuku makes sure to compliment his driving.
To: [email protected] & [email protected] & [email protected] & 29 others
From: [email protected]
Subject: Regarding Midoriya Izuku
Staff and Faculty,
As I’m sure many of you have seen, recently a former student of our institution has been outed as the Hero Intern Deku, an intern at All Might’s Mighty Agency. Many of you have emailed me expressing concern, as several members of the press have tried to contact Midoriya’s former teachers for statements. Today’s staff meeting will be dedicated to addressing what to do and what not to do if you are cornered by the media, as well as voting on the final budget for next semester.
I would like to gently remind everyone of what a fantastic student Midoriya was and how positively this situation reflects on our school. Already, the district is asking me about bringing in funding to host a possible alumnus talk with Midoriya. I know being under the country’s scrutiny can be stressful, but please consider the positive impact the situation can have on our budget.
Remember: Midoriya was a beloved student of our fine institution!
Lastly, I’ve attached some fun digital banners for you all. Feel free to print them and hang them up around your classrooms, or attach them to your teaching profile online. We are the school that raised Deku, be proud!
Go Cougars!
Principal Otsuka
Principal, Aldera Junior High
0185-402219
Ext. +231
Izuku’s first week back at school after the USJ incident ends with Aizawa reminding everyone that the Sports Festival is coming up.
The rest of the class expresses their concern about this. It’s in two weeks. That’s 14 days to prepare, 14 days to work through their trauma from the USJ, 14 days to figure out how they want to present themselves to the world.
“Midoriya, dude, I love you, but you’re kind of making this hard for us,” Kaminari says.
“Huh?”
“Yeah, don’t get me wrong!” Hagakure adds. “It’s super cool to have you in our class and I’d literally drop kick––”
“What did I say about threatening violence against other students?”
“–– I’d literally lightly poke anyone who gave you trouble, but you gotta admit, having Deku as our competition for the Sports Festival is super unfair!”
“How am I supposed to stand out?” Kaminari moans. “You’re literally me, but way stronger and green! I can’t compete!”
“I bet Midoriya could kick all our asses one-handed and without using his quirk.” Mina mimes punching the air in front of her. “Remember the quirk apprehension test? It’ll be that, but televised.”
Izuku flushes. He’s never gotten so much praise before, even if it is mostly in the form of complaining about him stealing the spotlight.
“You guys don’t have to worry about me,” Izuku speaks up. “I’m not competing.”
“What?!”
Bakugou whips around in his seat, glaring back at Izuku with the intensity of a thousand fiery suns. “And why the fuck not, Deku?!”
“M-My agency doesn’t think I should subject myself to even more media attention. I can’t even go into work regularly anymore. I need to sneak in through the roof.”
“Aw, but I was looking forward to fighting you,” Uraraka pouts.
“Yeah,” Kirishima chimes in. “It won’t be the same without you, Midobro! It’s our first big school event as a class.”
Izuku sighs. “I really wanted to participate, too. Sorry guys.”
Kaminari shoots Izuku a sympathetic look. “Okay, I know I was just complaining a minute ago, but it sucks that you can’t compete with us.”
“It would have been an honor to be upstaged by you, mon ami.”
“Yeah, sorry Midoriya.”
Izuku shrugs. “We can always spar in class. Plus, I’ll still be there cheering you on, so try your best, okay? You can do it!”
Oh, wow. He really is living up to the whole ‘dekiru’ thing, even out of costume.
The rest of homeroom is spent going over different strategies for the Sports Festival. Aizawa splits the class into groups based on the kind of impression they want to make. He tells them that his first class, a couple years ago, had a pair of twins in it. Being identical, the twins had the exact same quirk, but one wanted to be a combat hero and the other was more interested in underground heroics. They applied their quirks in different strategies and ended up getting offers from completely different agencies. The point is that the strategy they use to show off their quirks will affect what agency offers they get.
Since Izuku isn’t participating, Aizawa makes him teacher’s assistant for the day. He flits about, answering any questions his classmates have about his own experience in the Pro Hero world so far.
“Hey, Midoriya,” Sero calls out to him, “can you come over here? We wanna ask you something.”
“Sure! Give me a second!” Izuku finishes signing his answer to Koda’s question about stray animals in urban fights before bounding over to Sero’s group. “What’s up?”
“What’s the fastest you’ve ever taken down a villain?” Mina asks excitedly.
“Huh? Um, what does this have to do with the festival?”
“Nothing,” Kaminari admits, “we were just curious.”
“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to,” Yaoyorozu says kindly. “Please don’t feel pressured.”
“Oh, no! I don’t mind.” Izuku hums as he thinks, the group watching with bated breath. It’s the group interested in receiving offers from combat hero agencies, the largest of the groups. Everyone but Bakugou seems to be hanging off Izuku’s words.
“Okay, from the time I engaged the villain to the time I had them cuffed? Well, there was the Japan Post Bank robbery back in November, although All Might did most of the work on that one so–– oh, I guess if we’re only counting solo takedowns then my fight with Ghost Mole–– ah, but now that I think about it….”
“Six seconds,” Izuku says finally, nodding as he thinks back to his fight with Professor Accident. “Yeah, six seconds, but to be fair he was mid evil monologue and I had the element of surprise.”
Kirishima lets out a low whistle and the entire group seems impressed. Bakugou scoffs. Ojiro and Sero mouth ‘six seconds’ at each other.
“Wow, Midoriya’s kinda scary,” Sero says.
Izuku squeaks.
“Yeah, dude,” Kaminari adds. “I mean, at first you were intimidating because you are a recommended student, but now you’re intimidating because you’re Deku.”
Bakugou’s eye twitches.
“I-Intimidating? Me? I’m not intimidating!”
Izuku is about as intimidating as a baby bunny. The other day Uraraka said he had Disney Princess energy because of his tendency to pick up strays and make them lifelong friends.
“Dude, you took down three villains in under thirty minutes like a week ago.”
Oh. Yes. Izuku did do that.
“It’s only because I got a headstart with training,” Izuku excuses. “I’m sure all of you will be at the same level pretty soon! UA’s training is intense and everybody’s been working so hard!”
Kaminari collapses face-first onto his desk, moaning, “And you’re so nice, too! Leave some positive traits for the rest of us!”
“It’s the truth! Actually, you could probably win against me now,” Izuku insists. “You said the other day that your max with your quirk is 1.3 million volts, right Kaminari-kun? Well, a dry human body will die at 10,000 volts, less if they’re wet or if they have a quirk that makes them less resistant to electric current. If you carried around a water gun you could probably take down a lot of people before short-circuiting your brain.”
Absolute silence.
“Midoriya,” Aizawa sighs from his desk, “please don’t give your classmates tips for murder.”
“Sorry, sensei.”
“Holy shit, dude, remind me to never get on your bad side,” Kirishima says to Kaminari.
“Ooh, do my quirk next, Midoriya!” Mineta butts in, waving his arms in front of Izuku’s face. “I gotta know the best ways to protect these delicate ladies, heh.”
Bakugou glares. “My mom could kill you six different ways with just her thumbs. Any of the girls here could kick your ass. Ponytail over there is basically God.”
“C’mon, every woman needs a man in shining armor.”
“Respect women or perish, grape fucker!”
Japan Trends
1 • Trending
#UAIsCancelledParty
Trending with UAIncident, Deku
2 • Trending
#UAUnited
Trending with #StandWithStudents, Deku
3 • Trending
UA Sports Festival
Trending with UAIncident, Deku Livestream
Ams (he/him) @wishywashystan • 30m
bruh cant believe UA just announced that they’re STILL going through with the sports fest next month?? like after everyones been calling them out for not protecting their students?? seems pretty unfair to deku that his trauma is just brushed aside like that but whatever we all know how much ¥¥¥ they make from tickets 🙄
2.3k retweets 4 quote retweets 5k likes
Work slows down to the point where the agency decides it’s not worth the effort of Izuku coming in everyday just to hide in his office doing paperwork. All Might still patrols, of course, but Izuku has been instructed to stay home until after the Sports Festival. Then PR will decide if the buzz surrounding Izuku’s identity has died down enough for him to be able to safely patrol as Deku without people yelling his civilian name at him on the streets.
Izuku still shows up to Shinsou’s training sessions, even if Aizawa half-heartedly complains about seeing him so much. Shinsou seems to relax once he finds out he won’t be competing against Izuku in the Sports Festival. Izuku thinks Shinsou would win. He’s very good at catching Izuku with his quirk. The other day, all he had to say was some slightly incorrect All Might fact and Izuku rushed to correct him.
“How do you do it?” Shinsou asks.
They’re both flat on their backs on the training mats, panting after a long spar. Izuku’s shins feel tender, no doubt bruised, and his ankle throbs a little from when he landed wrong doing a flip over Shinsou’s head. He’ll probably ask Todoroki to ice it for him the next day. Perks of being best friends with a walking hot/cold pack.
“Do what?” Izuku asks absently, silently cataloguing everywhere else he hurts. Shinsou has really improved since they started. He got in a couple hits to Izuku’s ribs.
“The whole,” Shinsou rolls to face him, propping himself up on an elbow, “you know. The whole charismatic, sparkly-eyed, goody-two-shoes hero student thing.”
Izuku barks out a startled laugh.
“You think I’m a goody-two-shoes?”
“You’re extremely wholesome,” Shinsou says flatly.
“Shinsou, I’ve been arrested thirty-seven times.”
Shinsou blinks slowly. “Bullshit.”
“Nope!” Izuku responds cheerfully. “I can get you my police file if you’d like! I am, legally, a troublemaker and vigilante. Never got charged though, thanks to quirkless discrimination.”
Shinsou huffs. “That–– okay, then that makes the whole Deku image thing even more impressive. Aizawa-sensei said I have to start thinking about what kind of hero I want to present myself as, at the Sports Festival. Like if I wanna be a mysterious underground hero or if I wanna be more flashy or whatever.”
“Oh, that’s why you’re asking?”
“Mhmm.”
“Well,” Izuku says slowly, sitting up and pulling his legs in to cross in front of him. Shinsou mirrors his pose. “To be honest, I didn’t really get a say on my public image. I wasn’t planning on debuting as Deku until at least after high school. The choice was kind of taken from me.”
Shinsou tilts his head to the side. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, when my provisional license got leaked the media just kind of created a narrative for me. I was barely fourteen so I just got slapped with the young, plucky sidekick stereotype. I think part of it was also how shy I am when reporters corner me, but most of my public persona was just what people thought I was like.”
“Part of it is you, though, right? I know you, Midoriya. You really are Japan’s sweetheart.”
Izuku blushes, burying his face in his hands. “That’s–– I’m not––!”
“See, there it is,” Shinsou chuckles. “It’s kind of inspirational, honestly.”
“R-Really?” Izuku looks up at Shinsou hopefully. “You really think so? Honestly, I was kind of scared you’d want to stop training with me after you found out about the whole Deku thing.”
“What? Why would you think that?” Shinsou asks incredulously.
“I thought maybe the whole Pro Hero Intern image would be shattered and you’d be disappointed that Deku is actually just plain, old Midoriya Izuku.”
“But I like plain, old Midoriya Izuku.”
“Huh?”
Shinsou glares. “I wasn’t training with Deku, I was training with Midoriya. My friend. I don’t know what illusion you thought would be shattered when I found out, but I can assure you: I’ve always known you were a massive dork.”
“Shinsou!” Izuku laughs softly, feeling misty-eyed.
“Oh no, you don’t,” Shinsou says, standing. “Don’t cry. I’ve reached my quota of emotional friendship moments for the rest of the year. If you start crying I will get up and leave.”
“We had a moment!” Izuku protests. He latches onto Shinsou’s leg. “You can’t leave!”
Shinsou batts him away, but sits back down. Aizawa wanders over from where he was in the corner, grading papers while he kept an eye on them.
“Everything okay?”
“Just taking a break!” Izuku leans back on his palms, looking up at Aizawa.
“I think I decided how I want to present myself at the festival,” Shinsou says. “Midoriya helped me figure it out. I want to be an underground hero, like you. My quirk works best when no one knows about it anyway.”
Aizawa nods, capture scarf twirling in the air absentmindedly. “Good choice. It might be hard keeping your quirk underwraps while also doing enough to catch the other teachers’ attention.”
Shinsou grimaces. “I know. I need to be just flashy enough that I can get into the hero course without also broadcasting what my quirk works. Ugh. You sure you don’t wanna participate in the festival, Midoriya? It would make my life a whole lot easier if everyone was focussed on you.”
“Nope! I’m good,” Izuku says with absolutely zero sympathy. “No way am I giving the media anymore footage of me. My elementary school photos are floating around somehow, can you believe it? And the other day I saw an article claiming my mom and I are part of the mafia!”
Aizawa frowns. “You should sue them for libel.”
“My agency is taking care of all the rumors.” Izuku sighs. “I just wish–– it’s one thing to go after me and All Might, since we’re technically public figures. I just wish they’d leave my mom out of it.”
“They’re writing about your mom, too? Those vultures,” Shinsou says.
“I hate them,” Izuku says, arms crossed as he pouts at the ground. “I want to send them a box of spiders by mail order.”
“Jesus, Midoriya!”
Shinsou cackles, clutching his stomach as he curls up in laughter. Aizawa lets out an amused snort.
“You can’t mail spiders to people you don’t like, Problem Child,” he says. He covers up the lower half of his face with his scarf, but Izuku is almost positive he’s smiling.
“They’re talking badly about my mom!” Izuku says, throwing his hands up. “Hero Star Magazine wrote a whole article calling her a failed pre-med drop out! That’s not true! She was a pre-med major at university until she met my dad and he convinced her to drop out to have me. They have no idea how hard it was for her.”
“Your mom was nice when I met her at the hospital,” Shinsou says. “It really sucks that they’re saying that about her.”
Izuku sighs. “Aizawa-sensei, you always talk about hating the media. How do you handle it?”
“I don’t. I hide and let Hizashi deal with them.”
“Hizashi?”
“My— Present Mic, I mean.”
Izuku and Shinsou exchange a look.
“Your Present Mic,” Shinsou drawls, “got it.”
“Not a word, brats.” Aizawa glares down at them. “Come on, break time’s over. Five more rounds.”
“Five?” they groan, but they get to their feet anyway. Aizawa observes them for a couple more minutes before he makes his way back to his corner to continue with the papers.
“You know,” Izuku says, dodging a punch, “you and Aizawa-sensei remind me a lot of me and All Might. Just more… sarcasm.”
Shinsou ducks Izuku’s roundhouse. “You and All Might. The two that the entire internet is making dad memes about?”
“Um, yes? He’s not my dad though, but like… I wish he was you know?”
“Oh, mood.”
From over Shinsou’s shoulder, Izuku see’s Aizawa’s head whip towards the two of them. He turns away quickly, but Izuku catches the edge of a fond smile on his face.
honeyfrogss reblogged blanketwizard
nightmights
@ hero fan artists: if you’re going to draw deku please don’t draw his face. his identity was revealed against his will and the least we can do as all might and deku stans is not spread his image around even more. i just saw a post spreading pictures from his middle school yearbook around as “reference” for artists, do you not see how that’s an invasion of his privacy??
amplifiersimp9000
lol whats the use in policing fan artists when his face is literally plastered on every newspaper in the country (and in other countries, apparently deku has a big fanbase in america who knew)
like yeah it sucks but deku is a public figure. if he didn’t want to deal with the media then maybe he shouldn’t have become a hero just saying
3,156 notes
#deku discourse #hero fandom #i mean i get what op is saying but like cmon now #he knew what he was signing up for when he became an intern #how is it different from drawing fan art of a child actor or smthn #plus hes adorable look at his squishy lil cheeks
The day after the Sports Festival is announced is chaos.
Izuku still eats lunch in the classroom, but by now so do most of the students of 1-A. A few of them will dash to the cafeteria to get food from Lunch Rush before the lines get long, then make their way back to class. The benefit of everyone knowing he’s All Might’s intern is that Yagi-san doesn’t need to sneak Izuku his lunch anymore. Now, he just shows up in the 1-A doorway in full All Might form, carrying Izuku’s bento.
“Glad we now know why Midoriya is All Might’s favorite,” Jiro comments once All Might leaves, Aizawa going with him to talk about staff stuff. “Do you guys bring matching lunches on patrol too?”
“W-What? I’m not his favorite!”
Kaminari rolls his eyes, giving Izuku a teasing smile. “Dude, he literally slips and calls you ‘my boy’ all the time.”
“Yeah, but––”
“So, this is where 1-A hides every day!”
All the conversation in the room halts. They all turn to look at the door, where a small crowd of students stand. For a second, Izuku thinks they’re there for him, but then the blond at the front of the mob starts to speak again.
“What? Isolating yourselves because you’re too good to grace the rest of us with your presence?” he asks sarcastically.
“Too good? What?” Kirishima stands, putting himself in front of Izuku. “Look, if this is about Midoriya––”
“Of course you would bring up your star student! Just can’t go three seconds without bragging about being the class with Deku in it, huh?”
“What, no. We just don’t want any of you harassing him,” Mina takes a stand next to Kirishima. “Who are you anyway?”
“Oh obviously 1-A couldn’t be bothered to acknowledge anyone outside their little circle! I’m Monoma, from class 1-B.”
Ah. Suddenly, Tokage and Honenuki’s texts in the recommended students group chat about a “smug bastard” in their class make total sense.
“Okay, and? What are all of you doing here?”
Bakugou–– perhaps annoyed at no longer being the only blond asshole in the room–– speaks up. “They’re here to scout out the competition for the Sports Festival. Doesn’t matter. I’m gonna beat all of you extras.”
Izuku winces as the crowd protests at being called “extras.” Leave it to Bakugou to escalate an already tense situation.
“You think because your class faced off against a bunch of villains that you’re better than us?”
“No, I think I’m better than you because I am.”
“Bakubro, cool it! Seriously!” Kirishima waves his hands, trying to ease the tension. “He doesn’t mean that.”
“Yeah, I fuckin’ do.”
Monoma laughs, high and grating. “Bold of you to say when we all know who the real competition is. I look forward to beating you in the festival, Deku.”
“I’m not competing,” Izuku says, “and my name is Midoriya.”
“Not competing?”
A murmur ripples through the crowd. Izuku tries his best not to make eye contact with any of them.
“What, too good for a silly little school festival, Deku?” Monoma sneers. “I guess it makes sense. Wouldn’t want to show how weak class 1-A is without their star student.”
That pushes it over the line for Izuku.
“They’re not weak,” he snaps.
“Oh, come on. We all know no one would be paying attention to your class if it wasn’t for you. I must admit, it’s very noble of you to step down for their sake. Maybe 1-A isn’t completely full of egomaniacs.”
“Hey dude, tone it down a little,” another student says. He’s pretty much entirely silver.
Monoma, predictably, does not tone it down.
“The rest of you are general studies, right?” Monoma addresses the crowd behind him. “Not to worry, with how subpar the students of 1-A are, I’m sure a spot will open up for you to join the hero course.”
“Hey, we’re not subpar!”
“Quit saying all that. You don’t even know us.”
“You have no idea what we went through.”
That last comment is from Uraraka, who Izuku knows still has nightmares about Thirteen’s injuries. Izuku’s protectiveness flares up.
“Everyone here is trying their hardest,” Izuku says, standing up. “So, don’t underestimate them.”
“It looks like the only one underestimating them is you. Why else would you take yourself out of the competition?”
“Fine! I will compete!” Izuku declares. “I’ll show you and everyone else that my classmates are just as powerful as I am. Watch yourselves. We won’t go easy on you.”
Monoma’s grin stretches across his entire face. Izuku feels like he maybe just fell into a trap.
“Excellent! See you then. Try not to feel too bad when the entire world realizes how superior class 1-B is.”
Monoma stalks off. Shinsou steps up to the empty space he left, watching him walk off.
“What a dick,” he says drily. Then he focuses on Izuku, smirking. “Well. Consider this my declaration of war.”
Izuku, still on the adrenaline high of standing up against Monoma, smirks back. “Yeah?”
“I’m gonna wipe the floor with you, Energizer Bunny.”
“Energizer Bunny?”
Shinsou gives him a condescending smile. “Small, electricity aesthetic, rabbit themed, bounces everywhere. Annoying.”
“Hey! I’m not annoying!”
“Dude!” Kirishima steps up to Shinsou. “Leave Midoriya alone.”
“Oh, no! No wait, it’s cool!” Izuku scrambles to put himself between Shinsou and Kirishima. “No, it’s fine! Shinsou’s a friend. Friendly teasing, that’s all.”
“Oh.” Kirishima stands down, rubbing the back of his neck and laughing awkwardly. “Sorry, man. Monoma had me a little defensive. I’m Kirishima!”
Shinsou looks at the hand Kirishima is offering and pointedly does not take it.
“I’m Midoriya’s friend, not anyone else’s. As far as I’m concerned, you’re all just obstacles.”
And with that, Shinsou turns on his heel and leaves, shouldering through the crowd with his impressive height. Izuku rolls his eyes. What a drama queen.
“Don’t worry, he’s actually really nice once you get to know him,” Izuku says to Kirishima.
Kirishima frowns, lowering his hand. “I’ll just have to take your word on it.”
It’s not until Izuku’s in Yagi-san’s car on the way home that his words catch up to him.
Did he just declare to most of the first year classes that he’d be competing in the Sports Festival? After agreeing with his agency that he wouldn’t?
Crap. Well, at least Izuku’s manager has a soft spot for him. Maybe if he brings brownies and begs for mercy he won’t be banished to desk duty hell for the rest of the year.
Notes:
Happy New Year <3 A couple things:
• Chapter title is from PRIDE. by Kendrick Lamar
• denki could absolutely destroy anyone in 1-a how are we not talking about this more
• I’m actually not sure how accurate those voltages are since 1) despite all the physics i had to take i still do not understand current and voltage and 2) i only did the bare minimum of research. Feel free to correct me in the comments if you know better and I’ll be sure to fix it!
• This chapter was going to be longer but I got half way through my outline and then panicked because it was already almost 20k so I'm splitting it! Next chapter might not be next week since school is starting again :D
• I'm xyloophones on tumblr and @_xylophones on twitter!
Chapter 8: The blinking lights are breaking bones
Summary:
Obara Masa @riseeeandgrind • 2h
yo why is half my timeline posting videos of deku fighting set to kpop songs
432 retweets 2 quote retweets 873 likes
Notes:
Just a quick warning in case you missed the tag update: there's a description of a panic attack in this chapter. If you wanna skip it, it starts at "Izuku snaps." and ends at "Toshinori sits across from him..."
There's also mentions of suicide baiting and bullying, starting at r/AITA and ending after the line break.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
“We’re pushing back the Sports Festival.”
As soon as Aizawa announces that at the start of class on Friday, the class breaks into murmurs.
“Sensei! May I inquire as to why the school has decided to move the date of the Sports Festival? Surely, this interferes with the curriculum. As stated in the syllabus, next week we are starting the unit on––”
“Iida, please,” Aizawa says, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Believe me, I know. We’re moving it because we need more time to plan out the events. Originally, the final round of the festival was a bracket of one-on-one fights between the final 16 competitors. We thought that given the USJ attack, making you all fight each other in a gladiator style battle on national television was a bit insensitive.”
Izuku winces. Yeah, when you put it like that it sounds really bad.
“Which reminds me,” Aizawa continues. “It’s been brought to my attention that none of you are taking advantage of the free counseling offered by Hound Dog. I can’t force all of you to go to therapy, but I would like to strongly encourage you to at least explore what Hound Dog is offering. We haven’t gotten to the mental health unit yet, but as working Pro Heroes you will be given mandatory psych evals every quarter or so.”
“Who needs therapy,” Mineta mutters. “No way the ladies would want a man who needs to cry about his feelings to some stranger.”
“I go to therapy,” Izuku says loudly, turning in his seat to give Mineta a disappointed look. “I meet with a professional provided by my agency. There’s nothing wrong with going to therapy.”
“Therapy is badass, dipshit,” Bakugou says, also turning around and narrowing his eyes at Mineta. “You’re really getting on my fuckin’ nerves, Ball Boy. Check yourself.”
“Everyone can benefit from therapy,” Aizawa says loudly, pointedly ignoring Bakugou’s thinly veiled threats toward Mineta. “If you’re not comfortable talking with Hound Dog, then you can request another staff member. With the exception of All Might and a couple other student teachers, all the staff here are certified to provide counseling. Come talk to me after class if you’re interested in signing up for a counseling slot.”
Uraraka raises her hand.
“Uh, Aizawa-sensei?”
“Yes?”
“Does the Sports Festival moving back mean that our internship week is also moved back? I already requested the time off from work.”
“The internship week will happen at the same time, you’ll just have less time after the Festival to decide on your offers. Anything else?”
No one raises a hand.
“Okay. Let me worry about the curriculum. All this means for all of you is that you have an extra week to train, so use it wisely.”
A whole extra week. This actually works out perfectly for Izuku, considering the email he received yesterday.
Hawks finally got in contact.
His email was surprisingly straightforward. Hawks isn’t exactly known for being the most serious hero. He’s notoriously laid-back and affable, almost to the point of being childish. In the interviews Izuku has seen with him–– and there are a lot, Hawks is in the public eye more than even Endeavor–– he always seems so cool. So effortlessly funny and charming. Izuku wasn’t expecting such a serious email.
He didn’t actually say much in his email. Just inquired on Izuku’s availability for a sort of half-internship while he was in Musutafu for Commission business. Nothing about why exactly he was in Musutafu or what he wanted to train Izuku in. He didn’t even give Izuku a concrete schedule or expectations list, just told him to tell All Might to send the inter-agency internship paperwork to his official Commission email. Izuku’s mom always said that smart people know how to say a lot while giving away very little, and Izuku thinks that Hawks must be a very, very smart man.
He can’t wait to meet him.
During the rest of Aizawa’s lecture, Izuku discreetly pulls out his work folder from his backpack and takes out the paperwork. He changes the dates on a couple of the lines and then tucks it away again. Then, after class, Izuku stops in front of Aizawa’s desk, nervously clutching at his backpack straps.
“Um, sensei? I’d like to request the rest of this week off?”
(Behind him, in the doorway, Katsuki pauses.)
Izuku reaches into his folder–– All Might branded, of course–– and pulls up the leave of absence paperwork that he prepared. He was originally going to wait until after the Sports Festival, but since they have a whole extra week he might as well request leave now. Aizawa looks up at Izuku, eye bags heavy. Then he looks back down to the papers Izuku has presented him. He blinks slowly.
“Do I even want to know why?” he sighs.
Izuku fidgets. “Um, yes. Probably? Was that… a rhetorical question?”
“It was. Okay, Problem Child, let’s hear it. Why do you think you should get to skip this week’s training when all your other classmates are working hard?”
Izuku winces.
“I’m n-not requesting a full leave, just to be dismissed after lunch every day. It’s for, um–– I have a t-training internship opportunity. With, um, Hawks.”
(Katsuki’s blood boils. One of the extras following him around–– yellow, sparky, uh… fuckin’ Kamimura? Whatever, fuckin’ Pikachu–– chokes on his own spit.)
“You want to skip school to train with Hawks,” Aizawa says flatly. “You want to skip class to train for a high school sports tournament with the number three hero.”
Izuku nods, blushing bright red. By now, most of the class is not-so-subtly listening in from the doorway.
Aizawa looks through the paperwork. “And why can’t you do this during internship week?”
Izuku gets even more self-conscious. He can feel 1-A’s stares on the back of his neck.
“B-Because I promised Miruko I’d train with her during that week, so.”
Bakugou literally explodes.
“Oh, come on!” Kaminari exclaims, throwing his hands in the air. “Hawks? And Miruko? It doesn’t matter what offers I get during the Sports Festival, I literally can’t compete!”
Aizawa pointedly ignores them. He picks up a pen and signs the paperwork.
“I trust you to know your limits and tell someone if you want to come back to class,” Aizawa says, handing him the paperwork back. “I’ll let Shinsou know you won’t be at training. And I want daily reports, Problem Child. You can send them to my hero email address, it should be in your agency’s database.”
“You got it, sensei!” Izuku says, curls bouncing as he vigorously nods.
“Hey,” Aizawa says before Izuku can turn away, “I mean it, brat. Don’t overwork yourself. And you’re still attending homeroom, so I fully expect you to have all of your assignments completed.”
“Of course!”
“Alright, go. Get that to Nedzu by today and he can get it processed before Monday.”
“Right!”
Nedzu accepts and processes the paperwork with no complaints. He asks Izuku to remind his mom of Nedzu’s standing job offer, but honestly, Izuku has no intention of doing that. Inko has made it very clear how she feels about potentially working for UA, and there’s no way she’s forgotten about Nedzu’s offer either. If she wanted to work for UA, she’d contact them.
After visiting Nedzu, Izuku meets Yagi at the Mighty Agency. The media are still staking out the entrances, but they’ve taken to trying to at least be subtle about it. As if the number one hero agency wouldn’t be able to spot a couple reporters in amateur disguises ducking into bushes and aiming camera lenses at the front door. Izuku and Yagi just sneak in through the roof. Izuku has gotten very good at not scuffing up the bricks in the alleyways he bounces up to get to the rooftop. He’s very proud of himself.
“Why are you in costume?”
Izuku stops, having just exited the locker room, one glove half on.
“Uh,” Izuku very pointedly looks anywhere but at Katayama, who’s standing in front of him with her arms crossed and a frown tugging at her lips. “H-Hi, Katayama-san. I-Isn’t today my first day back on patrol?”
“And you were just going to leave before talking to me?”
Izuku winces.
Katayama Mizuki is Izuku’s manager— or in her words, Deku’s manager, since Izuku the person is a force of nature that cannot be managed.
“I saw the Hawks paperwork,” Katayama says, “and it’s already been approved. But, I thought I made it clear that I wanted to brief you on your media appearance before you started patrolling again. Is that incorrect?”
“No, Katayama-san,” Izuku replies, chastised. Katayama is never wrong.
She sighs, removing her glasses so she can pinch the bridge of her nose. She softens slightly, tilting her head slightly to the left and turning on her heel to indicate Izuku should follow her. He trails after her into her office like a lost puppy.
“I just don’t want you to be blindsided if a member of the press catches you during patrol,” Katayama says patiently. Her office is pretty similar to Izuku’s in that it’s practically wallpapered with All Might posters. She has limited edition figures lined up neatly along her bookshelf. There’s not a corner of the office that isn’t All Might themed. Even her smart button-up shirt has a subtle All Might signature grin pattern. She’s as much of a fan as Izuku is. It was one of the things that connected them instantly, when Yagi took her off his own management team to manage Izuku.
“I know, I just––” Izuku hesitates, lips twisting down into a pout.
“It’s like if you don’t look at it, it doesn’t exist, right?”
Izuku nods.
“I know, Midoriya. But you really need to at least get the basics of what people are saying about you, so you know how to respond. Don’t put all that media training to waste.”
Katayama picks her tablet off her desk, the back covered in various hero stickers. She unlocks it and hands it to Izuku.
“I already compiled some of the more popular opinions and theories about you, all you have to do is read through it and then you can leave for patrol.” She lets out a soft sigh. “I’m warning you, it’s not all nice.”
Izuku nods, trusting her to only give him the truth. She’s not the type to try to sugarcoat things for him, despite his age. It helps that she’s only a couple years out of UA’s business course herself. Between the two of them, they bring down the average age of the agency by a good 15 years.
So, Izuku starts scrolling.
And immediately stops.
Thirty minutes later, Izuku is still drying his tears, slumped over in one of Katayama’s chairs and feeling so emotionally exhausted he might start crying again.
“Why would they say that about me?” he asks again, for about the millionth time.
“They don’t know you,” Katayama comforts. All Might has just left the room to go get Izuku some water, so she steps into the comforting parental role temporarily. “Hate gets more engagement, especially on twitter. But there were some good ones in there, right?”
Izuku nods. A couple kind people had shared their stories about Izuku protecting them from debris, or treating their minor wounds. But if he’s being honest, Izuku can’t remember a single one of the nice posts. All he can think about is someone with an All Might profile picture calling Izuku a “coat-tail riding, green goblin, broccoli ass motherfucker.”
Well. Points for creativity, at least.
That wasn’t even the worst one. There was one with a scarily high number of likes outlining a theory about Izuku and his mom being gold diggers who were guilting All Might into training him under the guise that Izuku was his secret kid. If only they knew about how Inko doesn’t even take Yagi’s grocery money sometimes.
“I know it’s awful,” Katayama says. She hesitantly pats the top of Izuku’s head–– which, for her, might as well be a full bear hug. “I’m sorry. You need to know what you’re up against, though.”
“Do you really think they’d ask me stuff like this to my face?”
Katayama’s mouth presses into a thin line. “Yes.”
“Not with me around.”
All Might reappears, cold water bottle in hand. He hands it to Izuku and then cards a hand through his curls, humming in a low, soothing way that he picked up from Inko years ago. There was another tweet in the compilation about All Might being a doting father. At least someone on twitter was right about something.
“What if they start saying this stuff about you?”
“My boy, I have thirty years of media experience. I am also 7 feet tall. If need be, you can just hide behind me like you did when we first started our patrols together!”
All Might’s teasing works. Izuku snorts, spirit lifting a little.
“I did not hide behind you.”
“You certainly did! Several times, if my memory is correct. For example, after our battle with Croc King in Shibuya––”
“Okay! Okay, maybe I do hide sometimes. Rarely.” Izuku sighs, rolling his shoulders and shaking his arms out. “Alright, I’m over it. I grew up glued to my phone screen. A little internet drama can’t hurt me.”
They all pointedly ignore the fact that it did hurt him. Quite a lot.
“Can I go on patrol now?” Izuku asks Katayama. She nods.
“Avoid the press if you can, but if you can’t don’t comment on anything. We’re still working on the official agency statement.”
“Got it.”
‘Let’s get going, shall we, young Deku? You wanted to test out your new gloves in combat, did you not?”
Ah, Izuku almost forgot about those.
“Yeah! Let’s go!”
David Shield made Izuku new gloves. After frantically making sure Izuku and Yagi were okay and nearly booking tickets from I-Island to Japan, of course. While Izuku recovered in the hospital, David studied the stream footage from the USJ and completely redesigned his gloves. He said that Izuku needed some ranged attacks, something more precise than just blindly flicking his fingers and hoping the air blast hit something. His new gloves let him aim his blasts more accurately and, more importantly, they’re strong enough to withstand 15% of One for All. David is also working on some kind of net launching system from the knuckles, in case Izuku doesn’t have access to cuffs again.
The stress of the USJ incident unlocked something in Izuku. While he’s never been able to go up to 15% again without risk of fracturing his already mangled arms, he has gotten close. Besides, 13% is plenty powerful already.
Izuku’s really excited to test them out on patrol today, but he’s absolutely thrilled to use them on Monday with Hawks. Hawks can teach him so much about aiming in midair and aerial maneuvers and the like.
(That endless fall at the USJ changed something in Izuku. He promised himself he’d never feel that helpless again.)
SIJ News Live @SIJNewsOfficial • 5h
Looks like nothing can hold Hero Intern Deku down! Deku and All Might were spotted in blocks 12, 7, and 3 today. Images via @SIJ_photog
[News shots of Deku and All Might arresting a villain. In the first picture, Deku’s face mask is lowered and he’s speaking to All Might. In the second picture, Deku is waving at the camera shyly and smiling.]
5.7k retweets 32 quote retweets 14.8k likes
stay hydrated @hirayama_hotaka02 • 12h
Deku got a costume upgrade. The blasts from those gloves look nasty, I’d hate to be a villain in his way RIP just can’t believe that instead of removing him from the intern program to keep him safe, Mighty Agency has decided to give Deku more weapons how fun
1.4k retweets 694 quote retweets 3.7k likes
349 replies
replying to @hirayama_hotaka02
only fans link in bio <3 @bbygirlhours • 8h
Dude of course he needs to step up his gear. He has pretty much every villain in the country after him. Can you imagine the ransom you could ask for if you kidnapped All Might’s intern?? Deku needs to be able to protect himself
1.2k retweets 6.3k likes
replying to @bbygirlhours
stay hydrated @hirayama_hotaka02 • 7h
That makes no fuckin’ sense like if they were so worried about his safety wouldn’t the smartest thing be to hide him? Like fuck his hero career this kid almost died if I were him I’d be laying low
392 retweets 978 likes
deku simp | like pinned for fb @bunnyboideku • 17h
the way midoriya always says sorry after a reporter/fan stops him and all he can say is no comment 🥺🥺 poor kiddo i wonder if he actually wants to talk to fans but his agency is stopping him
2.3k retweets 276 quote retweets 6k likes
56 replies
replying to @bunnyboideku
Noriko | stream ms joke’s album @emikomarryme • 13h
Hot take: he’s probably annoyed that people keep getting in his way while he’s trying to do his JOB. It’s not cute that he has to apologize so much, it’s just him being polite because if he says anything even slightly negative the media will tear him apart
842 retweets 1.2k likes
Hawks fanclub president @herohawks32 • 1h
literally unfollow me if you think its okay to use deku’s real name when talking about him. just because you call hawks keigo to fulfill your weirdass fantasies of being close friends with him doesn’t mean its ok to call deku his name when it was revealed against his will
1.7k retweets 251 quote retweets 6.5k likes
deku noticed me !! @dekusimp02 • 12h
OMGKSJF deku flirted with me during his patrol today??? he stopped a robbery at the cafe i was studying at and afterwards he was checking up on me and smiling so much and then he asked for my number??? im about to be mrs. midoriya yall
2.4k retweets 3.3k quote retweets 2.1k likes
4,829 replies
replying to @dekusimp02
stan talent stan midnight @kayamaswife • 8h
lmaoooo you wanna be y/n so bad 😂 save your self insert fanfics for wattpad theres no fuckin way deku, a 15 year old on patrol with his superhero father, was trying to pick up girls today PLEASE HAHASKL fake
5.3k retweets 12.9k likes
Obara Masa @riseeeandgrind • 2h
yo why is half my timeline posting videos of deku fighting set to kpop songs
432 retweets 2 quote retweets 873 likes
13 replies
replying to @riseeeandgrind
dekuwu @mightyagencystans • 1h
its called a fancam lol
[Video of Deku taking down a robber with Dynamite by BTS playing in the background]
899 retweets 1.4k likes
Izuku loves living with Yagi.
There are a lot of reasons Izuku loves living with him, but the biggest one is probably that Izuku never feels lonely anymore. Even when Yagi lived on the floor below them and would visit often, Izuku would find himself alone for large chunks of time while he waited for his mom to come home from work. He never really noticed it until he became with his training schedule, and then his internship shifts–– but still a large portion of Izuku’s day was spent quietly studying in his apartment, alone.
There’s nothing wrong with being alone, but being home with Yagi is definitely better.
It’s a lazy Sunday afternoon, one of the days that neither of them need to patrol or be anywhere but home. Izuku’s mom is at work and Yagi and Izuku are in the kitchen, trying and failing to start on dinner so it’s ready by the time she gets home. They’re mostly messing around, to be honest.
“Can you teach me any American recipes, Yagi-san?”
Yagi chuckles. “Izuku, I can barely operate a microwave. Although, David did teach me how to make American style pancakes once. They’re not as fluffy as ours but––”
Izuku lights up. “Teach me! Please!”
“I really can’t. We don’t even have the mix….”
“Please, Yagi-san!” Izuku whines, not above being childish at this point. “Please!”
Izuku crowds up against him, pleading with his eyes.
“Stop with the puppy dog eyes! And how many times do I have to ask you to drop the honorific, my boy?” Yagi asks, playfully ruffling Izuku’s hair. “It’s been years.”
“What am I supposed to call you instead? Dad?” Izuku fires back without thinking.
They both freeze.
“T-That’s–– I didn’t mean––”
“O-Of course not–– not unless you didn’t want––”
“––but you are like family to me, Y-Yagi-san––”
“––right, but your biological father––”
“––Wouldn’t care,” Inko interrupts.
Izuku and Yagi startle as Inko sweeps into the room. Izuku didn’t even hear the door open. She’s still in her nursing scrubs, looking exhausted after a long day at the hospital. She gives Izuku a quick hug and pats Yagi’s shoulder as she passes them on her way to the fridge. The two of them trail after her, awkwardly avoiding each others’ eyes.
“I-I didn’t mean to imply that you and I….” Yagi trails off uncomfortably.
“I know, Toshi,” Inko says, definitely teasing. She opens the fridge and pulls out their carton of orange juice, chugging it in one go without blinking.
“You are a part of this family. The two of us have been raising Izuku together for a long time, if we’re being honest. You’ve certainly done more than Izuku’s father ever did. Who cares about heteronormative traditional family units or whatever role-of-men-in-the-household bullshit the rest of the world is doing?”
Izuku, who has never heard his mom curse, gasps.
“You protect my son. You’re there for him, emotionally, when he needs you. You support me and my work schedule. The three of us––” Inko smiles tightly, her eyes a little shiny. “The three of us have certainly been through a lot together, haven’t we? And we’re still functioning. What’s that if not a family?”
Yagi wraps Inko up in a hug, his tall, spindly body folding protectively around her. After a moment, he reaches out blindly and pulls Izuku into the hug, bundling the Midoriyas up in his arms like they’re something precious. Like they’re something to be protected. Izuku grips back just as tight.
“Family,” Yagi repeats. “I… I am very glad I happened to move into your building, of all the ones in Musutafu, all those years ago.”
“I like to think we would’ve found you,” Inko says. It’s muffled into Yagi’s shoulder, but they both hear her clearly. “At the very least, Izuku has a tendency to find the biggest problem and insert himself into the situation.”
“Are you calling me a trouble-maker?”
“Honey, do I have to bring up your multiple counts of almost-vigilantism?”
“Point taken.”
Yagi–– Toshinori–– chuckles.
The three of them stand in the kitchen hugging for a long time. Their apartment is on the top floor of their building, of course. Only the penthouse would do for All Might and his family. The excess space took some adjusting, but one thing Izuku definitely doesn’t mind is the view. Over his mother’s shoulder he can see out the window in the kitchen as the sun sets, blazing brilliantly over Musutafu. The golden hour light kisses the rooftops, bouncing off windows and illuminating the city that Izuku would give his life for. His heart swells at the sight and he closes his eyes, tilting his face towards the light like a sunflower.
“Are you hungry, Inko? You must be tired after work, let me start on dinner.”
“I’m way too tired to clean up the mess you’ll make in the kitchen, Toshi. Let Izuku handle this one.”
Izuku preens, glad his cooking skills have developed enough for his mom to trust him with dinner by himself. He sticks his tongue out teasingly at Toshinori before turning to start dinner.
“How was work?”
Inko and Toshinori settle on seats at the kitchen island to watch Izuku cook.
Inko groans, burying her head in her hands.
“That bad?” Toshinori asks.
“Today a patient called me ‘Mrs. Deku’s Mom.’”
Izuku winces. “Yikes.”
“Don’t even get me started on my coworkers. It’s like they’ve all forgotten that I’ve known most of them since nursing school!” Inko’s brow furrows, face pulling into a frown. “My boss even asked if I could get you or All Might into the hospital to give a speech or something.”
“I would not mind visiting your hospital,” Toshinori says. “Perhaps we can––”
“That’s not the point, Toshi. The point is they’ve turned me into your manager! Do you know how weird it is to get patients asking for me to get them my son’s autograph?”
Izuku almost drops a knife. “P-People want my autograph?!”
Inko gives him a pitying look. “Honey, people are asking me for your baby pictures.”
Izuku squeaks. “W-What?! Why would they––?!”
“Doesn’t matter, it’s invasive! As if I’d sell out my son’s pictures like that.” Inko huffs.
“Well, you could always take Nedzu’s offer up,” Toshinori offers. “He’s been quite persistent. He asks me about your well being quite frequently.”
“I know. I’m… considering it.”
This time Izuku really does drop the knife. “What? But last time you said you’d never work for him. You told me not to ask you about it again!”
“Well,” Inko sniffs, “maybe I changed my mind.”
“This is fantastic!” Toshinori says, clapping his hands together. “We can carpool in the mornings!”
“Slow down, I said I was considering it.”
“We all know you’ve already made your mind up, Inko.”
Inko maintains her frown for a couple seconds before breaking into a smile. She laughs softly as she leans her head against Toshinori’s shoulder.
“Yeah, I have.”
Hero Scribe @HeroScribeOfficial • 1h
The Rainy Hero: Spectacular Storm is the latest victim in the Hero Killer: Stain attacks. Stain still at large with police reporting no new leads. Full article: bit.ly/jd8sJ
1.2k retweets 42 quote retweets 4.8k likes
Since Hawks is only in town for a little bit, he’s working out of the Endeavor Agency. Luckily, Hawks and his team get an entire floor to work on, so Izuku doesn’t run into Endeavor himself. Lucky for Endeavor. Izuku’s not sure he could stop himself from tackling the man in a fit of rage, even in full view of the agency’s sidekicks and Hawks. Just knowing that they’re in close proximity makes Izuku’s blood boil.
Hawks is exactly like he seems on TV: bright, bold, incredibly likable. He oozes charisma in the effortless cool-guy way Izuku could only hope to one day achieve. He leads Izuku around the agency like he owns the place–– and with the way the sidekicks and other employees all greet him, he might as well.
“Do you visit the Endeavor Agency often?” Izuku asks after the fifth person calls out a hello to Hawks.
“Hm? No, not really, I just flew in yesterday. Why do you ask?” Hawks gives a group of sidekicks winning smile and finger guns as they pass.
“O-Oh, it just seems like everyone knows you.”
Hawks pauses and gives Izuku a little conspiratory smile over his shoulder, wings twitching like he wants to laugh.
“Being charming is in the job description, kiddo. How do you think I climbed the ranks so fast?”
Hawks waltzes around their assigned floor of the agency, introducing Izuku to the secretaries they’re assigned for the week and showing him the locker rooms. The first hour is spent just making sure all of Izuku’s paperwork went through and watching Hawks somehow develop inside jokes with people he just met five minutes ago. It’s a bit of a whirlwind. Finally, Hawks leads him into one of the conference rooms.
As soon as the doors shut, it’s like a switch is flipped.
Immediately a flock of small feathers detach themselves from his wings and zip around the room, brushing up against walls and disturbing the leaves of potted plants. One even wriggles around on the floor near their shoes.
“Sorry, kiddo, just checking for bugs. Force of habit.”
“You think Endeavor would spy on us?”
“Oh, no, not him.”
Hawks does not elaborate. Instead, he turns towards Izuku and claps his hands together.
“So!” Hawks says, still smiling but looking much more tired than he was a second ago. “Deku! We have a lot to talk about, take a seat.”
“Y-You can just call me Midoriya,” Izuku says, sitting down at the conference table. “Uh, Hawks, sir.”
Hawks wrinkles his nose. “Please don’t call me sir, makes me sound so old.”
“Sorry, sir–– I mean, uh… sorry.”
“Look, I’m gonna level with you, kid,” Hawks says, dropping down into the chair across the table from Izuku. “I’m not here by choice.”
Izuku deflates. “Oh.”
“Not that I didn’t wanna meet you, but I’m technically here on HPSC business.”
Izuku’s blood runs cold.
“But fuck them––”
“I-I’m not joining––”
Izuku stops, blinking at Hawks, who stares back, head cocked to the side. Then he grins, sharp and boyish, and leans back in his chair.
“Well,” Hawks drawls, “this makes things easier. Not a fan of the Commission, huh?”
Izuku gives him a small smile. “You, too, right?”
“I’m going against their orders by even telling you I’m here on orders. I’m gonna tell it to you straight, because I’ve seen you fight and I’ve been following the news. You’re a smart kid. You’re gonna go far, but none of that will matter if you get trapped in the HPSC’s contracts.”
The words are out of Izuku’s mouth before he can think about them. “Like you did?”
Hawks grimaces. “Yeah. Like I did. My contract with them is very… unconventional.”
“S-Sorry, I didn’t mean to––”
“No, you’re right. I want you to listen to me carefully,” Hawks says. All traces of the fun, easy-going Hawks from earlier are gone. He levels his gaze with Izuku.
Izuku gulps.
“I’m breaking my NDA by telling you any of this. They could bury me and my career, that’s not even counting all the employees at my agency that would lose their jobs. You can’t tell anyone about what we’re going to talk about, alright?”
Izuku nods firmly.
“Even All Might.”
Izuku falters.
“I tell All Might almost everything. H-He wouldn’t tell anyone! He knows telling would put me and my mom at risk, and he wouldn’t do that.”
Hawks looks at him for a minute, then sighs heavily. “Alright, fine, but only because I’m pretty sure the HPSC won’t be able to touch All Might without the whole country and half the world starting a riot.”
Yes, and Izuku himself would be leading them.
“I was sent here to gain your trust. The HPSC wants to recruit you, like they did with me, and they thought having a Pro closer to your age would persuade you onto their side. Failing that, they wanted me to spy on you and All Might to look for potential weak spots that they could use to get you to agree.”
Izuku gapes. “I-Isn’t that… like, illegal or something?”
“Yes,” Hawks says.
They stare at each other for a moment.
“So…?”
Hawks sighs. “Remember what I said earlier about my unconventional contract?”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.”
“You’re just, like, allowed to do illegal things?”
“The HPSC are the ones ordering me to do the illegal things,” Hawks says patiently. “I’m not a hero, not really. Not the way you see on the news.”
Izuku objects immediately. “I think you’re still a hero. Even if the Commission is making you do shady things, you’re doing it to save people right? It’s not your fault they trained you when you were younger.”
“You really think so kid?”
“Mhm.” Izuku nods firmly.
Hawks smirks, but it’s different from the one he wears on TV. This one is softer. He looks like any other 22 year old.
“Ah, Rumi was right about you.”
“Rumi?”
“Sorry, Miruko.”
Izuku blushes. Miruko talks about him? To Hawks? If 12-year-old Izuku could see him now he’d have a heart attack.
“Wow, that’s–– I’ve never even met her. Just, um, emails.”
“Yeah, she likes to pretend she doesn’t give a shit about the rest of the hero world but she keeps a pretty close eye on everyone, especially the ones rising through the ranks quickly.”
“I’m not even ranked yet!” Izuku squeaks.
“And yet you caught her attention.” Hawks hums, cocking his head to the side as he taps a finger to his chin. “Maybe it’s the bunny aesthetic.”
Izuku doesn’t actually get to patrol that day. Hawks spends the rest of their internship hours going over his contract with the HPSC and pointing out to Izuku all the ways he could get trapped. Izuku isn’t allowed to take notes, obviously, but he commits it all to memory. Hawks is risking his career and freedom to teach Izuku the inner workings of the HPSC’s hero program. Izuku won’t take that for granted.
“Here’s how it works,” Hawks tells him, papers spread across the conference table in front of them. “Once you get your full Pro license and all that jazz you can either join an existing agency as a sidekick or work through the HPSC. You could also just open up your own agency, but no one does that since you’re pretty much guaranteed to fail right out of school.”
“But you started your agency at 18,” Izuku points out.
“I was a special case. Besides, I didn’t go to hero school, I was trained exclusively by the Commission.”
“Ah, right.”
“So, unless you really make a splash in the UA or Shiketsu Sports Festivals, you most likely won’t get a sidekick offer. Most graduates go through the HPSC for sidekick assignments and then eventually move on or open up their own agencies. And when you go through the HPSC you work for them, not the agency you’re assigned to. You may want to stay on with your agency but if the HPSC doesn’t renew your contact with them, you can’t.
“But I’m guessing you’re taking over the Mighty Agency after graduation, right?”
“T-Taking over?!” Izuku squawks. “N-No, I mean, I’ll probably be a sidekick for a while, so. No. I don’t think so?”
Hawks hums, “Don’t sell yourself short, kid. I think you’ll be in charge a lot sooner than you think. All Might’s not getting any younger, you know?”
Izuku thinks about blood stained tissues and the sound of retching late at night.
“No,” he agrees, “he’s not.”
“Right, so I’m going to teach you how to run the Mighty Agency through loopholes. This part you can take notes on.”
By the time they finish going over a bare bones agency plan the sun has set and the rest of the agency is quiet, everyone else having left hours ago. It’s not a full roadmap to running an agency, but it is a start. There are a couple things Izuku can get started with right away, like slowly shifting a bunch of programs to be under Deku’s name. He’ll go over it with Toshinori next week when he’s back at the Mighty Agency.
Hawks promises him they’ll patrol the next day, before taking a dive out the nearest window and soaring away.
Izuku doesn’t know why he couldn’t just walk out the front door. Is being overly dramatic in the job requirements for being a hero?
(Right before he leaves Endeavor’s agency, Izuku fakes a trip to the bathroom and breaks into Endeavor’s office to move all his furniture 5 centimeters to the left. Izuku also adjusts the temperature down by five degrees, so it’s freezing when Endeavor comes in to work tomorrow.
Is it petty? Yes. But Izuku never claimed to be the bigger person here.)
Ryukyu pick me @dragonhusband • 8h
Just saw Deku literally ignore a robbery in block 13 right in front of me. What a piece of shit, probably didn’t step in because there aren’t any cameras around. Knew he was only in it for the fame, another fuckin pro only in it for fame and cash huh
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replying to @dragonhusband
angel @mightstansunite • 7h
Fake LMAO Deku was spotted leaving the Endeavor agency earlier, probably part of some kind of joint internship program. There are SO MANY paparazzi pics that show he was nowhere near block 13 when you tweeted this. If you’re gonna lie for clout, at least make it believable.
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carpetdeeum reblogged herohoes
mtladysleftbigtoe
why are yall so mean to deku for no reason?? he’s literally just hopping around saving people and he gets so much hate i dont get it. like last week i saw footage of him and all might walking people home?? fuckin superb you funky little bunny boy
X666shadowhero666x
I think the issue most people have with him is that he hid his identity. It feels very disingenuous and makes it hard to trust him. How do we know everything about him isn’t a lie? That whole bouncy, sunshine persona could be fake too.
3,836 notes
#deku discourse #hero discourse #i mean yeah thats mainly what it is for me #like hes basically been lying to us this whole time #i know hes just a kid but still some transparency wouldve been nice
One of the benefits of having your secret identity revealed on national television is that now Izuku can train at school with his quirk and his hero costume.
Trying to train quirkless in front of his classmates did have its upsides–– mainly relating to Izuku’s abilities to modulate his power and use the least amount of force possible–– but it was holding him back. He has so many ideas he wants to try out with his quirk against some of his classmates. He even has some ideas for some combo moves, assuming the others are willing to try. Thankfully, since this whole week is dedicated to training, Izuku will have some time to test out his ideas before he has to leave for his internship.
“... Anyway, I was thinking that if you spread out a webbing in between your arms like a sugar glider, and I threw you hard enough, you could glide and maybe we can turn that into a combo move–– oh, but maybe if you had Sero or Tsuyu on your back it could even work as a–– hm, but that opens us up to the possibility of––”
“Midoriya,” Shoji cuts in gently. He uses one of his arms to hold open the door to the locker room and the other to wave Izuku in. “Those are great ideas, but we need to change into our hero costumes.”
“Ah, right! Sorry, Shoji-kun!” Izuku smiles up at him. The corners of Shoji’s eyes wrinkle, and Izuku knows he’s smiling back under his face mask.
Izuku sets his briefcase down in front of his locker and pops it open. He takes his shirt off so he can start slipping on his compression sleeves when suddenly Kaminari makes a strangled noise.
“Woah, Midoriya! Did you get all those from hero work?”
“Huh?”
Kaminari is staring at Izuku’s bare arms. Izuku follows his gaze down and realizes suddenly just how many scars he’s collected. They criss-cross down his arms in shiny, pale lines–– some jagged from bone breakage and some clean, precise lines from surgery. They don’t usually bother Izuku too much, so he kind of forgot they were there.
“Dude!” Kirishima exclaims, gently whacking the back of Kaminari’s head. “You can’t just ask about people’s scars!”
“Oh shit, you’re right!” Kaminari turns to Izuku with an apologetic look. “I’m sorry, Midoriya! That was really insensitive of me.”
Izuku waves a hand. “It’s fine, don’t worry about it. And, hm, actually I didn’t get most of these from any villain fights. These are all from my quirk.”
Izuku turns away and finishes changing, tugging on the top of his jumpsuit and working his gloves onto his hands. It’s only once he’s fully changed that he realizes how quiet the locker room is. Izuku looks over his shoulder to see the other boys staring at him with wide-eyed horror.
“Those are all from your quirk?” Kirishima asks. “Dude.”
“Well, not all of them.” Izuku shrugs.
“Still, that’s pretty intense. I mean, I got this––” Kirishima points to the small scar over his right eye “–– from when my quirk first activated and I hated my quirk for a while. I bet your quirk was really hard to manage when you were a kid, huh?”
“Yeah, everytime I see you fighting on the news it always looks so intense,” Sero adds. “Can’t imagine what it must have been like when you were younger.”
“Um, well, uh–– actually, um, I was a late bloomer. My quirk only manifested last year.”
There’s a loud bang as the door to the locker room slams shut, Bakugou having just stormed out in a huff.
“Geez, what’s his problem today?” Kaminari asks.
“Anyway!” Izuku squeaks, changing the subject. “The doctors say that the scars will fade over time, and I have pretty good control over my quirk now, so everything is fine!”
“Still,” Todoroki says quietly, patting Izuku’s shoulder gently. “Take care of yourself.”
The boys start to migrate out of the locker room.
“You bear the battle scars of a warrior, Midoirya,” Tokoyami says as he passes him. Dark Shadow slithers out to briefly rub his beak against Izuku’s shoulder, like a cat, before disappearing back into Tokoyami’s cloak.
Izuku, who is now used to Tokoyami’s oddly intense way of expressing friendship, rolls with it. He starts to leave too, when a hand on his elbow stops him. Izuku’s gaze follows the hand up to the owner’s face.
“Aoyama? Is everything alright?”
Aoyama’s usual dazzling grin looks strained as he meets Izuku’s gaze.
“Is all of that true, mon ami?”
“W-What?”
“The things you said about your quirk hurting you? Is that true?”
“Um, yes? Yeah, it’s true. I nearly powderized my arm the first time I used it.”
“I see.” Aoyama smiles at him, but it’s tight lipped and almost cartoonishly tense, a harsh V in the middle of his face. “You are so strong, though. Some of us need… some help.”
Aoyama’s hand drifts down to his support item, a thick metal band that wraps around his waist with a large, blue crystal in the center to focus his laser. It looks incredibly heavy. Izuku has never seen him without it on, or without the lighter version he wears in class under his clothes.
“There’s nothing wrong with relying on a support item, Aoyama-kun,” Izuku says, as gently as he can. Aoyama stares at him intensely.
“It’s a little hard to believe that when it seems like I’m already so far behind our classmates. I can’t take it off for more than ten minutes. If I do, the laser leaks and I can’t control it. It hurts. How can I be a hero like this?”
Izuku worries his lip. Aoyama is usually so sparkly, for lack of a better word. He always seems so confident, so sure of himself. So remarkably, unapologetically him that you don’t even question it.
“I know it’s not the same thing, but look at it this way. If I didn’t take my anxiety meds, I wouldn’t be able to train to be a hero. I’m dependent on them to keep me going. Does that make me weak?”
“Mais, non! Of course not!”
“Same thing with your support item. It keeps your quirk under control. It sucks to be reliant on something, especially when the whole world feels like it’s stacked up against you, but that doesn’t make you weak. If anything, I think it just shows how strong you are Aoyama-kun! I-I know we don’t really know each other that well, but I think you’re really inspiring.”
Izuku flashes him his most dazzling smile.
Aoyama smiles back. “I see. Thank you, I will… try to think about it more like that.”
“What are friends for? And if you ever wanna talk about it–– growing up with a support item, or quirk ableism, or anything like that–– I’m here for you, Aoyama-kun!”
Aoyama’s usual elegant smile is back in full force. “So sweet! No wonder you are the media’s darling. Enjoy the spotlight for now, Deku, because I will be stealing it from you very soon!”
Izuku laughs. “You can have it! I’m not really a spotlight kind of person.”
“Shame, you have the face for it.”
Aoyama flounces out of the locker room while Izuku sputters, blushing so brightly his freckles disappear in the red glow.
Happy Hero Daily @HappyHeroNews • 5h
Aww! Intern Deku was spotted patrolling with Hawks in downtown Musutafu this afternoon! Looks like he’s decided to take Deku under his WING 😂 🦅 Article: bit.ly/MQWj4s
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Ed (dms broken) @ededanded • 3h
ugh deku’s actually associating with the hpsc’s lapdog??? what a traitor to the movement. what happened to “i serve the public” smh
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retweet pinned @karmaisawitch • 2h
Deku is so irresponsible, maybe he SHOULD be on the commission’s leash. That takedown of the ice villain on the news earlier today was so sloppy, really amateur work.
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replying to @karmaisawitch
stomp on me miruko @rumihops • 43m
Dude. He is LITERALLY an intern, of course it’s amateur work. He’s in HIGH SCHOOL you fuckin idiot.
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Arnold @drivermechanic • 6h
?? how can you say he’s NOT a government plant now he’s literally hanging out with the hpsc’s golden boy. deku is obviously a marketing strategy set up by the hpsc to appeal to the younger generation, he’s their new brand ambassador cmon its right there WAKE UP SHEEPLE
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(“All Might’s protege protected the life of a villain even at the cost of his own… perhaps he’s worth keeping around.”)
Izuku’s week of training with Hawks is surprisingly quiet.
They spend most of their time in the Endeavor Agency gym, or practicing aerial maneuvers on the agency’s roof. Patrols are relatively quiet, so quiet that Hawks just ends up dragging Izuku to every chicken joint in Musutafu. It helps that Hawks seems to be able to stop crime before it’s even started. He has sharp senses and it never takes more than a couple of his smaller feathers to restrain someone.
Of course, it’s only once Izuku admits to himself that he’s bored that things go wrong.
It’s their last day of patrol, a Friday. Hawks is set to fly (literally) back to his home city that night. They’re ordering yakitori from a stand on the street during the last hour of their patrol when a commotion down the block grabs their attention.
“Let me go!”
A young person is being thrown out of an office building by security. They struggle as the security guards haul them out, kicking and screaming the whole way.
“You’re gonna regret this!”
“Isn’t that the JAPEX building?” Izuku wonders out loud.
“It’s probably nothing,” Hawks says flippantly, but his eyes are sharp and assessing as they lock onto the scuffle.
“I said,” the person being thrown out roars, “you’re gonna regret this!”
In a burst of steam and hot, musty air, the person erupts. Hawks immediately curls his wings around Izuku and the yakitori stall owner, shielding them from the blast. Izuku peaks through the feathers and sees the person’s skin turn dark green. They completely disappear under layers and layers of rapidly growing vines, their form distorting and expanding rapidly. The security guards stumble away, but one is caught by a vine and dragged towards the mass by the ankle.
The villain roars again, but the words are unintelligible. They continue to expand.
Hawks scoops up both Izuku and the civilian he was protecting and launches into the air, just before the mass of writhing vines takes over the area they were standing. The stall is immediately torn to shreds, wood planks and skewers flying as the vines grow over them.
“I can take care of him!” Izuku says, sliding an arm around the yakitori stall owner’s waist and signalling for Hawks to drop him onto the nearest rooftop. “Focus on evacuating the other civilians!”
Hawks drops them and Izuku activates Full Cowl, his feet barely touching the rooftop before he’s bouncing off, landing farther down the block and gently setting the man down.
“Run,” Izuku tells him. “Call the police. Don’t worry, Endeavor’s agency will pay for a new stall for you.”
Izuku waits for the man to nod before he takes off again.
Between Izuku’s hopping around and Hawks’ feathers, they manage to clear the area around the villain of civilians before anyone else can get absorbed by the plant mass. The people that don’t get picked up by either of them run to the protection of the rapidly forming police line at the end of the block.
“Any more civilians?” Hawks asks, his voice tinny through the comms in Izuku’s headset.
“Just got the last one,” Izuku says. He skids to a halt next to Hawks, who’s standing at the edge of the vines’ territory. “What’s the situation?”
“Some kind of plant growth quirk. They keep expanding.”
As if on cue, the car sized mass of vines shudders. More vines erupt from it and wrap themselves around the form, growing until it’s now the size of an elephant.
Hawks plucks one of his feathers off his wings and crouches, wielding it like a knife as he cuts into the vines at their feet. As soon as they’re severed from the mass, they wither away and die, curling up into sad, limp shreds.
“The villain has a civilian in there. I’ll cut a way through and you can grab––”
Hawks is interrupted as the villain roars and lets out a burst of hot, humid air again. The plant mass goes from being a leafy blob to quadrupling in size, growing upwards until it’s as tall as the buildings around them, lumpy in shape. Hawks and Izuku quickly dance out of the way, just in time for the road underneath them to crumble. The villain is now a small mountain, spanning the entire width of the road with vines digging into the buildings on either side of it and a wide, gaping maw that it uses to speak.
“I will make them pay!”
The JAPEX building has more or less been absorbed into the side of the villain.
“The office workers!”
“Evacuate them, I’ll distract the villain.” Hawks takes off into the air until he’s level with the villain’s mouth. He smirks. “You’re really kale-ing my vibe here, man.”
The villain roars wordlessly.
Izuku leaves Hawks to deal with him and bounces off into the JAPEX building, busting in through a window on the top floor. Hawks sends a fleet of arrows after him to help as Izuku clears the floors one-by-one, the light coming in from the windows getting greener by the minute as more vines wrap around the office building. Izuku gets the last worker out just as the vines squeeze, shattering all the building’s windows and crumpling the top floor like a soda can. The rest of the building follows suit, crumbling into rubble that then gets absorbed by the plant villain.
Thankfully Izuku wasn’t inside. He shudders to think of what Recovery Girl would do to him if he got another building dropped on him.
“Deku, oh my god!” The office worker in his arms gasps, clinging to the front of Izuku’s uniform even as Izuku lands behind the police line, gently setting her on her feet. “You saved me!”
“I-It was nothing, really,” Izuku squeaks. He tries to pry her hands off his suit, but she won’t budge. “U-Um, the paramedics will take care of you now. I need to go help Hawks.”
She releases him. “Right! Sorry!”
Izuku does a quick headcount to double check that all the workers he saw in the building are accounted for before he bounds back over to the fight.
Watching Hawks fight is like watching an artist paint in real time–– because that’s what it is. Art.
The villain is now taller than the surrounding buildings. Hawks is in the thick of it, zipping around at a speed that’s almost too fast for Izuku’s eyes to track. He’s a blur of red motion, cleaving off chunks of plant and severing attacking vines. He tumbles and twists, pulling off moves that wouldn’t be out of place in an acrobatics performance. Swirls right out of an impressionist painting. Chlorophyll splatters on concrete and feathers streak through the air, paint brush strokes against the pale blue sky overhead.
Most of the skirmishes Izuku gets into when on patrol with All Might end quickly. It takes a very specific villain to think they can go toe-to-toe with All Might in all his shining glory, so most villains end up either surrendering immediately or they get caught trying to run. For all his months interning, Izuku has maybe only seen a collective thirty minutes of All Might fighting.
Which makes this the first real Pro Hero fight Izuku gets to see up close.
“Kid, left!”
Izuku darts to the left as Hawks sends a volley of razor sharp feathers past him. They embed themselves into the side of the villain’s mass, bright red against the endless, heaving greenery.
This is nothing like watching a fight from behind the police line, like he would when he was just a quirkless nerd running around stalking hero fights. Those feathers passed by Izuku so closely that it ruffled his hair, but none of them grazed him. Hawks has an insane amount of control over them.
“Hang back,” Hawks tells him over the comms. “I’ll let you know if I need support. Make sure none of the police or civilians get too close.”
“Got it!”
Izuku watches in amazement as Hawks arcs high above him, red wings unfurling out into their full wingspan as he hangs in the air for a moment. He blocks out the sun, backlit edges of his hair and feathers shining blazing red and gold against the afternoon sun. He flashes the villain a cocky grin.
“Come on, man, you couldn’t just let me and my intern get a snack? How cruel.”
“I am Nuska!” the villain roars, whipping a dozen vines out at Hawks, who dodges easily. “You are killing the planet! We must eradicate the human race! People are a disease!”
Ah. JAPEX, the petroleum company. Villain with a nature quirk. Now it all makes sense.
Hawks somersaults in midair, dodging another assault of vines.
“I mean, you’re right! But maybe murder isn’t the solution here, buddy.”
Nuska roars. The green writhing mass of vines that make up their body expands, vines creeping forward and digging into the pavement, cracking it. It absorbs everything in its path, cars and storefront signs all becoming embedded in greenery. Izuku ushers the police line back, keeping an eye on the steadily approaching plants.
Hawks lands on an overturned car, 30 meters in front of Izuku. He looks tiny compared to Nuska, a smudge of red and gold against vast green. He reaches into his wings and pulls out two long, sharp feathers and dual wields them in either hand like swords.
“Get ready, fledgling,” Hawks says over the comms. “There’s about to be a lot of debris, and these vines could be poisonous.”
Izuku powers up Full Cowl, ready to defend.
Hawks jumps, launching himself high up into the air again. Immediately Nuska shoots more vines at him. Hawks uses his feathers to slash at them, another dozen smaller feathers all exploding out of his wings to cut at the vines. Pieces of plant matter fly everywhere, splattering bright toxic green over the surrounding area. Izuku kicks off the ground and ricochets around the fight’s perimeter, kicking larger masses of plants away from the spectating crowd.
“Move back!” he shouts at them.
Nuska trembles and grows again. Izuku quickly bounces up to the rooftop of a nearby building, perching on the edge so he can observe. Something isn’t right here. No matter what Nuska’s quirk is, it doesn’t make sense for them to be able to grow so much plant matter in such little time without some kind of fuel or source. The sun is shining brilliantly down at them, and the back half of their body has burst a fire hydrant, spewing water everywhere. Air is a given. That leaves the only thing they’d need to grow more to be...
Carbon. Where are they getting their carbon to be growing all that organic matter? There isn’t enough carbon dioxide concentrated in the open air to––
There! Nestled against Nuska’s left side is a dense pocket of thorny vines, a lump that wasn’t visible from where Izuku was earlier. Why grow spines around something if you’re not trying to protect it?
“Hawks, on the left! There’s a pocket of protected growth, I think that could be where Nuska’s body is, or at least the source of why they’re growing so fast! Probably the security guard, too!”
Hawks flies up so he’s level with Izuku. He sees the mass, too.
“You got eyes like a hawk, Deku!” Hawks laughs brightly at his own joke and then dives back into the fight.
Nuska twists together hundreds of vines into an arm-like appendage and swings it up to meet him. Hawks twists his upper body, drawing both of his feathers to his right side. Then, he slashes across his body, tucking his wings in so he can spin. He uses the momentum of his dive and the spin to tear down Nuska’s arm, twirling like a deadly top. His feathers absolutely decimate the arm. By the time Hawks has completed his maneuver, it’s in ribbons.
Izuku can practically feel the stars in his eyes right now. Hawks is just so cool.
Hawks gets to the joint where the arm met the rest of the villain’s mountainous mass and digs both blades in. He jumps, using his weight and gravity to carve a deep gouge into its side as he slides down towards the protected growth. Izuku hops down from the building he was on and onto the street. He begins picking up hunks of concrete and launching them at Nuska’s right side to distract them from Hawks.
“Anything?” Izuku presses a hand against his earpiece to try to hear over the deafening howl Nuska lets out as Hawks digs into their flesh.
“Almost, I–– ack!”
An explosion ripples out from Nuska’s left side. Izuku sees Hawks go tumbling head over wings through the air, thrown by the cloud of hot steam that just burst forth.
“Hawks! Are you okay?”
“Shit, a little burned, but I’m okay.”
Hawks stabilizes in the air and then swoops down to land next to Izuku. He sends out a flock of his feathers to hold Nuska back while he takes a breather. His feathers are ruffled, his uniform is covered in plant goo, and the skin on his face is bright red, but he’s otherwise fine.
“There’s a person in there,” Hawks says, panting.
Izuku whips his head around to where Hawks carved an opening into the thorny pocket. From this distance, all he can see is some movement.
“The villain? Or the security guard?”
“Neither. Didn’t look like either of them, and when he saw me he used his quirk to generate all that gas to push me away. He’s working with Nuska.”
Nuska’s mass shifts as it tries to grow move vines to replace the pieces Hawks sliced away.
“I didn’t see JAPEX security dragging anyone else out.”
“He must have been on the street, waiting by the entrance or something. Probably knew things would go south. Okay!”
Hawks lets out a big breath and calls all his feathers back to himself.
“Let me handle this. Keep up communications and continue throwing concrete, it’s a good distraction. Stay close to the ground and––”
Hawks is interrupted as Nuska suddenly twists its girth around so that the thorny opening is facing them. Izuku barely has enough time to tackle Hawks behind an overturned car before a blast of hot air hits them.
Izuku’s visor flashes red. It’s a warning about low levels of oxygen in the air around him. That doesn’t make any sense, they’re outside, how––?”
Another hot blast of air rips through the gaping wound in Nuska’s side, and Izuku’s visor flashes red again. His CO2 levels warning flashes in the corner of his vision.
Oh. Plant quirk, carbon dioxide quirk. Supervillain soulmates.
“It’s carbon dioxide,” Izuku tells Hawks. “The other villain’s quirk. I think he’s feeding Nuska’s quirk, somehow.”
“So, if I take him down––”
“No!” Izuku shouts. He grabs onto the edge of Hawks’ sleeve like a little kid. “Unless you take him down immediately, you could suffocate. You don’t have a respirator, I do. My visor has the levels of CO2 displayed for me. Plus, we still need to worry about Nuska.”
As if on cue, Nuska’s vines spread farther across the concrete, spidering out in thin, green tendrils. The car they’re ducked behind is maybe only 3 meters from the edge of Nuska’s territory.
“I can’t fight Nuska, but I can take down the other villain. Just clear a path for me.”
Hawks watches him for a moment, golden eyes assessing everything about Izuku. Finally, he gives him a nod.
“Be careful. Your dad will kill me if you get hurt.”
Izuku doesn’t even have time to correct him before Hawks is off, another long, sword-like feather dropping into his hand as he charges at Nuska.
“Brace yourself, buddy!” Hawks shouts, slashing through Nuska’s vines. “Thistle be over before you know it!”
Izuku groans, he vaults over the car and follows the path Hawks cleared for him. “Hawks, that was awful.”
“I can’t be-leaf you’re not appreciating my puns! C’mon, kid, lighten up!”
Thanks to Hawks, Izuku now has a clear shot all the way to the thorny pocket containing the other villain. The large gash Hawks cut through the thorns hasn’t closed up, probably since Nuska is using a lot of energy to fight of Hawks. Izuku secures his mask, checks that the emergency supply of air in his backpack is hooked up, and darts in.
The interior of the pocket isn’t any bigger than Izuku’s bedroom. It’s hot and humid and so dark, the only light coming in from the slash Izuku entered through. Izuku’s visor immediately lights up red to let him know the air in here isn’t safe to breathe.
For a second, Izuku thinks the second villain escaped somehow since they’re nowhere to be found. Then, a lump in the corner of the cavity whimpers.
“P-Please, I’m sorry,” the other villain says, “I-I didn’t mean to b-burn the other one, I just got scared.”
Izuku softens immediately. He drops into a crouch, puts his hands up to look as least threatening as possible.
“Hey, it’s going to be alright. I’m here. Can you tell me your name?”
“F-Fischer.”
“Okay, Fischer. Do you know why you’re in here? Did Nuska take you hostage?”
Fisher pops their head up, unfurling a little. “No! N-No, they’re not–– we’re not bad people. We just wanted to teach t-the oil executives a l-lesson.”
“There are better ways to teach people,” Izuku says calmly, even as his visor warns him about his depleting air supply. The emergency supply that his mask is hooked up to was meant for just that: emergencies. David designed it after Izuku had that building dropped on him during training. The mask is hooked up to a small, filtered air tank in the backpack for his medical supplies. The filters were built to catch concrete dust and debris, not prevent carbon dioxide poisoning.
“I think you should come with me. No one needs to get hurt. Did you see someone with a security uniform nearby? I think I saw him get caught up in the vines.”
Fischer nods his head to the side, where another lump lays on the ground. Izuku’s heart sinks. The brain can only go four minutes without oxygen before serious brain damage occurs. More than ten minutes of oxygen deprivation, and they’re definitely dead. The fight has been going on for at least 30 minutes.
“H-He’s okay,” Fischer says. He crawls over to the security guards body and shows Izuku that a cloudy sphere surrounds his head. “I can make and c-control different gases. This one is safe for him to breathe.”
Fischer passes a hand through the cloudy bubble near the officer’s head. It stays in place. Izuku nods and carefully lifts him into his arms, shifting so he can hold him with one arm. He looks at Fischer.
“You can go first, I won’t let you get hurt,” Izuku promises.
Fischer takes a step outside.
In slow motion, Izuku sees Fischer realize just how big Nuska has gotten. He tilts his head up, black hair catching the sunlight as his gaze travels up to the monstrous plant form towering 15 meters above him. Past him, in the background, Izuku can see vines and plant matter go flying as Hawks tears into Nuska’s limbs with deadly efficiency.
“Oh, little one, no,” Fischer whispers. “What happened to you?”
“We need to get behind the police line before we get caught in the crossfire,” Izuku says. Now that they’re out of the makeshift plant cave, Izuku motions for Fischer to put his hands in front of him so that Izuku can fit a pair of quirk suppressing cuffs onto him. As soon as he does, the cloudy bubble disappears from around the unconscious security guard’s head.
“Do you think you can hold on?” Izuku asks Fischer. He may be able to lift almost 4,000 kilograms, but he can't securely hold two grown men on his back, especially two men who are taller than him.
Fischer nods and loops his cuffed hands around Izuku’s neck. As soon as Izuku is sure neither of his passengers are going to fall, he takes off with One for All, dashing across the battlefield. The police are happy to takeover once Izuku stops.
“Hawks, the other villain–– Fischer–– is in police custody, along with the hostage,” Izuku says into his comms.
“Fantastic!” Hawks pants. “Just in thyme, ha! Can I get an assist?”
Izuku powers back up and bounds over to the edge of Nuska’s vines. Hawks has expertly carved away the bulk of their plant body, and without the support from Fischer there’s been no regrowth. Nuska barely stands, swaying in the breeze with large piles of withered vegetation at its feet.
“What do you need?”
“I think Nuska’s human body is up there,” Hawks floats down so Izuku can see where he’s pointing. It’s a human-sized capsule made up of green bark perched precariously at the top of Nuska's destroyed body. “I can cut it down, but I need you to catch it. A fall from that height could kill someone. You think you can do that?”
“Yes!”
“Here we go.”
Hawks and Izuku are off in a flash. Nuska is so weakened that it doesn’t take much. A couple more slashes from Hawks’s feather blades and the capsule is falling. Izuku catches it and rolls to distribute the force. As quickly and carefully as he can, Izuku cracks open the capsule and snaps his last pair of quirk cuffs on Nuska. The whole thing happens in a matter of seconds. Nuska blinks up at Izuku in shock for a moment, before their face contorts in rage.
“No! No! What are you–– Where’s my brother?”
“Fischer? He’s safe, not hurt. He’s with the police.”
“Fuck! Fuck you, fuck this the stupid fucking JAPEX executives, fuck the bird motherfucker––”
“My name is Hawks––”
“–– fuck every asshole on this shitty planet and fuck––” After that they just devolve into more swearing and angry spitting. Izuku and Hawks get them over to the police and then stand off to the side for a moment, catching their breath.
“The clean up for this is gonna be a mess.”
Izuku grimaces, surveying the scene. “Yeah, the damages forms––”
“Oh, I meant my jacket. Grass stains are impossible to get out of corduroy.”
Izuku rolls his eyes. He takes stock of himself. No major injuries, that’s good. He just got a bit scraped up when he was evacuating the JAPEX building, and his arms ache the way they always do after he uses his quirk a lot. Nothing to be alarmed about. He smiles to himself. This might be the first major villain fight that Izuku got out of completely unscathed.
Izuku goes over to Nuska. Now that they’re not covered in layers of plants, they look just like any other twenty-something-year-old you’d see on the street. Something about the way Fischer looked completely heartbroken, staring up at his sibling, really tugged at Izuku’s heart. He makes his way over to where the police are trying to load Nuska into a car.
“Hey,” Izuku greets cautiously.
“What?” Nuska spits.
“I-Is your quirk just vines, or can you grow any kind of plant?”
“Why the fuck do you care?”
“It’s just that–– You’re very, uh, passionate about your cause. A-And if you just applied your quirk differently, y-you could probably do a lot of good. Have you thought about using your quirk to grow bamboo palm near industrial factories? They can remove a lot of––”
“What does it matter?” Nuska interrupts. “I’m going to jail.”
“W-Well, yeah, you did a lot of damage so you’ll have to face the consequences. But ask your lawyer about the Shiketsu Villain and Vigilante Rehabilitation program. You and your brother can still do a lot of good.”
Nuska doesn’t say anything, staring at Izuku like he’s just noticing him.
“It’s not too late,” Izuku insists.
Nuska snorts. Their gaze wanders over to where Fischer is being loaded into a different police car, looking exhausted. Nuska looks back at Izuku and nods curtly.
Izuku recognizes that this is the best he’ll get, so he leaves. He bounces back up to Hawks’ side.
“C’mon, I think we deserve some food. How do you feel about chicken katsu curry? I think one of the secretaries mentioned a place in block 9….”
“Wait, don’t we have to go back to the agency? To do the paperwork?”
“Paperwork?” Hawks throws his head back and laughs. “Good one. I haven’t done my own paperwork since I was your age.”
“What? But, the reports…?”
Hawks taps the side of his visor with his finger. “Everything I do is recorded, kid. Someone back at the agency is pulling the footage right now. They’ll do the write-up for me.”
“Woah. So you really don’t do your own paperwork?”
“Don’t sound so judgy! Most heroes don’t do their own paperwork. If they did, they’d have no time to stop actual crime.”
“I do my own paperwork!”
Hawks grins and reaches over to ruffle Izuku’s hair. “Yeah, because you’re an intern. I bet All Might has you do his paperwork too, huh?”
Izuku opens his mouth, then closes it.
“Oh, my god,” Izuku realizes, “I’ve been doing all of mine and All Might’s paperwork.”
“What does your staff do, then?”
“I have no idea!” Izuku throws his hands in the air. “No wonder they all like me so much, I’ve never given them an assignment! I could have been using all this time on homework.”
At the mention of homework, Hawks wrinkles his nose. “So glad I didn’t go to high school. Now, come on, let’s go get dinner. You can complain about your paperwork on the way.”
keigo my dms are open @hawkseyeliner • 1h
fuck!!! that hawks + deku fight was INSANEEEE !!! have the villains been ranked already?? That was easily an a tier fight wtf isnt deku still in his first year???
12.4k retweets 196 quote retweets 20.7k likes
Takara loves Ryukyu @crushmeryukyu • 3h
Notice how only the people Deku rescued needed ambulances. He doesn’t have enough control to be a pro, we should just ship him overseas already. American’s love unchecked power and letting their child soldiers run around with no supervision.
79.3k retweets 3.6 quote retweets 120k likes
438 replies
replying to @crushmeryukyu
@ProHeroMiruko unblock me please @mirukosthighs • 43m
Isn’t their hero agency system still privatized? LMAOOO yeah send deku there so he can fuck up their sidewalks instead of ours see how their tax payers like it
137 retweets 860 likes
Sora @ aot s4 @kaba_soraaa • 6h
quit infantilizing deku. he’s not some uwu soft baby bunny like yall wanna believe. he could literally kick you so hard you get beheaded miss me with that soft deku shit
1.9k retweets 63 quote retweets 4.7k likes
207 replies
replying to @kaba_soraaa
professional meme stealer @catquirkrights • 5h
“quit infantilizing deku” bro he’s literally a kid. he’s like 15 dude. last week there was footage of him stopping during patrol to pet a dog
1.4k retweets 5.1k likes
replying to @catquirkrights
Sora @ aot s4 @kaba_soraaa • 3m
yeah a 15 y/o who just took down an a class villain (even if it was with help) but yeah sure lets pretend he’s your uwu smol bean
1.3k retweets 4.2k likes
Hawks and Deku’s Latest Villain Fight Might Be the Most Expensive Fight of the Year
By Nishimura Yoichi for Pro Heroes Publications
The entire internet broke when footage of Pro Hero Hawks (#3, peak: 3) and Hero Intern Deku (unranked) faced off against two villains going by the names Nuska (Koga Shizuka) and Fischer (Koga Masaaki) yesterday afternoon. The Department of Heroics has officially ranked the villain duo as an A level threat, making this Hero Intern Deku’s first A level fight without All Might.
It is also his most expensive fight to date. The collateral damage from the fight has estimates in the 100 million yen range. Undoubtedly, most of this damage can be attributed to the villain Nuska’s massive size— officially ranked by the Department of Heroics to be in the Gargantuan category. But how much of that damage could have been prevented if there wasn’t a barely trained intern on the scene?
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Anonymous asked:
wait why don’t you like deku?? did he do something problematic??
arcticwinterpros
i dont like him for a lot of reasons but yeah here’s some problematic shit he’s done:
- the usj incident, obviously. i didn’t watch the stream myself but I saw clips on twitter and deku definitely used more force than was necessary
- interns for all might, who stands for basically everything that’s wrong with hero society
- reports of him in middle school by former teachers make it seem like he’s always been cocky and at the top of his class. i dont fuck with people with that kind of privelege like with that quirk he’s basically had his whole life guaranteed to be successful
- another account of excessive use of force from one of his fights in november
- stole from a grocery store in middle school but didnt get charged lmao privileged asshole
there’s more but i wont go into it. you can literally just google deku and see all the gross shit he’s done like i cant believe some people stan him
arcticwinterpros
okay a bunch of people are sending me asks correcting some of the things i linked here. i acknowledge that i was wrong about all those claims, but i still don’t like deku. just because these weren’t true doesnt mean he’s a good person lmao i just get bad vibes from him and i still believe that stuff about him in middle school. i think his old classmates are being paid off to say theyre lying personally but whatever you dont have to believe me
1,492 notes
#self reblog #anti deku #deku hate #okay yeah i was wrong but i still dont like him #like im convinced that hes bad and his agency is covering it up #anyway why would you stan deku when endeavor is such a better hero
Izuku comes into class one day to see someone familiar standing at the front of the room, next to Aizawa’s desk.
“Hiro!”
Izuku runs right up to him with no regard for personal space. He launches himself into Hiro’s arms, hugging him and quickly retreating before he can complain. Hiro squawks, shoving at Izuku’s head and ruffling his hair, but he’s smiling.
“Woah, cool it, buddy! Back up, your enthusiasm is infectious and being broody and angsty is part of my brand.”
“It’s been so long!” Izuku bounces on his heels in front of Hiro, beaming as he looks up at him.
“Yeah, and look at how much trouble you’ve gotten into since then,” Hiro chuckles. He looks better than he did when Izuku last saw him at the Provisional Licensing Exam. The bags under his eyes are gone and he holds himself up a little straighter, shoulders back and chest out. The rainbow streak dyed into his hair is now bright pink, falling over his eyes.
“I don’t break my bones when I use my quirk anymore,” Izuku tells him proudly.
“Congratulations, you’re now a regular fuckin’ person,” Hiro says. Then, his voice drops a little. “Gave me a heart attack the other week, when I saw the news. You okay?”
Izuku’s heart swells. For all of Hiro’s gruff, unapproachable exterior, he really does care a whole lot. It’s what made him turn away from his stable accounting job and become a vigilante. Izuku is so touched that this kindness and concern is extended to him–– the annoying brat that Hiro had to babysit during the exam, who won’t stop texting him memes at 3 AM. Hiro may have only been with Izuku for a couple hours, but he was also one of the first people besides Toshinori to seriously acknowledge Izuku as a hero. Izuku won’t ever forget that.
“I’m okay,” Izuku answers softly, before brightening. “But how are you? When you texted last time you said your full Pro licensing exam was coming up! How did it go? Did you have to take it at Takoba National Stadium again? Oh, man, I can’t even pass that place anymore without having traumatic flashbacks. Hey, did you see that fight between Knuckleduster and––”
“Do you ever shut up?” Hiro groans.
Izuku smiles sunnily. “You know I don’t!”
“Hold on,” Aizawa cuts in, finally speaking up after observing from his desk. “How do you two know each other?”
“We were partners during our Provisional License Exam!”
“I stopped him from trying to fight people with a broken arm.”
Aizawa blinks slowly. He sighs.
“Of course. Of course my two problem children know each other. Fantastic.”
Two problem children? Izuku turns to look at Hiro, eyebrows raised.
“You’re only a few years older than me, Eraser, don’t go acting like you’re some high functioning adult. I’ve seen you guzzle nutritional jelly packs on patrol. I know your secrets.”
Izuku balks when Aizawa doesn’t glare, only rolls his eyes. “Wait, how do you two know each other?”
“Underground heroes work pretty closely with vigilantes. I’m the one who recommended Hiro to the Shiketsu program over jail time. I brought him in today to talk to all of you about fighting lower level street villains, and how to gauge how much force to use when fighting. The low-level criminals from the USJ are the type that Hiro has experience fighting.”
Izuku’s eyes practically sparkle as he turns back to Hiro. “Are you gonna train us?”
“Yup.”
“Perfect! I’m so excited, we barely got time to work with our quirks during the exam and I have so many questions for you. I promise not to break anything this time… well, unless absolutely necessary.”
Aizawa groans. He looks at Hiro from the corner of his eye. “Do you see the kind of brats I have to deal with? Never become a teacher, Hiro.”
Hiro snorts. “I’m pretty sure Midoriya’s a special case. You have it easy, old man. When I was babysitting him, he tried to apologize to me for breaking his arm.”
“He apologized to me for getting stabbed.”
“Okay, okay!” Izuku interjects. “We get it! I’m a disaster! I’m gonna go sit down now.”
“Don’t trip,” Hiro teases, “wouldn’t want you to break a leg, too.”
Izuku resists the urge to stick out his tongue childishly.
Pretty soon the entire class has arrived. The bell rings and Aizawa stands to introduce Hiro.
“Good morning, brats. This is Hiro. He was a vigilante, but he’s recently passed the Pro Hero Licensing Exam. With the Sports Festival coming up and the kind of villains you all ran into at the USJ, I thought it would be a good idea to bring in someone with a lot of hand-to-hand experience. Also, you need to talk to someone who isn’t me or each other. You’re isolating yourselves. That isn’t good for a class of heroes in training.”
“Maybe if the rest of the school didn’t hate us we’d be more friendly,” Kaminari grumbles.
Izuku ducks his head. “Sorry, guys.”
“Not your fault, Midobro! It’s probably partly to do with the Sports Festival, you know, us being the biggest competition and all. Don’t sweat it.”
“I mean, Bakugou calling everyone extras probably didn’t win us any popularity points,” Jirou adds.
“Did I fuckin’ stutter? They are extras.”
“What does that make you? The main character? Come on, dude.”
Izuku watches wide-eyed as Jirou talks back to Bakugou and doesn’t get blown up. Holy shit. What an absolute legend.
“As I was saying,” Aizawa says sharply, drawing all the attention back to the front of the room. “Hiro here is a guest and I expect all of you to treat him with the same amount of respect you treat me with, understand? If there is any misconduct there will be consequences.”
“Yes, sensei!” the class chimes.
“Good. Now get changed and head to Gym Alpha.”
Everyone gets up and grabs their costume briefcases, shuffling out the door and towards the locker rooms. The walk down the hallway is thankfully empty, but Izuku still finds himself in his usual security guard sandwich between Uraraka and Todoroki, with Iida walking ahead of them, leading the charge.
“Hey, Deku-kun,” Uraraka says, “I know you took your provisional exam with him, but he seems pretty standoffish. How did you end up friends with him?”
“I’m not surprised,” Todoroki says, “Midoriya could become friends with a rock.”
“Aw, Todoroki-kun, don’t talk about yourself like that!”
Todoroki sighs heavily. “I said I wanted to be reborn as a rock in my next life one time.”
“Midoriya-kun and Uraraka never let anything go,” Iida says. “You should know that by now, Todoroki-kun.”
“The price of friendship,” Todoroki says solemnly.
“But really, why are you friends with him?” Uraraka asks, nodding her head to where Hiro and Aizawa are trailing the class.
Izuku shrugs. “He was nice to me? And a good person? I mean he was a little mean at first, but then he got really nice, in his own way. He didn’t bully me, at least. Oh, and sometimes he texts to check up on how I’m doing!”
“Didn’t bully you. That’s your standard for friendship?” Uraraka asks incredulously. “Oh my god, the bar is literally on the floor.”
“And yet,” Izuku says, very carefully not looking at anyone in particular, “some people still manage to burrow under it.”
(“You know, Eraser, being a teacher doesn’t seem so bad,” Hiro drawls, watching from a distance as class 1-A playfully shove and tease each other. They don’t even notice that they move as one, curled protectively around one another like some kind of noisy, tumbling pack of puppies.
Aizawa locks his gaze with Hiro’s, a haunted look in his eyes.
“Run,” Aizawa says. “Run, now, before you end up a 31-year-old single father to 20 tiny chaos demons.”
Hiro smirks. “Single? I thought you and Present Mic––”
Aizawa uses his capture scarf to shut Hiro up. “Every day I regret meeting you. Every. Day.”)
r/AITA
↑↓ 12.6k
posted by u/quirklessbullythrowaway
AITA for letting my classmates pick on the quirkless kid in our class?
So, I’m in my first year of high school, but all this happened in middle school and elementary school.
There was this kid in our class that was quirkless. I know it’s like 20% of the population, but our school was pretty small so he was the only one. I’ve never even met another quirkless person besides him, but anyway he used to get bullied. Like a lot. He would get pushed into walls, his things would get stolen, people would call him names and stuff. Other kids would suicide bait him too, like saying a bunch of nasty stuff to him and leaving red spider lilies on his desk.
None of the teachers did anything about it, so I thought it was okay. I mean, the suicide baiting was fucked up, but the other stuff was just kind of funny, you know? One time my friend wrote him a fake confession letter and the quirkless kid actually waited outside the school for like 2 hours in the rain for the fake girl to show up. Kind of pathetic lmao, but seriously, I thought most of it was just good fun.
Anyway, the kid turned out to not be quirkless and is now also kind of famous. He used to live down the street from me, but I don’t see him around anymore. I tried to contact him through a publicly available email and then I asked my mom to call his mom, but he hasn’t gotten back to me. I really just wanna apologize and ask for a favor. He’s pretty popular and I’m an aspiring musician so I think it would be really cool if he could like promote my self-made album on twitter or something, but he won’t reply.
I stood up for him a couple times, and I’ve known him for forever, so I think it’s only fair that he remembers his roots and helps out an old friend, you know? Am I the asshole for wanting him to help me out?
Comments
↑↓ friendlyneighborhoodwebslinger 8.9k points
Oh my god, dude. Yes. A million fucking times yes, you’re the asshole. You helped/were complacent in what sounds like a living hell and now this kid wants nothing to do with you? Good riddance. YTA.
View entire discussion (1.1k Comments)
throwaway @09371682 • 1h
.@ProHeroDeku you’re such a piece of shit i hope u die lmao
1 retweets 3 likes
mighty stans blocklist in pinned @antiallmight • 2h
.@ProHeroDeku @AllMightOfficial you dont deserve to be the number one hero when your sidekick is so fckin weak
1 retweets 2 quote retweets 873 likes
12 replies
replying to @antiallmight
Down with Deku @diediedeku • 1h
hey pal, deku doesn’t use his twt acct !! if you wanna send him hate mail, just send it to the mighty agency po box (on their website) but im pretty sure they don’t read them anymore rip. dm me if you want an invite to the anti deku discord server <3
4 retweets 83 likes
red with love @mybloodyvalentine • 2h
Hello @ProHeroDeku fans!!! I’m Himiko and I’m a journalist!! Does anyone know where I can find his home address? And also what blood type he is?? Thanks <3
4 retweets 15 likes
9389 @22394180 • 4h
.@ProHeroDeku FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU
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Izuku’s luck with avoiding the media runs out.
Izuku will kick himself for it later. He’s been so careful, careful to cover up his face when he’s in plain clothes, careful to only enter from the roof or the basement of the Mighty Agency. But all it takes is one mistake.
The day before the UA Sports Festival, Izuku steps out onto the street after his shift at the agency, expecting it to be empty, and instead walks right into a crowd of reporters.
“Deku!”
“Intern Deku!”
Izuku freezes, paling. He’s out of uniform, doesn’t even have a face mask on. As soon as the crowd recognizes him, they swarm, bodies pressing in close. Izuku flinches back as several mics are thrust into his face.
“Deku! Deku!” cries one reporter. “Care to comment on the allegations that you’re a spy sent from the American government to infiltrate the Japanese Hero Network?”
“The–– huh?” Izuku blinks dumbly, pointing at himself. “I’m Japanese, though. I was born here.”
“Your father is American, is he not? Confirmation from HUK News came in on Sunday––”
“I–– Yes, but–– I mean, yes, he’s American, but I’m not a spy!” Izuku’s voice cracks at the end.
“Intern Deku! Can you give us a statement on exactly what happened at the USJ? From the moment you were stabbed––”
“P-Please don’t ask me about that.”
“Deku!” What can you say about––”
“Intern Deku, is it true––”
“The rumors say that––”
“Midoriya, what is––”
“Deku, tell us––”
“Izuku, kid, can you––”
Izuku snaps. The reporter that used his given name is tall, taller than Izuku by quite a bit. He has straight, white hair cut in a bob at his shoulders. He’s standing behind a big camera, the lens a shiny black mirror reflecting Izuku’s wide-eyed terror back at him. Izuku looks back at the reporter. His eyes are red, and he’s tall, and he has white hair––
It’s not Shigaraki. Izuku knows that. He knows it’s not Shigaraki, he has no scars, no sickly grin, his hands are wrapped around a mic and nothing is disintegrating, except––
Except Izuku’s breath is coming shorter and he can’t focus. The reporters’ questions all blend together, the sound of it coming in muffled. Like he’s underwater. He’s breathing too quickly. His hands are numb, and the reporter in front of him used his full name and has white hair and red eyes and––
And Izuku can’t feel his hands. They’re numb, buzzing with anxiety and his joints hurt and it’s too loud here, it’s too bright, it’s too––
“Stop!”
Izuku stumbles back, knocking into the glass doors of the agency. He takes a lot of rapid, shallow breaths. The glass behind him cracks.
One for All is activated? One for All is activated. Izuku blinks. He tries to process.
He can’t feel his hands, but they’re lit up with green lighting.
“P-Please,” Izuku gasps out. His face is wet. He’s crying. “P-Please, back up. P-Please.”
The reporter–– Shigaraki? No, that’s not right––shoves his mic forward.
“Are you having some kind of episode or––?”
“B-Back up.”
Full Cowl wraps around him like a warm blanket, power surging across his skin. He’s just standing, just shaking slightly, but the glass behind him cracks more. He can’t focus. His hands are numb. He can’t breathe. He needs––
“All Might!”
A gasp ripples through the crowd as All Might lands on the street and begins cutting through the crowd.
“Excuse me, please step back immediately! You are harassing my so–- intern.”
Even through his panic, Izuku can recognize that All Might is safe. Because All Might is Toshinori and Toshinori is always safe. Always.
The crowd parts immediately. Shigaraki–– the reporter–– lowers his mic and backs up so quickly he almost knocks over his camera.
“Disperse, before I decide to press charges,” All Might throws over his shoulder as he comes to a stop in front of Izuku. The width of his shoulders cuts off Izuku’s view of the crowd. He blocks out the sun, and Izuku feels safer in his shadow. All Might doesn’t crowd him. He stops just shy of Izuku’s personal bubble and lowers his voice, softening the usual resounding boom into something gentle.
“Izuku,” he says quietly. “You’re okay. You’re safe. I am here.”
“Y-You’re h-here,” Izuku confirms.
“I need you to turn your quirk off, my boy. You could hurt yourself. Can you do that for me? Take a deep breath in and deactivate your quirk, alright?”
Izuku follows his instructions. It takes a couple tries, but he manages to power down. The deep breathing helps clear the buzzing in his head.
“Let’s get you inside. Is it alright if I touch you?”
Izuku thinks for a moment, and then nods. All Might touches his shoulder gently, watching his face. When Izuku doesn’t flinch back, he uses the shoulder to gently guide Izuku inside the agency’s lobby.
Izuku’s sneakers crunch on broken glass. Did the glass break? Izuku doesn’t remember breaking the glass.
All Might herds Izuku deeper into the agency and up the elevator, mumbling soft reassurances the whole time. Izuku comes back to himself in bits and pieces. He vaguely registers a secretary offering him tissues. He thinks someone may have called his mom. By the time Izuku can breathe normally and focus on anything other than his cold hands, he’s safe in his office on the couch, wrapped up in a soft All Might blanket.
Toshinori sits across from him, deflated down to his smaller form. His face is lined and tired looking, but he still offers Izuku an encouraging smile. “Better?”
Izuku nods. “Better,” he croaks.
Toshinori hands him a water bottle. All Might’s wide grin stretches across the circumference of it. Izuku traces the details with his eyes.
“Please, drink some water, Izuku. You need to stay hydrated.”
Izuku drinks. He sits there and syncs his breath with Toshinori. The office is dark, the sun having set before Izuku’s shift even ended. He has no idea what time it is, but he makes no move to find out. The lights of downtown Musutafu glitter prettily through the glass walls of Izuku’s office. He busies himself with counting all the lights he can see from here. It helps calm him down.
Izuku sits in his office with Toshinori quietly, feeling sad and drained and lifeless.
And then he gets angry.
“What gives them the right?” he blurts out suddenly.
Toshinori, used to the silence, startles. “I-I’m sorry?”
“The press,” Izuku spits. “W-What gives them the right to corner me like that? What makes them think it’s okay to–– to–– treat me like that?”
“It’s not okay, my boy,” Toshinori says. “Would you like to press charges? The press are not allowed to block hero agency entrances like that, we could have those reporters blacklisted––”
“They’ll just send more, won’t they?” Izuku smiles bitterly. “I saw a KQTV News van out there. They’re the biggest news company in the country. They can send more reporters.”
Toshinori frowns. “Yes, that’s true. There are ways around a blacklist, but––”
“Then what’s the point!” Izuku erupts. “What’s the point? I mean I knew the media was bad, but I just didn’t–– I thought––“
Izuku struggles, shaking with frustration.
“I just didn't expect all this–– this––”
“This…?” Toshinori prompts.
“This! The cameras and tabloids and all the prying into my personal life! Like, okay, I knew that I would be in the spotlight, but I always thought there was an invisible line. It always seemed like the media loved heroes! I guess it was naive of me to think that everything was as great as it seemed on TV. I had no idea that there was–– all the underhand deals and politics and the lying and the whole–– the whole production of it all and––”
Izuku is crying again now, fat tears rolling down his face as his voice gets higher and more strained “–– and all this! The— the fucking razzmatazz to cover up all the shit underneath!”
Toshinori is quiet for a moment before he says, low and disappointed, “Izuku.”
Izuku flushes with shame. “Sorry, Yagi. S-sorry, I just––”
Izuku lets out a loud, shuddering breath, curling his shoulders in.
“Sorry for yelling. And s-sorry for swearing.”
Toshinori sighs heavily, placing a hand on Izuku’s shoulder. Even when he’s upset with him, even when every part of his body language is screaming frustration, he is so, so gentle with Izuku.
“My boy, I’d hoped that this was a lesson I could put off teaching you for a while, but it seems that you’ve stumbled upon it on your own. I guess I should have known. You’ve always been too smart for your own good.”
Toshinori lets a small, fond smile flash across his face, brows still furrowed, eyes sunken.
“This life–– the life of a hero, but most of all, the life as the Symbol of Peace–– it’s not just saving people with a smile on your face. That’s the heart of it, yes, and being a hero people can look up to–– that’s most of it. But a lot of it is… this. My boy, do you know why I never ban reporters? Or hide from them like Aizawa does?”
Izuku sniffs. “No.”
“A vast majority of people have a television in their home,” Toshinori says, “or a radio, or a computer. And if not, there are televisions and radios and computers out in public spaces, blaring the news all day and night. We live in an age of constant newsreel. Tell me, Izuku, how did you first become aware of me, as All Might?”
“T-There was a video. You saved–– there were hundreds of people, and you––”
“Yes, and who do you think recorded that video?”
Izuku frowns. He’d never stopped to think about who might have been behind the camera, all his focus had been on All Might, shining and smiling and hauling people out of the wreckage with a grace and carefulness that contradicted his large, hulking form.
“Her name was Shimoda Asuka,” Toshinori says, voice soft. “She was a young reporter, maybe only a few years out of school at that point. I can’t remember if she was caught in the initial blast or if she’d just seen what happened and ran to help. At the time, I was relatively well known in America but I’d just come back home to Japan and, well, no one knew who I was. Except her.
“I’d done an interview for her news station–– it was a small, local channel, I think. She wasn’t even the reporter that was interviewing me, but she was observant.
“She documented that entire crisis. Eighteen hours on her feet, helping pull people to safety when she could, but with a camera and a tape recorder in her hands. According to paramedics, she only left to get battery refills.”
Izuku hangs off every one of Toshinori’s words.
“After it was all over they used her footage to identify survivors, connect people who had been separated. The damage was catastrophic, truly horrendous. And yet she kept rolling. Her efforts that day went down in history. It pushed me into the spotlight. It inspired a small, freckled boy all the way out in Musutafu into becoming a future hero.”
Izuku blinks, awed. “I had no idea.”
Toshinori’s reminiscent smile turns a bit sad. “Most people don’t. And most reporters are not like Shimoda, but they are out there. I’ve found, over the years, that for every invasive, rotten tabloid article there is, somewhere out there, a piece that inspires. If those diamonds in the rough can inspire hope in even one person, then all the others are worth it.”
Izuku absorbs that for a moment.
“I-I never thought about it like that before,” Izuku admits. How many times had he watched that video? And how many times had he scrolled through hero forums, blog posts, HeroTube videos? How many newspaper clippings had Izuku poured over in public libraries, researching heroes from generations ago?
“Freedom of the press is not something to take for granted. Though,” Toshinori admits, “it would be nice to get less questions about my love life.”
“I’m sorry,” Izuku says again, “I shouldn’t have dismissed the media like that. I shouldn’t have yelled, either.”
“No, you were right to be upset, my boy.” Toshinori ruffles his hair. “There is a problem with the media’s fixation on heroes. It’s just a little more complicated than you thought. And it’s partially my fault, for not getting you a bigger PR team and more media training after the USJ. I was hoping you’d continue hiding behind me for a while longer.”
Izuku flushes. “We talked about this! I don’t hide behind you anymore!”
Toshinori lets out a booming laugh. “It’s quite alright, young Midoriya! Reporters can be vicious, I don’t blame you for being frightened!”
“I’m not––! It’s just––! Yagi-san!” Izuku whines, ducking his head in embarrassment.
“We should set you up with an interview,” Toshinori says, ignoring Izuku’s self-conscious little huffs. “You can’t control everything that gets printed about you, but you can at least control what you yourself say. The media should calm down after that.”
“I’m not good with public speaking,” Izuku mumbles, already anxiously tugging at his own hair at the thought of being broadcast on local–– or possibly, horrifyingly, national–– television. “I just wanna save people.”
Toshinori smiles down at him proudly. “Just be yourself, my boy. Everyone will love you.”
Izuku smiles bashfully and allows Toshinori to lead him back to his office. Although, one thing is bothering him.
“All Might, why do you talk about Shimoda in the past tense?” Izuku asks.
“Ah,” Toshinori’s smile fades. “She… a couple years ago there was a villain attack. I still send money to her family, but no amount of yen could replace her. She truly was a hero, in her own field.”
“Oh. I’m so sorry.”
“It wasn’t anyone’s fault but the villain’s. Just remember that there are good people doing good work out there.”
Toshinori and Izuku sit there quietly again, watching the lights in Musutafu go out one by one, until Inko calls to say she’s downstairs. Good people doing good work. Izuku still can’t square that phrase with his own picture of the media, but he thinks about it on their way home. He thinks about it throughout dinner and while his mother fusses over him. He thinks about it just before he goes to bed, sleep catching on the edges of his mind as he turns the phrase over in his head.
Good people doing good work.
The next day, at the start of the Sports Festival Opening Ceremony, Izuku looks across the vast sea of cameras.
And he’s not scared.
Notes:
AHH sorry this chapter took me so long. school started again :( anyway i have a lot of notes this time:
• Chapter title and work title is from Razzmatazz by I DON'T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME
• Chapter count went up to 11! nothing is changing, it's just that the chapters are ending up significantly chunkier than i thought they would be
• That move where hawks spins and shreds the plant villain’s arm is directly stolen from that sick move levi from attack on titan does sometimes (timestamp: 0:40)
• Nuska is named after a Sumerian god of the earth and Fischer is named after the organic chemist Emil Fischer
• can you BELIEVE this fic was supposed to be a 20k oneshot just because i wanted to write izuku saying “razzmatazz” because i thought it was a fun word
• Lastly, I’d just like to gently remind everyone that I’m not writing any ships into this and I’d like to respectfully ask that you please stop asking me about it/suggesting what you think I should or should not do with the rest of this fic, shipping wise or just in general. I just do not have the brain capacity (or room in the outline) to even think about a romantic subplot and I’m just not interested in writing it.
Also, it’s fine to be critical, but I’ve never asked for constructive criticism or anything like that. I write this fic for free in my time in between school, work, and the other stuff going on in my personal life. What you see is the best writing that I can currently provide and if you don’t like it, that’s cool! Just don’t be mean to me about it thanks :)
That being said, most of my comments and DMs and tumblr asks have been so sweet so thank you <3
• I'm xyloophones on tumblr and @_xylophones on twitter!
Chapter 9: Teenagers Scare the Living Shit Out of Me
Summary:
Izuku, calm and collected? Right. Sure.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Izuku honestly thought he’d be more nervous.
It’s the UA Sports Festival. It’s a big deal. It’s always been a big deal! Izuku used to record them every year and play them back a million times to analyze the UA students’ quirks. He used to fantasize about being up on the podium, graciously accepting the first place medal from whatever Pro Hero was hosting that year. He always imagined it would be All Might.
Well, it looks like baby Izuku is getting his wish. It’s very likely that he really might be accepting a medal from All Might today.
He went from feeling like the world was coming down around him last night to sitting in the waiting room beneath UA’s sports stadium now, as it slowly dawns on him that the rumble he hears from above isn’t just mindless cheering–– it’s spectators chanting Deku.
Talk about emotional whiplash.
Okay. Okay, maybe he is nervous.
Izuku feels like the anxiety is heightening all his senses. He’s seated at one of the cheap, plastic tables they set up in the waiting room. The grooves in the plastic go deep; these tables have probably been at UA longer than Izuku’s been alive. His classmates mill about, either chatting excitedly or helping themselves to the snacks Aizawa left them. He dropped them all off here about an hour ago with a jumbo pack of granola bars and tangerines and instructions to not embarrass him in front of the entire nation.
You know. No pressure.
It’s fine! It’s going to be fine. Toshinori told him that he’d be proud of Izuku no matter how he did at the festival. Izuku had to leave home early to catch the train, but Toshinori promised that he and Inko would be in the crowd, up in the VIP boxes so they don’t get mobbed and so Toshinori doesn't need to stay in All Might form the whole time. He even gave Izuku a gentle head pat and encouraging smile before he left. He fit the Supportive Dad role to a tee.
Okay… but what if Izuku does disappoint him? Or what if Izuku disappoints his mom? What if he’s so worried about disappointing them that he goes overboard and breaks an arm again? He could lose function in his arms! And Recovery Girl will have to reset the ‘Days Since Last Broken Bone’ counter in her office, a sign that Izuku is the sole contributor to. She’ll be so sad. Katayama will be upset, since she explicitly told him many times that it was in his own best interest to not compete. Maybe he should go find Aizawa and ask to be withdrawn-–
Izuku is snapped out of his downward spiral when a shadow looms over him.
“Midoriya.”
Izuku looks up to see Todoroki towering over him, his face blank and impassive. He looks intimidating, with his shoulders squared and spine straight, looking down his nose at Izuku–– but Izuku knows Todoroki well enough to detect the slightest upward twitch of the very corner of his mouth.
“Objectively,” Todoroki says, the entire waiting room quieting down as he speaks, “I am stronger than you. More capable. I don’t care if you’re All Might’s hand-picked intern; I will defeat you.”
Izuku struggles not to burst into laughter.
“Woah, woah,” Kirishima butts in, placing a friendly hand on both their shoulders. “Hey, man, let’s tone it down. We’re all friends here.”
Izuku breaks into giggles and Tododorki lets out a quiet little huff. Izuku reaches up to his shoulder to pat Kirishima’s hand reassuringly.
“Don’t worry, Kirishima-kun! He’s just kidding. He said something similar to me when we first met.”
Kirishima looks back and forth between Todoroki still looming menacingly over Izuku and Izuku just smiling up at him guilelessly.
“How… can you tell? No offence, Todoroki bro, but you just kind of have one of those faces, you know?”
Todoroki’s mouth twitches upwards again.
“Is it the scar?” he deadpans.
Kirishima pales.
“No! No, no, oh my god, dude I am so sorry–– I just meant–– It’s just, you know, you seem intimidating–– not that you’re not nice! But––”
“Todoroki-kun, stop messing with him. He’s gonna have a breakdown.”
Todoroki’s face melts into a small smile. “I was just kidding, Kirishima.”
Kirishima looks at Izuku in anguish, “Dude, how do you tell?”
Izuku decides to play dumb. He’s well aware that Todoroki likes to secretly mess with people sometimes. His usual brusque, cold demeanor means he can get away with it. Izuku is honestly jealous of just how much Todoroki can get away with just because people don’t expect it to come from him.
“You mean you guys can’t tell when he’s joking?”
“Todoroki never jokes!” Kaminari chimes in. “Last week I tried to show him a meme and he asked me why the cat in the picture was crying!”
“I just don’t understand what’s so funny about a sad cat,” Todoroki says, completely straight-faced.
Izuku, who has personally seen Todoroki use a meme correctly, just smiles and says, “Sure, Todoroki-kun.”
“All first year students,” Snipe’s voice comes in through the overhead speakers, “please make your way towards the entrance tunnels to the central field. In order, please, so 1-A, then 1-B, and so on.”
“Let’s do our best, everyone!” Uraraka shouts, pumping a fist into the air.
Kirishima feeds off her enthusiasm, grinning so hard his dimples pop out. “Yeah! We’re all gonna kill it out there!”
“Or get killed,” Jiro comments. “The other classes really have it out for us.”
They all exit the waiting room and head into the tunnel leading out into the stadium. Todoroki sidles up to Izuku as they walk through the tunnel.
“Feeling better?”
Izuku blinks. “Was my internal meltdown that obvious?”
“You were staring at the table so hard I thought you’d burn a hole through it.” Todoroki slides him a sideways glance. “I wasn’t entirely kidding earlier. I will beat you today.”
Weirdly, that comforts Izuku instead of scaring him. It means Todoroki takes him seriously. “You can certainly try, Todoroki-kun.”
Todoroki sends him a small smirk back. Izuku bumps their shoulders together.
He can hear the roar of the crowd before they even step out of the tunnel. Izuku can hear the nervous murmurs from the other students, too–– softer and decidedly more hesitant than the waiting crowd. Above them, the ceiling shakes as spectators stomp and shuffle with anticipation. Izuku’s heart pounds in his chest.
“Alright! Welcome to UA’s Annual First Year Sports Festival! Can I get a yeah?”
Present Mic’s voice booms from inside the stadium. Izuku smiles reflexively. Before coming to UA, he thought Mic’s hero persona was an act–– especially since he dials it up to 11 during his radio show–– but in reality he’s just that enthusiastic all the time. It makes his English class really interesting.
“First up we have the class that overcame a real villain attack just weeks ago, the first class in UA history to survive one month with Eraserhead with no expulsions, the only class to survive Eraserhead period––”
“Mic,” Aizawa’s voice warns. Oh, looks like he’s co-announcer.
“–– the class with hearts of steel, the class with Pro Hero Intern Deku––”
Izuku winces. As if the target on his back wasn’t big enough. He probably should have asked Mic to not mention his hero name.
“It’s the Hero Course’s Class 1-A!”
Impossibly, the crowd gets even louder when Izuku and his classmates step out of the tunnel. The press pit to their left is a cacophony of noise, camera shutters sounding like machine guns and journalists clamoring for their attention. Izuku hears someone call out “Deku!” so he gives a little wave and flashes a grin that looks way more confident than he actually feels right now. After yesterday’s media disaster, Katayama told him to present a calm and collected front at the Festival.
Izuku, calm and collected? Right. Sure.
The stadium is huge. It takes them a substantial amount of time to cross the field and line up in their designated spot, in front of a raised platform where Midnight stands. Despite the stadium’s large size, the spectator seats are packed to the brim. Izuku can’t remember a First Year Sports Festival in recent memory that had such high attendance. He tries not to look too closely at the crowd. If he spots a Pro Hero he’s going to die on the spot with the overwhelming need to rush up and ask for their autograph.
Katayama also told Izuku to try not to embarrass himself on live TV. Izuku thinks this is a hopeless cause— Izuku is constantly embarrassing himself.
The other classes get introduced with decidedly less fanfare. All three General Studies classes just get lumped together. Izuku makes eye contact with Shinsou, who rolls his eyes. He mouths “overrated” at him, which makes Izuku smile.
“Introducing this year’s chief umpire for the first years–– she’s currently the number 20 Pro Hero, philanthropist, activist, Art History professor, loving cat mother––”
“Yamada!” Midnight laughs. She sends a mock glare up at the announcer’s booth.
“–– make some noise for the R-Rated Hero: Midnight!”
Midnight flicks her hair and smiles coyly as the crowd roars. A fair amount of students cheer, too. Mina and Yaoyorozu in particular applaud loudly.
“I hope you’re all ready,” Midnight says, addressing the students. “This year’s Festival is going to be interesting. Now, for the student pledge, Katsuki Bakugou!”
Bakugou saunters up the stage and over to the mic. He opens his mouth.
Masumi | livetweeting UA Sports Fest! @dinosause • 3m
LMAOOOOO did that kid really just straight up say “i’m gonna win” ????? SDKAKFJSJ
9 retweets 12 likes
mute me now im livetweeting @spiderbyebye • 7m
I respect the confidence it takes to just declare that you’re gonna win but like… my dude, your competition is DEKU…. The same Deku that assisted in the takedown of an A tier villain last week….
463 retweets 2 quote retweets 882 likes
replying to @spiderbyebye
endeavor stans dni @midnightcustard • 6m
I mean if he’s giving the pledge then that means he’s ranked first among the first years, so he probably came in first in the entrance exams. it’s entirely possible that he’s ALREADY beat deku once
1 retweet 5 likes
replying to @midnightcustard
mute me now im livetweeting @spiderbyebye • 5m
Deku could have been a transfer or a recommended student, we don’t know if he took the entrance exam at all–– or if UA even allows him to have a class ranking with his internship position
2 retweets 8 likes
Ms joke pls respond to my dms @humordots • 6m
Did you see how stressed 1A looked after the blond kid did the pledge LOL
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Cho @ UA Sports Fest @noshadejustjeanist • 10m
i want the self-esteem levels of the kid that looked deku–– japan’s sweetheart and intern of the current number one hero–– dead in the eyes and flat out said he was gonna win sksdkfl PLEASE
367 retweets 15 quote retweets 870 likes
After the chaos dies down from Bakugou’s speech, Midnight steps back up to the mic to explain the first event.
They don’t bother with spinning a wheel to make the process look random this time. Izuku thinks this is probably a smart media play. UA doesn’t need anymore bad press than they’re already getting, and showing a more organized Sports Festival will probably help smooth things over.
“The first event is… Civilian Rescue!”
Izuku blinks. That’s new.
The Sports Festival events always look random, but they’re actually similar to the entrance exam in that they’re usually planned by the staff, picked from a pool of possible events. Someone on one of the UA advice forums Izuku used to frequent actually wrote an algorithm to figure out which events would be picked based on what the previous year’s events were. It wasn’t perfect–– Izuku himself had more accurate guesses last year with no algorithm–– but it did help Izuku out a lot when he was making plans for getting into UA quirkless. If he never met Toshinori, Izuku would be standing next to Shinsou with the rest of 1-C, sizing up the hero course kids.
“Students will be released into Testing Field Beta where actors from the Help Us Company will be acting as civilians caught in various disasters. UA’s own faculty members as well as some volunteer Pros will be acting as villains. Your mission is to secure the safety of as many civilians as you can in thirty minutes. The top 44 students will move onto the next round.”
“I didn’t train for a rescue scenario,” Uraraka murmurs next to him. “Oh no.”
The crowd begins to murmur to each other. Evidently, no one was prepared for a rescue scenario. Midnight cracks her whip to get everyone’s attention again.
“Your class reps are passing out bracelets with a sticker dispenser embedded in them. Whenl you’ve rescued a civilian, place a sticker on the back of their hand. We can electronically trace your rescue numbers with them.”
Izuku starts to feel hopeful. He’s great at rescue! He’s literally worked in the field for almost a year as a rescue and support hero. And thanks to Hawks and Katayama, Izuku rarely sticks his foot in his mouth when interacting with civilians nowadays.
“Midoriya-kun.” Iida materializes next to Izuku and hands him a bracelet. “And for you, Uraraka, Todoroki-kun.”
“Thank you.”
“Thanks, Iida!”
“Thanks!” Izuku beams at him. “Let’s do our best!”
“Yes,” Iida smiles sharply. “I look forward to seeing you succeed, in second place. Which I will observe from first place. I hope you enjoy the view of my back, because it will be all you see as I race ahead of you towards victory!”
Izuku’s jaw drops. Is Iida… talking smack?
Uraraka bursts into laughter. “Iida, what?”
Iida’s smile drops. “I apologize if that was too much. Midoriya-kun, I hope you know that I treasure our friendship and would never––”
“You’re fine, Iida, I was just surprised! I’m honored that you, uh, want to beat me? Or, uh, watch me succeed? I’m not sure which one it is, to be honest.”
“The view of my back,” Uraraka wheezes. She’s doubled over, gripping Izuku’s arm for support.
“You’re a worthy opponent. Todoroki isn’t the only one who wanted to declare war on you,” Iida says. He’s blushing faintly, glasses fogging up ever so slightly the way they always do when Iida gets flustered–– which is frequently.
“Hey, me too! I’m gonna beat all of you!” Uraraka grins, straightening and playfully punching Izuku’s shoulder. “You’re going down, Deku-kun.”
“Please,” Todoroki says flatly, “have mercy. If Midoriya were any lower, he’d be the size of a child.”
“Todoroki-kun!”
“Oh my god, Todoroki!”
“Once I hit my growth spurt it’s all over for you guys,” Izuku declares, crossing his arms. “I’m gonna be taller than All Might, just you wait.”
Todoroki hums, smiling condescendingly. “Sure.”
Midnight cracks her whip to draw attention back to her. Everyone quiets down.
“Students, gather at the edge of the field! When I finish counting down, the gates will open and the challenge will begin! Remember, rescue as many civilians as safely as you can. And villains can take back hostages. Good luck!”
The first years crowd around the gate leading to the tunnel to Field Beta. Izuku decides to hang back. It never hurts to be cautious. He sees his 1-A classmates take note and hang back with him.
It turns out Izuku’s gut feeling was right. As soon as Midnight finishes counting down, the large metal gate opens, sending a wave of water into the students at the very front. Todoroki, seeing an opportunity, immediately freezes everyone in place.
Izuku activates Full Cowl. He leaps over Todoroki’s ice and into the tunnel, bouncing off the walls until he emerges into Field Beta.
It’s chaos.
It looks like a mini, outdoor USJ. There are clear disaster zones–– a corner of the field is on fire, there’s a fake building teetering precariously on cracked foundation, a large pool with artificial waves and a small shipwreck, among other disaster sites. Dotted across the field, wearing neon green vests with the word “villain” on them, are the teachers. Just from here, Izuku can see Ectoplasm holding a group of twenty or so actors hostage near a pile of wrecked cars.
Not to mention the screaming–– Izuku hopes these actors are getting paid well, because they’re doing a very good job of acting distressed. Izuku’s hero instincts flare to life and he has to stop himself from just immediately flinging himself into danger to rescue them.
“Die!”
Bakugou uses his explosions to launch himself past Izuku, rocketing into a tree and scooping up the actor who was dangling from it. He aggressively slaps a sticker onto the back of their hand.
“Hey!” the actor exclaims. “That wasn’t very safe!”
“You’re not stuck in that fuckin’ tree anymore, are you? There, rescued.”
Everyone who wasn’t frozen by Todoroki has, by now, climbed over the ice and are now scattering around the field. Above the tunnel leading back to the stadium is a large digital scoreboard–– both Todoroki and Bakugou already have two civilians rescued each.
Izuku assesses his options. The best strategy would be to avoid the villains altogether and focus on rescuing the civilians stuck in natural disaster scenarios. Less risk and less of a chance Izuku will be distracted by the fact that he’s fighting his teachers. Though, it does seem like the villains are all sitting on large hostage numbers. High risk for high reward. If it gets down to the last few minutes and Izuku needs more rescues, he’ll try to take one of the teachers down. They’ll be tired from fighting off the other students and Izuku will have a greater chance of actually beating them.
Plan in place, Izuku powers up again and bounds over to the farthest corner of the field, the crumbling building. He does a quick loop of the perimeter to check for any obvious threats before heading inside.
“Help is here!” he calls out.
“Over here!”
The ground floor has two kids and six adults, two of which Izuku had to dig out from under a concrete slab. He ushers everyone outside, laying the one with a “broken leg” down gently on the ground. He tags everyone with a sticker and turns to the least injured adult.
“I need to go back in to clear the other floors,” Izuku says, using his Deku voice. “While I’m gone I need you to look out for everyone. Make sure everyone stays together and stays here. If the building goes down, you’ll be out of the danger zone.”
The actor breaks character and pats Izuku on the back. “You’re pretty good at this, kid.”
Izuku smiles. “Thanks, it’s my job.”
But when Izuku comes down from clearing the second floor, four civilians in tow, the first group is nowhere to be seen. He looks back to the scoreboard across the field. Next to his name is the number five, not twelve like it should be.
Izuku whips his head around wildly, searching for them. “Where––?”
“Oh Deku!”
Izuku’s eyes narrow. He turns around to see Monoma and a group of other 1-B students ushering Izuku’s civilians away.
“Hey! Those are my rescuees!”
“They’re my rescuees now.” Monoma maintains eye contact as he peels one of Izuku’s stickers off the back of one of the actor’s hands and replaces it with his own. “Afterall, we rescued them from your incompetence. Eight people in five minutes is rather impressive, though. One for each of us, how considerate of you!”
Izuku’s blood boils. He has half a mind to just fight them all, eight against one. But he can’t–– he’s holding a girl with a broken arm. Even if she is an actor, Izuku is taking this seriously. He can’t risk the safety of any of the civilians if they get caught in the crossfire.
It’s then that Izuku realizes what a large crowd Monoma and his friends have amassed. He looks off to the shipwreck rescue zone to see Tsuyu glaring from a distance, with no civilians near her. Past her, Kirishima emerges from a fake traffic accident shaking his fist, shouting Monoma’s name.
“Are you poaching rescuees from everyone,” Izuku asks, “or just 1-A?”
“I wouldn’t call it poaching,” Monoma drawls. “More like… adopting.”
With that, Monoma and his group turn away. They start making their way towards a group of people that Ojiro just saved. Monoma distracts Ojiro while his classmates swoop in for the civilians.
Of course. Teamwork. Izuku can’t believe he never considered it as a viable strategy–– 1-A already has experience working together. They know each other the best, and there’s already a lot of trust between them. If they just had more time to coordinate, maybe…
Well, there’s still twenty-five minutes left. And Izuku already has visuals on most of his classmates. It’s worth a try.
“Tsuyu! Kirishima!” Izuku calls, jogging over with his civilians in tow. “And–– hey, Jiro! You and Kaminari, come over here!”
Izuku gathers up the class, minus Bakugou. Besides Izuku, only Todoroki and Yaoyorozu have civilians with them.
“What’s going on, Midoriya? We’re wasting time and I have exactly zero rescuees,” Mina huffs, tapping her foot.
“Monoma got to you, too, huh?” Kirishima asks.
“That smug asshole! Just wait ‘til we get to the one-on-ones––”
“Why have you gathered us together, Midoriya?” Tokoyami interrupts. “Not that I’m not thrilled to be included in this round table, but Ashido is correct. We are restrained by the unforgiving chains of time.”
“We’re all losing civilians to Monoma and his team. I think we should work together,” Izuku says, getting right to the point. “We have a great mix of quirks, between all of us. We can set up a mini triage center with defensive quirks so Monoma doesn’t steal our civilians from under us. Plus, if we work together, we can take down some of the teachers and get to larger groups of hostages.”
“We would be more efficient if we worked together,” Iida agrees.
“I had fifteen people rescued before Monoma and his gang surrounded me,” Uraraka laments. “I’m in.”
“I have to go,” Todoroki says. “My quirk isn’t suited for large crowds. Plus, I’m still trying to beat you.”
“Dark Shadow and I must depart as well. I don’t have great control in groups.”
Izuku waves them off. “No hard feelings, guys. Good luck!”
He turns back to the rest of the group. “Are the rest of you good with the plan? We need to start setting up a place to defend––”
“I’m not sure,” Satou speaks up. “I mean, you really think we’ll get enough to be able to split between the sixteen of us?”
“That’s the thing! We don’t have to divide the civilians,” Izuku says. “The rules never said anything about multiple stickers on the same person. Monoma and his group just assumed, but look––”
Izuku reaches over and puts one of his stickers on one of Yaoyorozu’s civilians. The group watches the scoreboard as his score rises by one and Yaoyorozu’s stays the same. Thankfully. He honestly wasn’t sure if that would work, but he’s glad he didn’t just make a fool out of himself in front of his entire class. And the whole nation. There’s no doubt in Izuku’s mind that there are mics picking up their conversation.
“We can share rescuees. Between Yaoyorozu and I we already have twenty, which already puts us all in the top half of the scoreboard.”
“Sounds good to me,” Ojiro says.
“I don’t know about the rest of you, but if Midoriya has a plan, I’m in,” Jiro adds.
“I’m in, too!” Hagakure announces. “I learned my lesson about doubting Midoriya’s plans. What do you need us to do?”
“Oh, heck yeah!” Mineta crows, stepping out from behind Yaoyorozu. “Midoriya’s in charge? We’re gonna win this thing for sure!”
Izuku narrows his eyes. Yaoyorozu shifts away from Mineta, looking deeply uncomfortable.
“Not you.”
“What?”
“Not you,” Izuku repeats. “You can work with us when you learn to respect others. Yaoyorozu and the other girls have told you several times that your behavior makes them uncomfortable. You’re on your own.”
Mineta looks like he might protest, but ultimately slinks away. Sero smiles, clapping Izuku on his shoulder.
“Good call, boss. Let’s get things set up.”
Izuku beams.
They quickly set up a rescue base on the edge of the shipwreck zone pool, since it’s pretty central and it means they only have to defend three sides. They set up defense, rescue, and combat teams quickly, going off the groups that Aizawa had them separate into during training. They’re getting ready to split up when Present Mic takes notice, voice booming from the stadium.
“Wow! It looks like class 1-A has decided to band together! What an adorable show of unity and teamwork! Eraserhead, are they always like this?”
Izuku can hear the reluctant fondness in Aizawa’s voice when he answers. “No. Most of the time I’m trying to stop them from killing each other–– but they know how to work together when it matters most.”
Izuku sends a smile in the general direction of the announcers’ booth. It might be his imagination, but he thinks he hears Aizawa sigh into the microphone.
The group splits up to do their individual tasks. As they leave, Izuku calls out, “And make sure everyone gets a sticker on the rescued civilians! We’re all in this together.”
“Got it!”
“Oui!”
“Hell yeah, let’s do this!”
After Class 1-A gets organized, it’s basically over for the other students. Within ten minutes, they’ve caught up to Monoma and his group’s numbers. Izuku ends up flitting between the three different teams, trying to help out where he’s needed. He and Yaoyorozu are organizing the injured civilians by severity of injury when Kaminari catches their attention.
“Hey, Yaoyorozu!” Kaminari jogs over. “Can you make me a water gun? Doesn’t have to be big, anything will do.”
Yaoyorozu nods. In a matter of seconds, she’s pulling a small water pistol out from under her shirt. “Here you go, Kaminari.”
“Sweet!” Kaminari flashes Izuku a grin. “Time to test out your water gun theory, Midoriya.”
Izuku pales. “Don’t kill anyone, please!”
“I won’t, don’t worry. Hey, Monoma!”
Kaminari runs off. Izuku prays that Aizawa doesn’t blame Izuku for whatever damage Kaminari is about to do.
The next ten minutes are a bit of a blur. Uraraka and Tsuyu make a scarily efficient rescue team, but they still get caught up in a fight with Cementoss that Izuku needs to assist with. He catches glimpses of Todoroki and Bakugou, both of them towing impressive crowds behind them. They get down to the last five minutes before Ojiro flags Izuku down.
“Midoriya!” Ojiro waves Izuku over with his tail, looking a little scuffed up and frantic. “We really need you on combat duty! I know you’re a rescue hero, but the teachers are kicking our asses out here.”
“Not a hero, just an intern,” Izuku corrects automatically.
Jirou rolls her eyes as she passes the two of them. She and Hagakure are carrying an old woman between them. “Hero, intern, whatever, just get out there! Snipe-sensei is destroying Kirishima. It’s a good thing he’s using paint bullets instead of real bullets or we’d be toast.”
“I think Kirishima might be bulletproof anyway,” Izuku mutters, but he still runs off to help.
In the end, Kirishima and Izuku manage to restrain Snipe, but there isn’t enough time to tag the civilians. They share regretful smiles when the buzzer rings.
“Times up!” Present Mic announces. “Students, head back into the arena!”
“Kaminari,” Aizawa says over the speaker, “put the water gun down.”
Izuku looks over to see Kaminari reluctantly dropping the water gun. “Aw, man. How’d he even see me?”
“We’re on national television, dumbass,” Jiro replies. “Everyone can see you.”
By the time Izuku and everyone else has made their way back to the field, the actors have disappeared. Izuku lost track of the scoreboard towards the end there, but he’s reasonably sure that they’ve at least made it to the next round. Maybe even fifth or fourth place? It’s hard to tell how having a large group work together skewed the ranks, but Izuku hopes he didn’t lead his class to an early defeat. At the very least, he’s sure they’ve beat Monoma.
A large screen above Midnight displays everyone’s final scores, save for the first three places, which are blacked out. Then Present Mic announces Bakugou in third place. And then Todoroki in second place. And since Izuku and his classmates’ names are nowhere else on the scoreboard, that must mean….
“And in first place we have… a sixteen-way tie between most of the students in class 1-A!”
Present Mic and Aizawa begin to list all of their names. Izuku blinks, stunned. He knew they did well, but first place? Todoroki’s crowd of civilians seemed so large, Izuku thought he’d be in first for sure. Izuku’s knocked out of his thoughts when Uraraka and Mina sandwich him in a hug, cheering as the rest of 1-A basks in the roar of the crowd.
Izuku, still confused and perhaps a little traumatized from his brush with the media last night, looks at the crowd with apprehension. “Are they booing us?”
“They’re cheering, you dork,” Mina corrects, gently knocking Izuku upside the head.
“Dude, aren’t you used to cheering crowds by now?”
“Not really,” Izuku admits. “They’re usually yelling mean things at me, so this is a nice change.”
Kirishima’s brow furrows.
“Bro,” he says softly.
“It’s fine! Anyway— we did so well! Thanks guys, I’m really proud of everyone!”
Izuku thinks back to what Katayama advised him about his strategy for the Sports Festival.
“Lay low for the first few rounds,” she had said, “and try not to associate too much with your classmates. You want to show the audience that you can work by yourself.”
Lay low. Don’t associate with your classmates.
Sixteen-way tie for first place.
Izuku winces. He can practically feel Katayama’s disappointed stare from here. He’s gonna have to bake a lot of cookies to make up for this.
Lurker stans unite @emperoredgeshot • 3m
#UAFirstYearSportsFest holy shit the level of teamwork and coordination that 1a is displaying is srsly better than some pro groups
2 retweets 29 likes
replying to @emporeredgeshot
no thoughts only deku @minimightyyy • 2m
SIXTEEN WAY TIE !!! did u hear how tired the announcer sounded LMAO he’s their homeroom teacher right?? If they’re like this during a sports fest just imagine what they’re like in class
1 retweet 17 likes
Kono 💕 @jellycrow • 7m
#UAFirstYearSportsFest does anyone else think its just adorable that 1a all banded together 🥺 theyre like a mini agency already awww
15 retweets 1 quote retweet 197 likes
placing final roster bets now @badweasel • 10m
Yaoyorozu (black ponytail) has a crazy useful quirk. The way she defended the civilians and only needed a flare gun and a staff?? Iconic!! Plus the little projectile weapons she made to support Deku’s fighting from a distance were brilliant #UAFirstYearSportsFest
3 retweets 29 likes
Hase Hiroki | NBC JP @ReporterHase • 12m
The energy in the crowd is through the roof. I’ve covered several #UAFirstYearSportsFest and I’ve never seen anything like this. 1A is full of names to watch out for, let’s see if they continue to live up to expectations.
102 retweets 8 quote retweets 223 likes
dan (they/them) @griffinish • 13m
deku and the red haired kid taking down a full pro hero last minute was SO UNEXPECTED i kinda thought everyone in 1A besides Deku would be average but it looks like that class is just full of future high ranking pros #UAFirstYearSportsFest
2 retweets 9 likes
Pan (dm limit) @cannonpanda • 9m
#UAFirstYearSportsFest The pink kid (Ashido??) and the electricity kid’s combo move was amazing! And the way they and the one with tape assisted Deku was so smooth! Can’t believe these kids have only been classmates for a couple of weeks.
42 retweets 2 quote retweets 86 likes
sorry about the UA spam @richkitty • 12m
Is it too early to stan the gravity girl? The way she took Cementoss completely out of the fight with just one touch was INSANE! And props to arms dude and sparkle blond for the distraction assist! #UAFirstYearSportsFest
12 retweets 5 quote retweets 34 likes
Baby ❤️✨ • 10:35 AM
Mai, your client is causing a national meltdown on live television
Me • 10:35 AM
I KNOW !!!!
And this isn’t even the only time this month… NOT EVEN THE ONLY TIME THIS WEEK...
I love that kid but he’s going to send me into an early grave
Why does he never listen to me? I’m a good manager aren’t I??
Baby ❤️✨ • 10:35 AM
Mai Katayama, don’t you dare doubt yourself in front of me. You’re the best manager, sweetheart. I think Deku’s just unmanageable. Besides, it could be worse.
You could be managing that angry blond kid from the opening ceremony.
Praying for his future agency. He seems like a PR disaster.
Me • 10:36 AM
Small blessings 🙏
I’m almost done at the office and then I can come home and watch the festival with you. Want me to get takeout on my way home?
Baby ❤️✨ • 10:36 AM
Already got it covered.
I ordered from that place you like down the street. Should be here in 20 minutes so hurry.
Me • 10:36 AM
You are the best girlfriend in the world and I don’t deserve you
Baby ❤️✨ • 10:36 AM
I like to think I’m the universe’s gift to you for making you deal with the stress of trying to manage Deku.
Hurry home ❤️
(Somewhere in Hosu, a Killer stalks his prey.)
Whatever camaraderie was between 1-A for the first event is quickly squashed when the second event is announced.
“And now for round two!” Midnight strikes a dramatic pose, feet planted wide and hands on her hips as the giant screen behind her lights up. “A relay race!”
Immediately, every student snaps their gaze to Iida.
“Students will split up into teams of four. Every student will run one lap around the track. When your turn is done, you will pass your baton to your teams next runner and so on until the last contestant. You must stay in your lanes and any quirk use must only happen during your allotted run time. The second you pass your baton, your turn is over and any quirk use will be a penalty for your team. You can only use your quirk on a teammate in a single touch or for less than five seconds as you pass the baton.”
Ah, those rules are probably to specifically stop Yaoyorozu from just making her team scooters. Or to stop Uraraka from applying her quirk to her teammates' clothes.
“Sabotage is allowed and encouraged, as long as you stay in your lane. You have fifteen minutes to plan your teams while Cementoss constructs the track. Go!”
A buzzer rings and the screen behind Midnight begins to countdown.
“Do you guys want to––”
Izuku is unceremoniously shoved out of the way as practically every other student tries to get close to Iida, who makes panicked eye contact with Izuku over everyone’s heads. Todoroki isn’t much better off, also shooting Izuku vaguely distressed looks as he suddenly becomes the center of attention.
“Yikes, looks like we’ll have to find two others, huh Uraraka?”
“Uh….”
Izuku turns to Uraraka, who is peering up at him with the most apologetic, yet extremely determined expression Izuku’s ever seen.
“Sorry, but I don’t think we should team up. I meant what I said earlier: Todoroki and Iida aren’t the only ones that want to challenge you. Plus, with Bakugou, Todoroki, and Iida going after you, you’re too much of a target. Sorry, Deku-kun!”
Izuku softens immediately. It’s impossible to be mad at Uraraka. “Don’t worry about it! Good luck!”
She grins. “I think you’re gonna be the one needing luck. I’m gonna wipe the floor with you!’
“We’ll see about that! Hey, I think Todoroki’s trying to get your attention. See you on the track!”
Uraraka was right. Having three of the powerhouses of 1-A very publicly declare their intent to beat you really drives away potential teammates.
It’s okay, though. Izuku always has a plan.
He knows what he has to do, but it really does not line up with what he actually wants to do. He wishes he could have convinced his friends to save their declarations of war for the last round. If he, Iida, Uraraka, and Todoroki were a team, they’d have this race in the bag.
Izuku starts with the easy part.
He makes a beeline for Shinsou. They hadn’t discussed their Sports Festival strategies with each other, but Izuku knew that Shinsou planned to lay low until the end of the second round at least, since his quirk is most effective when people don’t know about it. Teaming up with Izuku would be perfect–– Izuku can draw attention away from Shinsou until the last minute, and Shinsou can’t use his quirk against Izuku for as long as they’re teamed up.
Shinsou smiles as he sees Izuku approach. The other students have all grouped together near the front of the stage, hero courses mingling as they assembled teams. Shinsou is standing so far removed from the crowd he might as well be half-way out the stadium. He’s the only general studies student to make the cut. Nearby, a cluster of three support course students stand together–– also obviously left out from the mass of hero students.
“Come to beg for my help?” Shinsou teases.
Izuku rolls his eyes. “You need me just as much as I need you.”
“Not true, I could team up with––”
“You!” someone screeches. “Number one Hero Intern! Shield’s model!”
Izuku turns towards the support course students to see one of them practically launch herself at him and Shinsou. She has pink hair and is decked out head-to-toe in support gear–– she must be strong because all that metal looks like it weighs a ton. She shoves her goggles up to her forehead and steps right into his personal space, eyes darting all over him, assessing.
“Um!” Izuku squeaks.
“Aw, no support gear? Ah, I see you have your costume boots, but is that it? I’ve been wanting to get my hands on those gauntlets for ages–– is it true that they’re balanced to distribute shock across your knuckles instead of down your forearms? Do you know why Shield would do that? And what metal alloy did he use for the soles of your boots? Do the bunny ears on your mask contain your communicator parts or is it all hidden in the jaw piece? And––”
“Holy shit, someone who rambles more than you,” Shinsou says to Izuku. “Great. Just what I needed, two overenthusiastic nerds.”
The support course student flicks her eyes over to Shinsou, quickly scanning him before turning all her attention back to Izuku. “I prefer the term genius, but nerd also applies.”
“I-I’m sorry, but who are you?” Izuku takes a couple steps back. She follows.
“Hatsume Mei, but you can just call me Mei! I look forward to working with you.”
“Working with me?”
“I’m joining your team for the relay race,” Mei declares. “And–– Shield better watch out, because once my babies hit the market, I’m gonna clean him out of all his clients, starting with you.”
“Babies? Clean him out? Wait, wait, let’s slow down––”
Mei huffs, tapping her foot impatiently. Izuku gets the impression that she’s always operating at processing speeds too fast for the average person to keep up with. “My babies. On me right now I have my Hover Soles, Hydraulic Bracers, Jet Pack––”
“Wait,” Izuku interrupts, looking at the shiny metal box strapped to her back. “That design looks familiar. Is it modeled after the Buster Hero––”
“––Air Jet? Yes! Good eye, Hero Intern!”
“Er, my name’s Midoriya.”
“Hero Intern Midoriya! Plus, I have my new Capture Gun, just finished last night! This baby can launch a net up to––”
“Okay, we get it,” Shinsou butts in. “You make gadgets, great. Why should we let you join our team?”
“I have a jetpack.”
“Okay, and?”
Mei blinks. “I have a jetpack.”
“You’re in,” Izuku says.
“What, really? Just like that?” Shinsou frowns. “We don’t even know if this stuff works. She’s probably just in this for the exposure––”
“Oh, I most definitely am.”
“I… appreciate the honesty. Look, Shinsou, I was going to ask someone from the support course to join us anyway. Mei’s equipment is reliable.”
“How do you even know that? We just met her.”
“I’ve been working with Pro level support gear for the past year. Trust me, I know what quality support items look like.”
Mei grins, looking just a touch unhinged. “I knew you’d love my babies. I have a support gear contract draft in my locker––”
“Later. Maybe. Stay here, I’ll be right back. Mei, give Shinsou something to boost his running speed, maybe something for defense. Save the jetpack for yourself.”
“Where are you going?” Shinsou asks as Izuku heads back towards the hero course cluster.
“I’m going to get our fourth.”
The crowd quiets as Izuku nears. They eye him, watching to see who he approaches. No one in 1-A wants to team up, understandable considering Bakugou, Todoroki, and Iida have all made it clear that they’re going to go after Izuku’s team specifically. Izuku’s also pretty sure that Uraraka and Yaoyorozu are planning some Izuku-specific sabotage techniques, based on the way they’re whispering to each other and looking him over. Izuku spots his target in a gap in the crowd, standing off to one side.
Izuku sucks up his pride and approaches.
“Monoma,” Izuku says, as neutrally as possible, “will you join my team?”
Immediate regret.
A slow, Cheshire grin blossoms across Monoma’s face. “Well, well, well. Has 1-A’s Star Student finally seen the light? Are you realizing that 1-B is far superior? It’s not too late to transfer out, I’m sure Kan-sensei would be happy to––”
Izuku’s eye twitches. “Stop talking. I’m only asking because I can’t afford to let you get picked up by Iida’s team. If you copy his quirk, the rest of us are toast.”
Impossibly, Monoma’s smile gets more smug. Izuku has never wanted to punch someone so badly in his entire life. “And what’s stopping me from joining his team instead of yours, then?”
“You hate 1-A. Besides me, no one in my team is from 1-A. You get the satisfaction of beating 1-A with one of their own classmates.”
Monoma lights up. “How cruel! I’m in.”
Izuku and Monoma make their way back to Shinsou and Mei. As soon as Shinsou spots Monoma, he turns away.
“No way,” Shinsou throws over his shoulder. “Sorry, Midoriya, you’re on your own. There’s no way I’m dealing with Discount Bakugou.”
“Discount–– I’ll have you know I’m ten times the hero that angry, yapping asshole––”
“Please take your inferiority complex poorly hidden by a faked superiority complex somewhere else. I am way too tired to deal with this so early in the morning.”
“It’s almost noon, you cretin.”
“I literally did not ask.”
Izuku groans, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Please, you guys. We only have ten more minutes before the race starts and we need to come up with a plan.”
“Hope you figure out what to do,” Shinsou says, “because I’m out.”
Izuku, who anticipated this, counters quickly. “Everyone else already has a team. Plus, you wanna win, right? You know me, Shinsou. I can get us to the finals. Monoma is a necessary evil.”
“Hey!”
Shinsou grumbles, but he stops trying to leave. “I hate you.”
“I have screenshots proving that you don’t.”
“Manipulative little shit. I knew the Ray of Sunshine thing was just an act.”
Izuku beams at him, undeterred. He turns back to Monoma. “First, we need to test something out. Monoma, you can copy three quirks at a time, but your quirk sometimes draws blanks, right?”
Monoma frowns. “How do you know that?”
“Unimportant. Try to copy Shinsou’s quirk then test it out on me.”
“Why can’t I just copy yours? You’re almost as fast as Iida, wouldn’t that make the most sense?”
“You’ll break your legs.”
Monoma scoffs. “Have a little faith, Deku. I’m sure I could handle your little power up quirk.”
Izuku rolls up the compression sleeve on his right arm and holds his arm out to Monoma, showing off his network of scars. “Trust me. You’ll break your legs.”
Monoma blinks down at Izuku’s arms, wide-eyed. “Okay, General Course, get over here.”
“I have a name you know? Hero Course kids, you’re all the same.”
Monoma slaps Shinsou’s hand with more force than is necessary. Then he frowns, turning to Shinsou. “Wait, what does your quirk even do?”
“Mind control. You activate it by asking a question and having the other person respond.”
Monoma’s eyes glint. “Wonderful! Deku, aren’t you absolutely thrilled to have me on your team?”
Izuku sighs heavily. “Sure––”
Izuku feels the familiar hooks of Shinsou’s quirk sink into his mind, but this time they feel slightly different. Like off brand cereal–– almost the same, but slightly off. The familiar cloudy mindscape that Izuku falls into when under Shinsou’s quirk materializes around him, misty and cold and oddly comforting. By now, Izuku has grown used to the fact that he’s not alone. He figures that it’s just a side effect of Shinsou’s quirk, but he never remembers to ask about it. All he knows is that it’s peaceful in here–– just Izuku and his 8 ghost friends. The one with yellow gloves and a cape is particularly nice.
“–– enough. Midoriya? Are you back?”
Izuku shakes off the remnants of Shinsou–– Monoma’s–– mind control. “What?”
“So, wonderful to hear you admit that 1-B is superior,” Monoma says. “If only I had my phone on me to record that.”
Izuku ignores him. “Shinsou, how many people can your quirk hold at once?”
“Maybe five, if they’re not doing anything. If I want to command them, probably two, but after a couple minutes I’ll start to get a nosebleed.”
“Perfect.” Izuku draws them all into a huddle. “Here’s the plan.”
As Izuku speaks, he sees Monoma, Shinsou, and Mei’s expressions change from apprehensive to excited. There’s a certain conniving energy with this group, one Izuku himself shares. He idly wonders if Nedzu would consider taking them all on for private lessons.
“This is great and all,” Mei cuts in, after Izuku has explained everything, “but you promised me I’d get to show off my babies. What’s my role in all this?”
Izuku grins. “Your job is to cause chaos.”
Mei pauses for a moment, before throwing her head back and cackling maniacally. “Oh, this is going to be so much fun.”
Cementoss finishes paving the track–– eleven lanes, all looping around the massive interior of the stadium. Each of them will need to complete one lap. When it looks like Midnight might call for them to line up soon, Izuku nudges Monoma with an elbow.
“Monoma,” Izuku says, nodding his head towards his classmates. “Go apologize, like we talked about.”
Monoma makes a show of sighing and reluctantly dragging himself over to where the majority of 1-A is standing in their teams. Izuku, Mei, and Shinsou watch from a distance as Monoma makes himself known.
“Class 1-A! It’s come to my attention that I have been acting… less than friendly towards you.”
Jiro snorts. “That’s one way to put it.”
Monoma gracefully ignores her comment. “Talking to Midoriya has made me see the error in my ways. As Hero Course students of such a prestigious school as UA, we should be united against our real common enemy: the Hero Course of Shiketsu.”
Izuku turns away to face-palm. Shinsou’s shoulders shake with silent laughter.
“Why?” Izuku mutters to himself. “Can he not just apologize like a regular person? What’s the point of bringing Shiketsu into this?”
“So it is with my deepest and most sincere apologies that I come to you–– laying my pride at your feet to humbly ask for your forgiveness for my past transgressions.”
“You used my own quirk to shock me,” Kaminari says.
“I have grown as a person since then.”
“That was ten minutes ago!”
“Class rep,” Monoma says, ignoring Kaminari and turning to Iida. “I believe I owe you the biggest apology, for disrespecting your class so much. As the noble leader of 1-A, I ask for your forgiveness.”
Iida, predictably, flusters. “Certainly! As class rep it is my duty to––”
“Right!” Monoma interrupts, smile straining. “Thank you!”
“This is the most excruciating apology I’ve ever seen,” Shinsou murmurs. Izuku hums in agreement.
“I think he’s doing great,” Mei says.
Shinsou and Izuku turn to look at her. Not a hint of sarcasm.
“I want to put the past behind us,” Monoma continues with a smile, holding a hand out for Iida to shake. “May the best team win.”
Iida shakes, offering Monoma a hesitant smile. “I am not sure what Midoriya-kun said to prompt this sudden change of heart, but I cannot say I oppose it! Apology accepted, and good luck to you and your team.”
Monoma nods, and then turns to make his way back to Izuku and the rest of the team.
He knocks right into Bakugou.
Shit. Don’t blow it, don’t blow it, don’t––
“Move it, extra!” Bakugou barks. Monoma’s hackles raise.
He makes eye contact with Izuku from over Bakugou’s shoulder. His expression smooths out and he offers Bakugou a beatific smile and a quiet apology before neatly sidestepping him and making his way back to Izuku and the team.
“There. I apologized, happy? That was the single most painful thing I’ve ever experienced. I hope you know I will never forgive you for forcing me to prostrate myself before the inferior peasants of 1-A and from now on––”
“Oh my god, please stop speaking. The amount of dramatic teen bullshit oozing out of you is seriously starting to make me nauseous.”
Izuku is saved from having to break up another fight between Shinsou and Monoma when Midnight calls for everyone to get into their places. Izuku jogs over to Midnight to get their team’s baton, settling into the first lane.
He basically spent the past ten minutes overheating his brain, trying to predict the most likely racing order his classmates would pick based on what he knows about them and their quirks. Luckily, 1-A had mostly stuck to themselves, reducing the amount of variables Izuku had to account for. His main concerns were making sure Mei was up against Kaminari and Izuku was up against Iida.
Iida’s going to be his team’s first runner. Iida knows he’s the fastest person here, and he’s going to try to give his team a head start, which is why Izuku has to be the one to race him. He’s the only one that can almost keep up— or at least, slow him down enough to give the others a fighting chance. After Izuku is Mei, then Monoma, then Shinsou last.
“Alright!” Mic’s voice booms from the loudspeakers. “Before we get started, let’s take a look at our teams!”
“It looks like students mostly stuck to their classes.” Aizawa tsks. “1-A, what have I told you about isolating yourselves?”
Sero, who’s lined up first for his team a couple lanes over from Izuku, hunches his shoulders. “Man, does Aizawa-sensei have to scold us infront of everyone?”
“I think it’s his own weird tough-love way of looking out for us,” Uraraka chimes in from the sidelines. “Look at it this way, if he calls us out on national television, we’re more likely to actually listen to him.”
“Team Todoroki is stacked with powerhouses,” Mic observes. “Tokoyami, Uraraka, and Yaoyorozu. That’s a tough lineup to beat. And the hero course’s class reps have banded together on Team Iida, alongside recommended student Honenuki and Shiozaki, who placed 4th in the entrance exam! Wow!”
Iida lines up next to Izuku, clutching his team’s baton. He looks out over the crowd, glasses glinting in the sunlight. He’s so different from the awkward, overly-formal kid Izuku met almost a year ago–– well, maybe still awkward and overly-formal, but friendship has softened Iida’s hard edges in Izuku’s eyes. Izuku has seen Iida sleepily munching on strawberry Pocky as they study Pre-Quirk History. It’s hard to look at the boy next to him and see anything but one of his best friends in the world.
“Is your brother here?” Izuku asks. In the background, Mic and Aizawa continue to make comments about the other students’ teams.
“Tensei was scheduled for some mandatory patrol hours today, regrettably. My parents assure me they’re recording it for him to watch later, though. I hope to make them proud.”
Izuku gives Iida a warm smile. “I’m sure you already do.”
Iida returns the smile.
“It looks like Midoriya hasn’t teamed up with anyone from 1-A, despite being the glue in last round’s team up. Any ideas why, Eraser?”
Izuku snaps his gaze up to the commentator’s booth, spine stiffening at the mention of his name.
“I can’t read his mind, but I will say that Midoriya is one of the smartest students I’ve had the misfortune of having to babysit. What he lacks in self-preservation, common sense, and risk assessment, he somewhat makes up for in strategy.”
Izuku grins. He’s pretty sure there was a compliment in there somewhere.
“And Shinsou from General Studies isn’t someone you should underestimate either. He’s the only General Education student to make it to Round Two in fifteen years. That takes determination.”
“Did you hear that Shinsou?” Izuku bounces excitedly in place, calling over to his friend on the sidelines. “Aizawa-sensei complimented you! On live TV!”
“It’s not that big of a deal,” Shinsou dismisses, but he looks incredibly pleased.
“And that’s all eleven teams accounted for! We’re just waiting on Midnight to give the starting signal.”
“A reminder before we start,” Midnight announces. “You can only use your quirk while you’re running your lap. Any quirk use on a teammate has to happen in one touch or less than five seconds. The vertical boundary for your lane is five meters up.”
Izuku glances down the line. Todoroki, Iida, Sero, and Ojiro are all up first for their teams. Interestingly, Bakugou picked Tokage to go first for his team. Izuku has no idea how those two ended up on a team, but he has a sneaking suspicion that Mina and Kirishima made it happen. It’s a smart move, Tokage will be able to outmaneuver anyone else in this lineup. Izuku doesn’t recognize the starting runners on any of the other teams.
Midnight stands, poised, off to the side of the track. She’s holding a large, over-the-top racing pistol in one hand. She raises it into the air.
“On your marks!”
Izuku powers up One for All.
“Get set!”
Next to him, Iida’s engines rev. The track smells like hot asphalt and exhaust fumes.
“Go!”
Izuku doesn’t even hear the sound of the pistol over the absolutely deafening roar of Iida’s engines. The two of them shoot forward just in time to avoid Todoroki’s glacier. Izuku forces himself to keep up 8%, even when Iida starts to pull ahead as they near the first bend in the track. He can’t afford to exhaust himself this early in the festival.
Izuku waits until Iida is rounding the curve. Then, he brings his hands forward and flicks a blast of compressed air at him, trying to knock him off balance.
Iida stumbles, but remains in his lane. Izuku curses. The blast was too weak. If he had his gloves, he could have pulled it off at 15%.
“Iida and Midoriya are in the lead by almost half the track! Wow, that’s some real speed!”
Izuku uses the curve to throw a quick glance behind him. Third place is Tokage, though it’s hard to really see her since she’s fractured into a dozen pieces, whizzing through the air. Right behind her is Todoroki, who is using a combination of ice skating and fire to propel himself forward. It looks like Sero, Ojiro, and the other teams got caught up in Todoroki’s iceberg.
The next part of the track is straight. Izuku aims another air blast at Iida, this time going for his feet. He slows to almost a stop so he can pour 15% into it.
“Midoriya is stopping–– Woah! And, with a blast from Midoriya, Iida takes a tumble face first onto the track! Yikes! That’s gotta hurt.”
“Sorry, Iida!”
Izuku takes advantage of all the seconds Iida is down to sprint forward at 15%. He just manages to overtake Iida before he’s up, engines rumbling. It’s not long before Iida passes him, sticking a leg out to try to trip Izuku as he passes. Izuku hops cleanly over it.
They’re nearing the final stretch now, with the other teams still just getting to the first curve. Izuku can see Mei at the startingline, turned and ready to receive the baton from him. Iida is maybe only two meters ahead of him. Maybe they’ll be able to stay neck-and-neck, which would give Mei the advantage in the next––
“Recipro Burst!”
Izuku blinks and suddenly Iida is across the finish line, panting with his hands on his knees as Honenuki starts running with their team’s baton.
“What?!”
“What just happened there?” Mic yells. “Iida finishes his lap with an incredible burst of speed! Blink and you miss it!”
Izuku curses, pushing One for All to his maximum percent so he can get Mei the baton as quickly as possible. He passes it to her and she takes off. Izuku turns to Iida.
“Iida,” Izuku gasps, “what was that? I didn’t even see you move.”
Iida smiles at him, face flushed. “You’re not the only one with some tricks up your sleeve. I’ve been saving my special move for the right time. Now, if you wouldn’t mind, could you help me over to the sidelines. I cannot move after activating Recipro Burst.”
No matter. Izuku’s part is done now. It’s up to the rest of his team.
Izuku picks Iida up and helps settle him down off to the side of the track, where all the finished runners and runners up next watch the match from. By the time they settle, Todoroki has handed his baton off to Tokoyami, followed by every other team save for Bakugou.
“It looks like the part of Tokage that was carrying the baton got caught in Todoroki’s glacier and is only now crossing the finish line. Team Bakugou is in last place.”
As Present Mic says that, the piece of Tokage’s arm that’s holding the baton finally makes its way to Bakugou. In a flurry of explosions and a scream of rage, Bakugou jets down the track, trying to catch up to the rest of the runners.
Monoma sidles up to where Izuku stands, still panting after his lap. “What a brute.”
“He has good technique, though,” Izuku comments. “Watch.”
Bakugou executes some kind of complicated flip, using explosions from his feet to propel him forward even faster. He stabilizes his flight with smaller explosions from his hands, subtly adjusting his trajectory so he stays in his lane.
“Next runners, line up!” Midnight directs.
“That’s my cue.” Monoma slides Izuku a sideways glance. “This plan of yours better work.”
“Just do your part,” Izuku says. “Let me worry about the rest.”
As Monoma stalks off to wait in their lane for Mei, Shinsou takes his place next to Izuku.
“She seems like she’s having fun,” he says, nodding to where Mei is absolutely destroying the field.
She’s at the farthest point from the starting line, about half way through the lap, but her maniacal cackling is still audible. She’s outfitted herself with a truly scary number of support items, all of which seem to be activated at once. There’s some kind of mechanical pole that’s terrorizing Honenuki as it repeatedly stabs into the softened grown he’s attempting to swim through. She’s using her jetpack to both keep away from Kaminari’s shocks and to blow hot, combusting fuel at Dark Shadow. Izuku doesn’t even know that the wide, metal paddles coming from a belt on her waist do, but whatever it is it seems to be giving Shoji a hard time.
“The support course’s Hatsume Mei is wreaking havoc on the hero course students! Look at the range on that, uh, pole? Eraser, help me out here.”
“She’s keeping herself high enough to stay within boundaries, but just out of reach of the other students’ quirks. She clearly knows the limits of her own inventions. Good job,” Aizawa says flatly.
“Wow! A shining compliment from Eraserhead!”
“I literally just said good job.”
“Hatsume is going to be one to watch out for! Support companies, take note!”
“That’s H-A-T,” Mei yells, still jetting down the track, “S-U-M-E, Hatsume! Again, H-A-T––”
Shinsou chuckles. “I don’t think they can hear her from here.”
“At least she’s having fun. And dropping to the middle of the pack, good.” Izuku wearily eyes Bakugou, who’s steadily approaching the other runners. “If Monoma isn’t fast enough––”
“I know.” Shinsou taps the mic on his collar, courtesy of Mei of course.
Izuku grimaces. “I really hope you don’t have to use it. You need to keep your quirk a secret as long as possible, plus we don’t even know if it still works through projection.”
Shinsou shrugs. “It’ll work. Your plans always work, Midoriya, even if they are batshit insane.”
Izuku softly chuckles to himself. Looks like Shinsou picked up Aizawa’s habit of delivering backhanded compliments with the flattest voice imaginable.
The second round of runners approach the finish line. Tokoyami is first, using Dark Shadow to pass Uraraka the baton a good five meters before Tokoyami himself crosses the line. Honenuki and Shiozaki fumble a bit, the baton getting caught in her vines, but she gets a hand on it. She uses her vines to trip up Aoyama, who receives the baton from Kaminari with a slight flinch at the static shock.
Mei hands Monoma the baton smoothly. She gave him her Electromagnetic Soles before the round started, and he powers them up now so he can keep up with the other runners.
Then, like Death approaching, Bakugou Katsuki rockets down the track.
“You ready, Shitty Hair!?” Bakugou roars.
“Let’s do this, Bakubro!”
Bakugou lets out a loud barrage of explosions, catapulting himself at Kirishima’s back at breakneck speeds. Somehow, he manages to lift a fully hardened Kirishima and use a massive explosion to propel him forward like some kind of terrifying human projectile–– all while successfully passing him the baton.
Izuku’s jaw drops as Kirishima whizzes right past Monoma and the others–– from dead last to fifth place.
“How did he manage to stay in his lane?” Shinsou questions, looking back and forth between Bakugou, who’s grinning smugly at the rest of them and Kirishima, now running normally on the track and trying to catch up to Uraraka.
“The starting line is a straight shot for a hundred meters,” Izuku murmurs. “Kacchan can produce bigger explosions. He must have taken into account the fact that Kirishima would need to be back on his feet in time to run around the curve before he launched him like that.”
Hot on Kirishima’s heels is Aoyama, who takes advantage of the leftover ice from Todoroki to use his laser to propel himself backwards smoothly along the track. Crap. Izuku and Mei’s leads were enough to keep Monoma in the middle of the pack, but now he’s fallen to almost last. They have a plan for Shinsou to be able to win back the lead, but not from all the way in last place.
Looks like Monoma is going to have to step it up.
“Next runners, to your marks!” Midnight calls, once the last team has passed on their baton to their third runner. Shinsou sighs.
“Monoma better pull through,” Shinsou mutters, quickly adjusting the Hover Soles Mei gave him before stepping up to the line.
Izuku can see the exact moment Monoma fails to manifest engines in his legs. Shiozaki passes him and he quickly rips off Mei’s Electromagnetic Soles, ready to try to use the quirk he copied off Iida earlier.
Nothing happens. He must not be able to copy mutant quirks then.
“Problem with your plan, Deku?”
Izuku turns to look at a smirking Bakugou–– now joining the rest of the finished runners on the sidelines.
“Your little strategy wasn’t as subtle as you thought. The only reason Glasses fell for the whole apology and handshake thing was because he’s a fuckin’ square that has to be polite to everyone.”
Izuku thinks that Bakugou— who has a 4.0 GPA and goes to bed at 9 P.M.— calling someone else a square is absolutely hilarious.
“Your little charity case team is about to fall apart,” Bakugou taunts. “Your extras are throwing the match.”
“Don’t worry about us,” Izuku dismisses, turning back to the race. “I always have a backup plan.”
As if proving him right, a sudden burst of explosions rock the track. Izuku turns back to Bakugou, grinning.
“What was that about throwing the match, Kacchan?” Izuku asks, as Monoma rockets down his lane, swerving and cackling maniacally as Bakugou’s explosions erupt from his palms.
Bakugou’s jaw goes slack. “That weasley motherfucker, when––? The handshake? When he bumped into me?”
“Oops,” Izuku says, blinking up at Bakugou with faux innocence. “Looks like Iida wasn’t the only one to fall for it.”
Monoma passes Kirishima, throwing a small explosion his way and forcing him to slow down to activate his hardening quirk in defense. Monoma’s flight isn’t nearly as coordinated as Bakugou’s was, but at least he had some time to observe how Bakugou uses his quirk to launch himself before he needed to use Explosion himself. Izuku would like to say he timed it that way, but it was honestly a stroke of luck. Izuku actually thought Bakugou would place himself as the last runner, just so he could be the one to cross the finish line.
“Monoma of Team Midoriya blasts his way to fourth place!” Mic announces. “That was certainly unexpected!”
“Mhm.”
“Come on, Eraser, can’t we get a little more flavor in your commentary?”
Aizawa audibly sighs into the mic. “Technique needs work.”
Monoma nearly scrapes his face on the ground as he tries to make a turn. Next to Izuku, Bakugou seethes.
“How the fuck is that even allowed?” Bakugou snarls. “Isn’t there a rule against using your quirk on someone for more than 3 seconds?”
Izuku was prepared for this. “Monoma’s quirk use was only a single touch, and the rules only said something about using your quirk on a teammate. Not on other teams, or before the match started.”
Bakugou glares before he stomps off, steam practically pouring out of his ears. Izuku continues watching from the sidelines, tense. The next part of his plan banks entirely on Monoma’s ability to be enough of a provocative asshole to get people to respond to him.
Monoma hits the last bend of the lap, finally within earshot of Uraraka, Shiozaki, and the others ahead of him. He shouts something–– Izuku can’t hear exactly what it is, but from the expressions on everyone’s face it must’ve been particularly rage inducing. Aoyama and Uraraka are the only two who respond, and they immediately slow to a walking pace, clutching their stomachs.
“He only got two, so he’s disguising it as exhaustion instead of obviously stopping them,” Izuku murmurs. “Smart. Gives Shinsou the advantage.”
Mei, who was still quietly recovering from her own lap, hums thoughtfully. “Still think Shinsou can pull off the last part of the plan?”
“I know he can.”
Yaoyorozu, who was set to run after Uraraka, frantically yells for her to keep going. Uraraka calmly walks towards the finish line, expression blank. Next to her, Jiro is yelling at Aoyama to hurry up, her earphone jacks jabbing the air in frustration. Most of the other teams are a good fourth of the way through the lap before Uraraka and Aoyama are close enough for their teammates to snatch the batons out of their hands.
Monoma hands the baton off to Shinsou, just a little bit after the other teams. Despite the delay from their brainwashed teammates, both Yaoyorozu and Jiro manage to pull even with him. It’s a bitter race for most of the track. Most of the runners used their big moves at the beginning of the lap, something that Shinsou was lucky to avoid by being close to last. Izuku worries his lip. The final bracket is only sixteen students. They have to make it into the top four teams if they want to move forward.
Bakugou’s team is almost certainly going to come in first, with the way Mina is skating down the track on her acid. Yaoyorozu may be behind Shinsou at the moment, but she brought a metaphorical gun to a knife fight. She’s going to get second. Kendo is smacking anyone who gets within range. Izuku hates to admit it, as he watches the gap between Shinsou and the top four grow, he starts to doubt.
Then Shinsou proves him wrong.
“Wow!” Shinsou exclaims as Yaoyorozu whizzes by on her scooter. “Yaoyorozu-san, you have an incredible quirk, don’t you?”
Yaoyorozu, unable to take a compliment, sputters. “Well, I––”
“Step off the scooter.”
She abruptly steps off her scooter, which goes flying off the track and crashes out of bounds. The jolt of stepping down is enough to shake her from Shinsou’s control, but it’s too late. She tries to produce another scooter, but even from a distance, Izuku can see it’s not going to happen in time. She must have used up all her fat stores on the scooter, thinking it would be the last thing she’d need to make before they took a break for lunch.
One by one, the remaining front runners fall to Shinsou like dominos. It’s truly glorious to watch.
“Hey, Jiro!” Shinsou shouts. “Must suck to be in the same class as Midoriya, huh?”
“What?! No––”
Jiro immediately stops in her tracks, Shinsou not bothering to give her a command. Shinsou, still using the boosts from Mei’s boots, sprints past her.
“What did you do to her?” Kendo asks, looking over her shoulder as she uses her enlarged hands to push herself as she runs.
Shinsou smirks. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“Whatever it is, I––”
Shinsou laughs maniacally–– a trend for Team Midoriya, it seems–– as he passes her..
“Sinsou, the dark horse of Team Midoriya, is now in second place!” Present Mic shouts. “Incredible! Who could’ve seen this coming?”
“Me,” Aizawa deadpans. “I told you to keep an eye out for him.”
Now all that’s left between Shinsou and first place is Mina. They’re in the home stretch, and Mina’s acid skates are way too fast for Shinsou to be able to overtake with Mei’s boots alone. The last bend in the track finally brings them close enough for Shinsou to shout at her.
“Shit, I’m gonna lose!” Shinsou shouts. “Should’ve known better than to listen to a dumbass like Midoriya, huh?”
Mina, whips her head around to look at him. “You take that back––!”
She freezes, her momentum on her acid still carrying her forward the last few meters. Next to Izuku, Bakugou is practically foaming at the mouth with rage as Shinsou crosses the finish line, with Mina gliding to a halt just meters behind.
The crowd absolutely loses it.
“In a truly baffling series of events, Team Midoriya takes first place!”
Izuku just barely manages to catch Shinsou as he collapses, wheezing. As soon as he’s won, he releases his hold on the other students. Mina manages to make it across before Yayorozu, with Kendo just barely beating out Jiro for the fourth place cut-off.
“What the fuck was that?”
“Nothing!” Izuku smiles serenely at the confused, vaguely upset crowd that gathers around them. He tries to shield Shinsou’s lanky, noodly body from view as he shakes and recovers. Using his quirk while flat-out sprinting must have been hard on him.
“Was it a support item?” Mina peers at the metal strapped around Shinsou’s legs and torso. She, at least, doesn’t seem mad, just confused. “It was like a stun grenade or a flash bomb, but dark. My memory is all hazy.”
Izuku plays dumb. “Sorry, I’m not sure what you mean?”
The others seem to let it go, most of them too preoccupied with their losses. Todoroki squints at them suspiciously for a moment, before he turns away, too.
Still half-draped over Izuku’s shoulder, Shinsou groans.
“You were perfect, Shinsou! All according to plan!” Izuku beams. “Although, I wish your strategy relied less on insulting me.”
“Heh. Not my fault everyone has a soft spot for you. I’m just using it to my advantage.”
“Congratulations, team!” Mei exclaims.
“Yes,” Monoma says casually, though he’s smiling. “I suppose we did well. I wouldn’t mind lowering myself to your levels again.”
Shinsou finally catches his breath. He looks Monoma dead in the eye. “I am going to beat the shit out of you next round. You better hope we’re not matched up.”
Monoma makes a face like he’s stepped in cat vomit. He opens his mouth to reply, but seems to think better of it. He turns on his heel and makes his way over to the other 1-B students who made the cut.
“That was surprisingly aggressive of you, Shinsou.”
“I didn't mean it,” Shinsou says. “Or did I?”
Izuku honestly can’t tell.
Mei makes Izuku promise to come to visit her in the labs during school hours before she flounces off to talk to Iida. Izuku narrows his eyes in suspicion. Just because he took advantage of Iida’s kindness to win the round doesn’t mean he’ll let anyone else do it. Izuku is the only one who gets to manipulate his friends like that. Best friend privileges.
“Midoriya,” Todoroki catches Izuku’s attention. He’s been quiet up until now, standing silently behind Izuku and watching the match. “You knew it was going to end like this.”
It’s not a question. And Todoroki is observant, so Izuku decides to spill the details. He would have figured it out in the end anyway.
“Our strategy with Shinsou relied on being behind most people, but not totally last,” Izuku explains. “Shinsou’s quirk works best when you don’t see it coming. We knew if he needed to take down other runners, it would have to be one at a time, working his way up to first place so the people ahead of him couldn’t see what he was doing.”
Todoroki slides his gaze over to Shinsou. “And what, exactly, is your quirk?”
“Nice try, but you’re not getting anything out of me. I’ll see you in the finals, if Midoriya doesn’t get to you first.”
Izuku grins. He likes that Shinsou has gained a little self-confidence.
“It looks like Teams Midoriya, Bakugou, Todoroki, and Iida are moving on to the finals!” Present Mic announces,
Midnight takes over. “And the final event will be….”
The giant screen behind the main stage lights up with big, block letters: One-on-One Target Tag.
“Uh… what’s Target Tag?” Kirishima wonders out loud.
As if answering his question, Midnight elaborates.
“Target Tag is the brand new event that UA staff invented just for this year’s first years! Students will be given three targets to put anywhere visible on their body–– so no armpits or soles of feet. Then, two students will face off on a battlefield with concrete structures, courtesey of Cementoss. Soft foam balls will be scattered around the arena. Hit your opponent with a ball on at least two of their targets and you win. Cementoss, Hound Dog, and I will be standing by to ensure the fighting doesn’t get out of hand and a student is allowed to stop the match anytime they want.”
Wow. They’re really trying to avoid the comparisons to the USJ, huh?
Uraraka appears at Izuku’s elbow. “This doesn’t seem too bad.”
“I guess it depends on who you get matched up with.” Izuku grins down at her. “I bet you’re gonna crush the competition. Projectiles are your specialty.”
“You better watch out,” she teases back.
But Izuku has nothing to worry about.
“Here are the assignments for the One-on-Ones!”
The screen lights up with a tournament bracket. Izuku finds his name on the bottom left, his first match being––
“From unlikely allies to bitter rivals!” Monoma crows, popping out of literally nowhere. Izuku’s eye twitches. “Oh, what a shame our temporary alliance has to come to an end.”
Izuku opens his mouth to respond, but something stops him. Monoma doesn’t look like his usual smarmy self–– well, he does, but it’s slightly off. He looks a little desperate? Like he’s barely holding it together. There’s a tension in the corners of his eyes, his smirk pulls his lips too taught over his teeth. Something is wrong, but Izuku doesn’t know him well enough to know for sure.
“Yeah,” Izuku says lamely. “A shame.”
Monoma, impossibly, gets more tense. He whirls away from Izuku then, disappearing back into the 1-B fold. Izuku turns back to the board.
If Izuku wins against Monoma, his next match would be whomever wins between Iida and Mei. Which… can honestly go either way. Mei seems to have convinced Iida to try on her support gear. Izuku is pretty confident that Mei doesn’t actually want to win, though, and Iida did manage to surprise even Izuku with his Recipro Burst.
And after Iida, assuming Izuku will be able to beat him, is––
“I’m so fucked.”
Shinsou, who has been hovering silently behind Izuku, groans.
“Shiozaki. Did you see how powerful she is? She’s going to wipe the floor with me. It’ll be like the first time I fought you all over again.”
“Where did all the confidence from earlier go?” Izuku wonders.
“It ran for its life when it realized I was going to get turned into a topping on salad.”
Izuku turns away from the screen. “You know, that’s the exact opposite of what I was just thinking.”
“What?”
“I was just thinking that it’s going to be really hard to fight one of my closest friends. You’re going to win against Shiozaki. You saw her during the race, right? All you have to do is mention her faith and she won’t stop talking. Between Kirishima and Kendo, my bet is on Kendo–– but you already managed to get her once. She doesn’t know what the conditions of your quirk is, so you still have the advantage there. Assuming I win all my matches, that means that we––”
“You really think I’ll make it to the quarter finals?”
Shinsou asks this softly, like he can’t believe what Izuku is saying. The sound in the stadium is deafening, but Izuku hears the doubt in his voice clear as day.
“I know you’ll make it to quarter finals,” Izuku says. “That’s why I’m so upset. I don’t want to fight you.”
This is literally the worst case scenario–– for Izuku. He has to fight his first friend, Iida, and then he might have to fight someone who knows exactly what buttons to press to get Izuku to talk. Their training sessions with Aizawa proves that. Shinsou catches Izuku with his quirk almost every single time, even though Izuku knows how it works. It’s not a matter of if Shinsou is going to win against Izuku, it’s what embarrassing way he’s gonna take Izuku out with that worries him.
And part of him doesn't really mind. Shinsou deserves to be in the hero course. Izuku suspects he might have already caught the eyes of most of the staff, but a general education student with a non-combative quirk making it all the way to the semi-finals? They’d be forced to admit him into the hero course, or face public backlash. If it wasn’t a massive, unbelievably cruel insult to Shinsou, Izuku would throw the match.
But he knows that Shinsou wants to earn his way into the hero course, and if that means fighting a licensed hero intern with a year of field experience, then so be it.
(“Shouta, your kids are kind of… unhinged.”
“I only claim one of them,” Aizawa corrects. “Yagi is in charge of the other one.”
“I think you two have shared custody at this point. Midoriya needs the extra support.”
“Tell me about it, Hizashi.”)
stronk metal husband @autoloadpowerloader • 18m
place your bets for future hero duos now. Im betting on explosion boy + red hair rock kid and deku + pretty much anyone in 1A
19 retweets 2 quote retweets 56 likes
replying to @autoloadpowerloader
✨liveblogging UA SF ✨@visciousgeneral • 12m
yeah i mean deku IS a support hero for now so he could probably work with anyone, but im actually betting he pulls an all might and goes completely solo. i feel like he’s way more powerful than he seems idk just feels like hes holding back on us
1 retweets 28 likes
Hana | check pinned @antiquewasp • 36m
After Deku’s meltdown yesterday, seeing him laughing around and having fun with friends during the #UAFirstYearSportsFest really puts things in perspective. He’s not a Pro, he’s just a kid. I think we need to have a serious conversation about how the media’s been treating him
98 retweets 18 quote retweets 699 likes
stop tagging hawks in my tweets @keigosfuturespouse • 29m
Purple gen ed kid is gonna go far. it seems like hes friends with deku??? future hero duo perhaps??
16 retweets 1 quote retweet 53 likes
Arc | 21 days til Wash meet n greet @nowwashmewhip • 13m
So no ones gonna talk about how team todoroki almost just quietly won that match without catching heat from the other teams?? Like do they all just avoid their team because they know theyll lose against them or what
3 retweets 21 likes
After letting the students absorb their match placements for a minute, Midnight dismisses them all to lunch break. They have an hour and a half to eat, rest, and get healed up by Recovery Girl if they need to. 1-A is back to acting as one giant security squad for Izuku. Someone from the business course had tried to intercept him as he was leaving the field and Mina and the girls descended on him like Secret Service officers.
They’re just exiting the stadium to make the short walk to UA’s main campus where the cafeteria is when something catches Izuku’s attention.
“Pst! Izuku!”
Izuku stops walking to see Toshinori peeking out from one of the tunnels leading inside the stadium. His floppy bangs swing around his face as he pops his head out, trying–– and failing–– to be inconspicuous.
“You guys go ahead,” Izuku says to his friends, “I’ll meet you in the cafeteria.”
Uraraka frowns. “Are you sure? You might get cornered.”
“I’ll be fine,” Izuku says. After a moment’s hesitation, she goes.
Izuku bounds over to Toshinori, excited to see him.
“Well done so far, my boy,” Toshinori says, ruffling Izuku’s hair once he’s stepped into the tunnel. “The way you neutralized Snipe in the first round was incredibly efficient.”
Izuku practically purrs, basking in the praise. “Thank you! And not that I’m not glad to see you, but shouldn’t you be up in the VIP box? What are you doing down here?”
“I snuck down to bring you lunch,” Toshinori says, handing Izuku a bento. “So you don’t have to wait in line at the cafeteria.”
“Thanks, Yagi-san, I–– what are you wearing?!”
Toshinori looks down at his shirt. “Oh, this? Your mother and I made matching shirts. She’s in the VIP box right now, but I can go get her if you would like to take some photos?”
“No!”
Izuku wants to sink into the floor and die. In bold, bright green letters across Toshinori’s chest are the words “Team Midoriya!” alongside a little doodle of Izuku’s Deku mask and a cute cartoon bunny. The front has a large, stretched out and pixelated photo of Izuku’s face in his Deku mask, with whiskers and ears drawn over it. Toshinori turns around and printed on the back is a picture the press got of him giving a thumbs up as he arrests a villain with the words “Japan’s Sweetheart” running across Toshinori’s shoulder blades. To top it all off, Toshinroi’s face is stretched into his patented Proud Dad Smile.
“Isn’t it adorable? I think we should talk to Katayama about opening up a merch line for you with these designs, I’m sure they’d––”
“Why would you do this to me?” Izuku whispers in despair. “Yagi-san, please go change. I am begging.”
“Nonsense!” Toshinori seems incredibly amused by Izuku’s embarrassment. “I’m helping you build your brand! And there’s nothing wrong with showing my support–– in fact, some of the other Pros in the VIP section complimented my shirt!”
Izuku makes a high-pitched whining noise in the back of his throat, like a distressed dog.
Toshinori lets out a loud, booming laugh. Izuku collapses face-first into his shoulder.
“It’s good to see you can still be a normal, embarrassed teen about things,” Toshinori says. “You looked quite tense earlier.”
Izuku groans. “You could tell from all the way up in the stands? Ugh, the articles about me are going to be awful.”
“No, I could only tell because I know you so well. And don’t worry about the press, my boy. The Mighty Agency released our statement this morning, and I know for a fact that Katayama and the legal team fully intend to make good on their threat to sue any publication found spreading false information.”
That makes Izuku feel better. The legal team is viciously protective of him, ever since Izuku brought homemade strawberry shortcake to one of their department meetings.
“It’s hard to not worry. There are so many cameras, and it’s so loud, I just….”
Toshinori frowns. “If it gets to be too much, you can always step back. I can fake an emergency at the agency to save face.”
Izuku shakes his head vehemently. “No, I’m okay. I just needed a break from everything. Thanks for bringing me lunch, Yagi-san.”
“You’re welcome, Izuku. Now, I really must get back to your mother. I left her with Hawks and I think she might be trying to adopt him….”
Izuku quickly processes the fact that one, Hawks is here, back in town, and saw Izuku compete and two, Inko is trying to adopt him. He files it away for later, when he has time to properly freak out about it. Compartmentalization: Izuku’s best friend.
Toshinori disappears back into the bowels of the stadium, and Izuku quickly hurries over to the cafeteria. He avoids the roving business course students, though it’s a close thing. He has to duck behind a bush to hide from someone muttering “Deku” and “marketability with overseas youth” but it’s fine. His hair blends in with the leaves. He gets into the cafeteria with no issues.
“Hey, Midoriya! Over here!”
Izuku looks around to see that 1-A has clustered together in a corner, tables pushed together. The other classes are all spread out, eating in groups of three or four, but 1-A sits as a 20-person monstrosity at the back left of the room. There’s a good two table sized buffer in between them and the next group of students eating. Wow, maybe Aizawa had a point about them isolating themselves.
“Oh, man, your dad brought you lunch? Must be nice to have a parent on staff, huh?” Kirishima chuckles.
Izuku blinks as he takes a seat. “My dad?”
“Uh, yeah? Tall, blond, was wearing a shirt with your face on it?”
“Please bleach the memory of that shirt from your brain. Also, that’s, uh, not my dad.”
“Oh.” Kirishima blinks. “Sorry for assuming. I just see you guys in the parking lot sometimes when my parents drop me off at school, so I thought ....”
“Um, yeah, we… uh, carpool. He’s All Might’s assistant and he works for UA, so that’s why we carpool. Also, uh, my mom and I live with him.”
Todoroki starts paying attention to the conversation. “You live with your dad’s assistant?”
Izuku flushes. “For the last time, Todoroki-kun–– All Might is not my dad. Yagi-san is, well it’s complicated, but he’s basically my dad. We’re very close. But he’s not–– I mean All Might isn’t my biological father. Um.”
“Are we talking about how All Might is definitely Midoriya’s dad?”
Shinsou drops into the seat next to Izuku. He and Todoroki immediately start laying out the evidence for their Dad Might Theory. It turns out they’re both very into conspiracy theories— something Izuku knows they could bond over if they both just stop being aloof, anti-social drama queens for two seconds.
“Shinsou! I see you’ve joined the Deku Squad!” Kaminari observes.
Shinsou narrows his eyes. “I’ve joined the what?”
“You know, the Deku Sq––”
“Don’t. I’m not in a squad with any of you. I’m friends with Midoriya only. I tolerate the rest of you,” Shinsou says firmly. “That’s it.”
Izuku resists the urge to roll his eyes. Again: anti-social drama queen.
“Being friends with Midoriya means being friends with everyone. You should just admit it now, dude,” Kaminari says.
Izuku speaks up. “When you transfer into the hero course, you’re gonna need to work with everyone anyway! Besides, everyone’s really nice, I promise.”
Izuku beams at him. Shinsou rolls his eyes.
“If I transfer––”
“When.”
“If,” Shinsou says, “they pick me for a transfer, there’s still no way I’m associating with you pack of clowns. Being a lone wolf is part of my brand.”
“Edgey,” Izuku comments, smiling.
“And you––” Shinsou uses his chopsticks to point at Izuku. “You’re on thin ice. We are barely friends.”
Izuku’s grin only brightens, pouring nearly fatal levels of positivity into it. “Sure, Shinsou.”
Todoroki gives Shinsou a pitying look. “Look at him. Resistance is futile.”
Shinsou opens his mouth to reply, but he’s interrupted by someone approaching their table.
“Midoriya.”
Izuku sighs. He’s really tired of people trying to pull him away from his friends.
Izuku looks away from Shinsou to see Monoma standing by their table, shifting from foot to foot uncomfortably. It takes Izuku a second to register it was him that spoke. He doesn’t think Monoma’s ever called him by his real name.
Everyone around them goes silent.
“Would you mind stepping outside for a moment? I’d like to speak with you.”
Izuku should say no, right? Monoma is his first fight next round, who’s to say this isn’t some ploy to get Izuku’s guard down, or possibly sabotage him before their match starts. But Izuku’s mom always said that his fatal flaw was giving people too many chances–– and Monoma looks genuine, for once.
“Sure.”
Uraraka puts a hand on his arm just as he’s about to stand. “You need backup?”
Izuku shakes his head. “I’ll be fine.”
Monoma leads them out of the cafeteria and down a deserted hallway. Izuku starts to second-guess himself. If Monoma murdered him right here it would be at least another hour before someone noticed. He brings them to a stop at a juncture between their smaller hallway and the large walkway leading back to the cafeteria. The windows shine down on Monoma’s left side, casting his right half in shadow.
“I just wanted to say that you win.”
“What?”
“I can admit when I’ve been beat. You win.”
Izuku tilts his head, confused. “Monoma, our match isn’t until after lunch, what are you talking about?”
“I’m not talking about the next round, although––” Monoma barks out a self-deprecating laugh. “You’ll probably win that one, too. I’m talking about the last match. I got the message, okay? And you win.”
Izuku shakes his head. “What message? We were on the same team.”
“You’re better than me,” Monoma spits out. “All of you in 1-A. You proved it. We never would have won that match if it wasn’t for your planning, your classmate’s quirks that I stole–– I get it. I’m not like the rest of you. I know I’m doomed to Support Hero status for the rest of my life. I’m nothing without other people’s quirks. I’ve known that my entire life, you didn’t need to team up with me just to rub it in my face.”
Izuku blinks, stunned and a little hurt that Monoma would think Izuku cruel enough to do something like that. “That’s not–– Monoma, that’s not why I teamed up with you. I wasn’t ‘teaching you a lesson’ or anything like that.”
Monoma rolls his eyes. His arms are crossed, shoulders hunched. Curled in on himself. “Sure. You said it yourself, you picked me just so no one else could. Don’t feel too bad. I’ve never been anyone’s first choice anyway.
Izuku hesitates before deciding to just tell the truth. “I lied to you, earlier.”
“What?”
“I lied. When I said I only asked you to team up so Iida couldn’t have you. I knew that you wouldn’t be able to copy his quirk. I actually, uh, know how his quirk works pretty well. And I did a case study on your quirk as part of some private lessons with Principal Nedzu. I was reasonably certain you’d draw a blank with Iida.”
Monoma stares. “What… then why?”
Once again, Izuku swallows his pride.
“Your quirk is incredible, Monoma. The way we used it in the relay race was just one of like a million possibilities. I could think of a dozen backup plans just in the ten minutes we had to plan, with the limited number of other quirks within reach that we could access. Imagine what you’d be like in the field. Your quirk is easily the most versatile quirk I’ve ever seen–– and that’s including Yaoyorozu’s quirk.”
For once, it seems that Monoma is speechless.
“You’re an asshole,” Izuku says, point blank, “but I get where you’re coming from. It’s–– my quirk doesn’t work the same way yours does, but I can… relate to relying on someone else. To feeling like you’re just borrowing someone else’s power.”
Monoma swallows thickly. “Yeah, that’s what I–– borrowing is the right word for it. Sometimes it’s like I don’t––”
“–– have any power at all?”
Monoma nods.
Izuku sighs, slumping back against the hallway wall. “It would be pretty hypocritical of me to try to tell you it’s your own power or something like that when I’m struggling with that feeling, too. But I mean–– it is your power. Even if it doesn’t feel like it.”
Monoma digests that for a moment. He looks at Izuku–– really looks at him, not just sizing him up as competition, or picking him apart for weaknesses.
“You’re not as much of a dumb brute as I thought,” Monoma says, which Izuku thinks is the closest thing to a thank you he’s going to get.
“You’re still an asshole,” Izuku says, feeling uncharacteristically petty. Weirdly enough, this makes Monoma smile.
“I didn’t have a lot of friends growing up. So, thanks.”
Izuku frowns, genuinely baffled once again. “Are we friends?”
Monoma frowns back, suddenly straightening into his usual haughty, pompous self. “What, are you too good to be friends with me? Aren’t you Mr. Breaks-Bones-for-Friendship?”
“Oh my god, is that what people call me?! I haven’t broken a bone in ages!”
“Whatever,” Monoma scoffs. “Like I’d want to be your friend anyway. You can keep your bones, Midoriya.”
With that, Monoma turns on his heel and starts to walk away. Izuku lets him get to the end of the hall before calling out.
“Hey, Monoma?”
“What?”
“We can be friends. If you want.”
Monoma turns back partially, backlit by the light coming in through the windows. He smirks, but it’s not nearly as caustic as it usually is. “Acquaintances, perhaps. Frenemies, possibly.”
This time, Izuku lets Monoma go. As soon as he’s out of earshot, Izuku tilts his head to the person hiding just around the corner.
“You can come out now.”
Todoroki steps out of the shadows. “How did you know I was there?”
“I’m trained to be hyper aware of my surroundings. Plus, the air gets slightly colder when you’re around someone you don’t like.”
Todoroki huffs. “I was just making sure he wasn’t trying to sabotage you. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”
Izuku smiles fondly. He gestures for the two of them to start walking back to the cafeteria. “I appreciate it. Thanks for looking out for me.”
Todoroki hums. They walk in silence for a bit.
“Do you give everyone you meet the ‘it’s your power’ speech, or just the ones that needlessly antagonize you?”
Izuku laughs. “Just you and Monoma so far. Although, a weird amount of people tend to just spill their tragic life stories to me. Not sure why. Don’t worry though, Todoroki-kun. You’re still my favorite rival-turned-friend.”
Todoroki cracks a small smile. “Is that your secret evil plan? Offer emotional support until you’ve amassed a pack of heroes-in-training that would kill for you?”
“Ah, you’ve caught me. Step one: identify a young hero in emotional turmoil. Step two: befriend them with a passionate speech about seizing their own power. Step three: world domination with my loyal army of friends.”
“Well, your plan seems to be working so far.” Todoroki nods his head to where 1-A is, waving enthusiastically as soon as the two of them enter the cafeteria. “Look at them. You haven’t even been gone 10 minutes. They have separation anxiety.”
“And you followed me, so what does that say about you?”
“No comment.”
Notes:
Ahh there it is, part one of the sports festival!! a couple things:
• Chapter title is from Teenagers by My Chemical Romance
• The lovely sassy-manticore on tumblr made fanart!!!!! It's gorgeous and I love it very much 🥺❤️
• You may have noticed that the chapter count went up! Sorry if you thought this was going to end soon, but I realized I couldn’t get through my outline in another 2 chapters so I bumped the count back up to 12.
• You also may have noticed that there’s a series now !! No promises on what’s going on there but I wanted to leave the option open for myself
• Apologies for the monoma redemption arc, i just felt bad dunking on him all the time
• Monoma not being able to copy mutant quirks is somewhat canon, somewhat speculation. No manga spoilers but if you’ve seen the explanation of his quirk during the joint training arc i think you’ll know what i mean
as usual, i'm xyloophones on tumblr and @xyloophones on twitter!!
Chapter 10: Punch your lights out, hit the pavement
Summary:
“Have Recovery Girl ready a bed in the infirmary for Midoriya,” Monoma says. “This is going to be a quick fight.”
The crowd roars. Izuku groans. Right, the field is mic’d. Great.
“Monoma, I could pick you up and throw you without my quirk.”
Notes:
Just another reminder to mind the canon typical violence, character injury, and angst tags :) <3
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
“Welcome back to the final round of UA’s First Years Sports Festival! Can I get a yeah?!”
Izuku winces as the sound in the stadium becomes almost unbearable. Present Mic’s voice already echoes through the speakers at an insane volume, but the roar of the crowd nearly drowns him out. From the corner of his eye, Izuku sees Bakugou fish a pair of earplugs out of his pocket–– something he always has on him because of his quirk. Maybe Izuku should start carrying around earplugs too.
After lunch they had all been herded back to the stadium, to sit in a special section of the spectator stands designated for the hero class. Mineta, who hadn’t made the cut from the first round, is already there. The class ignores him.
Izuku doesn’t get to sit in the stands with his friends for long. Pretty soon he’s called down to the field. His fight is up first, and he’s facing off against Monoma.
Who he is… sort of friends with now? Izuku’s not sure how he feels about that.
The stadium’s field has been completely redesigned since the last round. The track is gone, paved over with concrete courtesy of Cementoss. In the center of the field is a large, rectangular, raised platform. The fighting arena.
Cementoss has filled the arena with various concrete structures. There are a couple raised platforms along the edges and a forest of variously sized concrete pillars in the middle. Plenty of places to duck behind or jump up to or off of. A large number of bright red foam balls are strewn across the floor, and Midnight and Cementoss both have bags full of them at their sides in case some of the ammo gets destroyed in the fight.
Which, considering Bakugou’s quirk alone–– yeah, they’re gonna need extras.
There’s a bit of a clearing in the middle of the arena, where the pillars aren’t so dense, and that’s where Monoma and Izuku stand to wait for the signal that their match has started.
“A reminder of the rules before we start,” Midnight announces, “first, either of you are allowed to stop the fight at any point, no questions asked. You only need to hit two of your opponent’s targets to win. If you step out of bounds, one of your targets will be deactivated. Any questions before we get started?”
“I have a request.”
“Yes, Monoma?”
“Have Recovery Girl ready a bed in the infirmary for Midoriya,” Monoma says. “This is going to be a quick fight.”
The crowd roars. Izuku groans. Right, the field is mic’d. Great.
“Monoma, I could pick you up and throw you without my quirk.”
Midnight rolls her eyes and steps out of the arena. “The match starts on my mark!”
Monoma smirks at Izuku. “Don’t think our little heart-to-heart earlier means I’ll go easy on you.”
Izuku sighs. “Why does everyone try to smack talk me? Can’t we just agree to have a fun, fair fight?”
Monoma wrinkles his nose.
“Ready?” Midnight calls out, waving a referee’s flag in the air. “Start!”
Izuku immediately goes on the defensive. He has no idea what quirks Monoma has. The best thing to do is to drag the fight out and wait until Monoma’s timer on his borrowed quirks runs down. He has a suspicion that Monoma is only using 1-B quirks, since no one in 1-A would willingly let Monoma tag them, and he hasn’t seen Monoma near any of his classmates.
Monoma ducks behind a large pillar. Izuku cautiously follows, swooping down low to gather some balls off the ground. He put one of his targets on the right side of his upper chest, right below his collar bone. The second is on his left side, above his hip. The third is on his right side, about where his elbow would be if he put his hands down. It’s not the most strategic placement, but he figures he’s fast enough that it would be hard to tag him at all, no matter where his targets are.
Izuku catches movement from the corner of his eye and turns just to see a ball fly out from behind a pillar, only to drop a good two meters short of Izuku.
Izuku snorts. “A little off there, Mon––”
Suddenly, the ball swells until it’s bigger than Izuku. The force of its sudden size change is enough to crack three nearby pillars and send a flurry of other balls flying. Izuku quickly darts back, barely managing to avoid the shower of foam projectiles.
“Woah! Monoma almost caught Midoriya with a gigantic ball. That was a close one!” Present Mic narrates.
From behind the pillar, Monoma cackles.
“Surprised, Midoriya? You’re not the only one who can think strategically. See, I knew that in your overconfidence you would naively underestimate my throwing abilities and––”
Izuku snaps. He winds up and kicks the giant ball towards Monoma’s pillar.
It hurtles forward. There’s a loud crack and Monoma’s pillar crumbles, leaving him to dive behind a nearby one to avoid the wave of balls Izuku throws at him. The giant ball ping-pongs around the remaining pillasr and flies out of bounds, narrowly avoiding hitting Midnight and Cementoss off in the sidelines.
“Ha! Couldn’t even hit me once! Disappointing, truly, I really expected––”
“Just shut up,” Izuku groans.
He bounces off a couple of other pillars, landing on one to the far left of the arena. So, one of Monoma’s quirks can make things large. Or control the size of things. That’s one variable solved.
Through the pillars, Izuku spots Monoma at the same time Monoma spots him. He winds up to throw another ball at Izuku, but this time Izuku is ready. Izuku braces himself, digging his heels into the sides of the pillar. Monoma lets the ball fly, and just before it hits Izuku it blows up in size. Izuku lights up with One for All at 1%.
He flicks his fingers.
There’s a rush of wind, and the ball speeds back towards Monoma. Monoma yelps, ducking, and snaps his fingers. The ball shrinks down to it’s normal size, just in time to hit the target on Monoma’s left shoulder.
The both of them look at Monoma’s lit up target, stunned.
“... You’ve got to be kidding me,” Monoma says.
“That’s one target for Midoriya! Monoma is down to one!” Mic announces.
“That was pure luck,” Aizawa tacks on. “Absolutely no skill on Midoriya’s part.”
Izuku grimaces up at the announcers’ booth. He’s right, but does he have to say it out loud like that?
Before Izuku can even think about winding up to throw another ball, Monoma has ducked to hide behind some of the platforms and concrete half-walls on the outskirts of the arena.
Izuku crackles with lightning and jumps off his pillar. He lands on one of the platforms, running along the tops to try to track down Monoma below him. He throws a couple more balls, but never manages to get any of Monoma’s targets. Eventually he loses a visual on Monoma after he ducks behind some more pillars.
Izuku stops to stand on the tallest platform, a good 6 meters up, and scans the area below him.
“Where are you?” Izuku murmurs to himself and–– there!
Monoma sprints out from his cover towards Izuku’s platform. Izuku winds up for a throw, but Monoma tucks and rolls. He slaps a hand to the base of the platform Izuku’s on.
The platform shrinks abruptly, and Izuku falls back down to ground level.
“And, Midoriya takes a tumble!” Mic yells. Izuku just barely manages to roll to break his fall, but he still smacks his face on the ground with enough force to make him a little dizzy.
“See the way Midoriya rolled to distribute the force? That’s good technique. Acceptable.”
Izuku’s eye twitches. Of course Aizawa only compliments him when he’s just fallen flat on his face on national television.
Ugh. Izuku uses his quirk to flip back onto his feet. He quickly dashes around to gather more projectiles. He’s already sick of playing it safe, but he still doesn’t know what two of Monoma’s quirks are. He and Monoma duck behind opposite facing half-walls and trade a few stray shots.
Then, Monoma throws another ball directly at Izuku. Izuku doesn’t have time to redirect it, so he just ducks behind his wall and hopes it doesn’t enlarge so much it crushes him.
But the ball doesn’t enlarge at all. It smacks dully against the wall. Izuku peaks up over the wall to send Monoma a questioning look.
Monoma grins. “Brace yourself.”
Then, Izuku’s wall explodes.
It’s like the wall was hit by a missile–– only there’s no projectile. The concrete shatters and crumbles, blowing Izuku and some debris backwards. The origin of the explosion seems to be the spot the ball hit.
Ah. This quirk, Izuku knows. Twin Impact.
It was one of the quirks Principal Nedzu had Izuku do a case study on, during his week of private lessons. Shoda Nirengenki, his quirk: Twin Impact. It can cause a second impact at the site of any initial impact caused by the user. The second impact is usually many times stronger than the first, and can be activated at any time. Izuku remembers noting that it would be useful for rescue operations and controlled demolitions.
Monoma lobs another soft ball at him and Izuku dashes away just before the second impact tears through the remaining concrete wall like a bullet.
“Monoma chases Midoriya around the arena with some kind of explosion quirk? Hold on, I thought his quirk was size manipulation!”
“Monoma Neito’s quirk is Copy. He can copy a quirk’s basic functions. He’s probably copied a classmate’s quirk. Shouldn’t this be in your notes?”
“Sho–- I mean, Eraser, I know. I was trying to get you to play along, you know–– informative banter!”
“Right,” Aizawa says, with all the charisma of a dead possum. “Banter.”
Monoma takes advantage of Izuku shifting to defense. He lobbs dozens of balls at him, not even necessarily trying to hit Izuku, more to keep him busy enough to not rush Monoma’s position. He switches between using Twin Impact and the size control quirk, sometimes giving Izuku enough of a pause to catch his breath before he needs to dodge the next projectile.
Izuku hits one of the gigantified projectiles particularly hard–– so hard that it destroys the pillar it hits, almost crushing Monoma in the process. Monoma rolls to safety, right out into the open, empty space in the dead center of the arena.
Izuku takes advantage of this immediately. He scoops up a bunch of balls from the floor and starts firing them at Monoma.
Monoma, confronted with a sudden wave of balls coming his way, panics.
There seems to be a stutter in his movement. Izuku can physically see Monoma trying to switch between quirks, his body going stiff for a moment before exploding out into different pieces.
There it is. Monoma’s third quirk belongs to Tokage, Lizard Tail Splitter.
Izuku groans to himself as he watches Monoma scatter. He pretty much immediately lost track of which pieces had his targets and where those pieces went. Lizard Tail Splitter plus the size quirk plus Twin Impact? That’s pretty much the perfect combination of quirks to counter Izuku.
Izuku is sick of hide and seek. He starts just destroying structures, pieces of concrete and foam flying everywhere as he exposes some of Monoma’s disembodied segments.
“And Midoriya has started to tear the field up! Cementoss cannot be happy about that!”
“A clumsy strategy, but a strategy nonetheless.”
Izuku ignores Mic and Aizawa and focuses on trying to find one of Monoma’s targets. He kicks at structures until only one more platform and a handful of pillars remain.
“Wow! In seconds, Midoriya has literally leveled the playing field! Nowhere for Monoma to hide now!”
Mic is right. Monoma’s pieces coalesce together on top of the last platform. He smirks down at Izuku, his arms full of ammunition.
“You’ve played right into my hands.”
“You’re down a target. You haven’t hit any of mine,” Izuku points out. Monoma ignores him.
“It’s over, Midoriya!” Monoma calls down to him, “I have the high ground!”
“You underestimate my power.” Izuku decides that he’s done playing it safe. It’s almost laughably easy to dodge Monoma’s throws, and in a second Izuku has launched himself up to the platform with him.
Monoma gets one good punch in on Izuku’s left shoulder, but it’s weak. He even activates Twin Impact and the force only manages to unbalance Izuku for a second, before he’s twisting, lashing out in a high kick aimed at Monoma’s chest. He doesn’t even activate his quirk for the kick.
With a soft “Oof,” Monoma goes down, rolling and stops just shy of the edge of the platform. Izuku is on him in an instant, tagging the target on the small of Monoma’s back with a ball.
“And it’s over! Monoma is down two targets, which means the match goes to Midoriya Izuku of class 1-A!”
Monoma rolls over onto his back, panting at the sky. Izuku sits down heavily next to him to catch his breath. Cementoss comes over to dissolve his cement and lower the platform down to ground level. Izuku could just jump down, but it feels kind of rude to just leave Monoma up here by himself.
“Was I at least a challenge, or were you toying with me the entire time?”
Izuku huffs. “Believe me, I wish I didn’t have to spend so much energy beating you. I’m gonna burn out before the final.”
Monoma pushes himself up to his elbows to look at Izuku. The dull roar of the crowd fades into the background and Monoma smiles at him, for real, and extends a hand for a friendly handshake. Izuku eyes it, but takes his hand.
“Good fight, Midoriya.”
“I hope you didn’t just try to copy my quirk. I was serious earlier, you’ll break your arms.”
“Have you so little faith in me?”
“Yes,” Izuku deadpans.
“Alright, get off the field now,” Cementoss says to them, having finally lowered the platform. “I need to rebuild everything. Thank you for that, Midoriya.”
Izuku sends him a blinding smile, feeling a little confident after his win. “The rules didn’t say we couldn’t destroy the field.”
Cementoss mumbles something about Aizawa being right as he shoos them away. Izuku is almost certain he hears the words “Problem Child” and “trouble maker.” He grins.
secrettunnel reblogged thruthemountain
presentmicsmixtape
Here’s why Deku won’t win the UA Sports Festival
(Disclaimer: I’m a big fan of Deku, and I firmly believe that what the media has done to him is despicable. However. I’m a realist and I just don’t think this kid can pull off a win, especially not the day after a big public meltdown.)
Alright, so, why I know Deku won’t win today:
- Bad publicity. The Mighty Agency just put out a statement last night asking for the media to back off Deku, who just suffered a pretty severe panic attack due to a bunch of reporters’ invasiveness. Winning = more spotlight = contradicts TMA’s statement. I bet he was instructed to either withdraw before the final or throw his matches.
- Power moderation. Deku has only fought villains (once almost to the death). I have this theory that he has no idea how to tone down his power in a way that is safe for competition while also being powerful enough to beat someone like Endeavor’s son (Proof: constantly cracking sidewalks on patrol). My guess is he either underestimates the competition, or gets disqualified for excessive use of force.
- Statistically speaking, the winner is usually a legacy hero kid. It sucks, I know, but that’s just how the first year festivals go. They’ve only been at UA for a month and most first gen hero students don’t have parents that could provide them training. Deku is unique in that he’s a first gen hero (unless his dad actually is All Might, more on that later) but–– he’s also had a year of field training. That being said, I still think either the Todoroki kid or the IIda kid (or, dark horse, the Yaoyorozu heir) will win.
- The rest of this list is based on stats I compiled of past SF events and how Deku’s known fighting style fits with each event. All Deku videos are linked and sources are cited at the end. Click the read more for my full breakdown.
Read More
2,937 notes
#op im not gonna lie to u i did not read ur stats breakdown #thats just too much for me this website has completely smoothed my brain #but! i do agree with point number 3 #i think its been?? 5 years since the last first gen hero student won #last year was the grandkid of Hurricane right #anyway deku isnt gonna win but i think hell probably at least make it to finals
After his fight with Monoma, Izuku gets back to the stands just as 1-A is wishing Iida luck for his match with Mei. Down on the field, Bakugou and Tokage’s fight starts.
“I will see you after this round, Midoriya-kun!” Iida says to Izuku as he passes him on his way down the stairs.
Izuku eyes all the gadgets hanging off Iida, courtesy of Mei. “Mhm… um, s-see you then, maybe!”
Izuku settles into the empty seat between Todoroki and Yaoyorozu, since they seem to be the quietest. The rest of the class is buzzing with commentary as Bakugou and Tokage’s fight starts to get nasty. Izuku itches for one of his notebooks. In a way, Tokage’s quirk is a perfect counter to Bakugou’s–– and even when she isn’t split up into pieces, her fighting style is very fluid and acrobatic. Maybe Izuku can ask her for some help integrating that into his own style.
Izuku’s pulled out of his thoughts when Yaoyorozu lets out a soft groan, breaking her usual perfect posture to slump back in her seat.
“Everything okay, Yaoyorozu?”
Yaoyorozu sighs, looking tired. “I knew I should have asked Lunch Rush for a fourth portion of lunch. My energy reserves are so low.”
Izuku hums in sympathy. He reaches down to his boot and pops open one of the compartments on the sides.
“Here,” he says, handing her a couple snack packages, “I have macadamia nuts and jerky–– although, you might want to go for the macadamia, they have a higher fat content.”
Yaoyorozu blinks. “Thanks, Midoriya.”
Kaminari leans over the back of Izuku’s seat, eyes zeroed in on his boots. “No way, you have snacks?”
Despite the fact that they all just had lunch, the mention of snacks draws everyone’s attention.
“Woah!” Kirishima says. “That’s so cool! Bro, you’re like a walking pantry.”
“I hope you know this means I will always be asking you if you have snacks.”
“Me, too. Sorry, Midoriya, you are now the designated 1-A snack provider.”
“Do you always have snacks on you?” Todoroki asks.
Izuku flusters under all the attention. “Yes? I mean, my quirk burns through a crazy amount of energy. My daily needed caloric intake is through the roof, so I try to always have something… to snack… on–– Kaminari-kun, what are you doing?”
Kaminari has hopped down from the second row of seats to kneel in front of Izuku, prodding at his boots. “I’m trying to figure out where all the compartments are. I am definitely putting a request into support to add snack pouches for my costume. Hey, Yaomomo, you should do the same, since it fuels your quirk and all.”
Everyone’s attention is briefly pulled back to the field, where Bakugou has just let loose a gigantic explosion, only to have one of his targets tagged by a piece of Tokage’s disembodied hand. They all focus back on Izuku when Kaminari manages to pop open the compartment on Izuku’s left calf, revealing his secret stash of M&Ms.
“Dude! Can I have these?”
Izuku nods. “J-Just don’t tell anyone you got it from me, okay? If Recovery Girl finds out I’m breaking my diet she’ll kill me.”
Kaminari rips open the candy package and starts eating. “I’m so glad they let you bring your boots. Want some, Yaomomo?”
Yaoyorozu accepts a handful of candy.
“We have a winner!” Present Mic announces.
Izuku looks back to the field. It’s wrecked, scorched and crumbled in the way that only Bakugou’s quirk can leave something. Tokage has gathered all her pieces back to herself, pouting. All her targets are red. Looks like Bakugou didn’t stop at just two to win the match. Bakugou gives Tokage a nod and then unceremoniously turns to exit the field.
“The winner is Class 1-A’s Bakugou Katsuki–– and it looks like Bakugou is leaving the field! Well, one last round of applause for Tokage and Bakugou!”
“Aw, man,” Mina says, “I was kind of hoping Bakugou would lose.”
Izuku raises his eyebrows, turning in his seat to look at her. “Oh, I thought you and Kacchan were friends?”
“You can be someone’s friend and also want them to be taken down a peg,” Mina says, which has Kirishima, Kaminari, and Sero nodding emphatically.
“I’m not Bakugou’s friend, but I would also like him to be taken down,” Todoroki chimes in. Izuku snorts.
Iida’s match with Mei starts–– and then never seems to end. Mei drags Iida around the field with her inventions, parading him around like a prized pony. Izuku frowns sympathetically when he sees Iida looking up in their direction, but he secretly thinks it’s hilarious. Finally, after Mei has taken over the stadium speakers and ran her advertisements to the ground, she picks up a ball and hits two of her targets, bowing out gracefully.
A confused sounding Present Mic comes back on over the speakers, congratulating Iida on his win and announcing the next match between Shinsou and Shiozaki. Izuku takes that as his cue to go down to the waiting rooms to prepare for his match with Iida.
“Good luck!” Uraraka calls out to him before he leaves. “I’m rooting for you!”
Todoroki slides her an amused glance. “That’s what you said to Iida earlier.”
“I’m cheering for both of them! It’s not my fault both my best friends are fighting against each other.”
“Don’t worry about picking sides, you guys. We’re both just going to try our best!”
Izuku beams. Behind Uraraka, Jiro squints.
“Someone needs to get Midoriya a lampshade to wear,” she mutters. “Too bright.”
“Perhaps a veil,” Tokoyami adds.
Izuku pauses before leaving. “Huh?”
“Don’t worry about it, Midoriya. Good luck on your match.”
In no time, Izuku is out on the field facing off against Iida. It feels a little like the matches they would do to practice for the UA entrance exam, more than a year ago. They were always under Ingenium’s— Tensei’s— supervision back then, and Iida was terrified of hitting Izuku too hard for the first 3 weeks. The memory makes Izuku smile fondly, thinking of late afternoons in the IidaTen Agency gym, sunlight warming the practice mats and Tensei’s booming laugh echoing around them.
“I hope you are ready to accept defeat, Midoriya-kun!” Iida says, chopping his hands through the air excitedly. He’s free of all the metal contraptions from Mei and he stands across from Izuku tall and proud, grinning broadly.
“Let’s just try our hardest!”
“Yes! Unfortunately, I will be walking away victorious! Don’t worry, I plan on escorting you to the appropriate designated losers’ area. Perhaps our friends will console you after your loss.”
“Sure, Iida.” Izuku struggles not to giggle. He loves Iida’s version of polite smack talk so much.
“Nothing like some banter between rivals before a match!” Present Mic interrupts them. Looks like he got the stadium’s speakers back after Mei hijacked them. “Let’s make some noise for Midoriya and Iida!”
Iida holds his hand out. “A handshake! Even though we’re rivals presently, we are friends first.”
Izuku becomes aware of the fact that the cameras can hear them when the entire stadium seems to melt, letting out a collective “aw.” Iida is incredibly endearing, in his own bumbling, earnest way. Izuku won’t be surprised if he ends up with the most agency offers at the end of the festival, regardless of if he makes it past Izuku to the semi-finals or not.
Izuku shakes Iida’s hand, and then steps back. The two of them settle into opposite halves of the clearing, Iida right up against a pillar and Izuku more towards the center.
“Iida, Midoriya, ready?”
“Ready!”
“Yes, Midnight-sensei!”
“And––” Midnight raises, and then swiftly drops her flag–– “start!”
Izuku’s match with Iida goes by quicker than he expected— pun intended. Iida is fast and he knows Izuku’s fighting style very well, but Izuku knows Iida. And he knows how to take down opponents that are bigger and faster than him. Izuku baited Iida into charging at Izuku, then stepped swiftly out of the way so Iida charged out of bounds. Izuku took advantage of Iida’s panic over having one of his targets deactivated to tag one of Iida’s other targets, winning the round.
“Well fought,” Iida says graciously as they shake hands again at the end of the match. “It seems I have a lot to learn before I can best you in combat.”
“It could have gone either way.” Izuku smiles at him. They exit the stadium together, chatting about who they think will win in the match between Bakugou and Yaoyorozu.
(Hosu City. The clash of metal against metal–– and then metal against flesh. Blood dripping from the corner of a grinning mouth, onto concrete. The streets are empty.
All the heroes are at the Sports Festival.
Except one.)
robot revolution when @gentlecyborg • 10m
gravity girl vs acid girl match was so BRUTAL like they went all out?? and then hugged at the end and left the arena with their arms linked like best friends??? and just now, deku and fast quirk guy are chatting like they didnt just try to fight each other?? class 1a is so cute
12 retweets 6 quote tweets 87 likes
Eiko | simping for miruko @mirukobrainrot • 18m
woah, was NOT expecting shadow bird kid to give todoroki such a hard time. still, too bad todoroki won. wouldve been cool to see someone beat endeavor’s kid
2 retweets 1 quote tweet 32 likes
Hero Daily Herald @HDHeraldOfficial • 30m
HDH has a new, live updating #UAFirstYearSportsFest tournament bracket up on our website! You can also see win predictions done by our expert statisticians. Link: bit.ly/isH9b
30 retweets 16 quote tweet 218 likes
ignoring hw for sports fest @dionysusboons • 2m
the kid with the rock skin quirk was so adorable !! so much charisma, and he took his loss against the hand quirk girl like a good sport !! defo future number 1 hero material
1 retweets 1 quote tweet 12 likes
hawks pspsps @keigogoinggone • 4m
it’s too bad gravity girl lost against endeavor’s kid :(( she did so well during the first few rounds :(( endeavor’s kid’s quirk is just too powerful
1 retweets 2 likes
replying to @keigogoinggone
dana @alolanvulpix • 6m
It sucks. And did you see the way Deku cheered for both of them? I think they might both be his friends. Must be tough :(
2 retweets 5 likes
replying to @alolanvulpix
hawks pspsps @keigogoinggone • 5m
how could i miss it, the audience reaction camera is literally always on him :// poor kid cant even cheer on his friends without it being broadcast nationally
0 retweets 1 like
Izuku passes Uraraka on his way down to the waiting room to wait for his match with Shinsou. He gives her a sympathetic smile as she approaches.
“You were amazing out there, Uraraka. Todoroki-kun’s just… a tough opponent.”
“Not for you,” Uraraka replies, playfully punching his arm. “We all know you’re gonna win later.”
Izuku flushes. “That’s not true, Todoroki-kun––”
“Doesn’t have the experience you have,” Uraraka interrupts. “Besides, you need to get revenge for me! That last hit with the ice wall hurt.”
“I’m pretty sure you hurt him back. That flip off the column followed by the tackle–– wait. You stole that move from me!”
Uraraka grins wolfishly. “Hey, you steal moves all the time! Anyway, I did it better. There’s a clip floating around twitter of you trying to take down that robber in block 8 last week, but then you trip over yourself and fall face first into––”
“Okay!” Izuku says loudly, turning and power-walking away to avoid the embarrassment. “Good talk, Uraraka! See you later!”
Her laughter echoes down the hallway as Izuku quickly absconds, face burning. He didn’t see the open manhole, okay? Not his fault he fell in. Besides, he caught the villain in the end and Hawks only teased him a little for falling into the sewers, so Izuku is counting that as a win.
Izuku is pulled out of his thoughts when he turns the corner and sees Shinsou waiting for him outside the door to the waiting rooms. He’s leaning back against the door, arms crossed, kicking idly at the ground. As soon as he hears Izuku approaching, his head snaps up and he straightens.
“Midoriya,” he says gravely.
Izuku, predictably, starts to worry. “Is… everything alright?”
“I’ve been thinking,” Shinsou starts. He doesn’t continue.
“Um… alright? That’s, uh, good? Thinking is good.”
Thinking is good. Fantastic, Izuku, very articulate. His friend is obviously distressed and all he can say is thinking is good.
Shinsou takes a deep breath, squaring his shoulders.
“I’m going to forfeit our match.”
“What?!” Izuku quickly looks him over. “Are you hurt? Did you use your quirk too much earlier, or did you not eat enough at lunch? I have snacks––”
“I’m fine, Midoriya,” Shinsou attempts to placate, but Izuku is already shifted into Protective Friend mode.
“Is someone pressuring you to drop out? Your Gen Ed classmates? I’ll fight them all for you! Is it the crowd, are you worried about revealing your quirk? We can do the match with just quirkless combat, or––?”
“Midoriya! Stop, it’s none of that.”
“Then, what?” Izuku peers up at his friend, trying to figure out what’s going on in Shinsou’s head. “Why would you want to forfeit? I thought you wanted to–– what do you always say at training, prove yourself?”
“I do,” Shinsou snaps. “I just… I can’t. It’s not fair to you. I can’t use my quirk on you in a match.”
Izuku binks, taken aback.
“Shinsou, you’ve used your quirk on me during sparring matches dozens of times.”
“That’s different,” Shinsou fires back. “That’s when it’s just you, me, and Aizawa–– no cameras or reporters or crowds. It’s–– fuck, Midoriya, it’s not fair to you.”
Izuku shakes his head, bewildered. “Not fair to me?! How? Literally how?”
“It’s too much power. It’s not right.”
“What’s not right is you dropping out of something you’ve trained for weeks just because you–– what, think I suddenly can’t handle your quirk?”
Shinsou groans, frustrated. He tugs a hand through his hair. “You’re not getting it.”
He’s right, Izuku doesn’t understand. All day everyone has been downright delighted to fight him. Classmates have been gleefully announcing their intentions to beat Izuku into the dirt for weeks, even. Shinsou is the first person that doesn’t want to declare war on Izuku–– but he’s the one with the most at stake.
“If I use my quirk on you, I’d have total control over you. I could make you say or do anything. This is a live event! I could make you spill your biggest secret, or leak your address, or––”
Oh. Is that it?
More dramatic teen angst bullshit? Good thing Izuku’s an expert at handling this.
“You won’t,” Izuku says calmly.
“How do you know that? Midoriya, you can’t trust me that much already. We’ve only known each other for a month. I didn’t even acknowledge that we were friends until last week! How do you know I won’t––”
“Because you’re a good person.”
Shinsou scoffs. “How would you know––?!”
“I spent hours after school watching you train to be a hero despite all the obstacles in your way. I work with heroes daily, you think I don’t know what makes a good one? You don’t have a ‘bad’ quirk and you’re not a villain. You are a good person, Shinsou.”
Shinsou jolts, as if zapped with electricity. His mouth opens and closes, going through several false starts before he finally, quietly, says, “thank you.”
“It’s the truth,” Izuku replies easily.
Shinsou exhales hard, not making eye contact. “Yeah, well. Still. Thanks.”
The hallway is awkwardly silent for a few moments.
“So,” Izuku drawls, “are you done with yourl crisis, now?”
Thankfully, this snaps Shinsou out of whatever weird mood he was in. “Shut up. You literally have a crisis every few hours. The other day you were crying about snakes.”
“They don’t have any arms!” Izuku exclaims, distressed.
“Alright, that’s enough emotions. Save the waterworks for later, when your dad hands you the first place medal.”
“All Might isn’t my dad! And stop talking like you’re not going to win, you already know how easy it is to bait me into talking!”
“You need to learn how to let things go. Midoriya, the world isn’t going to end if someone says a slightly incorrect All Might fact––”
“Yes, it will! As a hero, it’s my duty to correct misinformation––”
“Oh, my god, you are impossible––”
“Competitors!” Mic’s voice says through the speakers, starling them both. “Make your way onto the field for your match!”
Shinsou and Izuku blink at each other in surprise. They spent so much time bickering that they’d forgotten to, you know, rest.
“Well, it’s too late for you to make it to the opposite tunnel,” Izuku points out. “Let’s go.”
Shinsou wrinkles his nose. “Whatever.”
The noise of the crowd rises to a fever pitch as the two of them step out of the shadowy stadium tunnel and into the light. It’s midafternoon now and the sun shines hotly directly overhead, nearly blinding Izuku as he steps up to the battle platform.
“Midoriya and Shinsou enter the ring together in a show of solidarity and friendship!”
“We’re not friends,” Shinsou says automatically as Izuku grins up at the announcer’s box. The sound is lost to the roar of the crowd.
“You know, he only said that to embarrass you,” Izuku points out.
“Is Midoriya friends with all his competitors? Seems like the definition of kill them with kindness, am I right, Eraser?”
“They train together,” is all Aizawa says.
“That’s right! You train both Midoriya and Shinsou, don’t you?” Mic asks, like he didn’t already know. “Can you give us any insight into how this match is going to go? Who are you betting on?”
“Betting on children fighting is immoral.”
“Come on, Eraser, give us something.”
There’s a pause as Aizawa considers. Then, he sighs directly into the mic. “They’re both unpredictable. Just don’t embarrass me, you two.”
“Thanks for the encouragement, sensei,” Shinsou mutters sarcastically.
There’s another pause, then–– louder, as if Aizawa cranked up the volume on the speakers, “Reminder: the fighting ring is mic’d. Don’t embarrass me.”
“Alright!” Midnight butts in, before Shinsou and Aizawa can get into one of their infamous snark-offs on national television. “Let’s get this match started. Are you both ready?”
Izuku shifts into his starting position, and across the small clearing, Shinsou drops into a defensive stance. The arena is built the same way it has been in past rounds, and by now Izuku is familiar enough with the concrete pillars and platforms to have a solid trajectory planned out, for when he launches himself at Shinsou.
Because the only way he’s going to win this is if he takes down Shinsou quickly and efficiently, without letting him get a word in edgewise.
“Ready!” Midnight calls, stepping out of the arena.
She raises her referee’s flag.
The crowd roars around them. For a second, Shinsou drops his whole aloof, indifferent mask. From across the great expanse of concrete between them, he smiles at Izuku, the way he does when they face off on a training mat in Gym Gamma.
“Hey,” he says.
Izuku automatically opens his mouth to answer. Then he catches himself.
“Hey,” he signs instead. Shinsou raises an eyebrow.
“Breaking out the JSL already?”
“You literally almost just got me,” Izuku shoots back. “This match would’ve been over.”
Shinsou snorts. “Three weeks ago that would have gotten you.”
Izuku doesn’t sign anything back, but he rolls his eyes. He knows.
Midnight drops her flag. “And, start!”
“All Might’s watching, isn’t he?” Shinsou says immediately. “Wow! Must be nostalgic for him. Did you know All Might got second place in his first UA Sports Festival?”
Izuku’s eye twitches. All Might actually got third in his first Sports Festival, and then first place every year after. He catches himself just before he opens his mouth to correct Shinsou.
Shinsou hums in amusement, no doubt having caught the twitch in Izuku’s jaw. “No response. You’re getting better.”
Izuku charges at him, quirk off, and goes for a tackle. He’s decided not to use his quirk unless absolutely necessary–– partly to show that he can work without his quirk, and partly because he needs to save his energy if he’s going to fight Todoroki later. That match is going to take a lot out of Izuku, and he already used his quirk more than anticipated during his match with Monoma.
Shinsou shifts his weight, spinning out of the way of Izuku’s attack. Izuku dips to grab a ball off the floor and pivots on his heel, trying to punch the ball into the target on Shinsou’s lower left hand ribs.
Shinsou dodges out of the way clumsily, still not used to Izuku’s speed. And then he busts out more slightly incorrect All Might facts.
“All Might is the second Japanese Pro to also rank on the U.S. Pro Hero Billboard charts, right?”
All Might was the first, but Izuku doesn’t respond. He comes at Shinsou from the right, as if to tackle him, but uses a burst of speed to dart left, trying to get behind him.
Shinsou whirls to face him, hands coming up just in time to block Izuku’s punch.
“Hey, is it true that All Might’s never had any sidekicks? That would make you his first, right?”
Izuku shakes his head.
“Nighteye,” he signs.
“Looks like Midoriya is using sign language to communicate!” Present Mic booms. “Could Shinsou’s quirk have something to do with speaking?”
“Shinsou requested that the specifics of his quirk be kept confidential,” Aizawa covers quickly. “Midoriya’s probably just being cautious, since he might not have the specifics.”
Good save. Obviously, Izuku knows how Shinsou’s quirk works–– he’s pretty sure he’s the only person in the world that Shinsou’s used his quirk on more than twice–– but the use of sign language is a dead giveaway for some sort of verbally activated quirk. Smart of Aizawa to feign ignorance.
“Did you know that All Might’s career can be broken down into 4 different decade eras?” Shinsou baits. “Ah, what were they all? Golden Age, Silver Age, Bronze Age, and… hmm, Platinum? Oh well, his best costume was the Bronze Age one, so who cares anyway?”
Izuku fumes. Shinsou knows the Young Age costume is Izuku’s favorite, despite the cape.
“Anyway, can’t believe All Might is the only Pro Hero without a Nike sponsorship. Wonder what’s going on there, you wouldn’t happen to know, would you Midoriya?”
“Sneakers!” Izuku signs aggressively. All Might has a Nike sneaker line! Izuku literally wears the red ones every day!
“Shinsou appears to be goading Midoriya with… All Might facts? Gotta admit, I don’t really get it.”
“I’m their teacher and I don’t get it,” Aizawa says. “It’s just their thing.”
“Oh, like you and cats!”
“I’m not–– Cats are not my–– Presentation Michael, we are on live television!”
Shinsou and Izuku both suppress laughs.
“Speaking of cats,” Shinsou says, jumping up as Izuku attempts to sweep his legs. “The All Might pet care line––”
Izuku interrupts him before he can continue by running at Shinsou. Shinsou braces himself, but Izuku runs past him, using a nearby pillar to run up and attack Shinsou from a higher angle. He manages to catch him with a brutally hard kick to the shoulder, knocking him backwards. Izuku reaches for a couple balls, trying to throw them at Shinsou’s targets.
Shinsou rolls, in a move Izuku’s never seen him pull off before, and flips himself up to a standing position. It’s clumsy, he nearly over balances, but he ends up standing farther away from Izuku, his targets successfully defended. Izuku raises an eyebrow.
“That’s a new move,” Izuku signs to him.
Shinsou grins. “You’re not the only one who trained like hell while you were doing your whole Hawks internship. Aizawa’s friend taught me some stuff, you probably know him. Hiro?”
Izuku’s jaw drops. He almost repeats ‘Hiro?’ in surprise, but catches himself at the last minute.
“You didn’t tell me you met Hiro!”
Shinsou lunges at him, trying to catch Izuku’s arm to pin him. Izuku dodges to the left and sweeps out his leg, which Shinsou jumps over.
“You didn’t tell me you were interning with Hawks,” Shinsou fires back. “I had to find out from Aizawa.”
Izuku is stopped from replying when Shinsou moves in to jab at Izuku’s ribs, ball in hand to try to tag the target on Izuku’s hip. Izuku takes a startled step back–– right onto one of the balls scattered across the arena floor.
Like a cartoon banana peel slip, Izuku tumbles ass over tea kettle and lands on his back with a comically loud “Oof.” Completely wiped out. On national television.
Izuku takes a moment to go through all five stages of grief.
Shinsou uses Izuku’s momentary slip up to tag the target on Izuku’s hip. Izuku tries to roll to avoid it, but he’s still stunned from the fall. It hits the target with a soft beep, lighting up red.
“After a disastrous fall from Midoriya, it looks like Shinsou was able to eliminate one of Midoriya’s targets!” Present Mic announces. “One more and Midoriya loses the match!”
“Lack of environmental awareness,” Aizawa notes drily. “I taught you better than this, Problem Child.”
Izuku has, by now, managed to get back onto his feet and put some distance between him and Shinsou. He looks up at the announcer’s booth imploringly.
Aizawa either can’t see him from up there, or doesn’t care. “Midoriya has been working in the field for a year, but that was a truly amateur mistake.”
“Well, hold on, Eraser. Let’s not be so harsh––”
“One would think,” Aizawa says flatly, “he would know better, considering this is a high stakes competition.”
Oh. Izuku understands what Aizawa is trying to say. If Izuku makes himself look like a fool out here, he invalidates any praise Shinsou would get. The spectators would dismiss any wins Shinsou gets as just a ‘bad day for Deku’ or luck on Shinsou’s part. Izuku can’t have that.
Enough. The longer this match takes, the more it looks like Izuku is just playing with Shinsou. Especially with how all-out Izuku’s next match is going to be.
Shinsou must sense the shift in Izuku’s attitude, because he starts bringing out the big guns.
“You’re so good at combat. Probably the privilege of being All Might’s son, huh?”
Izuku rolls his eyes. He feigns a right hook, but ducks down for a jab to Shinsou’s ribs at the last second.
“Oof! Maybe I need to start insulting your friends. Just can’t resist defending them, can you?”
Izuku makes a face, but doesn't respond. Instead he advances, forcing Shinsou back.
“Todoroki is, uh… bad? You know what, I can’t do it.”
Izuku goes for a high kick. Shinsou barely dodges.
“Maybe you’re rubbing off on me, Midoriya. What’s it like to be the golden boy of the Pro Hero scene?”
Izuku wrinkles his nose. He hates that nickname.
“Ugh, you’re so––” Shinsou goes for a punch, but Izuku catches his fist and uses it to unbalance him. “–– shit, such a good hero, already! Best of our generation, aren’t you?”
Izuku very nearly opens his mouth to protest. Shinsou knows how bad Izuku is at taking compliments. He gets flustered and starts stuttering, especially if it has to do with his Hero Intern work. Izuku has to end this soon, or Shinsou will catch him with his quirk. Izuku swoops down to the floor to pick up a ball and with an open palm strike, lands a hit to the target on Shinsou’s right shoulder.
“That’s one target down for Shinsou! Both Shinsou and Midoriya are down to one target each–– whoever gets the next hit wins the match!”
Shinsou panics. “You don’t really think you can surpass All Might, do you?”
Izuku winces. He knows Shinsou doesn’t mean it–– he can see the immediate guilt and regret on his face–– but it still stings a little. The answer is no. It’s always been no, will always be no. All Might is bigger than Izuku, bigger than even Toshinori. Izuku knows this. The audience doesn’t. As soon as they hear Shinsou’s verbal jab they lose their minds, jeering like teenagers watching a fight at school.
Izuku firmly shakes his head no. He goes in for a right hook.
Shinsou ducks.
“That’s–– Well, Midoriya, what do you––? Isn’t it awful to be––”
Izuku kicks at Shinsou’s knee, causing his legs to buckle. Shinsou tucks into himself to protect the last two targets on his ribs. He scrambles for something to say, barely keeping up with Izuku’s relentless attacks.
“You’re so–– Don’t you think that––? Fuck, just end it already!”
Izuku jolts, startled by the sudden tone shift in Shinsou’s voice.
Shinsou stares at him with tired, half-lidded eyes, hunched over defensively.
“You could’ve ended this fight at the beginning. Stop messing with me.”
Izuku stares back, wide-eyed. He brings his hnds up to sign, “I’m not.”
“You are. We all know it. I’m not real competition for you–– Todoroki, Iida, Uraraka. They’re all real competition. I’m nothing.” Shinsou smiles humorlessly.
Izuku stops his attacks. He shakes his head vehemently.
“Not true.”
Shinsou laughs sarcastically. “It is. Everyone here knows you’re going to win. I’m not even mad about it. Maybe I win sometimes when we spar, but that’s only because you get sloppy sometimes when you’ve had too much sugar.”
Izuku hadn’t even noticed that about himself. Shinsou’s more observant than he gives himself credit for. He’s going to make a great underground hero one day.
“Figures I wouldn’t make it to the finals,” Shinsou says. “I’m not good enough, am I?”
Izuku snaps.
“Don’t say that about yourself!”
There’s a moment of pause as Shinsou just looks at him with shock, as if he didn’t intend for that to happen. Then his quirk snaps into place and Izuku’s mind fades into foggy oblivion.
Usually, Izuku descends calmly into the mindscape Shinsou’s quirk creates for him. Today, Izuku is dragged kicking and screaming. Metaphorically. Izuku’s mouth is always sealed in this space, blocked by the same kind of dense mist that surrounds him.
The usual 8 misty, ghostly figures greet him. One of them is more faded than the rest, but Izuku doesn’t pay them any mind. He slumps in defeat, gazing up at the figures. He really tried his best out there. Looks like Shinsou will be facing off against Todoroki in the finals.
One of the figures approaches him. She’s tall, and her silhouette suggests some kind of cape or something on her outfit. Izuku can’t clearly see any features, but he feels safe as she approaches. Like a wave of calm washing gently over the shore of Izuku’s mind.
“Not yet,” she says. Then she smiles.
It’s a nice smile. Reminds him of Toshinori.
She takes one of Izuku’s hands gently in her own large, gloved hands. Carefully, she folds his middle finger down, then his thumb on top of it. She slides her own thumb under Izuku’s finger and pushes them up, in a flicking motion.
In a great crackle of lightning and air pressure, Izuku is ripped from his mindscape. He jolts as the force from his flick sends him crashing into a nearby pillar. Across from him, he sees Shinsou go flying, rolling over himself until he hits the base of a platform.
“Midoriya managed to snap out of Shinsou’s control! Wow, that’s a lot of power!”
Izuku looks down. One of his targets is red, so Shinsou must have only been able to tag him once. Wasting no time, Izuku powers up with One for All and darts forward, picking up a ball on his way to Shinsou. Shinsou only has enough time to roll over onto his back before Izuku tags one of his two remaining targets, ending the match.
“And in the blink of an eye, Midoriya has won the fight! What just happened?!”
Shinsou blinks up at the sky, stunned. His gaze floats over to Izuku, who hovers over him with a hand extended.
“How…?”
“I’m not sure, to be honest. I thought you had me.”
“Yeah. Me, too.”
Shinsou’s frowning, but he still takes Izuku’s offered hand. He hauls himself up, brushing the dirt and concrete dust off his uniform.
“Well. It was a good fight.”
Izuku chews his bottom lip. The crowd is going wild around them, and Mic is recounting the last few minutes of their fight over the loudspeakers. Izuku ignores all that and peers up at Shinsou cautiously.
“You’re not mad?”
“Why would I be mad? All I wanted was a fair fight and a chance to prove myself. I got what I wanted.”
“I promise I didn’t know I could break out of your quirk, Shinsou. I wasn’t hiding that from you, I don’t know what happened, honest. It went all dark and misty and then there was this ghost lady, and 8 other ghosts, and––”
Shinsou stares at him.
Then he bursts into laughter.
His shoulders drop and he folds over himself, clutching his stomach. When he comes back up, his face is the brightest Izuku’s ever seen. Relaxed and lightly amused.
“Gloves? Ghost lady? What the hell are you talking about? I know you didn’t hide anything from me, Midoriya. You can’t lie and you’re awful at keeping secrets, remember?”
“Yeah, but––”
“Midoriya, Shinsou,” Cementoss interrupts. “Can you two please exit the field? I need to repair for the next match.”
“R-Right! Sorry, Cementoss-sensei!”
Izuku is incredibly relieved that Shinsou isn’t mad at him. Izuku is telling the truth, he truly has no idea what just happened. Even thinking about it now, he can barely remember what he saw while he was under Shinsou’s quirk. He remembers the ghost lady, but everything else was hazy. He can only remember bits and pieces from the other figures there–– white hair and a scar; a long, high collared coat; a willowy figure with wispy, lbangs. Izuku recounts this all to Shinsou as they walk off the field, once they’re out of earshot of the microphones.
To Izuku’s surprise, Aizawa is there to greet them at the mouth to the tunnel leading back into the stadium. Thinking back, Aizawa’s commentary was absent from Mic’s exclamations as the fight between Izuku and Shinsou got more intense. He must have left the commentating booth to come see them after the match.
He regards them both cooly for a moment, letting them squirm uncomfortably, before breaking out into his signature wide, terrifying grin.
“Good job,” he says, turning to lead them through the tunnel. “Both of you.”
Izuku bounces on his heels, eagerly following. “Did we make you proud, sensei?”
“You didn’t embarrass me,” Aizawa says, which might as well be a fatherly pat on the back coming from him. When Izuku looks back at Shinsou, he’s grinning.
“You didn’t have to walk us back, sensei,” Shinsou says. “We can find our way back to the stands on our own.”
Izuku knows this is Shinsou speak for ‘thank you for coming to check on us, your support means the world to me.’
“I needed to come down to the locker rooms to grab my extra capture scarf anyway,” Aizawa says flatly.
Translation: I needed to check on you two because I am secretly a mother hen.
“And,” Aizawa continues sharply, “I needed to talk to you two about something.”
Izuku’s spine straightens. He looks at Shinsou, who looks equally worried.
Aizawa doesn’t even bother to stop as he leads them through the winding hallways of the interior stadium. “You two, Monoma, and Hatsume are never allowed to team up again. Not without teacher supervision and a readily available fire extinguisher.”
Izuku pouts. That wasn’t what he was expecting.
“Why not?”
Aizawa slides him a sideways glance. “Midoriya. Yes, or no: was your back up plan last round to use Monoma’s copy of Bakugou’s quirk and Mei’s support items to set off a series of explosions that would destroy the track for the other teams, possibly costing UA thousands in damages?”
Izuku gapes. Then, he whirls on Shinsou. “You told him?!”
“Of course I did. Midoriya, I am genuinely scared of you sometimes.”
Izuku huffs indignantly. “You agreed to the plan. It was your idea for our backup-backup plan to get Monoma to copy Koda’s quirk so we could summon a swarm of birds to take out the competition!”
Aizawa sighs heavily. He stops walking in front of the entrance to the stairs that will take them up to the spectator stands.
“Again. No teaming up. Only under supervision. I think the four of you traumatized some of the audience.”
Izuku winces. “Was it the maniacal laughter?”
Aizawa pinches the bridge of his nose. “Yes, it was the maniacal laughter. Shinsou, Go up these stairs to the stands, you can sit with 1-A if you want. Midoriya, down the hallway to our left to wait for your match with Todoroki. Go get checked out by Recovery Girl.”
Izuku frowns. “But I want to watch––”
“It’s all being recorded, Problem Child. Go. Don’t think I didn’t notice you favoring your right leg. Recovery Girl.”
“Yes, sensei,” Izuku mumbles, defeated.
Aizawa eyes the two of them for a second, before letting a small, barely there smile flit across his face.
“It was a good match for two heroes in training,” he says to them both. Then, to Shinsou, “I’m sure the other teachers will agree with me.”
Hope blooms across Shinsou’s face. Aizawa turns away quickly to head back to the announcer’s booth. Izuku nudges Shinsou with an elbow.
“You should sit with 1-A,” he says. “Get to know your future classmates more.”
“It’s not official yet.” Shinsou’s face slips back into its usual aloof, almost bored expression, but Izuku can see how pleased he is.
Looks like they both won today.
valo stream after sports fest @gamerman • 6m
THAT MATCH WAS INSANE?? They fought quirkless for most of it and then suddenly deku pulls out that huge air flick attack??? I’m like 20 years older and a hundred pounds heavier than that kid but i bet he would FLATTEN me in a fight
18 retweets 5 quote tweets 637 likes
Hero Fights Daily @herofightsTV • 10m
We’re making an exception to our heroes only fight clip rules to share this incredible clip of Deku’s < 2 second takedown of his opponent in the semi-finals of the #UAFirstYearSportsFest. bit.ly/ksmn8g
98 retweets 16 quote tweets 372 likes
Akagi @ UA @creativeusername • 16m
Commentators were really hyping up Shinsou (purple hair) in that match. I wonder why? Is it just people rooting for the underdog, since it was a gen ed kid versus Deku?
28 retweets 1 quote tweet 57 likes
replying to @creativeusername
catboy rights @uknowlikenya • 13m
It’s not super well known but it is possible to transfer from gen ed to the hero course at ua, so maybe they were trying to hint at that?? Shiketsu is the only other hero school that does this, but I think it’s an application/interview process for them. Not sure what the policy at UA is, I guess we’ll see at the 2nd year sports fest next year if Shinsou made the cut
1 retweet 5 likes
Izuku misses the entire match between Todoroki and Bakugou. Since Izuku will be fighting the winner, Recovery Girl instructs him to just stay in the competitor’s waiting room while she gives him a quick check in to make sure he’s not straining anything or overusing his quirk.
For once, Izuku is completely injury free!
(If you don’t count the warnings Recovery Girl gave him about landing too roughly on his left foot earlier. And the possibility that he’s burning through his quirk energy too quickly and might collapse while fighting Todoroki. And the hit he took to his knees during his match with Monoma––)
Injury free! Nothing wrong with Izuku whatsoever!
Todoroki wins, just like Izuku predicted. Bakugou may be powerful, and an amazing strategist, but, like in a Pokemon battle, it comes down to type advantage. Bakugou’s quirk is reliant on his ability to produce sweat, and then ignite that sweat. Todoroki can literally control the temperature of fairly large areas while maintaining his own internal temperature.
That means Shinsou will be fighting Bakugou for third place in the lower bracket. Izuku shudders to think what psychological warfare tactics Shinsou will pull out to take Bakugou down. Maybe he’ll just call Bakugou “Monoma but louder” and that’ll be the end of it. Izuku’s not sure. They’re both wildcards.
But the outcome of that fight is going to have to wait until later. Recovery Girl left a little bit ago, and now Izuku is alone in the waiting room, trying to kill time while they clean up the stadium for his and Todoroki’s match. Todoroki briefly pops in to say hello before heading to his own waiting room, on the other side of the stadium.
Izuku will be fighting one of his best friends. In the Finals.
Of the UA Sports Festival.
How did he end up here?
Izuku chews his bottom lip anxiously. There are about a million different ways this fight can go. On one hand, he has experience and quirk training over Todoroki. On the other hand, Todoroki outclasses Izuku in terms of raw power, at least with the percentage of One for All that Izuku’s at right now. While his ice side alone could take out most of their classmates, Izuku has been training alongside Todoroki for a while now and he’s pretty sure he knows all of Todoroki’s moves. The match will probably come down to whether or not Todoroki will be able to surprise Izuku with some fire moves.
Izuku exhales shakily. He’s nervous, yes, but a big part of him is just so excited. He knows Endeavor’s in the audience. Izuku hopes Todoroki goes all out–– to prove in his own way that his quirk is his own, regardless of whether he’s using his fire or his ice–– and he knows that Todoroki can only really give it his all against Izuku. They tore up half of Training Field Alpha during last week’s Foundational Heroics practical, and that was for fun.
Who knows what they’ll do during a serious match.
But, there’s just so much to consider. All of Izuku’s moves have been documented by the media, and it’s very likely that Todoroki did his homework knowing that it might come down to him and Izuku. There’s also the possibility that––
“Deku!”
Izuku’s head snaps up. Leaning against the doorway to the waiting room, panting and looking incredibly panicked, is Present Mic.
“M-Mic-sensei?” Izuku stands immediately. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s All Might!” Mic says.
Izuku’s blood runs cold.
“Come quickly! There was an accident in the staff lounge, he needs you.”
Izuku nods, already following Mic out the waiting room and down the hall. They walk quickly, all the while Mic is rambling about All Might’s accident and how they need Deku to help them. Izuku’s breath starts coming out in shallow, panicked little puffs. All he can hear is the heavy echo of his footsteps in the chilly underbelly of UA’s Sports Stadium, his boots clunking heavily with each step. He can’t even hear Mic’s footsteps. Must be something to do with being a Pro, Izuku will have to learn how to tread lighter.
“W-What exactly happened, Mic-sensei?” Izuku’s voice comes out shaky and he curses himself for not being able to remain calm. Some hero he is.
“It’s easier to just show you,” Mic says quickly, and Izuku immediately feels stupid for asking. It’s probably protocol or something to not discuss the potential injuries of a Pro on school grounds. “He just really needs you right now, Deku.”
“O-Okay.”
Weird. Mic never calls him by his hero name, even during training sessions. This must be serious.
“He’s just through here,” Mic says, at the same time that Mic’s voice from inside the stadium says “Listeners, are you ready for the last match of the day?”
Izuku freezes.
The Mic in front of him stops walking. He doesn’t turn around.
“Damn,” he says, still with Present Mic’s voice, “I should’ve picked a different teacher, huh?”
Izuku instinctively switches One for All on, lighting up the dim stadium hallway with its power. “Who are you? W-What did you do with All Might?”
Mic half turns to him, grinning wildly. The energy pouring off of Izuku washes Mic’s face out in a sickly green color, glinting off the metal in his costume and casting dark, dramatic shadows over his face. Before Izuku’s eyes, Mic’s face starts to melt off–– the kind green eyes of Izuku’s English teacher giving away to a sharp, predatory gold.
“Don’t worry, All Might is fine,” says the blonde girl in front of him. “We’re not here for him, silly! We’re here for you!”
“We––?”
Then, a cold, misty presence closes in from behind him and wraps him up in darkness. Izuku doesn’t even have time to scream before he’s being pulled in the familiar dark embrace of oblivion.
Something doesn’t feel right.
Why is Midoriya not exiting the tunnel? He’s missed his cue five times now, and Midnight is starting to look irate. It’s unlike Midoriya to risk upsetting or even mildly inconveniencing someone, let alone a teacher. Shouto was under the impression that he was looking forward to their fight, so why isn’t he here?
Shouto swallows the creeping dread crawling up from his stomach. Realistically, it’s only been a handful of minutes since they parted ways to go to their separate waiting rooms before the match. It’s unlikely that something has happened to Midoriya in that short time span.
Right?
Shouto can already feel his right side acting up, dropping the temperature around him. He casts a nervous glance at the stands, where 1-A seems to be in a similar state of distress. Iida looks to be placating Ashido and Tokoyami.
It has only been a few minutes. Surely, Shouto is overreacting.
But, what if––?
Shouto was joking about separation anxiety earlier, but now he feels sick to his stomach with fear.
Something doesn’t feel right.
mute me im live tweeting @oysterminate • 5m
wtf did deku just leave mid event?? what an asshole
2 retweets 10 likes
replying to @oysterminate
its time to du-du-du-du-deku @kaibasetos • 6m
Hey dude, we don’t know the situation yet. Did you see the statement the Mighty Agency put out this morning about Deku’s panic attack last night? He’s had to go through a lot so let’s give him a break
1 retweet 5 likes
hawks love bot @hawksleftprimaryfeather • 8m
the todoroki kid and the rest of 1a look like they’re panicking… so deku probably didnt leave on purpose right?? they look so worried whenever the camera pans to them
5 retweets 1 quote tweet 29 likes
BE limited edition @trivialoves • 3m
Deku is forfeiting?? Damn, I was looking forward to this fight. They’re both hella strong and it seems like they’re friends so it would’ve been interesting
1 retweet 1 quote tweet 3 likes
replying to @trivialoves
carmen loves #2 pro hero wash @washstansrise • 2m
i think they’re just postponing while they figure out where deku is
2 retweets 5 likes
dad grounded me again @princezagreus • 1m
It looks like they’re just going to do the 3rd place match while they wait for Deku. Place your bets now, I think the purple haired kid will win.
6 retweets 2 quote tweet 18 likes
Me • 2:13 PM
You’re in the stands with your class, correct? Can you see if Midoriya is sitting with 1-A?
Kan Sekijiro • 2:13 PM
I’m in the stands. Midoriya isn’t here.
Aizawa? What’s going on?
Me • 2:13 PM
Text me or Nedzu if you see him.
Me • 2:13 PM
Tell Midnight the finals are being postponed. Yamada will announce it in a second, but get Todoroki to the locker rooms, we need to ask him some questions.
Ishiyama Ken • 2:13 PM
Does this have anything to do with why Midoriya isn’t here? Is he missing?
Me • 2:13 PM
He’s my student, I’m handling this.
Text me or Nedzu if you see him.
Me • 2:13 PM
Is Midoriya with you?
Yagi Toshinori • 2:14 PM
Izuku? No, I haven’t seen the boy since lunch.
Me • 2:14 PM
Text me or Nedzu if you see him.
Yagi Toshinori • 2:14 PM
Is there a problem
Why is Yamada postponing the final match
Aizawa. Is Izuku missing
Yagi Toshinori • 2:18 PM
Izuku’s mother and I have texted him, but the messages aren’t going through so his phone must be off
Hawks has sent feathers throughout the stadium to look for him
I’m going down to the locker rooms to look for him
Aizawa. Update me.
Me • 2:19 PM
He’s missing. I’m looking for him. Text me or Nedzu if you see him.
Kurogiri–– with Izuku and the blonde shapeshifter in tow–– surfaces a few times. The first time is so disorienting that Izuku doesn’t even process that they’ve stepped out of a portal until they’re already warping away again. He just gets the vague blur of an empty park and the sensation of quirk suppressing cuffs snapping onto his wrist before they’re whisked away again. They hop through 3 more places, the last of which seems to be an old bar, before Izuku is unceremoniously dumped onto the floor of a dirty alleyway.
“Ugh,” the blonde girl falls to her knees next to Izuku. “I really hate your quirk. I’m so dizzy and not in a good way.”
“A necessary step,” Kurogiri responds. “We can’t have anyone tracking our guest here.”
“You mean my guest. You agreed that he belongs to me and my sensei.”
“Yes, yes, Toga. You and Stain are free to do with Deku here as you wish.” Kurogiri pauses before adding ominously, “For now.”
Izuku shudders. He manages to push himself up to a kneeling position even with his hands bound behind him. The shapeshifter–– Toga–– pouts up at Kurogiri, not looking the least bit intimidated. Izuku tries to take in as many details as he can, anything that will help them catch Kurogiri when Izuku inevitably escapes and gets to the police–– but before he knows it, Kurogiri is warping away and Izuku is left alone in the alley with Toga.
“Sorry, Deku-kun,” Toga says, turning around to flash Izuku a sharp grin, fangs digging into her bottom lip. “That guy is such a killjoy. My sensei’s nothing like him, don’t worry. We’re going to have so much fun together!”
Toga does a cute little spin, bouncing excitedly. She’s short, definitely way shorter than she was as Present Mic. She looks just like any other schoolgirl, until she pulls a knife out of the waistband of her skirt and advances towards him.
Seriously? Is Izuku seriously about to get stabbed twice in the same month? Recovery Girl is going to kill him.
If Toga doesn’t first.
But she doesn’t hurt him. She just runs the knife almost lovingly down his jawline, cooing when Izuku flinches away.
“W-What do you want with me?”
“I’m going to introduce you to my sensei!” Toga pockets the knife again and pulls out a phone. The little charms on her phone clink together softly as she texts, and Izuku thinks he spots a tiny, green Deku bunny among them.
Izuku has to tread carefully. He’s cuffed, in an unknown part of an unknown city, and at the mercy of someone who willingly associates with the League of Villains. He calls upon all his knowledge of de-escalating hostage situations.
“I like your cell phone charms,” Izuku blurts out. “Kuromi is my favorite Sanrio character.”
Toga stops texting. She looks up from her phone with stars in her eyes.
“Me, too! Oh, I knew we’d get along. Everyone goes for Hello Kitty or My Melody, but I knew you’d be special, Deku-kun!”
Holy shit. Izuku can’t believe that worked.
Izuku eyes the phone in Toga’s hand. If he can catch her by surprise, he can grab the phone and run. He’s willing to bet that he’s faster than her, even with his quirk suppressed. Luckily for Izuku, Toga happens to be the type to ramble about things she loves.
“You’re an amazing hero, Deku-kun! One of the good ones, not like the other fucking fakes out there. No, you really want to save people, I can see it.”
“Y-You don’t like other heroes?”
Toga throws her head back and cackles. “You can barely call them heroes. They don’t even see people like Sensei and I as people. You’re different, though. I want to be just like you, Deku-kun.”
Izuku latches onto that, subtly creeping closer to the phone held loosely at Toga’s side. “Oh? T-That’s so nice of you to say.”
“I knew as soon as I saw you in costume, beating up those crooks at the USJ. My master said that you were like the new All Might, but I think you’re better than that. You’re just so much cuter!”
Izuku fakes a smile. “T-Thank you. You’re cute, too–– hey, we should take a selfie together.”
Toga grins at him, cheeks flushing.
“Wow!” she giggles. “You must think I’m really stupid, huh Deku-kun?”
Izuku’s smile drops. “Huh?”
She waves her phone teasingly in front of him, then plants a foot on his shoulder and kicks him onto his side. “Don’t bother trying to call for help or anything. All the heroes are gone–– ironically, off to watch UA’s Sports Festival. I bet they’re starting to wonder where you are. None of them will check Hosu, all the heroes in this area are cleared out.”
Izuku’s heart sinks into his stomach. He struggles to get back onto his knees as Toga starts to rapidly text.
“Well, all except one. Don’t worry, my mentor is bringing him right now–– ooh, I’m sure you’ll like Sensei. He was really inspired by your speech at the USJ and–– yes! He’s on his way right now!”
The more Toga speaks, the worst Izuku feels. Dread creeps up, heavy and nauseating in his stomach. Mentor. Hosu. No heroes–– except for one.
“Himiko, I’ve brought you a treat.”
Like a puppy, Toga perks up as a raspy voice echoes down the alley. Izuku turns his head and––
The Hero Killer. Stain.
No one has been able to catch him on video or in pictures, but Izuku just knows intuitively that that’s who he’s looking at. It’s some old, instinctual part of his hindbrain whispering predator to him. It’s the way he manages to darken the entire alley, even though it’s the middle of the day. Stain is wrapped in blood red scarves and dirty bandages, with enough weapons strapped to him to arm an entire village. It makes his silhouette jagged–– the light catching on various pieces of razor sharp metal like some kind of sick amalgamation of broken glass and needles.
“Stain-sensei!”
Toga bounds over to him, heedless of the katana in his hand. She starts talking a mile a minute, some of it gushing over Izuku and some of it complaining about Kurogiri. Stain smiles–– a sharp, dangerous thing–– and sheaths his sword so he can pat Toga on the head.
“Fantastic work, Himiko. Here–– someone to practice your quirk on.”
Izuku looks down and there–– crumpled at Stain’s feet like he’d been dragged into the alleyway–– in scuffed and dented armor, is Tensei Iida.
“I-Ingenium-san?”
Izuku is ignored. Toga looks up at Stain, bouncing on her heels in excitement as she waits for some kind of permission. He nods and Toga squeals, dropping to her knees and prodding at his wounds. She gets blood all over her soft cream cardigan.
“This time, why don’t you try to extend the amount of time you can hold form,” Stain says to Toga. “How long were you able to sustain Present Mic’s form from the sample I got you?”
“About five minutes, Sensei, but I could have gone longer. Deku-kun figured it out too quickly.”
Stain hums, considering. Toga manages to get Ingenium’s helmet off and is poking at a cut over his eye with her pinkie. Ingenium doesn’t seem to be able to move.
“W-What are you doing? Get away from him!” Izuku tries to rush over to Ingenium’s side.
This gets Stain’s attention.
“Hero Intern Deku.” Stain’s voice is like nails on a chalkboard. “All Might’s intern. What an honor, we’re big fans.”
“Why isn’t Ingenium-san moving?” Izuku’s face hardens. “What did you do to him?”
“You seem like a smart kid. A lot like Nighteye, in a way. I’m sure you can figure it out.”
“Your quirk. But… how? How does it work? Some kind of paralysis?”
Stain gives him a sickly grin. He doesn’t answer. Instead, he gives Toga some kind of signal, then goes to lean against the alley wall, observing as Toga pokes and prods at Ingenium. She pushes up her cardigan to reveal a waistband belt with at least a dozen knives tucked into it, their blades gleaming a sharp silver against the pristine white of her shirt. She reaches down and takes one from its place. It has a long, thin blade and a cutesy pastel pink handle, complete with a heart charm on the end.
She flips it in her hands a couple times. Then, she brings the point down towards Ingenium in a series of small, shallow cuts. They’re not killing blows. She licks the knife after every slice.
“Stop!” Izuku cries. “Why are you doing this? Just to make him suffer?”
Toga pauses, the knife hovering over Ingenium. “You don’t understand. I need to, it’s like–– It’s like my quirk pulls me. I-I’m not a monster, okay? I just–– I can’t help it. Blood is just so… beautiful.”
Some of Izuku’s disgust must show on his face because Stain tsks, like a disappointed teacher.
“Don’t you get it, Deku? Toga is just doing what’s natural to her. She’s the product of a society that uplifts heroic quirks, a society that worships false heroes as idols. She’s been put down her whole life, hunted down by so-called heroes because of a simple misunderstanding.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt him,” Toga mumbles, seemingly to herself. “I had a crush, and easy access to a box cutter. And he was just so pretty when he bled.”
“Is it any surprise that the only person to take her in would be someone who sees this poisoned society for what it is? No hero would help her, not trash like him––”
Stain spits down at Ingenium.
“–– a hero who runs his agency through dozens of underpaid sidekicks? Exploitation. How dare he call himself a hero, how dare he claim to hold the same title as All Might? I thought you of all people would understand.”
Izuku blanches. “Me, of all people?”
Stain grins, teeth sharp and crooked, like a mouth full of broken glass. “I meant it when I said we were fans. I know everything about All Might, which means I know everything about you, Midoriya Izuku. I wanted to see for myself what All Might’s chosen successor was like, and I’m happy to say that you don’t disappoint. Every bit as heroic as your mentor. Even as we speak, you’re trying to pick your handcuff locks to escape and save Ingenium, aren’t you?”
Izuku freezes, caught. He was so sure Stain was too focussed on Toga to see Izuku wriggling around, trying to locate some kind of tool on the alley floor to jam into his handcuffs.
Crap.
Toga looks up and sends Izuku a lovesick grin. There’s blood smeared on the corner of her mouth, and one of her elbows has morphed into Ingenium’s elbow engines. “Deku-kun, you’re so resilient! How adorable.”
“I can show you the paperwork, if you don’t believe me. I investigate all my targets before taking them out, to look for any true heroes. So far, only All Might has made the cut. If you join us, I’m sure you can help me weed out the fake heroes. You’ve spent so much time with All Might, you must know what qualities to look for.”
“Are you asking me to join you?” Izuku asks incredulously.
“It’s why we hired the League to bring you here. Aren’t you glad we pulled your out of that exploitative, sorry excuse for a Sports Festival? What a disgusting celebration of false heroes.”
“Join us! It’ll be so much fun Deku-kun!”
Toga has managed to remove all of Ingenium’s armor, exposing his wounds to the open air. She’s flushed with bloodlust, eyes wide and shiny, her lips stretched into a euphoric smile. She twirls a knife around in her hands, fingers deftly handling the blade. She looks perfectly at home in this dark alley, with a serial killer watching over her and a bleeding hero at her feet.
Softly, Izuku asks, “What… Toga, what happened to you? What made you like this?”
Toga grins manically. “What made me like this? Nothing! This is how I was meant to be. I feel so alive.”
Stain chuckles fondly. He steps off to the side, leaning against the brick wall of the alley.
“We have about fifteen minutes before Ingenium’s sidekicks realize he’s missing and try to track him down. I will need to kill him by then, so try to have your fun quickly, alright?”
“Yes, sensei!”
Toga begins… sampling blood from Ingenium. Izuku shudders and looks away.
Because that’s Iida Tensei, not Ingenium. That’s the same Tensei that picks Iida up from his and Izuku’s study sessions. The same Tensei that treated them to ice cream after mock exams. The Tensei that Iida gushes about, looks up to, is constantly texting training updates to. Tensei was there right after Izuku got his provisional license, he was there when Izuku took the train to Hosu City to surprise Iida after the UA Entrance Exam, he was there when Iida came to visit Izuku in the hospital after the USJ attack. Tensei was there.
And now he’s here, bleeding out in front of him while Izuku sits here cuffed, helpless.
Izuku looks back up in time to see Toga hovering her knife over the side of Tensei’s neck, ready to slice.
“Stop!” Izuku yells. “T-That’s an artery! He’ll bleed out.”
Toga’s eyes go glassy. “I love the way blood splatters when you hit an artery. Did you know that a completely severed artery can spurt blood for up to 30 whole seconds, Deku-kun? Isn’t that lovely?”
Izuku swallows thickly, trying not to cry. He thinks quickly.
“I–– but, you don’t want him to bleed out too quickly, do you? T-Then it’s not f-fun anymore.”
Toga pauses, head cocking as she considers his words.
“I have medical training,” Izuku pushes. “I know where you can cut without him dying too fast.”
“Oh, Deku-kun, you really are perfect! Show me, show me!”
Izuku locks eyes with Tensei, hoping to silently communicate that it’s going to be okay. He has a plan.
Izuku gets to his feet and crouches near Toga and Tensei, struggling to balance on the balls of his feet with his hands still in cuffs behind his back.
“W-Well, there, where your knife was, that’s where the right common carotid artery is. So, don’t, um, cut there.”
Up close Tensei looks bad. There are some wounds on his legs that are too deep for Izuku to be able to treat by himself, even if he had his medical supply backpack with him. He needs a hospital, and soon. Izuku walks Toga through some basic anatomy, hoping to distract her from cutting Tensei up. He tries to be vague enough so as to not give her knowledge she can use against people, but she’s listening with such rapt attentiveness that Izuku knows it’s a lost cause. He might have just inspired her to pick up a medical textbook after this, if only to fuel her sick obsession with blood.
Izuku stalls. He waits. Every second that passes, the red pool under Tensei grows bigger. He bides his time and then–– when Stain has turned away to clean his sword–– Izuku makes his move.
“There’s a pressure point here,” Izuku says softly to Toga, jerking his shoulder forward as if he tried to use his hand to point. “Ah, oops, forgot about the cuffs.”
“Here?” Toga uses her knife to trace a line near Tensei’s collar bone.
Izuku shakes his head. “No, further down.”
Toga’s knife drifts down Tensei’s sternum. “Here, Deku-kun?”
Izuku huffs, faking frustration. “No, it’s–– move a bit to the left.”
Toga makes a soft, impatient noise in the back of her throat. “Just show me.”
She reaches behind Izuku and undoes his cuffs. In an instant, Izuku has Tensei in his arms and is bounding out of the alley.
“Hey–-!”
“Deku-kun!”
Izuku clutches Tensei close to his chest, trying his best to not jostle his wounds as he rounds a corner into another alley. A knife whizzes past his head, so Izuku pushes himself to his maximum percentage. His lungs burn. He doesn’t know this city, doesn’t know the way these sidestreets connect the way he knows Musutafu. Stain and Toga are right behind him, and Tensei is bleeding out in his arms, and Izuku doesn’t know––
“Left,” Tensei rasps.
Izuku doesn’t question it. He jumps and bounces off a wall to take a sharp into a smaller alley, ricocheting off a dumpster.
“I’m sorry, I-Ingen–– T-Tensei-san. I tried––”
“Save your breath. They’re still––” Tensei coughs and splatters blood all over the side of Izuku’s neck.
Izuku panics. He pushes himself faster.
“I-It’s going to be okay. We just need to get out to the main streets, and then–– then we can find a hospital and–– it’s going to be okay.”
“Right, then it’s a straight shot to Main Street. Hospital to the left, half a kilometer.”
Izuku trembles with exertion. He can’t hear anything behind him, and Stain has either ran out of throwing knives or just isn’t bothering anymore because nothing else has been thrown his way. Izuku doesn’t dare look back, though. He can hear Tensei’s breath rattling in his chest, and his blood is soaking into Izuku’s gym uniform. There’s so much of it–– it makes Izuku’s hands slippery, so he clutches Tensei as tightly as he dares for fear of dropping him in his haste to get to the hospital.
“Tell Tenya––”
“Tell him yourself,” Izuku snaps. “You’re going to be okay, Tensei-san.”
Izuku dashes out onto the promised Main Street, pivoting on his heel to take a sharp left to the hospital. From the corner of his eye, Izuku catches a gleam of metal. He ducks. A whole katana flies over his head and embeds itself into a parked car across the street.
Stain howls in frustration, but Izuku doesn’t stick around to see more. He races down the street.
“Get out of here!’ He yells to the few people milling about the street. “Get to the nearest hero agency–– there’s a villain nearby!”
The minute it takes Izuku to run to the hospital is the longest of his life. He can feel Tensei’s breaths becoming fainter and fainter. In his desperation, Izuku pushes himself too fast and he feels something in his ankle fracture, but he ignores it. He accidentally shatters the glass doors to the emergency room when he sprints through them, collapsing at the reception desk with Tensei still in his arms.
“Please,” Izuku gasps, “I-Ingenium, Stain––”
And then an adult takes over and Izuku lets himself dissolve into a relieved, shaky heap.
KFTV News @KFTV • 10m
BREAKING: Hero Killer strikes again! Deku was spotted in Hosu City just minutes after the postponement of the final match in UA’s Sports Festival. Witnesses say Deku was holding a heavily injured Ingenium and urging bystanders to evacuate. More as situation develops.
213 retweets 34 quote tweets 932 likes
mt lady merch when @funnymaple • 15m
How tf did deku get all the way to hosu from musutafu?? And how did he just happen to be where the hero killer was?? Idk yall i think we should wait for ingenium’s statement before believing whatever this is. Could be a press ploy
18 retweets 189 quote tweets 24 likes
replying to @funnymaple
fancy soty @armyoncesrise • 13m
Dude are you serious? Have you seen the pics of Deku rushing Ingenium to the hospital? It looks pretty serious + Ingenium is reportedly heavily injured. Pretty sure it’s not a press ploy.
102 retweets 387 likes
replying to @funnymaple
fancy soty @armyoncesrise • 13m
Police literally found a sword on the scene that belongs to the hero killer. Imagine hating deku so much when he literally just saved the life of the number 39 hero
59 retweets 289 likes
satoru’s no1 simp @stangojo • 12m
Holy shit he is literally covered in blood. Please add a trigger warning when posting those pics. Poor Ingenium :( Does anyone know if Ingenium was the only one hurt or if Deku was hurt too?
53 retweets 2 quote tweets 198 likes
Okazaki Hajime @polythanzagmeg • 8m
Bet you clowns calling him inconsiderate for forfeiting the sports fest feel real stupid right now. kid was literally saving a life while yall were sitting on this stupid bird app dragging him
1.8k retweets 38 quote tweets 8.9k likes
Hosu Times @HosuTimesPaper• 38m
Mighty Agency reports no major injuries for Hero Intern Deku. Full statement regarding teh incident to be released tomorrow. Ingenium is reportedly stable. Full article: bit.ly/msxj8
3.1k retweets 52 quote tweets 15.9k likes
Midoriyas (Yes, you too Toshinori)
Inko (Midoriya #1) • 2:18 PM
Izuku, please just let us know you’re okay? If you got nervous or had a panic attack that’s okay, we just need to know where you are
Toshinori (Midoriya #3) • 2:18 PM
My boy, we are just worried
No one is mad
Katayama-san and Recovery Girl say that they haven’t received emergency codes from you, but if you’re in trouble just tell me and I can be there
Do not worry about my All Might hours. I will be there
Izuku (Midoriya #2) • 2:43 pm
stain was here. tensei san is hurt
please come soon
they left me alone in the waiting room and i don’t know if tensei san is going to be okay
Izuku is still alone at the hospital when Iida and his parents arrive. He gets to see the exact moment his best friend’s heart breaks.
Notes:
i'm so sorry hahaha <3 anyway, a couple notes:
• Chapter title is from Lights Out by Mindless Self Indulgence
• if you'd like to see the fake tournament bracket i made, complete with who wins which fights click here
• if u caught the star wars reference u have all my luv
• just know that in my head, toga and stain have the whole parental mentor relationship that izuku and toshinori do but like... evil... toga brings home bad heroes to stain like a cat brings home mice
• no idea when next chapter will be up, sorry !! i have completely abandoned my upload schedule LMAO but it might be a while since we're getting near the end and i wanna take my time with these last two chapters :D ty for understanding <3
• as always, i'm xyloophones on tumblr and @xyloophones on twitter (i have a curious cat now too !!)
Chapter 11: Stained with disaster
Summary:
Iida turns to look at him, his glasses fogged up and cheeks streaked with tears.
“I fear the best hero I can be is not a hero at all.”
Notes:
Sorry for disappearing for so long!! Here's a 19k apology <3
Please mind the angst, canon typical violence, and injury tags!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
The apartment is cold.
The hospital was cold, too. So was Toshinori’s car on the ride back from Hosu, even though Inko sat in the backseat with Izuku the entire time, clutching one of his shaky hands in hers and murmuring soft, comforting words. After handing Tensei over to the proper medical authorities, all the white-hot panic in Izuku’s blood drained out of him and now he’s just… cold.
“Do you want something to eat, Izuku?” Inko asks him, as soon as they’ve crossed the threshold into their apartment. She’s already halfway to the kitchen, but Izuku pauses at the genkan, suddenly struck by how frigid the air in here is.
He should say yes. He’s burned through a lot of energy today, first with the Sports Festival, then with––
“Yes,” he says quickly, forcing himself to move so he doesn’t think too hard about today. “Please.”
Inko cooks the food fresh for him— a hot, steaming bowl of katsudon—but Izuku still feels so cold.
Later that night, Detective Tsukauchi comes over to get Izuku’s statement on the day’s events. It’s incredibly painful, even with Izuku being afforded the comfort of getting to do the interview curled up on the comfy couch in his apartment, sandwiched between his mom and Toshinori. Tsukauchi has him start at the beginning of the day, even before the Sports Festival started, since they have no idea how Toga managed to infiltrate UA. Every detail helps, but most of the day is just a hazy, bloody blur for Izuku.
“Detective,” Izuku asks before Tsukauchi leaves, “h-how’s Tensei-san?”
Tsukauchi gives Izuku a comforting pat on the shoulder. “Last I heard, he made it through surgery alright. Don’t think about it too much, alright Midoriya? Get some rest.”
Rest. Like Izuku can rest when Tensei nearly died in his arms.
The next day is a Saturday, which means Izuku doesn’t have to drag himself to school. Tensei’s doctors won’t let him have non-family visitors yet, so Izuku spends the day drifting listlessly around his apartment. Everytime he turns a corner, he sees the alley. Stain. Toga.
If Izuku had just been faster––
Izuku spends the morning on the couch with Toshinori, watching old All Might films and waiting for the phone to ring. UA is giving them tomorrow off, and Iida’s mom told Inko that Tensei can have visitors either today or Sunday.
Eventually, Toshinori leaves to patrol as All Might. Justice never rests, and all that. Izuku barely registers him leaving.
Izuku finally snaps out of his disconnected state a couple hours later, when he accidentally overhears his mom having a very heated discussion with someone over the phone, presumably Principal Nedzu going by the snippet Izuku manages to catch. Inko doesn’t yell, she hardly ever raises her voice unless she’s very excited, but she does have something that Izuku and Toshinori have dubbed her Scary Voice. It’s hard to forget that Inko was president of her college’s debate team.
Izuku sits in the living room, nervously waiting for her to finish her call. Finally, she makes her way into the living room and collapses on the couch next to Izuku, looking exhausted.
Izuku fidgets. “Any word from the Iidas?”
“No, sorry, Izuku.” Inko shifts so she can run her fingers through his curls, humming comfortingly. “I’m sure they’ll call as soon as they’re ready.”
Izuku nods. He knows not to rush it, it’s just that–– the last time Izuku saw Tensei, he was covered in blood. That’s not how Izuku wants to picture him. In Izuku’s memories, Tensei is always smiling fondly as Iida goes on a rant about something or another. Izuku wants to wipe the bloody image of Tensei from his mind. He changes the subject.
“Was that Principal Nedzu on the phone?”
Inko sighs. “Yes.”
“It sounded… um. Bad.”
“I think we reached an agreement.”
“You’re not going to pull me out of UA, right?” Izuku asks anxiously.
Inko shakes her head. “No. You made your points about that last week. I just don’t understand how you could be attacked twice on UA property, surrounded by Pro Heroes. .”
“On the brightside, at least they took me during the Sports Festival so someone noticed right away. If they took me off the train or something, it could’ve been an hour before someone noticed.”
“Izuku, baby, I know you’re still processing, but I really don’t want to think about how it could have been worse.”
Izuku winces. “Right. Sorry, mom.”
The front door lets out a series of beeps and clicks, indicating someone is unlocking their assortment of 9 locks, scans, and bolts. Is Toshinori back already? How long was Izuku staring into space for?
“I’m home!” Toshinori calls out.
“Welcome, home,” Izuku and his mom say. Toshinori wanders into the living room.
“How was patrol?” Izuku asks.
Toshinori grimaces. “Loud. Lots of reporters. It’s a good thing you didn’t come with me today.”
Izuku knows Toshinori means it for his own good, but it still stings a little. It’s weird to think about All Might patrolling without Deku.
“I just got off the phone with Nedzu,” Inko says. “I start on Tuesday.”
Toshinori and Izuku blink at each other.
“Inko, you’re accepting Nedzu’s job offer?”
“I said I was considering it, didn’t I? And it would make me feel better, to be on campus in case something happened.”
“I thought you were arguing earlier,” Izuku says. “At least, that’s what it sounded like. I’m glad you’re taking the job, though.”
“I was just making him work for it. It’s very satisfying to have one of the most intelligent beings on the planet groveling for your forgiveness.” With that, Inko stands and makes her way into the kitchen, declaring it snack time.
Toshinori stares after her. “Izuku, the world is very, very fortunate that your mother is too kind to ever turn to the path of villainy. Otherwise, I think we’d be in a lot of trouble.”
Izuku agrees.
(Shigaraki Tomura flings his SNES controller at the wall.
“What do you mean they lost Deku?!”
Kurogiri sighs, exasperated. Another retro, irreplaceable video game console destroyed by Tomura’s childish fits of rage. And it took him so long to find a technology shop specializing in pre-quirk entertainment systems, too.
“What was the point of lending Deku to Stain and his disciple if they were just going to let him escape! We should have killed him while we had the chance.”
Kurogiri begins to pick up the shards of plastic as Tomura rages around the room, disintegrating random pieces of furniture and other things that Kurogiri will have to clean up. As usual.
“I’d like to remind you that you are the one that wanted to recruit Stain into the League. These were the only terms he would accept.”
“Then we should have killed Stain, too! I’ll get a Nomu––No! Three Nomu––to take him down. How will he paralyze something with the blood of 6 different people flowing through it? Yes, and then I’ll track down Deku and disintegrate the brat’s stupid face and––”
Kurogiri exhales heavily, knowing that there’s no reasoning with Tomura when he gets like this. Better to just let him burn the energy out. He opens a portal into the other room, reaches through to grab a dustpan, and begins cleaning the remnants of the couch that Tomura has just annihilated. Shame. It was a nice couch.)
On Sunday, Izuku and his family go to visit Tensei in Hosu General as soon as he’s ready for visitors. His mom managed to convince Izuku to bake the night before, and the heat of the oven and the freshly baked goods definitely helped to chase away the chill a bit. Izuku makes walnut brownies, because he remembered that Tensei liked them when Izuku brought some over for one of his and Iida’s study sessions once. Come to think of it, Tensei liked everything Izuku brought over. Maybe he was just being nice. Tensei is a nice guy like that.
He was an even better hero.
Izuku knew that his mom and Iida’s mom were friends, but he didn’t really know until he saw the way Iida Yuka folds herself into Inko’s embrace.
Tensei is surprisingly chipper for someone who just went through such a devastating event. He's just like he is everytime Izuku sees him: bright, enthusiastic, and incredibly amiable. He even tries to ruffle Izuku’s hair before his IV line stops him. It simultaneously soothes Izuku’s worries and breaks his heart. He’s glad to see Tensei so lively, but no amount of smiles can erase how small he looks in his hospital bed, face washed out under the artificial lights.
Tenya is noticeably absent.
“Thank you for the brownies!” Tensei smiles closed-lipped and sunny around a mouthful. “And the flowers!”
“Anytime, Tensei-san. You can just tell your brother to tell me if you ever want anymore. I bake a lot when I’m stressed so it’s no trouble at all!”
Tensei grins at him, the stitches on his face wrinkling. “First you save my life, then you offer me baked goods? You’re a good kid, Izuku-kun.”
Izuku flinches at the sudden reminder. Tensei’s smile fades.
“Hey,” he says softly. His gaze flickers over to the corner of his hospital room, where the adults have settled together to chat. “I mean it. I owe you my life. I’m extremely lucky you were there. It must have been… tough to see.”
“I was really scared,” Izuku admits, looking away. He stares hard at the tupperware full of brownies in his lap.
“You did well,” Tensei says firmly. “You handled it well. Another hero might have tried to fight Stain, and I would have––”
“Please, don’t.” Izuku blinks away tears, the memory still too raw.
“Sorry. I guess when you become a Pro you just kind of accept that danger is part of the job. Death is just— anyway, it’s easy to forget how young you are. It will get easier.”
Izuku doesn’t want it to get easier. If he reaches the point where he’s so desensitized that he sees someone bleeding out and thinks more about capturing the villain, then he would lose the parts of him that make him human. Izuku would rather not be a hero at all.
He decides to change the subject. He doesn’t want to think about it anymore.
“Where’s Iida–– er, your brother?”
Tensei sighs. “He’s here, somewhere. He doesn’t like being in this room, something about there not being optimal airflow for recovery. I think he just doesn’t like seeing me like this.”
Izuku can relate. It’s hard, seeing a hero you admire looking so beat up, and Izuku isn’t even Tensei’s brother.
“Actually, do you think you can go find him for me? Try to talk to him? I’m sure he’d like to see you.”
“You want me to go? Will you be okay?”
Tensei nods at the container in his lap. “Leave the brownies and I will be. Besides, I have the parent squad to look after me. Look at them, bonding! My mom’s been trying to have you guys over for family dinner for forever, maybe now we can finally coordinate something.”
Izuku smiles. “Okay, Tensei-san. I’ll be back with your brother.”
It’s not hard to find Iida. Izuku knows him. They were each others’ first real friend. Izuku knows that when Iida is upset, he doesn’t like to be cooped up. He’ll go for a run, or a walk in the park. Since Iida would be unwilling to leave the hospital, that leaves only one place he can be: the roof.
Hosu General has a rooftop garden. It looks well maintained, and there’s even a section cordoned off for the long term stay patients to grow their own little vegetable garden. The elevator doors open directly out into the center. It’s unseasonably cold today, the wind blowing hard enough to clank the windchimes together in an unpleasant cacophony instead of a calming jingle.
Iida is sitting on a bench, near the high railings surrounding the edge of the roof. He’s facing the skyline, his back a rigid line. He fits right in against the skyscrapers of downtown Hosu.
“Hey, Iida,” Izuku greets softly. He settles himself on the bench next to Iida.
“Midoriya-kun,” is all Izuku gets from him, but at least it’s something. Tensei said that Iida has refused to speak to anyone that isn’t his family.
Izuku bumps their shoulders together gently. He doesn’t say anything else. He’s known Iida for long enough that he knows that right now Iida doesn’t need someone to talk to. He just needs someone to sit next to him, watching the world go by.
Despite the wind and the chill, the sun is out in full force. It shines down on the city with a cruel coldness, providing no heat. Everything looks washed out today. It’s a bleak sight.
“Tenya,” Iida says softly, breaking the silence.
Izuku turns to look at him. “Hm?”
“Tensei told me to take the Ingenium name for myself,” Iida chokes out. “But, I–– I cannot take–– It wouldn’t be right. I’m not Ingenium. I’m just… Tenya.”
Izuku’s heart aches for him. He and Iida are in similar positions, carrying a decades long legacy on their shoulders and not feeling nearly qualified enough to handle it. Izuku, at least, has time to prepare for All Might’s retirement in the distant future. Iida just had the rug pulled from under him.
“Is Tensei not…” Izuku hesitates, unsure of how to ask. “I mean, he’s not going to…?”
“He will never be able to use his legs again,” Iida says in a flat, clinical voice. As if he’s repeated it to himself enough times for it to not hurt again. “His hero career is over.”
“It might not be completely over,” Izuku tries to comfort. “I mean, Zimmer Biomet Support just came out with a line of support gear for wheelchair users, and Tensei’s engines are on his elbows. I’m sure we can come up with some––”
“Midoriya-kun,” Iida cuts him off. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but it’s over. My parents would never allow Tensei back in the field and he… I fear that my older brother has given up on heroics.”
Izuku deflates. “Oh. I’m so sorry.”
They lapse into silence again. The cold seeps through Izuku’s clothes and into his skin. He’s always so, so cold now.
“When I was 12,” Iida starts again, “Tensei promised me we would be a hero duo together.”
Izuku listens. This is the first he’s heard of this. He didn’t know that Iida was planning on forming a hero duo with his brother. The subject had never come up.
“He always encouraged me to explore different career paths. He was of the opinion that I was too intelligent to waste time fighting villains. I believe he wanted to protect me, to shelter me from the life of a hero. However, when I made it clear that I had my sights set on heroics, he was nothing if not supportive.”
“Is that why you started working at his agency?”
Iida nods, looking out at the scenery. “It’s the closest thing to rule breaking I’ve ever done, since I’m technically an unofficial intern. Tensei reassured me that it was simply early exposure to my future work environment. He even… he’s already set aside an office for me. For three years from now, when I graduate from UA. It’s right across the hall from his own office.”
Izuku doesn’t know what to say to that. What do you say to someone that just had their dream ripped away from them? Iida will never run the Ingenium hero agency with his brother, not the way that he dreamed of. They will never patrol side-by-side, literal brothers in arms.
“I… I don’t know what to do, Midoriya-kun.”
It’s then that Izuku realizes Iida is crying, silent tears running down his cheeks as he looks out at the city.
Izuku takes a deep breath. “It’s okay if you don’t know right now. I think… I think Tensei-kun will be proud of you no matter what you do. Just try your best, Iida-kun. Be the best hero you can be.”
Iida turns to look at him, his glasses fogged up and cheeks streaked with tears.
“I fear the best hero I can be is not a hero at all.”
(Later, Izuku will think about this moment on the rooftop, and wonder if he had said something else––if he had tried a little harder to listen to Iida––if maybe things would have turned out differently.)
Hosu Daily @HosuDailyNews • 3h
Hundreds gather to hold a candlelight vigil in front of the Ingenium Agency after the tragic attack by the Hero Killer three days ago. Ingenium is reportedly recovering from major injuries at Hosu General, though it is unclear as to how severe his condition is.
9.3k retweets 652 quote retweets 13.2k likes
Izuku visits Hosu General one last time on Monday, without Toshinori and Inko. Tomorrow, UA starts classes again and Tensei will be transferred to a longer term care facility that specializes in physical therapy for injured heroes. He brings more brownies. These ones are peanut butter flavored.
The visit is unremarkable, but when Izuku gets back home, he’s greeted with an unexpected sight.
Todoroki and Uraraka are laughing with Toshinori in his kitchen, while his mom prepares tea.
“Um,” Izuku says.
“Midoriya.”
“Deku-kun!”
“Welcome home, Izuku.” Toshinori offers Izuku some dried mango. “How was Tensei-kun?”
“Fine. Excited to leave Hosu General.” Izuku distractedly hangs up his coat, gaze fixed on his friends. “What are you guys doing here?”
“Your mom invited us!” Uraraka says. “We wanted to check on you. You haven’t been answering your texts. Even Todoroki doesn’t leave me on read this much.”
Todorki takes a bite out of a piece of mango and nods.
Izuku winces. “Sorry. I, uh–– sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it. We’re just glad you’re okay.”
Izuku lightly catches up with them over snacks, tactfully avoiding any mention of Stain or the Iida brothers. Eventually they migrate to Izuku’s room––which, embarrassingly, is covered in All Might posters.
“Midoriya,” is all Todoroki says, but Izuku knows he’s being made fun of.
“I just really like All Might, okay?”
“Clearly.”
“Oh, no.” Uraraka reaches into her backpack and pulls out a rolled up poster. “I guess you don’t need our get well gift, huh?”
She unfurls the poster. It’s one of the cheap, 500 yen prints you can get at any conbini. All Might’s face is slightly distorted. Izuku loves it to pieces.
“No! It’s perfect! Thank you, you didn’t have to––”
“We had this argument last time we brought you presents. Just take the poster.”
“At least this time he’s not in the hospital,” Todoroki says. He’s wandered over to Izuku’s bookshelf. “Is there a reason you have 3 of the same action figure?”
“It’s not an action figure, it’s a limited edition–– guys, stop making fun of me!”
Uraraka and Todoroki give up on hiding their amusement. Uraraka openly laughs at him.
“Does All Might know about all this?”
Considering he lives just down the hall––but neither of them know that.
“He’s… aware that I’m a fan,” is all Izuku says.
Todoroki nods. “After meeting Yagi-san, I’ve updated my theory. All Might is clearly your biological dad, and Toshinori is your step dad. Is that correct?”
Izuku fondly shakes his head. “Still wrong, Todoroki-kun.”
Todoroki frowns. “Hm.”
“Well, here,” Uraraka hands the poster over. “It doesn’t look like you have room in your collection here, but I thought it was a good size to put in your locker at school.”
Izuku smiles. Uraraka knows him so well.
“So,” Uraraka starts, smile fading slightly, “how are you holding up?”
The answer to that is, apparently, terribly because as soon as she asks, Izuku is dumping out all the mangled emotions he’s been feeling over the past few days. It feels good to vent. At some point, Todoroki leaves and comes back with water for him, since Izuku gets misty eyed talking about seeing Tensei in the hospital.
“I’m sorry you went through all that,” Uraraka says, when he’s done.
“I just don’t know how Tensei-kun of all people could be targeted.” Izuku wipes his eyes with his sleeve. “One time he brought me lunch at the Mighty Agency. Iida-kun wasn’t even there with me or anything, Tensei-kun was just in town and thought it would be nice to surprise his brother’s friend. He’s just so nice.”
Todoroki hums. “I think… trying to rationalize a killer’s logic isn’t productive. You should focus on yourself, Midoriya. Have you been resting properly?”
Todoroki is looking at him sharply, because he knows Izuku is going to try to lie about this. The truth is that Izuku has barely been sleeping, which Todoroki knows because Izuku has a tendency to text him random animal videos at 3 AM when he can’t sleep.
“No,” Izuku sighs. “I mean it’s not like I feel unsafe here, I just— I don’t know. It is kind of scary that Toga and Kurogiri were able to get onto UA grounds.”
“Yeah, can we talk about that?” Uraraka waves her hands through the air angrily. “How were they able to get in? Isn’t UA supposed to be protecting us?”
“You sound so much like my mom, it’s kind of scary.”
“Your mom’s an amazing woman, so I’m taking that as a complement. But really! They snatched you during one of the most highly televised events of the year! That’s ridiculous.”
Todoroki nods in agreement. “The solution here is to never let Midoriya out of our sight again.”
Izuku rolls his eyes.
“I’m serious. Uraraka has convinced half the class to commission Hatsume to have you microchipped.”
Izuku snorts. Then he realizes Todoroki is serious.
“Seriously? I’m not––”
“Not going to disappear into thin air the second you’re alone?
Izuku frowns at Todoroki’s tone. “Why are you mad at me?”
Todoroki makes a frustrated sound in the back of his throat. “I’m not mad, I'm just…no, I think I am mad at you, Midoriya.”
“What Todoroki-kun is trying to say,” Uraraka cuts in, “is that he’s worried. We all are.”
Todoroki nods. “Yes, worried, not mad. Sorry, this is strange. I’ve never had friends before.”
That instantly makes Izuku feel like a horrible person.
“Look, guys––”
“Please, do not try to justify your kidnapping, Deku-kun. I know it’s not your fault, and I’m not trying to blame you for what happened, but–– I’m just worried about you all the time. It’s really scary, knowing my best friend is being targeted by villains 24/7.”
“I’ll be okay,” Izuku tries to reassure. “I’m getting stronger everyday! I won’t disappear again, promise.”
“Don’t leave us, okay? We need you.” Uraraka gives him a small smile. “We can’t be the Deku Squad without Deku.”
Izuku groans. “Please stop calling us that.”
“Would you prefer Midoriya Mob?” Todoroki asks with a straight face. “Or perhaps, The Izukrew?”
Izuku grabs a pillow and throws it right at Todoroki’s stupid, smirking face.
Midoriya Izuku • 6:23 PM
hey iida!! i just wanted to check on you
i hope you and your family are doing okay. my mom and i are gonna stop by the hospital later with more baked goods :D
school tomorrow huh?? wild that they couldnt even give us one day off
Me • 7:00 PM
Thank you for your concern! I am doing quite well considering the circumstances! I look forward to seeing you in class tomorrow!
Uraraka Ochako • yesterday, 2:12 PM
[link sent]
Hey the brand of orange juice you like is on sale at Ito Yokado
There’s one near the train station, I could pick some up for you on my way to school tomorrow
I hope you’re doing okay, friend. You haven’t been texting the groupchat much
Which is fine!!! Totally cool !!! Just wanted to let you know that I’m here if you wanna talk !! ❤️
Me • today, 7:00 PM
Thank you for your concern! I am doing quite well considering the circumstances! I look forward to seeing you in class tomorrow!
Todoroki Shouto • 10:34 AM
Are you okay?
Me • 7:00 PM
Thank you for your concern! I am doing quite well considering the circumstances! I look forward to seeing you in class tomorrow!
Iida holds his grief close to his chest. The next time Izuku sees him, he’s all stiff, broad smiles and exaggerated hand movements.
The rest of the class swarm Izuku and Iida with good intentions, fussing like mother hens as soon as they step in the classroom. Kirishima practically handcuffs himself to the two of them, declaring himself their personal bodyguard from now on. Only Aizawa’s severe glare once the bell rings gets everyone to settle down.
“Glad to see you all here today,” Aizawa says, his gaze catching for a moment on Izuku and Iida. “Now that the Sports Festival is done, we’re going to discuss UA’s Hero Agency Internship program. But, first, you’re all going to pick hero names.”
The class erupts into excited yells. Aizawa glares.
“You would think I taught preschool,” he groans. “Settle down. Midnight is here to help. I’ll be back in 30 minutes, don’t burn down the classroom.”
Picking hero aliases goes smoothly––or, as smoothly as anything can go when class 1-A is involved. True to his word, Iida chooses to go by his first name. So does Todoroki. Izuku already knew what Uraraka’s hero name would be, since he was there when she was brainstorming a couple months ago, but it was nice to see the rest of the class coo at how fitting it is. The rest of the class’s hero names are certainly… interesting. Izuku has a feeling Bakugou might want to go with something a little more dynamic than King Explosion Murder. Can’t Stop Twinkling is also another unique hero name.
Then again, Izuku can’t exactly judge. His hero name is Deku.
“You won’t take my social media and marketing class until your third year, but it’s never too early to start thinking about branding! Try to save your official twitter handles now!” Midnight says, as Aizawa tries to get her to leave after her 30 minutes are up. “And don’t forget, your Art History essays are due Friday!”
“I take it the naming went well?” Aizawa’s eyes scan the room, looking over the whiteboards with their chosen names. He pauses, mouthing “Tailman” to himself before making the wise decision to just move on.
“These––” Aizawa heaves a whole stack of binders onto his desk. “––are your offers from various hero agencies. I’d just like to remind you all that numbers don’t determine your worth as a hero––”
“How did Bakugou get so many offers?!” Kaminari exclaims. Izuku looks and, sure enough, the spine of the thickest binder has Bakugou’s name on it.
“He spent the entire Festival yelling and snarling like a feral animal,” Mina protests. “That’s so unfair. I bet I didn’t even get half as many offers.”
“It’s ‘cause I’m the best, and everyone knows it,” Bakugou says, leaning back in his chair, smirking.
“So humble, too.” Sero rolls his eyes.
“As I was saying, the number of offers you have is not an indication of your skill as a hero. The Sports Festival tends to favor flashy, physical quirks. The school has also compiled a list of agencies that will take any interns, regardless of how well you did in the Festival.”
Aizawa hesitates. “Before I announce this next part, I’d like to gently remind all of you that there is no yelling allowed inside the classroom. Kaminari.”
Kaminari squawks indignantly. “I didn’t even––!”
“You will,” Aizawa says tiredly, already looking exhausted. “Anyway, we will be having a special guest in class today while you all pick your internships. Come in and introduce yourself.”
The door to 1-A swings open, and in strides––
“Shinsou!” Kaminari shouts. “My man, good to see you!”
“Shinsou!”
“Oh, Midoriya’s friend!”
“Hey, dude, glad you made it!”
Shinsou winces. He looks at Aizawa. “Are they always this loud?”
“Unfortunately, yes. Kaminari, what did I just say?”
“Hey, Mina was yelling, too!”
“Kaminari, you are still yelling.”
Aizawa pinches the bridge of his nose. At the front of the room, Shinsou shuffles awkwardly. Izuku catches his eye and gives him a small, encouraging thumbs up.
“Shinsou is here because he will be participating in a shadow program as part of his test to see if he’s a good fit for the Hero Course. Since UA’s shadow program is similar to the internships, he will be sitting in on class today. You are to treat him as you would any of your other classmates––actually, I take that back. Be nicer to him than you are to each other.”
“We’re nice to each other,” Kirishima protests.
“For a group as scarily co-dependant as you are, there is also a lot of infighting,” Aizawa says, looking directly at Izuku and Bakugou’s corner of the class.
“Kacchan, I think he’s talking about us,” Izuku whispers.
“Yeah, no shit, nerd.”
“Moving on,” Aizawa says loudly, “Shinsou, you can take the empty seat behind Midoriya. I’ll explain the internship program a little more, and then I’ll pass out everyone’s agency offers.”
Izuku looks behind him, at the empty seat where Mineta used to be. He thinks about raising his hand to ask Aizawa, but decides against it. It isn’t his business, and besides, now Shinsou can sit behind him when he officially transfers into 1-A.
“Welcome to 1-A, Shinsou,” Izuku whispers, turning around in his seat to face Shinsou once he’s sat down.
Shinsou narrows his eyes at him. “Don’t.”
Izuku continues smiling pleasantly. “Don’t what?”
“Don’t say a word. It’s not official yet, alright? Not until second year at least. And I still have a team building test with 1-B to see if I’ll be a better fit there.”
Izuku considers this for a moment, before turning to face the front of the class again. “No problem. I’ll just get Monoma to sabotage it so you end up in 1-A.”
He hears Shinsou make a strangled noise behind him. Izuku smiles to himself.
One sheet of paper. Izuku’s binder contains one single sheet of paper.
“Hey, don’t feel bad about it, man,” Kirishima tries to comfort him. “Every other agency is probably just too scared to step on All Might’s toes.”
“Thanks, Kirishima.” Izuku continues to frown down at his solitary piece of paper. In front of him, Bakugou rapidly sorts through the entire novel he’s been giving, crossing names out rapidly.
Izuku would like to reiterate: one sheet of paper. It’s not even full. There are only three names on it.
“Weren’t you planning on interning for Miruko, anyway?” Momo asks gently. She also received a large, well-deserved number of offers.
“Yes, but it would have been nice to be chosen.” Izuku pouts.
Shinsou snorts. “God, shut up. Boohoo, baby intern Deku didn’t get a ton of offers. You literally work for All Might, you absolute dumbass.”
Miraculously, that makes Izuku feel better.
“You’re right, I work for All Might. Thanks, Shinsou.”
(The room fills with the scent of burning paper. Bakugou tenses up for a moment, but does not explode. His binder is only a little bit singed.)
“Who are your offers from anyway?” Shinsou leans forward to peer over Izuku’s shoulder. “I get assigned to an agency, so let me live vicariously through you. Hawks, Miruko, and––”
“Endeavor?” Izuku looks up to see Todoroki standing next to his desk, holding his own binder. It rivals the size of Bakugou’s.
“My father sent you an offer?”
Izuku grimaces. “I guess. Not sure why.”
Todoroki’s eyes narrow. He glares down at Endeavor’s name on Izuku’s paper. “He knows we’re friends. He’s trying to sabotage our friendship.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Izuku soothes, “I already have a deal with Miruko. Besides, I don’t think there’s much Endeavor could teach me.”
Todoroki’s mouth twitches upwards.
“I just meant that I don’t have a fire quirk. That wasn’t meant to be an insult.”
“I’m choosing to take it as one.”
Shinsou chuckles. “Todoroki, you are unintentionally the funniest person in this class. Who are you interning with?”
Todoroki’s mouth slants downwards. “Endeavor.”
Izuku looks up at him, alarmed. “Are you sure?”
Todoroki nods grimly. “I need to work on my fire side. The Endeavor Agency is the only one with training gyms built to withstand the amount of heat I can produce. I’ll be fine Midoriya, don’t worry.”
Izuku, because it’s in his nature, worries. “The Mighty Agency gym is fireproof. Or, Ryukyu Agency apparently has a pretty sturdy training course. I’m sure––”
“Midoriya, really,” Todoroki interrupts, “I’ll be fine. I’m more worried about….”
Izuku follows his gaze across the classroom, where Iida is already filling out his chosen agency form. Uraraka makes her way from her own desk over to Izuku’s.
“You guys noticed, too?”
Izuku nods. “One of us should go talk to him, see if he’s okay.”
Both Uraraka and Todoroki look at him.
“Why me?”
“You know him best, Midoriya.”
“Yeah, Deku-kun. He actually talks to you, not the weird, fake-happy thing he does most of the time.”
Izuku sighs. He makes his way to Iida’s desk.
“Hey, Iida-kun.”
“Oh, Midoriya-kun!” Iida gives Izuku a wide, plasticy smile. “How goes the agency selection?”
“I’m interning with Miruko,” Izuku says, ignoring the way Kaminari exclaims “Miruko!” behind him. “What about you?”
“I’ve decided to accept The Normal Hero: Manual’s offer.”
Izuku blinks. Manual? That’s an… interesting choice, for sure.
“Oh, that’s, uh, great.”
“Yes.”
They stare at each other. Izuku feels so awkward he wants to melt into the floor and cease to exist. Since when did talking to Iida become so hard?
“Well,” Izuku says, “you, uh, know that you can talk to me? If you want.”
Iida plays dumb. “We are having a conversation right now, Midoriya-kun.”
“Yes, but, I mean if there was anything else you wanted to talk about.”
“My apologies, I cannot think of anything I wish to discuss.”
“Like, if there was anything with your––”
“Midoriya-kun.” Iida looks him in the eye. “I am fine.”
Izuku decides to drop it. They are in the middle of class, after all, and–– it hurts to admit it, but for a second there something in Iida’s eyes scared him. For a brief moment, Izuku didn’t recognize him at all.
gremlinoverlord reblogged catcafesims
flamingopher
Did Ingenium deserve to be attacked?
Look, I’m not trying to justify the Hero Killer’s actions, but he only attacks corrupt heroes right? So what does he know that we don’t? Maybe Ingenium did something really fucked up but no one knows because it got covered up.
cheerymutant
OP, I mean this in the most disrespectful way possible: fuck off
calmghost
“I’m not trying to justify––” proceeds to try to justify a MURDERERS actions
2,485 notes
#op rot in hell lmao #even if ingenium did do something wrong he doesnt deserve to DIE #no one deserves to die #hero discourse
Something has been bothering Izuku since they all picked their internship programs this morning. Something about Iida’s choice isn’t adding up. Manual is an alright hero, being the number 222nd Pro in the country, but he’s certainly not IIda’s highest offer. He’s rather plain, at least compared to other heroes. He has a simple water control quirk, not something that works particularly well with Iida’s quirk. Other than the fact that his agency is based in the block next to Ingenium’s agency in Hosu City, there’s no reason Izuku can see that would point to Iida picking Manual for his internship. And it’s that last part that scares Izuku. Hosu City.
Izuku waits until he, Todoroki, Uraraka, and Iida are all exiting UA’s main building after school. They’ll split up at the gates, Todoroki and Iida to private cars arranged by their families, Uraraka to the train station, and Izuku to the parking lot to meet Toshinori by his car.They leave class together like this everyday, and it is usually the time that Iida is most relaxed, which is why Izuku picks this moment to ask his question.
Izuku chooses his words carefully.
“Iida, why did you pick Manual’s agency for your internship?”
Iida freezes for a split second, before the wide, fake smile is back. “Why, Manual is an admirable Pro! He’s quite good at the mundanities of hero work!”
Izuku hesitates. Todoroki and Uraraka have stopped their own conversation and are now watching Iida warily.
“I-It’s not because his agency is located in Hosu?”
“Well, I’ll admit that it is convenient to be interning close to my parents’ home, but that wasn’t the only factor.”
“Was it… Iida, was it because The Hero Killer tends to stay in one city for four kills.”
Iida stops walking.
Izuku turns to look at him head on. The afternoon sun washes UA in gold light, but Iida’s face is shadowed, ducked down as he stares hard at the pavement.
“And if that is the reason?” Iida whispers.
Izuku gulps. “Then I… I’d tell you… I j-just don’t want you to get hurt, Iida. It isn’t like––Stain is a monster but whatever you’re planning isn’t right.”
“Whatever plans I may or may not have are none of your concern.”
“Iida,” Todoroki says quietly. “I think it is our concern.”
“You’re our friend,” Uraraka adds.
At his sides, Iida’s hands clench into tight fists.
“I have to do this,” he says quietly. Izuku’s heart sinks as his suspicions are confirmed. Iida––sweet, earnest, rule-abiding Iida––is trying to get revenge.
“You don’t have to do anything. Iida, I know how you’re feeling right now, but––”
“You have no idea how I feel,” Iida snaps.
“I’m sorry,” Izuku says quickly. “Y-You’re right, I don’t, but I was the one who found him, and I know that you’re probably mad. I was mad too, but revenge is never the––”
“Enough, Midoriya-kun,” Iida says severely. “You may have saved his life and for that I will be eternally grateful, but you cannot even begin to comprehend the pain I am in right now. He––Stain nearly killed my big brother.”
“I’m so––”
“Stop. You’re not at fault here, Stain is. You did all that you could, let me handle the rest.”
“B-But maybe if I had been faster I could have––”
“Shut up,” Iida says quietly.
Izuku, shocked, takes a step back. Todorki puts a hand on his shoulder and Uraraka gasps quietly as Iida shakes with frustration in front of them.
“I am sick of you apologizing, Midoriya. I’m sick of being apologized to. It’s not your fault. My brother’s career is over. He will have chronic pain for the rest of his life, and all anyone wants to say to me is that they’re sorry.”
Izuku begins to tear up. “Iida, I––”
“Enough with the ‘I’ statements. This isn’t about you. This is about Stain. If you really want to help me, then promise me that if you find Stain before I do, you won’t let him walk away unharmed.”
Izuku, Todoroki, and Uraraka gape at him.
“Midoriya would never––”
“That’s not––”
“Iida, I can’t promise you that! What you’re talking about is… it’s not right! It’s against my hero code––”
Iida locks his gaze with Izuku’s, so much quiet fury rolling off his body makes Izuku physically ill. “Tensei followed his own hero code to the letter and look where it got him. You wish to apologize? You wish to honor my brother? Then do it by taking Stain down or staying out of my way while I do!”
“That’s not the right way to––!”
“What’s going on here?”
All four of them snap to attention, turning to see Aizawa approaching them from the direction of the staff lounge.
“Midoriya, Yagi sent me to look for you. Why are the four of you still here?”
Izuku looks around. Campus is deserted, everyone having booked it home as soon as class was over. The four of them stand in the middle of UA’s main walkway, surrounded by grass and light, weighed down heavily by their argument. Izuku doesn’t dare look over at Iida. He might cry.
Some of Izuku’s distress must show on his face–– that, or Aizawa can feel the bubble of turmoil surrounding the four of them–– because he pauses.
“Is everything okay?”
“Everything is alright, sensei! We were simply discussing today’s lessons and didn’t notice how long we’d been loitering! My apologies, it will not happen again!”
Izuku blinks. Iida is a surprisingly good liar.
Aizawa hums, eyes narrowed suspiciously. He focuses on the weakest link.
“Is that so? Problem Child, is that true?”
This is Izuku’s chance. If he tells Aizawa what Iida is planning, then there’s no way that he’ll let Iida go to Hosu City. Aizawa has proven more than once that he’s a trustworthy teacher, and one of the few adults Izuku trusts unconditionally. If izuku tells Aizawa, there’s no doubt in his mind that Aizawa will handle everything. It will be out of Izuku’s hands.
But… Iida could be expelled. He could be blacklisted from every hero program in the country. Premeditated… arrest? Injury? Revenge? It’s all grounds for dismissal from UA. Izuku trusts Aizawa, but he also knows that Aizawa takes heroic integrity very seriously. Iida doesn’t deserve to be expelled. He’s having a lapse in judgment due to extreme emotional distress. He’s a good person, and Izuku firmly believes that.
“E-Everything’s great, sensei!” Izuku lies through his teeth. “W-We’re doing great! A-Absolutely dandy, ha.”
Dandy? What is Izuku even saying right now?
“Anyway! I’d better run before Yagi-san gets too impatient! Bye, guys, bye Aizawa-sensei!”
Izuku hurries away, before Aizawa can grill him. As he turns to go, he catches the relieved look on Iida’s face, and despite the massive argument they just had and the fact that Izuku was forced to lie to one of the few authority figures he respects, he can’t help but feel like he made the right decision. This isn’t something they need to get the teachers involved in. Izuku and his friends won’t let Iida make this mistake.
(Izuku thinks about his fight with Iida the entire ride to The Mighty Agency. Toshinori tries to coax Izuku out of his bad mood with some bad jokes, but even the corniest of dad jokes can’t pull his mood up. All he can think about is the talk Toshinori gave him about saving people’s hearts.
Izuku has to save Iida. If he can’t save his own best friend, how can Izuku ever call himself a hero?)
Me • 3:36 PM
hey shinsou!! you’re interning with aizawa sensei next week right
Shinsou 🐱 • 3:26 PM
*Shadowing
I’m not in the hero course yet so I’m just shadowing, remember?
Me • 3:36 PM
:D
Shinsou 🐱 • 3:26 PM
...What?
Me • 3:36 PM
you said “yet”....... so youre admitting that youre definitely in the hero program right
Shinsou 🐱 • 3:27 PM
That was a typo
Me • 3:37 PM
HOW
anyway i have a favor to ask
can you keep aizawa sensei busy?? like stop him from leaving musutafu or getting involved in the hero killer case??
Shinsou 🐱 • 3:27 PM
That’s a real sketchy request Midoriya
Me • 3:37 PM
i just dont want him to get hurt
sensei i mean
yeah thats it
im worried about sensei
Shinsou 🐱 • 3:27 PM
How are you so bad at lying even through text
Me • 3:37 PM
please shinsou its really important i promise i wont ask you for anything ever again
Shinsou 🐱 • 3:27 PM
Woah chill okay I’ll try my best
Also, that was another lie. You’re gonna text me in like an hour asking for Hippo pics, aren’t you
Me • 3:37 PM
thanks shinsou youre a life saver!!!!!!!!
also... can you blame me?? Hippocampus is the BEST cat and you should share any and all cat content thanks
“Yagi-san?”
Toshinori pauses just as he’s about to enter the locker rooms. They had a fairly uneventful patrol today, aside from some reporters stopping them for questions–– something Toshinori was quick to shut down, using his bigger frame to shield Izuku from the cameras. On the whole, the media has been less interested in Deku, though. They’re more concerned with chasing the Hero Killer story.
“What is it?”
“Before we change and go back home, do you think we can spar for a bit?”
Toshinori lights up. He puffs up into All Might. “Of course we can spar, my boy! I have some extra time left in this form today.”
Izuku bounces in place. They backtrack a couple steps and slip into the agency gym. “Great! We haven’t been able to spar much lately, huh?”
“Yes, I suppose it has been a while. I don’t have to worry about losing you to another agency, do I?” Toshinori teases, approaching the rack of weights. “Should I use the 150 kilogram weights or the 200 today? Are you up for a challenge?”
Izuku grins easily, rolling his neck. “Let’s do 100 kilograms. I have a good feeling.”
Toshinori blinks, surprised, before throwing his head back and letting out a booming laugh. “Oh, is that so? Alright, my boy, 100 it is. Be careful, I won’t pull any punches.”
“Neither will I,” Izuku shoots back.
Toshinori bends down to clip the weights onto his ankles, then straightens to clip more weights onto his wrists. They haven’t had a chance to spar since Izuku unlocked 15% of One for All. Izuku hopes the other agency employees have gone home for the day. Apparently, when Izuku and Toshinori spar, the ceilings in the entire building shake. Maybe the gym shouldn’t have been on the top floor.
Izuku stretches, looking around the gym to consider his plan of attack. They typically use the whole gym to fight, since Izuku’s fighting style relies on being able to bounce off of things. Izuku tries to think back to their patrol earlier. Was Toshinori favoring a certain leg? He thinks he remembers seeing him icing his left ankle at home, but that was a couple days ago.
“We really should be careful. Inko will be upset if we come home looking too beat up.”
“We can just say villain capture was rough today.”
Toshinori gives him a flat look. “Izuku, you know we are both useless when it comes to lying to your mother.”
“Ah, good point.”
Even with 100 kilograms weighing down each limb and Izuku at 15%, All Might is tough to beat. Izuku doesn’t manage to pin him even once during their entire hour-long spar session, not even towards the end when Toshinori has a hard time holding his muscular form. Izuku resolves to train harder. He’s been letting his hero training fall to the wayside since starting at UA, since they do their own training there. If he wants to beat All Might in a fight one day, he can’t just train like a regular hero. He has to train like All Might’s successor.
It’s taken a while, but Izuku’s able to think about that without cringing at himself now. Progress.
“I’m tapping out,” Toshinori says after their last fight. He has Izuku dangling upside down in the air, holding him up by one ankle as Izuku struggles like a caught fish. “You’ve improved quite a bit, my boy! You evaded capture for ten whole minutes that round.”
Izuku pouts. Toshinori sets him down gently, before deflating back down in a puff of smoke. He turns away from Izuku and coughs up some blood into a handkerchief.
And suddenly all the anxiety Izuku was distracting himself from comes crashing back down.
“Yagi-san, can I ask you for some advice?”
“Of course, you can ask me anything Izuku, but first–– cool down stretches.”
Izuku nods. The two of them stand in front of one of the mirrored gym walls and begin stretching. Izuku thinks about how he wants to approach the subject.
“If you, hypothetically, had a… friend… who was about to do something that you know is wrong, what would you do.”
Toshinori pauses for a moment, then continues reaching for his toes. “Just for clarification, is it your–– I mean, my friend doing the wrong thing or me?”
“It’s my–– your friend. Hypothetically.”
“Right, then, hypothetically, I would try to confront this friend. If we are truly friends, then I’m sure they would value my input on the situation. Perhaps we are good enough friends that I would be able to sway them into not doing the wrong thing. How wrong is the action they want to take?”
“It’s pretty bad.”
Toshinori frowns. The two of them sit down on the mats, finished stretching. He reaches for his water bottle and takes a fortifying sip before asking, hesitantly, “It’s not… murder bad, is it?”
“No! Not–– I don’t think so.”
Toshinori stares at him. “You don’t think so?”
“I mean, it’s a hypothetical!” Izuku squeaks. “B-But I think in this hypothetical situation that even if the decision my–-er, a hypothetical friend–– was going to make is wrong, I don’t think it’s murder.”
Toshinori sighs heavily. “Izuku, can you just tell me what this is about?”
Izuku shakes his head firmly. Toshinori respects his boundaries.
“Alright, then the best advice I can give you is to just keep an eye on your friend. Make it clear that you’re there for them. And–– if the moment comes–– be prepared to stop them from doing the wrong thing, no matter what.”
Izuku nods. It’s sound advice, and also completely useless in Izuku’s situation. Izuku has been there for Iida and has tried to talk to him. He doesn’t even really know what Iida plans to do about Stain, just that he’s going to endanger himself doing it and that his intentions are to hurt Stain, not just arrest him.
Izuku hesitates, but ultimately continues his questions. “Do you think someone can do something bad, but still be a good person?”
“Whew, that’s a loaded question.” Toshinori leans back on his palms, looking up at the gym ceiling. “Yes, and no. Is there even such a thing as a good person or a bad person, or is it just that people are people regardless of their actions? I never concerned myself with the philosophy behind it, before. I just try my best to save as many people as possible, whether good or bad.”
“Okay, but,” Izuku presses, “do you think–– let’s say they’re a hero–- do you think that a hero can do something that goes against that philosophy, but still be a good hero?”
“Heroes make bad decisions all the time. I certainly did.”
Toshinori shifts to get more comfortable, like he’s about to tell a story. Izuku folds his legs up under himself, ready to listen.
“When I was younger I spent a lot of my time being angry at the world. My predecessor was taken from me–– from the world–– too soon. She was incredible, my boy. I know I say it a lot but, I wish more than anything that you were able to meet her. After she died, I didn’t know what to do. It always seemed unfair to me that the best people seemed to have the worst fates.
“I was reckless. I was trying desperately to fill her shoes, and I made some incredibly stupid decisions along the way. Do the bad choices of my youth negate all the good I’ve done since then? I don’t think so. But the reverse is true, as well. The good I went on to do later in life will never erase the actions I took that hurt others. Does that make sense?”
Izuku absorbs that for a moment.
“Yes, I think I get it.”
Toshinori lets out a relieved breath. “Thank god. You know, I know I’m not the best teacher, but maybe I’m getting the hang being a mentor.”
“And it only took you six years and two volumes of Teaching for Dummies,” Izuku teases.
Toshinori fakes a wound to the heart. “Give me a break! You are an unusually thoughtful student.”
Izuku hums, getting to his feet. He offers a hand down to help Toshinori up, thinks about how weird it is to look down at him.
“I’m just trying my best.”
Toshinori smiles at him, proudly clapping him on the back and herding him out of the gym. “I know. You’re going to be a remarkable young hero, Izuku. Now, let’s get home. Your mother is cooking your favorite tonight.”
(“Sensei, what do we do now?”
“Now, Toga, we look for new prey.”)
Izuku’s grand plan to save Iida from himself boils down to this: find Stain and arrest him before Iida can.
Track down a notoriously slippery serial killer who has killed at least 17 Pro Heroes and evaded police capture for years, safely arrest him and his young, bloodthirsty protege, and do it all in under a week. Without letting any adults know that he’s doing it to cover for Iida, otherwise they’ll both get expelled.
Just the thought is giving Izuku stress ulcers.
“There’s nothing I can do to get you to drop it?”
Izuku looks up at Iida pleadingly. The train station is remarkably busy for a Sunday. Aizawa had them meet at UA and head to the trains together, giving them one last lecture on etiquette and property damage laws before dismissing them to catch their trains.
Izuku and his friends are stopped at the place where their paths diverge.
IIda shakes his head firmly. “I need to do this, Midoriya-kun. For my brother.”
Izuku bites down on his tongue to stop himself from pointing out that it seems to be more for Iida’s peace of mind then anything else. He doesn’t mean that, and he doesn’t want to fight. He’s just worried. He still doesn’t know what Iida’s planning.
“Be careful,” Uraraka says to Iida. Then she turns to Todoroki and Izuku. “All of you, alright? You don’t have me to watch your backs.”
“You, too, Uraraka.”
“Well, I suppose this is farewell for now.” Iida gives them a wide, fake smile. “I’ll just be going––”
“Our train is this way,” Todoroki says to Iida.
Iida blinks. “Our?”
Todoroki’s eyes glint. “Oh, did I not tell you? Manual’s agency also sent me an offer.”
“I was under the impression that you were interning with your father, Todoroki-kun.”
“I was, and now I am not,” Todoroki says. He does not elaborate.
Iida sighs heavily. “I trust that you won’t try to stop me?”
Todoroki’s face remains neutral. “What would I try to stop?”
Iida’s mouth twists into a complicated line, one of the only breaks in his ever-smiling mask Izuku has seen. “Nothing. Nothing at all.”
“Good.” Todoroki catches Izuku’s eye, nodding subtly. Izuku feels much better sending Iida off, knowing Todoroki has his back.
Deku Watch @DekuFansUnite • 2h
Hey Dekuists! Mighty Agency put out a statement to inform everyone that Deku will be participating in a week-long internship with Miruko! Miruko famously does not take sidekicks or interns. Seems like Deku continues to be the exception when it comes to hero internships! 💚🐰👏
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replying to @DekuFansUnite
Steve @controlhurricane • 1h
pro hero dad privilege 😒 we for real need to do something about the legacy hero problem, i swear if all might wasnt this kids dad he wouldnt be getting half these opportunities i hate spoiled kids
2 retweets 5 likes
replying to @controlhurricane
#1 dog luvr @megumis • 1h
Dude, Deku could snap you in half. Just admit you’re jealous and go.
16 retweets 76 likes
stream film out 4/02 @armyweebsrise • 30m
Glad Deku is bouncing back (pun intended) after the past week!! He’s so determined to do hero work, it’s very admirable !!!
38 retweets 2 quote retweets 145 likes
Hosu City @HosuCityJP • 3h
Hero Intern Deku returns to Hosu City for a UA-sponsored internship! The city of Hosu would like to welcome Deku and thank him for saving the life of one of our most treasured heroes #HosuStandsWithIngenium
934 retweets 54 quote retweets 3.5k likes
Inarizaki Stan @clowningatsumu • 1h
Did everyone see the pics of All Might patrolling alone today?? It’s so weird seeing him alone I’m so used to seeing Deku behind him or nearby :( He seems lonely
837 retweets 45 quote retweets 1.5k likes
Miruko’s agency is surprisingly unassuming.
It’s definitely not what Izuku expected of the current number 5 Pro Hero. Izuku wheels his suitcase right through the front door. The lobby is dead silent and absolutely devoid of life, save for the lone houseplant sitting on the reception desk. The quiet is a big contrast from the busy streets of downtown Hosu. The lobby must be soundproofed.
Izuku cautiously approaches the front desk, keeping an eye out for any traps. Gran Torino has conditioned him into always checking for any pranks. Izuku is still a little traumatized from coming into The Mighty Agency gym to what he thought was Gran Torino in a puddle of blood, but was actually just ketchup.
But there are no tricks at the front desk. Just a post-it note.
Deku, take the elevator up to the 6th floor to drop off your luggage in the guest dorms, then meet me in my office on the 4th floor. Your biometrics are already programmed into all the doors and elevators.
–– Miruko
Next to Izuku’s post-it is one reading simply: “if you’re a civilian and you have a request, email me. Get out of my office.”
Izuku takes the note with his instructions, and heads to the 6th floor. Sure enough, the elevator’s palm and retinal scan let him right through. Every door opens automatically, with a soft, electronic voice greeting him with a gentle “Hello, Intern Deku.”
Izuku drops his stuff off in one of the guest dorms and then takes the elevator down to the 4th floor. He doesn’t pass a single person on the way there.
This is… weird. Should he be concerned?
Miruko has a reputation for not working with others, but surely she has a staff, right?
Wrong.
Miruko’s agency has 3 employees: a support gear technician, a personal assistant, and an accountant. She explains this to him after giving him a grand tour of all 4 rooms of her agency. Apparently, the fourth floor is the paperwork floor. The second floor is the support tech lab, the 7th floor is Miruko’s penthouse apartment, and all the other floors are training gyms.
“You don’t have a manager?” Izuku asks, looking around the large, empty office space. There are no desks, only some comfortable looking couches and a small kitchenette in the corner. The far wall has doors leading to personal offices, each with one of Miruko’s three employees’ name on the front. “Or security?”
“I don’t like being told what to do,” Miruko says flippantly. “And I couldn’t give less of a shit what the public thinks about me, all that matters is I get the job done. As for security––”
She levels Izuku with a flat look, ears twitching.
“Do you really think anyone would try anything with me around?”
Izuku thinks about the viral video of Miruko kicking a car so hard it practically folded in half. Yeah, targeting Miruko’s agency would be about as foolish as trying to fist fight All Might.
“I don’t like wasting time, so we’re gonna get right into it.” Miruko leads him to her office through a door directly opposite to the elevator.
“I’ll give you a tour, we’ll hit the gym, then afterwards we can talk about expectations. You mentioned wanting to shift to a kick-based fight style right? And you’ve done the basics with Taekwondo? Great, we can start there.”
Izuku nods numbly, too stunned by Miruko’s office to say anything.
He thinks back to something Hawks told him about Miruko, during his half-internship with him a week ago.
“Rumi is scarily efficient and pretty strict on her morals,” he had said. “She may seem kind of rebellious and chaotic, but trust me, she’s actually super calculated. Smartest person I know. There’s a reason why she’s so high up in the rankings despite having no PR.”
Scarily efficient is right. Izuku looks over at her monstrous quad-monitor setup, parked on a massive desk littered with all kinds of tech and police evidence folders. On an adjacent wall is a cork board with what looks like 3 different investigations up simultaneously, complete with red string and scribbled post-it notes over maps and crime scene photos. It looks like a space control center threw up all over a detective team’s office.
“Don’t mind the mess,” Miruko says, navigating the space easily. “I’m just working on a few minor cases.”
Izuku notices a photo of Jackal, an A level villain who’s currently wanted by Interpol and has been evading arrest for a year. Minor case. What a flex.
“This is my office. I set up a desk and computer in the corner for you to do your schoolwork or… whatever. Do kids still get homework?”
Izuku nods, silently. The desk Miruko has “set aside” for him is easily larger than his desk at The Mighty Agency––which is already larger than Izuku needs. The computer looks like it’s probably more expensive than Izuku’s entire hero costume.
“Depending on what you want out of this internship, we’ll be spending most of the time in here or the gym. I’m not a patrol hero, so don’t expect us to go out on daily patrols.”
“I-I know,” Izuku finally speaks up. “That’s why I wanted to intern with you, Miruko-san.”
Miruko wrinkles her nose. “Drop the honorifics. Just making sure you know what you’re in for, now––”
She grins, pointy teeth on full display. Izuku automatically straightens his spine.
“Gym time. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
puff puff pastry @hypnotastical • 8h
people’s obsessions with heroes are so weird. all you fangirls screaming about deku this, deku that need help. double with the hawks stans. go outside, touch grass, get a job, take the photocard off the back of your phone case
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replying to @hypnotastical
Noriko (she/they) @gojosleftthumb • 7h
This you?
[Screenshot of a tweet from @hypnotastical reading “Miruko blocked me because i kept replying to her tweets asking for pics of her feet 🥺 i’m so sad i might deactivate this acct and make a new one]
5.7k retweets 10.9k likes
Wham!
“Good! Tuck your arms in, you’ll spin faster. Again, no quirk this time.”
Izuku powers down One for All. He takes a few running steps, then leaps into a spin, lashing out with his leg after he’s built up enough momentum. He hits the training dummy with a solid thump, the pressure pad lighting up with a big, red 4,937 newtons.
“Enough force to break a femur. Nice,” Izuku notes to himself. He shakes himself out a bit, rolling his ankle out.
Miruko narrows her eyes at him. “Why do you know that?”
Izuku smiles sheepishly. “I’ve broken a lot of bones.”
“Your own or other people’s?”
“Uh, my own mostly, but… both.”
Miruko grins. “Badass. Let’s take a break, I need some water.”
Izuku does, too. He trots over to his gym bag, settling down on a bench at the edge of the practice mat to take a well-deserved rest.
Izuku feels bad for assuming Miruko would be––well, not mean, but, uh, yeah. Mean. She has a certain reputation and that, paired with her brash attitude and general disregard for public opinion painted a certain picture in Izuku’s head. He was prepared to fight to prove that he deserved to be interning under her, but it seems Miruko has already decided that he’s worth her time.
That makes sense. She doesn’t seem like the kind of hero to waste her time training some intern out of pity.
Each training exercise so far has followed the pattern of Miruko demonstrating a move, then asking if Izuku can replicate it. If the answer is yes, they move on. If the answer is no, Miruko teaches him, and then drills it until he can execute it up to her standards. They’ve been in the gym for hours, but Izuku isn’t tired. He’s mostly just excited to be learning from the Miruko.
He has questions. A lot of them.
“Um, Miruko,” Izuku ventures. “Can I ask about all the, uh, computer stuff in your office?”
Miruko pauses mid-stretch. “What about it?”
“What’s it for? I mean, the most we use computers for at The Mighty Agency is typing up reports, or looking at CCTV footage, but the computers in your office seem….”
“High tech?”
“Mm.” Izuku nods. “I’m just wondering, since your agency isn’t listed as an intelligence agency, why…?”
“You’re observant. That’s a good skill for a hero. All the tech upstairs is for research. I run a lot of programs, and I’m usually working a dozen cases at the same time, so I need a lot of computer power. Set up this dummy for me?”
Izuku scrambles off the bench. He resets the pressure sensing pad on the dummy’s head and drags it back to the middle of the gym, in front of Miruko. Then Izuku takes several steps back. He’s seen footage of the force of one of Miruko’s kicks, he knows better than to be within the blast radius.
“Research?”
“I’m a glorified bounty hunter,” Miruko says. “The HPSC assigns me a case––usually some villain that’s escaped prison–– then they tell me to find them and stomp their lights out and I––”
Miruko whirls into a powerful roundhouse kick, completely taking the head off the training dummy. The head goes flying with so much force that when it hits the opposite mirrored wall, the mirror cracks.
She grins at Izuku, pointy teeth digging into her bottom lip. “Stomp.”
Izuku stares with wide-eyed amazement.
“Please teach me how to do that!”
Miruko chuckles and waves him over. “It’s all in the hip. Show me how you would do it and we can work on getting you more power….”
Later, after Miruko has thoroughly kicked Izuku around the gym and treated him to a nice healthy lunch, he asks about the bounty hunter comment.
“Miruko? I have another question.”
Miruko’s ear twitches. “You and your questions. I guess this is what being a mentor is like, huh? Ask away.”
“What exactly did you mean earlier by ‘glorified bounty hunter?’ Like, you track villains down?”
“Yup. I find villains and I take them down, using whatever means necessary. I look at their past behavior, go through their psychological profiles, pull surveillance footage. Whatever. And I’m damn good at it.”
That’s true. Of the top 10 heroes, Miruko has the one of the highest arrest scores, when weighted with villain rankings. A hero like Wash, for example, pulls in a large number of low level villains, but Miruko consistently takes down A and S level villains.
Izuku’s brain catches on one part in particular. “Whatever means necessary?”
Miruko considers him for a moment. She shrugs.
“Hawks gave you the whole ‘HPSC is full of bureaucratic corporate monsters’ speech, right?”
“Yes? Uh, more or less.”
“Well, Hawks and I didn’t go to hero school. He got the worse deal, I’ve always had more freedom. Maybe because I had a mentor that was looking out for me, or maybe because Hawks used his contract to protect me. I don’t know. All I know is that after I got my full hero license, the HPSC just started throwing money at me every month and basically letting me do whatever I wanted.”
Izuku blinks. That is very different from Hawks’ situation.
Miruko catches the look on his face. “Yeah, I know. Weird for an organization that literally owns legal rights to Hawks’ name and image. We have a theory that we’re their guinea pigs for how to control the next generation of heroes–– but that’s a conspiracy theory for another day. Basically, if I ask for something, they give it to me. If I need a statistician to crunch numbers on likely areas for an earthquake villain to attack, they get me a statistician. If I need 5 million yen to bribe a villain’s family member for information, I’ll have the money in a couple hours.”
“No questions asked?”
“Nope. But with Hawks, they make him fill out a dozen forms just to take a two day break. I’m older than him, I’m supposed to look out for him, but––whatever deal he made with them worked. I have almost complete freedom.”
Izuku lets out a big breath. His respect for Hawks just tripled.
“Don’t fucking tell him this, but that asshole is my best friend. Again, don’t tell him or his already over-inflated ego will swell to a size too big to be contained on this planet and I will be forced to kill him for the good of humanity.”
“I-I won’t say a word,” Izuku says, fully planning on emailing Hawks as soon as possible.
Miruko narrows her eyes. “Deku, you are an awful liar. I’d like to remind you that my kicks pack roughly 1.5 tons of force behind them.”
Izuku pales. “Okay! Okay, I won’t tell him!”
They lapse into silence for a few moments. Izuku looks around the large, empty office space. It’s so different from The Mighty Agency and their small army of employees, but it works somehow.
“But enough about me,” Miruko moves towards the kitchenette to start brewing herself a cup of coffee. Izuku follows like a puppy. “What do you want out of this internship?”
Izuku blinks. “Huh?”
“Why are you here, kid? I’m sure you had a million offers–– or better yet, you could have just spent the week at your regular job with The Mighty Agency. Why’d you come here? What do you want to learn from me, aside from the training we did earlier?”
Izuku pauses. No one had ever asked him what he wanted to learn, they’ve always just given him things to do. Even Toshinori tends to guide Izuku’s training in one direction. He considers. Can he trust her? She doesn’t like to work with other heroes, so it’s not like she’d tell Aizawa. But she’s still a Pro.
She’s also the best villain tracker in Japan. If anyone can find Stain in a week, it’s Miruko.
“I want… I’m interested in learning how to track down villains like you do.”
“Oh? Any reason in particular?” she fishes.
“I want to find The Hero Killer.”
Miruko stops. Her face goes carefully neutral and she puts her coffee cup down. “You want me to teach you how to track down villains so you can arrest Stain?”
Izuku nods.
“You’re aware that he’s killed 17 Pros, at the very least.”
“Y-Yes.”
Miruko scrutinizes him. “Didn’t you just go through a traumatic incident involving Stain last week?”
Izuku winces. “That’s a blunt way of putting it, but yes.”
“And you still want to arrest him?”
“He’s hurting people,” Izuku says softly. “Isn’t it our job to stop villains from hurting people?”
“It is,” Miruko replies, uncharacteristically quiet. “Right. Let’s do it, then.”
Miruko takes her coffee and moves into her office. Izuku trails behind.
Izuku blinks, surprised. “That’s it?”
“Well, I need to request some files from the HPSC, but we can start by running some statistics––”
“No, I mean–-” Izuku struggles. “That’s it? No questions asked?”
Miruko settles at her desk. She gives Izuku a flat look.
“Did you miss all the questions I just asked you? You’re right, Stain is a threat and it’s our job to neutralize threats. Honestly, Deku, keep up.”
“I just figured it would take more convincing.”
Miruko starts rapidly typing, keyboard clicking loudly as her gaze darts back and forth between her monitors. “C’mere. You wanna learn, right? I’ll show you how I request files from the Commission.”
The remainder of the day is spent with Miruko submitting form after form to get all the information the Commission has on Stain. She even goes as far as to email the police departments in the cities that Stain has targeted. The sun sets over Hosu as they lay down the foundation for the week’s work.
After a few hours, Miruko stretches and declares them done for the day. Izuku slumps back in his chair with relief. He’s spent the last 30 minutes combing through civilian reports of Stain sightings.
Miruko smirks at him. “Well, what did you think of your first day? Different from The Mighty Agency?”
Izuku nods. “Very different, but in a good way. I did a lot of computer work when I first got my license, and I kind of forgot about how much it takes out of you. It is nice to compile evidence, though.”
Miruko hums. “You like working for All Might?”
“Of course!” Izuku can practically feel his eyes sparkling. “All Might’s the best.”
Miruko chuckles, amused. “You really admire him, huh? What is it about him, that he can punch so hard he can change the weather?”
“It’s more than that!”
“Go on, kid,” Miruko encourages. “I’m curious.”
“All Might is….” Izuku makes a frustrated noise in the back of his throat, waving his arms around to try to express his thoughts. “He’s everything. And not just––I don’t mean that he’s the only hero that matters, of course not, but he’s the standard for a reason. It’s not just because he’s the strongest or anything, but it’s––he’s strategic and really kind and he always finds ways to minimize collateral damage and––oh, I didn’t even know this until I started interning for him, but he puts so much thought into his rescues. He has, uh, time limitations and he works around them by planning his routes really carefully, which is just so clever and––”
Miruko stops him. “I wasn’t expecting a whole essay. I get it, you love All Might.”
Izuku squeaks, embarrassed. “I just… think he’s neat.”
Miruko considers him for a moment, eyes narrowed and calculating. Izuku feels a little like he’s being tested, though for what he’s not sure. He must pass, because a moment later she gives him a small smirk and ruffles his hair.
“You’re a good kid, Midoriya,” she says. “Real interesting. I’m glad I offered you an internship.”
Izuku beams.
“Now, go upstairs and get some rest. We have a long week ahead of us.”
Me • 8:43 PM
hey iida!! how was your first day
did you do anything interesting??
and hows your uh…. other project going
Iida • 8:43 PM
Everything is alright over here! I’m glad to hear that your internship is going well, however, I would appreciate it if you refrained from asking me about my project. I do not wish for you to get involved.
Me • 8:43 PM
but im your friend !!! im already involved
i just want to make sure your not making any rash decisions
Iida • 8:43 PM
I assure you, I’m thinking clearly. Good night, Midoriya. Don’t ask about this again.
The next morning, Izuku shakes off the uneasiness from his conversation with Iida last night and readies himself for a full day of shadowing Miruko. She’s notoriously fast-paced, so Izuku eats a big breakfast to make sure he has enough energy to bounce around the city all day.
As per her instructions, Izuku meets Miruko in her office at 8 AM sharp, already in full hero gear.
“So, what are we doing today?” Izuku bounces on his toes, smiling eagerly. “Hunting down leads? Ooh, are we going to try to tail some known Stain associates? Maybe search for Stain’s base?”
“Today,” Miruko declares, “I want you to go on patrol.”
Izuku blinks. “Um. Okay? I, uh, always patrol though. Yesterday you said I was going to try something new?”
“No, you do not patrol, you always shadow a Pro while they patrol.” Miruko reaches over her desk to pick up a small, metal disk and hands it to Izuku. “Today I want you to go on patrol. By yourself. Put this tracker on under your costume. I don’t want the entire HPSC to be on my ass if you get lost.”
Izuku panics. “You mean––Me? A-Alone? Like, by myself? On patrol?!”
Miruko blinks at him slowly, and sighs like being this patient draws from her very life force. “You heard me. Look, up until now you’ve always relied on another hero, right? All Might or Hawks or whatever. But you’re not always gonna have back up. Look at me! I’m a one woman team and I still kick ass!”
Izuku bites his bottom lip. “But––”
“No buts, Deku,” she says sternly, crossing her arms. “You need to learn how to work alone. You wanted to shadow me to learn how I run my agency, right?”
Izuku nods.
“This is how I do things. Some heroes prefer teams and sidekicks, I prefer to stay as far away from any kind of ‘group project’ situation as possible. There are pros and cons to both. Besides, I’ll be connected to your comms the whole time. You can call for backup if you run into anyone too big for you to stomp.”
Izuku opens his mouth to protest, but closes it immediately. She has a point. Izuku, whether because of his age or Toshinori’s tendencies to go easy on him, has never been on a solo patrol. He knows that it is, technically, within his license to patrol alone, as long as he stays within a certain range of his agency and has permission from a Pro Hero. It just feels… weird.
“But, Stain?” Izuku tries one last time.
“I have a lot of research to compile. In order to track down an organized killer like Stain, you have to understand his attack patterns. You’d probably think it’s boring, so I’m saving you the trouble.”
Izuku, who finds any sort of hero or villain statistic interesting, disagrees with that assessment.
“Trust me on this one. I’m your mentor for the week, remember? Doesn’t that mean you have to do whatever I say?”
Izuku nods reluctantly. “I just… want to help.”
“You are helping. I need to know that I can trust you on your own. Besides, you need to get familiarized with at least part of the city. If we’re going to find Stain, you need to know your way around.”
“Fine,” Izuku sighs. “I’ll go on patrol. Alone.”
Before he leaves, Izuku checks in with Miruko’s support gear technician. David Shield is constantly updating Izuku’s costume, so it’s not like there’s anything to upgrade. Izuku’s mask communicator gets hooked up to Miruko’s agency frequency, and then he’s good to go.
Izuku stands in the empty Miruko Agency lobby, staring out the glass doors at the busy Hosu streets outside.
Can he really do this alone?
It’s not like patrolling is difficult. It’s a Monday, the least likely day of the week for any major villain attacks. It’s also Hosu City, which has the lowest crime rate out of all of Japan’s major cities. Izuku has been patrolling Musutafu for more than a year at this point. Most likely, Izuku will just follow the patrol route Miruko programmed into his visor, help store owners lift boxes and rescue a few cats out of trees, and then be on his way back. Like taking a walk. In full body armor. With the possibility that he’s being targeted by not only the League of Villains, but also Stain and the vultures that work for the media.
Izuku takes a deep breath to center himself.
Quickly, like ripping off a bandaid, he pushes the doors open and steps outside.
Well. The world doesn’t end.
Downtown Hosu is a lot like downtown Musutafu, in that no one cares that there’s a fully costumed hero standing on the sidewalk. They’re probably used to it––the luxury of living in a big city with a low hero-to-civilian ratio. Izuku thinks a couple people look at him for too long, but that could be just because Izuku’s standing still in the middle of the sidewalk like a weirdo. He takes a second to soak in the morning sun. Today is going to be a good day. And if it isn’t, then Izuku will try his best to make it a good day.
The first part of Izuku’s patrol takes him through Hosu’s business district. He helps an elderly cafe owner move some delivery boxes inside his store. The owner doesn’t seem to recognize him as Deku, which Izuku is infinitely grateful for. In fact, if people on the street know who he is, they don’t say so. Izuku makes it all the way through most of downtown without being recognized.
It’s only once he gets closer to the university that people start calling out to him. He takes a few selfies with some college students, signs an autograph for a high school girl, and even gives a toddler a piggyback ride while patrolling through a park.
It’s… fun. Patrolling is fun.
The only bit of trouble happens around midafternoon, when Izuku passes through the business district again on his way back to Miruko’s agency.
“Hey! Stop! That guy stole my backpack!”
Across the street, a man is sprinting away from an outdoor cafe, holding an obviously stolen backpack. The owner of the backpack tries to give chase, but he trips over the legs of the chair he was sitting on.
In a flash, Izuku is across the street.
“Stop!”
The thief looks behind him, sees Deku chasing after him while crackling with green lightning, and squeaks. He tries to take a hard left to swerve into an alleyway, but Izuku tackles him before he can get too far.
“Oof!”
Thankfully, the backpack rolls away unharmed. Izuku has the thief’s hands cuffed before he can even think to struggle.
“Sorry about tackling you,” Izuku says, climbing off the guy and helping him to his feet, “but you really shouldn’t do crime.”
“Don’t do crime. Thanks for the advice, kid.”
“My backpack! I––Oh, my god, Deku?”
Izuku looks away from the thief to see the owner of the backpack––the guy who tripped over his chair earlier–– panting in front of him.
“Oh! Hey, there!” Izuku gives him his best All Might grin. “This is yours right? I hope nothing’s broken.”
“I-I–– uh, y-yeah, that’s me–– I mean, I’m mine–– I mean, that, the backpack, is, um, mine. Holy shit, you’re really Deku.”
“Yes? I mean, yes! I’m Deku.”
The backpack owner stares at him. Izuku shifts uncomfortably. He raises his arm, offering him his backpack.
“Do you, uh, want this back?”
“Right!” The guy takes his bag. “I-I’m Iseri Shiro. I was just writing about you! N-Not like, in a weird way, or anything! It’s not fanfic or anything–– not that there’s anything wrong with–– I mean, y-you know how the internet is–– anyway! Not fanfic!”
Izuku takes a small step back. “O… kay? Um.”
“It’s an article!” Iseri scrambles to explain. “I-I’m a journalist, or well, I’m studying to be one. I have an internship w-with the Hosu Times and they wanted an article about you and all my notes are in this backpack, so thank you! F-For saving it! And my job!”
Izuku eyes him wearily. He doesn’t have the best experience with journalists, but, well. Izuku is trying to be less fearful of the media, and this guy seems alright. Katayama and Toshinroi encouraged him to start making his own statements, to control what gets written about him. Izuku thinks about Toshinori’s story about Shimoda Asuka, and makes a decision.
“Well, Iseri, if you want, after the police come to collect this guy, I could maybe give you a quote or something? For your article?”
Iseri’s entire being lights up.
“T-That would be amazing! Y-Yes, if it’s not too much trouble!”
Izuku gives him a genuine smile. “It’s no trouble at all.”
Deku, a Stolen Backpack, and the Value of Being Kind in the Golden Age of Heroism
by Iseri Shiro for Hosu Times
What does it mean to be a hero?
If you asked me last week––or even three hours ago––I would have said something generic about strength or villain capture rates. That was before I met Deku.
Read More
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When Izuku comes back from patrol, Miruko is waiting for him in the lobby.
“Good job out there, kid. You looked nervous as hell, but you got the job done.”
Izuku squeaks. “Y-You were watching?!”
“You really think I’d let you walk around unsupervised a week after you were kidnapped? Every agency in the city was alerted that you’d be patrolling.”
“Oh.” Izuku deflates a little. He was actually very proud of himself for handling things by himself. Was he just being babysat from afar this whole time?
“Don’t give me that look. It’s not like I asked them to clean up the streets ahead of you. They were just alerted in case something went wrong. That purse snatcher takedown was all you.”
“It was a backpack,” Izuku corrects. Miruko rolls her eyes.
“Yeah, whatever. You did good.”
Miruko ruffles his hair, knocking her hand against the bunny-ears on his mask.
“Change out of your costume. I need to show you what I’ve found.”
It turns out Miruko found a lot. She did full victimology profiles on all 17 of Stain’s known victims, including digging into their personal financial records, as well as their hero agency’s tax files and the like. The two touchscreen walls in her office display all this information, including some pretty grisly photos of the crime scenes where their bodies were found.
“Stain has a method. The media has already picked up on his pattern, but there are some subtleties that aren’t obvious. For one, I was able to trace his villain persona back to the vigilante Stendhal, who was active up until a couple years ago.”
Izuku makes a surprised noise. He walks up to the screen showing the HPSC’s files on Stendhal. “He was a vigilante? Then, why would he become a villain?”
“No idea,” Miruko sighs. “I don’t work with a lot of vigilantes. I have no idea what the thought process is there.”
Izuku hums. “My friend was a vigilante, before he got his Pro license. Maybe I can ask him what he thinks, and if he’s heard of Stendhal.”
“You do that, any information helps. Anyway, not a lot was known about Stain’s quirk before you fought him. It was thought to have something to do with his swords, since he used them as weapons back when he was a vigilante.”
Miruko comes up next to Izuku to show him how to navigate the file. A couple of taps against the screen, and Izuku is looking at old, grainy, CCTV stills of Stendhal. He looks nothing like Stain. He has a full face mask, a long, black ponytail, and a tactical vest on. Nothing like the tattered, bandaged, monstrosity Izuku saw in the alleyway last week. The only consistency is the swords strapped to his back.
“You already figured out that Stain wouldn’t leave Hosu without claiming another victim, good, but I think it’s more specific than that. His kills in each city follow a pattern: one greedy hero, one violent hero, one negligent hero, and one media-focussed hero. Since he failed to kill Iida Tensei, we can assume that he’ll look for another hero with financial issues.”
Izuku frowns. “How do we know he won’t just move on to a violent hero? He’s already ended Tensei-san’s career, and that’s what he wanted. To… ‘purge’ all fake heroes.”
“The only time he deviated from the four hero attack pattern was in Sapporo. After paramedics were able to save The Nifty Fox’s life, Stain went out the next day and killed Blitzfire. That means that he’s willing to kill more than four heroes per city.”
Izuku feels sick.
“H-How do we know he won’t sneak into Hosu General to try to f-finish Tensei-san off?”
Miruko softens her voice. “Don’t worry about Ingenium. You know him, right? Well, the Iidas are old money. I’m sure they have only the best security for him. Besides, Stain never went back to kill Nifty Fox.”
Izuku nods, anxiety soothed.
“So, now we know his pattern. We know that he either lures them into a secluded place or ambushes them when they’re alone, then uses his quirk to immobilize them. We know that he has a young girl with him, which means he’ll have a weak spot we can exploit.”
“W-Wait! We shouldn’t hurt Toga. I know that she’s working with a villain, but… she’s just a kid.”
“Of course we won’t hurt her on purpose, but Deku,” Miruko gives him a look, “she tried to kill you.”
“She didn’t, though. She just–– I don’t know. I don’t want to justify her actions, but I just feel like… she can be saved.”
Something about the way Toga talked about her quirk made Izuku uncomfortable. She spoke like her quirk was compelling her to act this way, to draw blood. Izuku has no idea what that’s like. He’s heard that sometimes quirks can influence people’s behaviors, but to the extent of urging them to hurt others? Well. Bakugou was once calmer, before his explosion quirk manifested. But how much of his attitude afterwards was his quirk itself, and how much was a product of every adult in his life giving him special treatment because he had a powerful quirk?
Izuku was born without a quirk. He doesn’t know what it’s like to feel that kind of influence. One for All makes him feel powerful, but he doesn’t have the sudden urge to smash things to pieces.
It doesn’t matter. Even if the answer is that Toga simply enjoys hurting people, she still deserves to be saved. She’s young. Shiketsu has their villain rehabilitation program. They don’t know if she’s assisted in any of Stain’s kills, or if she’s been an accessory this whole time.
“We’re treating her as a villain partner until proven otherwise,” Miruko says firmly. “I need to know if you can do that. Stain is dangerous. I can’t have you compromising the mission because you don’t want to arrest someone who could’ve been your classmate.”
Harsh, but understandable.
“I won’t compromise the mission.”
“Good. Now, here’s a list of all the currently active heroes in Hosu City and the surrounding area. We need to narrow this down to a pool of possible targets.”
The rest of the day is spent looking through the incredibly long list of heroes. They start by filtering for anyone with flags on their license, moving those heroes to the top of the possible target pool. They can’t just rely on the HPSC’s flagging system, though. Tensei never had so much as a civilian complaint on his record, and he was still targeted. If they really want to find Stain’s next victim, they’re going to have to dig into personal lives.
Miruko dismisses him early that night, with instructions to meet her in her office bright and early the next morning, so they can continue combing through the hero list. Miruko already has an incredible amount of information after only a day of research, but Izuku can’t help the creeping feeling of dread in his stomach. Like it doesn’t matter. Like maybe they won’t find Stain in time.
Like maybe, this time, Izuku won’t be fast enough–– and it’ll be Iida Tenya bleeding out in an alleyway.
Gunhead Agency ✓ @TeamGunhead • 18h
Hard at work! Gunhead Agency’s newest student intern, Uravity, demonstrates the Gunhead Martial Arts way to take down an opponent with a knife!
[Video of Pro Hero Gunhead coming at Uraraka with a prop knife. Uraraka grabs Gunhead’s wrist, twisting her body out of the knife’s path, then bending his arm at a strained angle until he drops the knife.]
4.3k retweets 37 quote retweets 12.7k likes
Hawks ✓ @HawksOfficial • 10h
Bird bros!
[Blurry selfie of Hawks hovering in front of the roof of a building, with Tokoyami looking panicked and clinging to the building's railing in the background. Dark Shadow is hovering next to Hawks, seemingly delighted. Hawks and Dark Shadow are throwing up matching peace signs.]
39k retweets 6.8k quote retweets 83k likes
Fatgum | Feed Our Kids Donation Drive ✓ @AgencyFatgum • 12h
The Fatgum Agency welcomes our new UA student intern, Creati, to the #FatgumFam ! Catch Fatgum on patrol anytime this week with intern Suneater and Creati, and don’t forget to send in your donations for the Feed Our Kids drive before the end of the month!
12.3k retweets 297 quote retweets 16k likes
Gang Orca ✓ @KillerWhaleHero • 17h
Watch out villains! My new student interns, Froppy, Pinky, and Tentacole, are here to clean up the streets!
[Image of Mina, Tsuyu, and Shoji standing in front of the Gang Orca Agency sign, smiling at the camera. Gang orca stands behind them looking like a proud dad.]
6k retweets 87 quote retweets 10.3k likes
[bass boosted] YEAH! ✓ @PresentMic • 4h
HEY LISTENERS!! Tune into tomorrow’s @PutYourHandsUpRadio broadcast for a very special guest: student intern Earphone Jack. I’ll be interviewing her on her very first patrol, what it’s like to be a hero student, and her favorite music genres. Can I get a YEAH?! #YEAH
[Image of Jiro blushing and smiling shyly at the camera, holding up a whiteboard with the words “Present Mic Agency’s Number One Intern” written on it. Under the words, Present Mic has doodled little cartoons of himself, Jiro, and a pair of radio mics.]
25.4k retweets 1.2k quote retweets 63.2k likes
It turns out that Izuku doesn’t need to spend the next day pouring over the potential hero victims list, because Miruko has stayed up all night to finish the list for them.
Izuku looks blankly at the hurricane that seems to have torn through her office, papers strewn about, and printouts of profiles covering every surface. Miruko sits unbothered in the center of it all, not looking at all like someone who pulled an all nighter to finish her research. The only indication that she’s slightly off is the way her leg keeps thumping against the floor and the stack of six empty coffee cups on her desk.
“What happened to resting?”
Miruko waves a hand. “You’re a kid, don’t you need like 12 hours of sleep? I’m fine, I’m always like this.”
Izuku now understands why everyone always looks so horrified when Izuku says he’s “always like this.” He never thought he’d be on the opposite end of this conversation.
“Miruko, don’t you need to sleep?” Izuku tries again.
“No, I had coffee,” Miruko replies, rolling her eyes like it’s obvious.
Izuku makes a mental note to email Hawks about checking up on Miruko more often. He’s not qualified for this. He doesn’t want to feel like a hypocrite for lecturing her to take better care of herself.
“Don’t worry about it, I just get excited about new cases. The thrill of the hunt, you know? We’re gonna take this bastard down.”
If Izuku thought Miruko was scary when she’s grinning feraly and punting villains triple her size into the horizon, then she’s absolutely terrifying on 0 hours of sleep and 6 cups of coffee.
Izuku, wisely, decides to focus on the mission.
“So, what did you find?”
Miruko bounces up from her desk chair and over to one of the touch screen walls. With a couple taps and swipes, she clears the information previously there and pulls up an annotated version of the list she and Izuku worked on yesterday.
“After you left, I took the heroes we hadn’t eliminated and ran them through a series of background checks. I ended up with this––”
Another swipe clears the list, and up pops a file.
Izuku looks at the top of the file, neatly labelled “Potential Victim Profiles.” He makes a quiet, surprised sound. Only three names, with pictures of them in their hero costumes underneath each one.
“This is it?”
Miruko nods.
“I narrowed it down to these three, with about 99.4% certainty.”
Izuku’s eyes study their faces, desperately trying to stop himself from imagining them laying in a cold alley, covered in blood. “So, these three are in danger?”
Miruko nods grimly. “If we don’t stop Stain, one of these heroes could be dead by the end of the week.”
(“When you cut, make sure to follow through with your entire body––no, like this, Toga. If you do it like that, you leave yourself open to a counter-attack.”
“I see! Let me try again, sensei!”)
After narrowing down Stain’s victim pool, Miruko and Izuku layout a plan.
“We’re going to closely monitor all three of them,” Miruko says. They’ve moved from her office to one of the renovated conference rooms. Two entire walls are touch screen computers, displaying all the data and statistics on Stain that they’ve gathered over the past couple of days. In the center of the room is a large, round table displaying a hologram that Miruko manipulates with the swipe of a hand.
“Matsui Yoshiro, hero name: Fearless Devil. His quirk allows him to give or take one emotion from either himself or a target, with a 30 minute time limit. He recently reinstated his hero license after being suspended for minor tax fraud last year.” She swipes to a map of Hosu City, with the south-east quarter highlighted in blue. “This is his patrol area, and the star in the middle is the location of his agency.”
Izuku frowns. “That’s a big domain for someone who just got their license back.”
Miruko grimaces. “He’s the most senior hero in Hosu City, which means he still gets his pick of patrol zones. Also, he’s married to the mayor’s daughter. Good old nepotism at work.”
“This is just one potential target. We can’t cover all of this area. Can we ask him to send us his most common patrol routes?”
“We can’t let any of the targets know we’re following them,” Miruko explains. “Even the best actors will subconsciously change their patterns if they know they’re being watched. If the Hero Killer knows we’re onto him, he might run.”
Izuku stares at the hologram of Fearless Devil’s smiling, lined face. “So, we’re just going to… stalk them?”
“Think of it as bodyguarding from a distance. Without their knowledge.”
“Right. Professional stalking.”
Miruko sends him a sharp grin. “Careful, kid, you’re picking up my sarcasm. All Might’s gonna wonder what happened to his sweet, happy-go-lucky sidekick.”
Izuku rolls his eyes. Toshinori has long since discovered Izuku’s secret sass streak. He turns his attention back to the map of Fearless Devil’s patrol domain.
“Can we at least rule any areas out? Like, places he only sends sidekicks to?”
“One step ahead of you.” Miruko makes a tapping gesture with three of her fingers, and the hologram map lights up with red and yellow lines. “The yellow lines are sidekick exclusive patrol routes, red lines are routes Fearless Devil takes himself. I took the patrol logs from their agency’s database and ran it through a program.”
Izuku gapes. “How’d you get access to their database?”
Miruko gives him a pitying look. “The Commission has no boundaries and owns pretty much everything, remember? I have clearance to look through any agency’s data, besides All Might and Endeavor’s. Special clearance required, or something, I don’t really care.”
Izuku nods. Of course. How could Izuku forget for even a second that the HPSC have a scary amount of control of pretty much everything? The more Izuku learns, the less he trusts them––which is saying something, since Izuku didn’t trust them very much in the first place.
“Lucky for us, Fearless Devil himself only patrols on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Based on Stain’s timeline, he’s going to want to kill before the week is through, which means if he’s going after Fearless Devil, he’s most likely going to strike on Thursday.”
Miruko says all this while rapidly flicking through more data and statistics that she compiled with whatever algorithm-computer-magic she seems to use. Izuku’s head hurts a little.
“Okay, so we tail Fearless Devil on Thursday. What about the other two?”
Miruko makes a fist with her hand and the file on Fearless Devil minimizes. She brings up another file, this one of a stoic looking woman in her early 30s.
“This is Silent Ace, or Yoshimoto Shizuko. She actually just moved to Hosu City from a small town in the countryside, presumably for the bump in pay that comes from serving bigger cities. Stain could see that as her abandoning her community for greedy reasons, but in actuality she’s probably just trying to get more money to pay for her grandmother’s hospital bills.”
Miruko flicks through the file, with records of Silent Ace’s arrests in her hometown, Hasetsu, and copies of what looks like medical records for an elderly woman.
“Should we have access to this much personal information?” Izuku squeaks, averting his eyes.
Miruko sighs. “Look, Deku. This is life and death. You have to stop being squeamish about this kind of thing. Is it kind of fucked up that I have access to Silent Ace’s family’s medical files? Yes. But you know what’s even more fucked up? If Silent Ace is unable to care for her grandmother because some asshole with a god-complex decided it was his right to murder her.
“Hawks and I may have different methods, but we’re both the same kind of compromised. We do fucked up things to keep people safe. It’s not ideal, and it’s not the pretty side of heroism––and if the HPSC ever gets exposed, Hawks and I will be the first the public turns on––but we are saving lives.”
Miruko pauses when she sees the chastised look on Izuku’s face.
“I didn’t mean to lecture you,” she sighs. “This is why I never take interns, I’m a shitty teacher. Should’ve just stuck to teaching you how to kick better.”
She tucks a strand of long, white hair out of her face. Izuku is suddenly struck by how tired she looks. She’s a couple years older than Hawks, but they both carry the same look, like they were forced to grow up way too fast. When Izuku was a kid, watching Miruko bounce around on television, he always just assumed that her job was straightforward. Find bad guys, fight bad guys, turn bad guys over to the police. Izuku had no idea how much research went into tracking down villains, or just how much of her morals Miruko was forced to compromise just so little kids like Izuku could sleep easy at night.
“No, you’re right,” Izuku says. “I m-mean, I know, um, that being a hero isn’t what it looks like on TV, and I’m sorry if it seemed like I was...judging you? N-Not that my opinion matters, really, because you’re one of the best heroes active right now and––what I’m trying to say is that I get what you’re saying.”
Miruko seems amused by Izuku’s rambling.
“And,” Izuku tacks on, “I think you’re a great teacher. I’ve learned so much and it’s only been three days!”
Miruko leans over and gives him a sisterly head pat. “It’s ‘cause you’re always fuckin’ asking questions. Has anyone ever told you you’re annoying?”
“Everyone I’ve ever met,” Izuku confirms, smiling.
“Tch. Of course. Back to Silent Ace––”
Silent Ace’s quirk gives her the ability to create a sound suppressing dome of up to a 25 meter radius. Her patrol domain is only about half the size of Fearless Devil’s, but because she’s new, she doesn’t have any sidekicks to help with patrol.
“There’s a bit of a conflict here,” Miruko says, pulling up Silent Ace’s patrol schedule. “She only patrols from Thursday to Sunday, probably for the weekend pay bonus. That means if Stain is targeting her, he’ll most likely strike on Thursday. Since her and Fearless Devil’s domains are on opposite sides of the city, we won’t be able to cover them both at once.”
Izuku thinks. “Can we ask for backup? Hawks’ agency isn’t too far from north Hosu, can we ask him to keep an eye on Silent Ace for us.”
Miruko’s lips press into a thin line. “Not an option. Hawks is on… special leave.”
Izuku stares expectantly. They pulled him into the whole HPSC-is-corrupt secret, now’s not the time to be withholding information from him.
Miruko sighs. “You’re a handful, you know that? Fine, he’s sabotaging an Interpol operation to catch a suspected mole. He won’t be back in Japan until next week.”
“So it’s just us?” Izuku asks, very deliberately not pointing out that Manual’s agency could probably lend them a hand.
“Just us. I don’t want to pull anyone else into this operation. One Pro and an intern isn’t an ideal team, but we also can’t risk a leak. Stain is notoriously slippery. Don’t worry about Thursday, alright? I’ll figure out what to do. In the meantime––”
Miruko dismisses Silent Ace’s file and brings up the last of the potential targets.
“We need to prepare for tomorrow. This is Okuda Hideki, hero name––”
“Native,” Izuku answers. “He was charged with attacking a civilian, right? Two years ago, about?”
Miruko nods. The hologram of Native’s face flickers as she flips through some of his legal files. “Mhmm. The charges were dropped and the whole situation is a little fuzzy, since the CCTV evidence was ruled inadmissible in court, but the rumor is that he has a temper and punched a reporter.”
Izuku blinks, wide-eyed. He’s had his fair share of media frustration, but he’s never wanted to actually hurt anyone.
“I’d say he’s our least likely Stain target,” Miruko continues. “Given that Stain’s last victim had some sort of financial scandal, I think it’s pretty safe to say that Stain focuses on the heroes who are only in it for the money. I think Native is still worth keeping an eye on, though, since punching a civilian is pretty unheroic, if you ask me.”
“Yeah, definitely. So, his patrols are––may I?”
Izuku gestures to the hologram. Miruko nods.
“Go ahead. Maybe later I’ll teach you how to run the patrol route algorithm.”
Izuku flicks upwards, revealing the map of Hosu again. He taps to show Native’s usual routes, eyes flitting back and forth from the data to the map.
“So, if I’m reading this right, it looks like he… starts his patrols on the western part of his domain and works his way east throughout the week. Which means, tomorrow and Thursday he’ll be here and here, right?”
“Good, you learn fast. We’re going to follow him tomorrow. His territory covers the most densely packed parts of the city, so it’ll be a lot of roof hopping. You okay with that?”
Izuku nods eagerly, curls bouncing. “I’m great at roof hopping! I don’t even crack shingles anymore!”
“No wonder intern insurance rates are so high. Alright, then that’s all for today. Get some rest, we’re going to go over some safety procedures before we go out, alright?”
“Right! I’ll get lots of rest, I promise!”
Izuku can’t sleep.
He could fight Stain tomorrow. Every time he thinks about Stain’s wide, sharp grin or Toga’s bloody hands on Tensei’s armor, he feels sick. Izuku barely got away last time, and it was mostly luck. Miruko and Izuku agreed that if they were going to confront Stain, Izuku’s job was to neutralize Toga while Miruko fought Stain. Izuku is only to engage with Stain if Miruko is incapacitated or there’s no other option.
But Stain is just so fast. And skilled with his blades. Is Izuku ready?
“A text message is here!”
Izuku checks his phone. It’s his friends.
He’s going to have to be ready. No way is Izuku letting Iida go through with his revenge plot.
Deku Squad (midoriya stop changing the name!!)
uwuraka • 10:12 PM
[Image sent]
Guys !!!! Gunhead is such a good teacher !!! Today I learned how to flip a 90kg man over my shoulder :D
shoto :) • 10:12 PM
👍
uwuraka • 10:12 PM
How are things at Manual’s agency?? How’s Miruko??
shoto :) • 10:12 PM
Good.
Iida Tenya • 10:13 PM
We are doing well, here at Manual’s agency. Todoroki-kun and I shadowed Manual as he completed his paperwork. I have to admit, it’s not particularly thrilling.
small might • 10:13 PM
i see we are still using this group chat name despite my many POLITE requests to change it
Miruko is so cool !!!!! today she kicked a practice dummy so hard it flew through TWO walls :D
Iida Tenya • 10:13 PM
I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying your internship, Midoriya-kun!
Izuku sighs. He switches to his private chat with Todoroki.
Me • 10:14 PM
how is iida actually doing??
Todoroki doesn’t bother texting back. Instead, Izuku’s phone lights up with a call.
“Hello?”
“He tried to sneak away three times,” Todoroki reports, cutting right to the chase. “After the third time, I couldn’t cover for him anymore. Manual thinks he’s just trying to visit his brother, so he’s being lax.”
Izuku sighs. “Just… hang on a little longer, okay. I’m working on something and hopefully, if everything goes right, Iida won’t be in danger anymore.”
Todoroki pauses, breathing softly over the phone. “Midoriya. You’re not going after Stain, are you?”
“No,” Izuku says, which isn’t technically a lie. Izuku and Miruko are going after Stain, so it’s not like he’s doing it alone. He has adult supervision.
“Midoriya.”
“I’m not!”
“Midoriya. The point of me watching over Iida is so that he doesn’t make a dumb mistake that could get him killed. The solution to stopping Iida from hunting down Stain cannot be you hunting down Stain. Neither of you are qualified.”
“You’re definitely right about me not being qualified,” Izuku mumbles.
Of course, Todoroki catches that right away. “You are tracking down Stain.”
“I’m not! It’s complicated, I can’t tell you what Miruko has planned. Todoroki-kun, can you just trust that I’m doing this safely?”
“No, I cannot. You have had at least a dozen major injuries in the time that I’ve known you.”
“That’s not fair,” Izuku whines, staring up at the ceiling. Todoroki is harsh when he’s worried. “Would it make you feel better if I made you one of my emergency contacts? Look, I’ll even do it right now.”
Izuku pulls the phone away from his ear to tap through his settings.
“There. Now you’ll get a text with my location if I send out a distress signal.”
Todoroki hums quietly, placated for now. “Add Uraraka, too.”
Izuku does. “Happy now?”
“It will do.”
Tailing Native turns out to be really boring––until it isn’t.
It starts out simple enough. Natives patrol is almost exactly like Izuku’s was on Monday. Stopping to help old people cross the street, lifting heavy things, escorting people to their train station. Miruko has forgone her usual hero costume, instead dressing in civilian clothes over an all-black version of her hero bodysuit––something her and her support technician lovingly refer to as the “Stealth Bunny Suit.”
Izuku is extremely jealous. He’s going to ask David Shield for a stealth version of his hero costume, too.
They alternate between alleys and rooftops, with one of them keeping a visual on Native at all times. Miruko has him stick mostly to the roofs, since his costume can be more easily spotted.
Once the sun sets, things start to go wrong.
It’s a minor detail, something so small Izuku’s not sure how he even picked up on it. All he knows is that something in his head pinged danger. Native was cutting through the alley between two apartment complexes, on his way back to his agency. Miruko is still weaving her way through the crowded street Native just came from. Izuku drops down onto an apartment’s balcony so he can see both the alley and Miruko.
“Excuse me, oh I’m so sorry!”
Through his earpiece, Izuku hears Miruko bump into someone on the street. This isn’t weird. All day, she’s been faking interactions with civilians to keep her cover.
“Oh, no it’s my fault, I was in the––wait. You’re Miruko, oh my god!”
Izuku starts to tune out the fan interaction, eyes focussed on Native as he pauses in the middle of the alley to type something into his phone.
“–-just such a big fan, can we take a selfie?”
Izuku glances back down at Miruko, just to check on her, when he notices something.
The girl who stopped Miruko is short, maybe Uraraka’s height, with long black hair and choppy bangs. She looks like any other high school student, only––
There, on her cell phone. Izuku uses his visor’s zoom function to focus on it.
A Kuromi charm.
Izuku immediately unmutes his comm line.
“Miruko, the operation is compromised,” Izuku says urgently. “That’s Toga. I recognize her phone, it has to be her.”
Miruko shows no indication that she recognizes the girl in front of her, other than subtly widening her stance.
“There,” Miruko says, once they’ve taken their selfie. “Does that look alright?”
She’s talking to Izuku. Native. Izuku turns away from Toga and Miruko to look back down at the alley.
Native is still there. He’s still typing away on his phone.
“I still have eyes on the target,” Izuku says. “Maybe Stain hasn’t––”
“Hasn’t what, little hero?”
The only thing that saves Izuku from taking a knife through the gut is his instincts. Stain drops down onto Izuku’s balcony from above just as Izuku rolls away, slipping under the railing and landing on the fire escape below.
“Miruko! Stain––”
Stain somersaults over the balcony railing. Izuku throws himself out of the way desperately, rolling and falling in an ungraceful heap on another balcony.
“Stop running, Deku! I already told you I didn’t want to kill you.”
“You’re throwing knives at me!”
Izuku hears some scuffling through his earpiece, indicating that Miruko is probably subduing Toga. Izuku just has to stall for time, then Miruko can come help him with Stain and––
Stain suddenly shifts targets. He leaves Izuku on the balcony and jumps down, landing in the alleyway below. Native startles.
“Wha–-”
“No!”
In an instant, Stain lashes out with a sword to slash a bold diagonal across Native’s chest. He opens his mouth and an abnormally long tongue rolls out to lick the blood off the blade. Native goes rigid and falls to the ground.
“Stop!”
Izuku launches himself at Stain, using him to break his own fall off the balcony. Stain and Izuku go rolling down the alley, clattering blades and body armor hitting the hard pavement.
“If you keep getting in my way, I’ll have no choice but to put you down,” Stain spits at him. He throws Izuku off of him, flinging a knife in his direction just to stop Izuku from tackling him again. He reaches for another knife, body pivoting to face Native again.
“Don’t––!”
“Hey, ugly!”
Miruko bounds down the alley like a rocket. Before Stain can draw another blade, she kicks him solidly in the chest, sending him flying back towards Izuku.
Izuku powers up a kick, aiming for Stain’s knees. At the last second, Stain manages to flip over him. Izuku’s kick misses entirely, and now Stain is no longer surrounded by Izuku and Miruko. He stands at the end of the alley, dark and menacing. Izuku retreats, eyes glued to Stain, until he’s closer to Miruko and Native.
“He’s going fast,” Miruko says, gesturing down at Native. “Try to stop the bleeding. I’ll take down Stain. He won’t run, I cuffed Toga.”
Izuku drops to his knees and pulls off his medical supply backpack. He props Native up to a sitting position up against the alley wall.
“Be careful––”
Miruko and Stain are already battling it out. It’s all a blur of white, silver, and crimson, the two of them moving too fast for Izuku to clearly see. Izuku trusts that Miruko will defend them, so he focuses on stopping Native’s bleeding.
“You’re going to be okay,” Izuku reassures, applying pressure to his wound. “I-it’s alright now, I’m here.”
Native wheezes.
“M-Miruko is one of the best heroes in the country, she can––”
“Deku, behind you!”
Izuku whirls around, bringing his arms up just in time to catch Toga’s knife. Miruko curses.
“Hiya, Deku! So glad to see you again!”
“Toga!”
Toga’s knife digs in through the fabric of Izuku’s gloves. Izuku pushes back, sending her stumbling backwards. Her hands are still in cuffs, but she’s somehow managed to move her hands to the front of her body. She wields her knife with both hands, regaining her balance for a second before charging again.
“Just––” Slash. “––stop–-” Stab. “––resisting!”
Izuku struggles to defend both himself and Native. He catches most of Toga’s attacks with his gloves and forearms, his gauntlets gaining several scratches and dents. She’s strong.
“Toga, you don’t need to do this! Just let me help you!”
“You can help me by showing me how pretty your blood is!”
“Toga!” Stain snaps. “To me!”
Immediately, Toga abandons Izuku. She flips over him, dodging his sloppy attempt to grab her arm. Stain throws a knife to distract Miruko enough for Toga to slip past her, joining Stain on his side of the alley.
“We’re done here.”
“No we aren’t,” Miruko grits, gearing up to attack again.
Stain smirks, slow and caustic. He pulls out another throwing knife, aims, and throws it––
–– at Izuku.
Izuku can see the path of the blade. It will cut cleanly through the air and embed itself in his chest. He’s still on his knees, in front of Native. If Izuku moves, the knife will hit him.
Izuku doesn’t need to make a choice. Miruko is already putting herself in front of both of them. The knife sinks into her left bicep.
“Miruko!”
Miruko stumbles, but stays standing. Izuku scrambles over to her, pulling gauze from his pack. By the time he gets to her, Stain and Toga are long gone, disappearing around the corner and into the twilight.
“D-Don’t take it out!”
“I’m fine, it’s just a scratch.” Miruko grimaces. “Focus on Native. We need to get him to a hospital.”
That’s when it sinks in for Izuku. He faced Stain again and he lost.
He let him get away.
Promise me that if you find Stain before I do, you won’t let him walk away unharmed.
Izuku didn’t even get one hit on him. And now he has two heavily injured Pros to tend to.
“They got away,” Izuku despairs. “Stain, he––what do we do now?”
“Now,” Miruko grits out, hand still pressed against her bloody shoulder, “we move on to plan B.”
“We had a plan B?”
Miruko grins sharply.
“What kind of hero do you take me for, kid? Of course there’s a plan B. And he won’t be getting away next time.”
Miruko stares hard at the alleyway Stain disappeared down.
“This time it’s personal.”
Notes:
okay !!! penultimate chapter done!! next time i see yall it will be the end :((
a couple things:
• Chapter title is from an english translation of the lyrics of Vivid Vice by Who-ya Extended
• no set date for the last chapter, it'll just go up whenever i end up finishing it!! once again, thanks for being patient <33
• (no spoilers and pls no spoilers in the comments but manga readers. how r we feeling right now)
• if i made mirko seem too badass and sexy and perfect its because i’m in love with her and she IS badass and sexy and perfect
• i'm xyloophones on tumblr and @xyloophones on twitter!!
Chapter 12: I am not afraid to keep on living
Summary:
“Give me a second, and we can go over plan B,” Miruko says to him, grinning. “Trust the process. You’re with the Miruko Agency, and we don’t lose."
Notes:
sorry for disappearing for 4 months (and MISSING PRIDE MONTH happy belated pride to my fellow community members <3)
a few warnings:
• this chapter is 23K so um.. make some time SORRY HAHA
• please mind the violence and angst tags !! if you had a hard time with the USJ chapter, maybe take this one a lil slow
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
“What do you mean I can’t tell anyone?!”
Miruko winces, ears twitching. “Do you have to be so loud? My hearing is sensitive and we’re in an enclosed space.”
After the disastrous encounter with Stain, Miruko’s personal assistant picked them up in a nondescript van and ushered them back to the agency, where Asano Yumi, the support technician, began treating their wounds. Izuku managed to get out of the fight with nothing more than a few scrapes and bruises, for once. Miruko’s knife wound has been bleeding steadily, but she waved Asano off to focus on Native, who is somehow still paralyzed from Stain’s quirk.
“What happened to taking Native to a hospital?!” Izuku simply cannot tamp down on the hysterics right now. Miruko still has a knife in her! How is he supposed to remain calm?!
“Yumi has a medical degree, and we have all the equipment we’ll need right here. Probably better than whatever’s at Hosu General, honestly. Isn’t that right, Yumi?”
Asano lets out an exasperated sigh, not looking up from Native. “I’m your support tech and a medic. I want a raise.”
“Of course.” Miruko grins. Her teeth are coated in blood.
“Can we go back to the part about not telling anyone?” Izuku frets. “Why can’t we tell anyone? Stain and Toga are still out there! We need backup—”
“We don’t need backup. We almost had him today, it was just bad timing. Besides, if word gets out that we’ve encountered Stain and didn’t capture him, Endeavor’s going to bully his way into taking over our case, and then we can basically kiss any chance of taking Stain down goodbye. That asshole has the stealth skills of an elephant, and Stain isn’t the type of villain you can brute force your way into capturing.”
Izuku agrees.
“Okay, but—”
“But, nothin’, kid. Not a single person, alright? Not even whoever it is you were up late talking to the other night.”
Izuku flushes. “M-My friends were just checking up on me….”
“That’s fine, but you can’t tell them. I’m serious, Midoriya.”
Izuku’s spine straightens. Miruko must be serious, if she’s using his real name.
“This is a delicate situation. We can’t take any risks.” Miruko moves towards one wall of the tech support room and activates a touchscreen panel, pulling up their victimology files. “We need to move quickly and quietly, so—”
“Rumi,” Asano says sharply. “Do not try to use your arm right now. Come here, I’ve finished treating Native-san’s wounds, he’ll be fine. Let me treat you now.”
Miruko hops over to the makeshift operation table, not looking like she’s in pain at all. It’s unnerving. Is this how people feel when they see Izuku casually break bones? He really needs to apologize to everyone in his life.
“Give me a second, and we can go over plan B,” Miruko says to him, grinning. “Trust the process. You’re with the Miruko Agency, and we don’t lose.”
Lurkers Hero Team @LurkersOfficial • 1h
@RealEdgeshot teaching our new #UAStudentIntern Cellophane how to maneuver around our #LurkersTeam obstacle course!
[Video of Edgeshot bouncing around a tight, indoor obstacle course as Sero follows in his path, swinging from his tape. When Sero passes the camera he gives them a wave and a grin. Mt. Lady is heard cheering them on in the background.]
12.3k retweets 73 quote retweets 30.2k likes
Mt. Lady (#23🎉) @ProMountLady • 2h
heyyy twitter!! your fav pro hero baddie here with my intern for the week, Cannot Stop Twinkling 💖✨keep a look out for more bomb pics tomorrow 💋💕 #bossbabes #studentintern
[Selfie of Mt. Lady and Aoyama, both pouting and throwing up peace signs. Behind them is the set of a photoshoot. Kamui Woods is in the background, carrying Mt. Lady’s purse and Aoyama’s bag for them.]
10.2k retweets 5.6k quote retweets 90.7k likes
Laundry Hero: Wash @washinghero • 2h
Who says electricity and water don’t mix? Student Intern Chargebolt is SHOCKING everyone here at the Wash Agency! The synergy is simply ELECTRIC! We love to see future teams UNFOLD like this 🧼🧺 #NowWashMeWhip
[Picture of Kaminari, Wash, and some of Wash’s sidekicks joking around in the agency break room with an open box of pizza in front of them. Kaminari is in the middle of telling a joke and Wash is laughing so hard that soapy water sprays out of the side of his costume.]
1.3k retweets 12 quote retweets 6.7k likes
omenforcer reblogged grandswallow
megumisdogs
You Can Do It: A Motivational Deku Fanmix
[Cover image: Deku in full hero gear with his mask off, smiling and flashing a peace sign at the camera. His freckles and dimples are on full display and he’s grinning sunnily, a stark contrast to the rubble and destruction behind him. A group of apprehended villains can be seen in the corner of the photo, all safely neutralized. The playlist’s title is in small font along the bottom of the image.]
A playlist for when you need to kick ass! But also help old people cross the street and rescue kittens out of trees. Inspired by Japan’s favorite bunny-themed Hero Intern.
[Spotify] [8Tracks] [Youtube]
Tracklist:
Start a Riot —Duckwrth, Shaboozey
Brutal —Olivia Rodrigo
DNA —Kendrick Lamar
Butter —BTS
Rose Colored Boy —Paramore
...
[Read More]
34,902 notes
#YES #just what i was looking for #save #fanmix #damn deku stans all have immaculate taste
(“Is everything ready for tomorrow?”
“Everything is in place,” Kurogiri confirms.
“Excellent!” Shigaraki smiles to himself, cracking his knuckles as he looks over the map of Hosu. “Should we start our attack closer to the Miruko Agency, or in the most populated area? Which do you think will cause Midoriya Izuku the most emotional distress?”
Kurogiri considers.
“There are several UA students interning in Hosu City, are there not? Shall we find out which agencies they’re stationed at and start there?”
A slow, sickly grin spreads across Shigaraki’s face.
“Wonderful idea! Perhaps we should drop the first Nomu in Manual’s patrol route….”)
We don’t lose.
We don’t lose.
That’s basically an invitation for Izuku to fail, Miruko knows that, right? Izuku can’t stop thinking about the conviction with which Miruko said that, even with a knife in her bicep. And then— afterwards, when they were going over the next steps of the plan— the absolute faith she had that Izuku would be able to pull off his part of the operation. Izuku is floundering at best.
He lies awake in his assigned dorm at the Miruko agency, staring up at the ceiling. It’s pristine. Izuku thinks he might be the only person to ever occupy this room. He might… he might be the sole reason these dorms were built in the first place. Everything seems a little too new. Miruko doesn’t take interns. Miruko doesn’t lose. Miruko respects Izuku enough to agree to mentor him. Something isn’t adding up here.
The gap between how others see him and how Izuku sees himself has never seemed so wide.
Deku Squad (midoriya stop changing the name!!)
small might • 11:23 PM
hey guys i know its late but uh
just wanted to say that ur like
my best friends in the world and im really grateful for your friendship
i love you guys
Within seconds, Izuku’s phone is buzzing with an incoming call from Uraraka.
“Deku-kun,” Uraraka says in a low, threatening voice, “whatever dumb, reckless thing you’re about to do: stop it.”
Izuku sputters. “I—”
“I’m not kidding! Stop scaring me! I will call your mom and—”
Beep, beep.
“H-Hold on, Uraraka, I’m getting another call.”
It’s Todoroki.
“Todoroki-kun?”
“Where are you? Do you need back up?”
Izuku blinks up at the ceiling. “What? No, I don’t—”
“Whatever trouble you’re in, I can help,” Todoroki promises. “Just tell me where you are.”
“I’m at the agency right now! I was just—what, I can’t send you guys a nice text without you thinking I’m in danger?”
“... I’ve learned to plan for the worst with you.”
Izuku rolls his eyes. “I’m hanging up.”
“If Iida were still awake, he would’ve called, too.”
“Good night, Todoroki-kun.”
Izuku hands up and switches back to Uraraka’s line.
“Look, I’m—”
“Incredibly reckless and stupid? We know. Was it Todoroki or Iida on the other line? Todoroki, right?”
Izuku gapes. “... Yeah, Todoroki. How’d you know?”
“We bond over our ‘Deku is doing something stupid’ sixth sense.”
Izuku rolls over to lay on his stomach, eyes tracing the wall by his headboard. “I don’t do dumb things that often.”
“No,” Uraraka agrees, “and you’re probably the smartest one out of all of us, if you don’t count Iida’s book smarts. You’re just really reckless. And selfless. It’s a good thing, it’s just hard not to worry about you. You know this, we’ve had this conversation before.”
Izuku nods, even though she can’t see him. “Yeah. We’re probably going to have this conversation many times.”
“I know,” Uraraka says, sounding fond. “Well, if you’re not going to tell me why you’re being weirdly cryptic and sentimental at 11 at night, can you at least promise me you’ll try to be safe? And you’ll call us if you need anything? And you won’t be needlessly selfish and/or reckless?”
“Mm, no promises on that last one.”
“You’re killing me, Deku-kun.”
Izuku buries his face in his pillow. “I just… want to save everyone.”
Uraraka is quiet for a moment. “You know ‘everyone’ includes you, right?”
“Oh,” Izuku says softly. He rolls back onto his back, staring up at the ceiling once again. “Huh. I guess you’re right. Thanks, Uraraka.”
“Be safe,” she says, one last time. And then they’re wishing each other good night and hanging up.
Izuku stays up for a long time, staring up at the ceiling. That’s two nights in a row that Izuku had to have his friends check-in on him over the phone. He wonders if it’ll be like this when he’s a Pro—worrying his loved ones, hiding top secret missions from them. Is this what the rest of his life is going to be like?
Eventually, sleep takes him.
That night Izuku dreams of smoke.
It’s thick and cloying, clinging to his skin and hair and making his lungs feel heavy in his chest. He blearily peers through the haze, waving a hand in front of his face to try to clear some of it away. It’s endless. He takes a few stumbling steps forward, but the smoke is so thick he can’t even see his feet. He wanders around that way for hours until finally, there, in the distance—
A flash of a white cape. Yellow gloves.
“I hope you know what you’re doing,” says a voice. It’s familiar, but Izuku can’t quite place it.
“For Toshinori’s sake and yours, I hope you know what you’re doing, little hero.”
When Izuku wakes up, his face is wet with tears.
Deku: A Case Study in the Exploitation of Young Heroes
By Ogura Miwa, Kuse Tadao, and Kagano Kumiko for Time: Hero Edition
Unless you’ve been under a rock for the past two years, you’ve probably heard something about All Might’s Hero Intern, Deku. This young upcoming hero has gone through a lot in the public eye, from his first debut in the HPSC Provisional License registry to the waves of #DekuSighting pictures on social media to, most recently, a live streamed villain attack on UA grounds, followed right after by his assistance in saving Pro Hero Ingenium ( Rank: 84, Peak: 53), who was recently attacked by the notorious Hero Killer.
Deku has been in the news more than some seasoned Pros—including, surprisingly, outranking Pro Hero Endeavor (Rank: 2, Peak: 2) in Hero Daily’s brand ranking number of articles for the first quarter of this year.
But is all publicity good publicity?
We’ve spent the last month researching the statistics on how the media is reporting on Hero Intern Deku—who is a first-year in high school, a minor—and just how much of that reporting is factual, fair, and unbiased.
Spoiler alert: it’s not looking good.
Continue reading
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If tailing Native was boring until Stain showed up, then tailing Fearless Devil is infinitely worse.
Because it is boring. Matsui Yoshiro is, perhaps, the most boring hero Izuku has ever encountered, and for a hero fanboy like Izuku to think you’re boring, well. That says something. But Izuku would honestly love a boring patrol right now. He’s so on edge that every dull, mundane thing Fearless Devil does makes Izuku tense, expecting Stain to launch out of the shadows and kill his target before Izuku can blink.
Izuku is essentially an ultra-powerful ball of anxiety on the world’s most uninteresting patrol—but he can’t relax, because last time he relaxed ended up with two escaped criminals, a Pro Hero bleeding out, and a knife buried in Miruko’s arm. Izuku will not make that mistake twice.
“Deku, come in.”
The communicator in Izuku’s mask crackles with Miruko’s voice. Izuku pulls away from the edge of the building he was standing on, just in case his voice carries down to the street below. Fearless Devil is tying his shoe.
“Deku, here. Is everything okay?”
“Fine on my end, no sign of either of our suspects. I just wanted to check in one last time before we reach the edge of our communication zone.”
Right. Because they’re on separate tails, and Miruko is clear across the city. If something goes wrong, Izuku will have to wait for his distress call to route back to the agency, then from the agency to Miruko.
Izuku gulps. “I’m—Everything is fine, for now. We’re southbound, so—yeah. You know. No signal. Um.”
Miruko sighs, the sound coming out as more of a rush of static than a sigh. “Deku, we talked about this. You nervous?”
“Not nervous, no!” Izuku squeaks. Miruko sighs again.
“Look, I’m not going to lie to you and say everything’s going to be okay,” Miruko says. “When I agreed to take you on as an intern, I promised myself that I wouldn’t talk down to you, or try to sugarcoat anything. Things might go wrong tonight. Everything might not be okay. The only thing you can rely on is yourself. Focus on what you can do, what you can control. The rest will follow.”
Izuku is still for a moment as he watches Fearless Devil on the street below him.
“I’ll do my best,” Izuku says, quiet but firm.
“I know you will,” Miruko replies. “I wouldn’t have sent you out by yourself if I didn’t think so.”
Izuku closes his eyes briefly. Miruko’s faith has a certain weight to it, and it’s hard not to feel crushed under all of it.
“See you soon, Deku.”
“See you, Miruko.”
The line goes quiet. Izuku watches Fearless Devil bum around on the sidewalk for a couple more minutes before he starts to move again, strolling down the street and half-heartedly keeping an eye out for crime. Izuku follows, and thinks about the plan.
Yesterday, after their encounter, Miruko popped some pain pills and she and Izuku got right to work on formulating their new plan of attack. They ruled out the possibility of Stain leaving Hosu or attacking a hero outside of his usual victim type, just based on how strongly Stain stuck to his principles. With Native out of the picture, still recovering in Miruko’s agency infirmary, that left only the two previous potential victims from their list the day before: Fearless Devil and Silent Ace.
Two potential Hero Killer victims, patrolling an entire city’s length apart at the same time. With only a one-and-a-half Pro Hero team to protect them.
The only solution was to split up into separate protection details. Izuku knew that was the logical, safest thing to do. Both potential victims would be protected.
And neither Izuku or Miruko would have backup. It’s two against one, either way.
On the street below, Fearless Devil continues his meandering patrol. It’s hard for Izuku to not be frustrated with him. He’s just so oblivious. He has no idea the kind of danger he’s in, the amount of effort that’s being put into keeping him alive. Stain could show up any minute—if Izuku looks away for even a second, this man could die. If Izuku slips up and alerts Fearless Devil to his presence—or if another hero comes in and interferes—or if Stain and Toga have backup from someone else, like the League—
Izuku stops before he works himself up into a full-blown panic attack.
Focus on what you can do, Izuku repeats to himself. Have faith in your abilities. Miruko does.
Considering the stakes for this patrol, Miruko had him all decked out in top of the line stealth gear. Not that his suit from David Shield isn’t state of the art, it’s just that his Deku suit was made to match All Might: bright, flashy, durable and packed with body armor to withstand the force of Izuku’s quirk. It’s not great for sneaking around in.
Asano managed to pull together a version of Miruko’s Stealth Bunny suit for Izuku. It fits like a glove and lets him blend into the shadows of the rooftops as he hops along them, following Fearless Devil as he meanders through Hosu’s streets. There are no less than five different trackers on his suit and body, which Izuku thought was excessive until Miruko brought up his kidnapping track record. The tracker on his neck, on the inside of his suit collar, digs into his skin as he turns his head to watch Fearless Devil’s back. Izuku fights the urge to rip the tracker off. It’s sending his vitals back to the Miruko Agency, and if it can’t sense Izuku’s heartbeat at any point, every hero in a 15 kilometer radius will be notified.
Again. Overkill, but Izuku has no good arguments against it.
The sun goes down over Hosu City. The concrete cools, office buildings turn their lights off. Night settles in, unusually warm for May. Izuku melts into the shadows.
(“Kurogiri, which Nomu is the one with the tracking quirk?”
A heavy sigh. “For the last time, Tomura, all of them are capable of tracking Deku.”
“Excellent. Release them. I want Deku brought to me, alive or dead.”)
An explosion goes off.
Izuku whips his head around to see a building a couple blocks away light up with a second explosion. From his perch on the roof, Izuku can see a dark, large shape flying around the building, hitting it with more explosions. Every car on the block lights up with an emergency alarm. The building is far enough away that Izuku can’t see the people in it, but he can hear screams, the sounds of commotion as people in the building below him and around him scramble to look for the source of the explosion, to get to safety.
Izuku is tensing, getting ready to launch himself towards the ruined building to try to help, mind already on rescue strategies when—
Boom!
Another building, to Izuku’s left, is hit by one of those dark, flying masses. This one is a little closer, and in the flash of the second explosion, Izuku sees it.
A large, black beak. Two sets of tan, leathery limbs and one pair of wings. Exposed brain.
A Nomu.
All the blood freezes in Izuku’s brain. A Nomu? But it looks so different from the one that was at the USJ. Something in Izuku’s gut tells him his instinct is right, this is a Nomu. Something in his brain alarms sharply, screaming DANGER, and a second later, a third building to Izuku’s right is attacked by another Nomu.
Bad. This is so bad. Izuku is caught in the middle of three disaster sites, with the Pro he’s been assigned to protect standing frozen in fear on the street below. Fearless Devil startles when Izuku drops down next to him.
“What the—!?”
“No time,” Izuku says, “I’m Deku, I’m with the Miruko Agency. We need to get to those exploded buildings, and start evacuating the surrounding areas. Can you radio your agency to—?”
“We are not doing anything,” Fearless Devil interrupts. “You’re a kid and I’m—I’m not qualified for this. Did you see those—those fuckin’—those things flying around? We need to run, before they come for us.”
Izuku blanches. “Run? No! The least we can do is start evacuation procedures, if we make our way down this road, we can—”
But Fearless Devil isn’t listening. He’s grabbed Izuku’s elbow and is tugging him down an alleyway. “This way, there’s a shortcut to my agency. We have a safe room in the basement. We can stay there until All Might or Endeavor arrive. They’ll take care of it, we just need to stay out of the way—”
“What is wrong with you?” Izuku snaps. He jerks his arm out of Fearless Devil’s grasp. “You’re just going to leave all these people? It’s your job to help!”
“No, it’s my job to stop petty robberies and make people feel safe. I can’t fight those creatures!”
Izuku’s face twists up with disgust. Fearless Devil makes another grab for Izuku’s arm, presumably to keep dragging him through the alley to get to the safe house, but Izuku dodges him easily.
“I’m doing you a favor by offering a safe place for you!” he barks, looking down at Izuku. “You’re, what? Some kind of hero intern? Kid, the first thing you need to learn about the hero industry is that not all heroes are created equal. You and I can’t handle this. Just wait for Endeavor.”
Izuku balls his hands up into fists. He’s never wanted to punch someone so bad.
“Still think he’s worth saving?”
Izuku flinches. The quiet rasp of a familiar voice echoes down the alleyway, followed by the sound of steel blades scraping concrete. Stain emerges from the entrance of the alley, outlined in moonlight as he stalks towards Izuku and Fearless Devil slowly. A second later, his silhouette is joined by a shorter, smaller one, wielding knives. Toga.
“Who the fuck are—?”
Before Izuku can blink, Toga has thrown one of her knives at Fearless Devil. It hits him in the thigh and he goes down, yelping in pain.
“Don’t!” Izuku yells uselessly, putting himself in front of Fearless Devil. Keeping his eyes on Stain and Toga, Izuku throws over his shoulder, “Don’t pull it out, just—wait. I’ll call for help.”
Stain laughs at that.
“Call who, little hero? Everyone else has their hands full.” He waves a sword around in the air, indicating the distant sounds of panic as the Nomu’s terrorize Hosu City. “Toga and I do not associate with the League anymore, but this little attack of theirs is certainly convenient for us. No one is coming to help you, Deku.”
He’s right.
“T-Then I’ll take you down myself,” Izuku says, all fake bravado.
Behind his back, Izuku slips his phone out of his pocket. He blindly hits the lock button in a pattern he set to send out a distress call to the last person he texted, which should be Miruko. For good measure, Izuku rips off one of the trackers taking his pulse on his wrist. There. The agency will be alerted that Izuku’s heart “stopped” and someone will come to his location. He just needs to wait it out.
“You’re going to make your last stand for him?” Stain sneers. “He just tried to convince you to abandon an entire ward’s worth of people.”
“He doesn’t deserve to die!” Izuku insists.
“Neither do the people out there.” Stain nods to the exit of the alley. “Can you hear them screaming, hero? While we stand here, wasting time, more of them will die. Just let Toga and I take this one out like the trash he is, and you can go out there and rescue people.”
Izuku falters. “You… You’d just let me go?”
“We like you, Izuku-kun! Haven’t you been paying attention?” Toge pipes up.
“I already told you, little hero, you and All Might are the real deal. I have no intention of removing the only two true heroes from this world,” Stain confirms. “As long as you don’t get in my way.”
That’s too bad. Izuku has every intention of getting in Stain’s way.
“I won’t let you kill him,” Izuku says firmly, shifting into a fighting stance.
Stain narrows his eyes. “People are dying, Deku, while you defend a coward. You can save one person or hundreds. What’s one life compared to an entire city?”
Fuck. The stupid fucking trolley probelm, the only question Izuku failed on the licensing exam. But, no—this isn’t the same. Hosu City is crawling with heroes who are more than capable of running rescue, probably better than Izuku by himself can do. Right now, Izuku is the only thing standing between a man, flawed hero or not, and death. This is something only Izuku can do.
Focus on what you can do.
Izuku takes a deep breath in. When he exhales, he releases the tight hold he has on One for All.
“Holy shit,” Fearless Devil whispers.
The entire alley glows as Izuku powers up his quirk, green lighting dancing along his body. The energy rolls off him in waves, sharpening his senses and lighting up his veins with pure power. Then, like thunder following lightning, a quiet boom echoes around the enclosed space. Izuku breathes in air and exhales energy. He feels alive, electric—he grins and Stain and Toga both thake an involuntary step back.
“I won’t let you kill him,” Izuku repeats. “I won’t let you hurt anyone else. This ends here.”
Deku Squad (midoriya stop changing the name!!)
shoto :) • 9:32 PM
[missed group call from Todoroki Shouto]
Explosions happening in downtown Hosu. Iida and I were separated during patrol today, and I don’t know where he is. Haven’t heard from Midoriya since this morning. If any of you see this, please text me back.
Iida Tenya • 9:34 PM
I’m with Manual I cannot keep you all updated but we are currently working out of a makeshift triage center on Main Street stay safe my friends
uwuraka • 9:35 PM
Can’t text much either but i’m safe
Was on a train heading into hosu
Gunhead and i are evacuating civilians
shoto :) • 9:35 PM
Midoriya?
Iida Tenya • 9:35 PM
Endeavor just arrived carrying Miruko
She was caught in a blast but she took down two of those creatures
Midoriya was not with her
small might • 9:41 PM
[location sent]
shoto :) • 9:41 PM
Midoriya?
(“How have none of the Nomu found him?!” Shigaraki spits, furiously glaring out at the Hosu skyline from his perch on the roof of the Miruko Agency.
It’s empty. Miruko either cleared her staff out when the attack alarm was raised, or they predicted the League would come here looking for Deku. Either way, it was a bust. Shigaraki didn’t even get any satisfaction from decaying the fancy computer systems set up in Miruko’s office.
“Hosu is a large city,” Kurogiri attempts to placate.
“He glows green and jumps with enough force to crack concrete! How fucking hard is it to spot him?!”
Kurogiri sighs. If he had a bridge to his nose, he would be pinching it. )
KB TV —Hosu City @KBTVHosu • 8m
BREAKING: Hosu City under attack by the League of Villains. Pros in surrounding areas have been dispatched. More as the situation develops.
630 retweets 2 quote retweets 1.4k likes
safe house map in pinned @horienaoki01 • 10m
⚠ IF YOU ARE IN BLOCKS 8,10, AND 13 IN HOSU CITY: do NOT leave your homes. If you’re outside, make your way to the nearest hero agency for a safe house. Stay low and avoid crowds, the LOV seems to be targeting as many people as possible.
9.3k retweets 67 quote retweets 12k likes
(Miles away, Yagi Toshinori drifts off to sleep on the couch in his kid’s office. Exhausted from a long day of patrols without his protegé, Toshinori slips into unconsciousness like greeting an old friend. He sleeps on, oblivious to the chaos unfolding a few cities over.
Not that it would matter. All Might has reached his limit for the day. Deku will just have to manage on his own.)
Izuku grits his teeth, barely avoiding another one of Toga’s throwing knives.
They’ve only been fighting for a couple minutes, but to Izuku it felt like hours. He’s hyper aware of the space around him, senses working on overdrive to try to keep both him and Fearless Devil alive and in one piece, more or less. After getting hit with the knife earlier, Izuku managed to drag Fearless Devil so he was sitting against the wall of the alley, making it a little easier for Izuku to defend him.
“Getting tired?” Stain taunts when Izuku almost misses a knife aimed for Fearless Devil.
Izuku grits his teeth. Yes, he’s getting tired. The fight started off with Izuku nearly taking them both down at once—but Stain is slippery and Izuku is still only one person. Having to defend both himself and Fearless Devil—who has a knife in his thigh, but is thankfully still able to move—is pulling at Izuku’s focus.
He’s getting sloppy. Stain’s last blow caught the edge of Izuku’s mask, sending it flying off his face to smash against the alley wall. Not like his comms were working anyway—but now, Izuku has no way of knowing when Miruko is within his signal range again.
Just a little longer. Izuku estimates that, assuming the agency got the distress signal, Miruko or some other Pro will be here in a couple more minutes.
He just needs to hold on until then.
The problem is that Stain and Toga have obviously done their homework on Izuku since their last encounter. Izuku tries to keep the fight as long-ranged as possible, fighting back with air shots and pressurized blasts to minimize the possibility of being nicked with a knife. From his and Miruko’s research—and personal experience—Izuku knows that Stain’s quirk has something to do with blood and paralysis. Not knowing the exact parameters puts him at a disadvantage.
“Wow, you’re fast, Izuku-kun!” Toga praises, just as she lunges for his abdomen with a knife long enough to go completely through him. “So cool!”
Izuku grunts, batting her away with the same motion he uses to block Stain from stabbing at Fearless Devil. Izuku’s gauntlets are littered with deep gouges, the tough Kevlar on his gloves starting to fray with how many times Izuku has had to catch a blade with his hands. If Izuku makes it out of this, he is definitely going to invest in some kind of weapon. Maybe a baton? Or, fuck it, Izuku will take a cardboard sheild at this point—anything to catch the endless volley of sharp edges being flung at him.
“Toga, back!” Stain commands.
Immediately, Toga falls back to Stain’s side. Stain regards Izuku cooly, assessing. Izuku draws himself up, trying not to look like a cornered animal.
From the way Stain grins, he’s failed.
“I will give you one more chance,” Stain says slowly, smiling like this is a kindness. “You fight well and with conviction, little hero.”
Stain side steps, waving an arm as if ushering Izuku through a doorway. The open end of the alley is lit up with street lamps along the main road, a shining exit. Bright against the oppressive dark of the alleyway—with its brick walls extending up far past Izuku’s head, trash littering the ground, a pair of murderous hero killers giving Izuku another out.
Instead of answering, Izuku pours more power into One for All, crackling menacingly.
Stain sighs. Toga pouts in disappointment.
“Very well,” he says.
And then they’re off again.
Izuku is a blur of movement—catching Toga’s knives and using them to parry Stain’s blades, dodging swipes to his ribs, using blasts of air to deflect blades aimed for Fearless Devil. Just a couple more minutes. Izuku is doing so well and he can feel the hope surging in his chest, the idea that just maybe he can hang on long enough for Miruko to show up, and they can finish this out together—no casualties, no injuries.
Izuku almost doesn’t notice it, when it happens. The knife slides so cleanly against his cheek, almost a caress in how gentle it is. Izuku doesn’t feel it, doesn’t register it, until Toga is tossing the knife at Stain, who catches it smoothly.
A flicker of a long, sickly tongue against shining metal—and Izuku’s entire body freezes up. He drops like a rock.
“Shame,” Stain sighs out. He steps over Izuku’s prone body to get to Fearless Devil.
“No!”
Izuku flashes green with One for All, but it’s all in vain. It’s all he can do to shout. Fearless Devil doesn’t even have time to struggle before Stain cleanly plucks the knife out of his thigh and licks the blood there, paralyzing him, too.
Toga plops herself down on the pavement next to Izuku, looking down at him pityingly. “You tried your best, Izuku-kun. Better luck next time!”
She tries to pat his head consolingly. If Izuku could move, he would flinch.
“Fearless Devil,” Stain drawls, languidly unsheathing a katana, “do you know why I picked you?”
“Oh, pay attention, Izuku-kun,” Toga whispers, eyes wide and bright as she watches her mentor loom over the downed Pro. Her legs are folded neatly beneath her, hands curled into little fists on her knees, leaning forward with rapt attention.
Her smile is sharp with admiration. “This is the best part!”
“P-Please—”
“Answer the question,” Stain snaps. “Do you know why I picked you, of all the corrupt heroes in this filthy city to target?”
“I—the money? T-The tax fraud?”
“Are you aware that one of your sidekicks is living out of her car?”
Fearless Devil gulps audibly. “N-No? What’s that got to do with me?”
Stain suddenly stomps on Fearless Devil’s wound. He wails but is otherwise unable to even jerk away.
“Yes,” Stain spits, “what does that have to do with you? Hmm? Could it be that, in your alleged ‘reallocation’ of agency funds, you neglected to fully report your earnings to the HPSC? And could it be that, in response to your low earnings, the HPSC lowered the salary for your entire agency. Of course, you were taken care of, with the money you had squirreled away. But what of your sidekicks, hmm?”
Fearless Devil blinks up at Stain, face pale, eyes full of fear. “I—I didn’t—I’m so—”
“Sorry doesn’t change anything. While you and your lovely wife spent holidays somewhere warm and tropical, your very own sidekick was forced to brave the Hosu winters with only her car doors for insulation.”
“Asshole,” Toga hisses. “Fucking despicable.”
“Of course, your sidekick isn’t perfect either,” Stain continues. “In an attempt to raise her capture rates, she’s started planting evidence. Looks like your whole agency is rotten to the core. Don’t worry, she will get what’s coming to her.”
How does Stain know any of this? None of this came up when he and Miruko were doing their research. Izuku’s mind races. How much of what Stain is saying now is true?
Maybe all of it. Maybe none of it. Eitherway, Fearless Devil does not deserve to die.
“What do you think, Toga?” Stain calls out, half-turning to look at Toga and Izuku. “A quick death?”
“Slow, sensei!” Toga crows. “He doesn’t deserve a quick death.”
“I agree.” Stain tilts his head towards Izuku. “And you, Deku? What’s your vote?”
“N-No!” Izuku gurgles. His eyes well up, tears spilling over and pooling where his cheek is pressed to the pavement. “Don’t kill him!”
“That’s not an option. Would you rather it were you?”
Izuku doesn’t hesitate. “Yes!”
Toga and Stain exchange a look. Then they laugh.
“Silly, Izuku-kun!”
“As a kindness to you, I will make this fast,” Stain decides. “Remember this, little hero. You cannot save everyone. He brought this upon himself.”
Stain raises his katana. Izuku closes his eyes.
One day, after the USJ incident, Izuku spent some time with his friends.
They hang out frequently—or as frequently as being busy hero students allows them to—but each time is still a big deal to Izuku. When you grow up without any real friends, you start to hoard these little moments of companionship. Starved for positive platonic affection. Izuku can recall each and every time he’s hung out with his friends in perfect clarity, and this particular memory sticks out to him right now.
It was after school, during the second week they had to train for the Sports Festival. Hawks had just dismissed him for the day and Izuku was in a good mood. He made his way to a nearby cafe, where his friends were waiting for him outside.
Izuku remembers looking at them, before they saw him approaching. Iida, tall and broad, and Todoroki with his own brand of quiet strength radiating off him. Uraraka, flitting between the two of them, talking animatedly about something. They stood all tilted towards each other, three points of a triangle, balanced. Izuku remembers thinking that they looked like the picture perfect trio—the kind you see in books and movies. The group of hero students that save the world, the perfect balance of kind and powerful and smart.
And where does that leave Izuku?
Izuku didn’t have much time to consider that, because as soon as they noticed him, their little formation opened up. Uraraka grabbed his hand, tugging him into the cafe, trying to convince him to split a slice of cake with her. Iida gently reminded them that cake was certainly not part of their approved diets. Todoroki followed up with a soft, mischievous, “what Aizawa-sensei doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”
Warm. Izuku remembers feeling warm, crammed into a booth with his friends. He remembers knocking knees with Todoroki under the table, brushing shoulders with Iida as he gestured wildly. He remembers Uraraka starting up playful arguments with the others—remembers how all three of them turned to Izuku to settle things, as if it was natural to look to him for the final call.
When Izuku thinks back to that day, he thinks about the little things.
He thinks about Todoroki’s tiny, barely-there smile, and the quiet comments he dropped that made their whole table roar with laughter. He thinks about Uraraka’s sweet, melodic voice, and how her laugh brightened up the whole cafe. He thinks about Iida speaking so passionately he almost knocks over his drink—saved only by Izuku’s reflexes.
Izuku made a quiet promise to himself, then and there. He promised to have more days like that. He vowed that he would do anything to keep his friends safe.
(If only he knew that sentiment went both ways.)
“Stop right there!”
Amazingly, Stain does stop.
All of their attention is drawn to the mouth of the alley where, in all his stupid, reckless, gleaming glory—Iida Tenya looms, backlit by streetlights, face shrouded with rage and revenge. Cold fury rolls off of him in waves. Izuku has never seen Iida—sweet, reliable, friendly Iida—look like this. Like he could cut Stain down without a second thought. Like he would revel in the blood.
Izuku, laying on the cold concrete of the alley floor, realizes with dawning horror that the last text on his phone was not to Miruko. His distress call got sent to the group chat.
“Thank you for the text, Midoriya-kun,” Iida says, eyes glinting coldly as he assesses Stain and Toga. “I will take it from here.”
It’s enough to break Izuku’s heart—again. This is the exact opposite of what he wanted. What was the point of enlisting Miruko’s help, of tracking down Stain himself, if Iida was going to get involved anyway? Izuku lays, paralyzed on the ground, in a storm of hopeless despair. He can feel Stain and Toga shifting, perking up with interest, like sharks smelling blood in the water. Fearless Devil, who is still bleeding out, has been abandoned for fresh meat.
All of this, for nothing at all.
Still, Izuku tries.
“Iida, no! Run, go get help, don’t—!”
“For Tensei!”
The fight is over before Izuku finishes speaking. Iida charges at Stain and is immediately taken down, Stain’s katana moving in a clean arc, slicing across Iida’s chest and bringing the blade up to Stain’s waiting tongue. Iida drops like a rock, his momentum sending him skidding across the ground until he’s lying, paralyzed, two meters away from Izuku.
“You fool.”
Stain stabs his katana down into Iida’s bicep.
“Stop!”
One for All buzzes around Izuku, trapped in his own body as he struggles against Stain’s quirk to get to his friend. Izuku pours as much power into his body as he can, but it’s no use. He can’t move a muscle.
“I think it’s interesting,” Stain hisses, grinding his heel into Iida’s wound, “that you shouted ‘for Tensei’ as you attacked me, even though I had two heavily injured Pros within killing distance. But you weren’t thinking about them, were you? You were thinking about your brother.”
“I’ll kill you!” Iida grits out, face screwed up with pain. “Tensei was—”
“Tensei isn’t here. Do you know nothing about conflict resolution? Diffusing situations? I could have killed both Deku and Fearless Devil in the blink of an eye, and you’re still going on about your brother. And—isn’t Deku your friend? Your brashness and blind rage could have resulted in your friend losing his life. Does that sound like something a hero would do?”
Iida’s face blanks out. His eyes focus on Izuku’s face, both of them side-by-side on the ground.
“I….” Iida starts softly. “I didn’t think—”
“That’s the problem with you so-called heroes!” Stain spits. “You don’t think!”
Stain slides his blade out of Iida’s arm, only to stomp harshly at his elbow joint. There’s a sickening crack, and Iida screams.
“Enough, Stain!” Izuku begs. “He gets it, okay? You’ve made your point, but—he’s just a kid! He’s still training, so—”
“You two are the same age,” Stain points out. “You would not make his mistakes.”
“It’s different,” Izuku denies, trying in vain to crawl over to Iida, to throw his body in between his friend and Stain’s hovering blade. “I had All Might! I had years of training, it’s not fair to compare us. Just let him go!”
Toga sighs. “Izuku-kun, you really have to stop making excuses for people! Some people are just bad people. Some of them are beyond saving.”
Izuku looks up at Toga. She’s so young. Maybe, in another life, she would have been his upperclassman. Maybe if the world was kinder—maybe if they’d met sooner—maybe things would be different. She wouldn’t be kneeling in a dirty alleyway in a city on fire, knife poised to cut down innocent people.
“Iida isn’t a bad person, and neither are you,” Izuku says, as softly as he can. “And I don’t think you’re beyond saving.”
Toga blinks down at him, stunned. Her lower lip wobbles.
“Toga!” Stain barks.
Toga rips her gaze away from Izuku.
“To me.”
Toga moves to stand over Iida with Stain. Izuku keeps trying with One for All. Maybe he can release energy without moving his body, somehow. Maybe he can distract them long enough to buy some time. Izuku has no idea how long Stain’s quirk lasts, if he’ll be paralyzed for a few minutes, like Tensei was, or an hour. There are too many variables to consider, too many ways this could all go wrong and Izuku—Izuku can’t lose Iida. Not Iida Tenya, not his first friend. Not like this, laying helpless on a grimy alley floor as Hosu City burns around them.
“Toga,” Stain says, gesturing down to Iida’s prone body. “Remember, just like I taught you. Cut the flexor tendons first, so they can’t run.”
“Yes, sensei!” Toga nods obediently, approaching Iida’s fallen form with her knife.
“This is why you are going to die, little Ingenium,” Stain says, watching as Toga kneels, tracing the places she plans to cut with her fingers. “You are just like your brother. It’s a shame you couldn’t learn from his mistakes.”
Toga raises her blade and Izuku fights against Stain’s hold, struggling for even just a muscle twitch, a single spasm, just anything that could stop them. Izuku flickers with lightning, pouring more and more power out, alternating between concentrating it in one area and letting it wash over his whole body—his bones creak and his skin glows from within with the effort to keep that much raw energy inside a mortal form. Izuku struggles and fights and doesn’t look away from Iida, until—
For the second time that night, Izuku is saved by his friends.
A bright flash of heat flares up down the alleyway, fire lighting up the dark like a beacon of hope. Stain and Toga jump back, instinctively.
“Give us more context next time, Midoriya.”
Todoroki’s cool, steady voice comes from the end of the alleyway.
“It took us a minute to figure out what you meant. We were almost late.”
“Sorry for the delay! Don’t worry Deku-kun, we’re here now!”
Uraraka steps up next to Todoroki, with what looks like borrowed body armor strapped on over her costume. Todoroki is carrying a medical backpack. Izuku has never been so glad to see them in his entire life.
Stain shifts his attention to the two newcomers.
“Oh? More little ones playing hero. Don’t tell me—you’re here for revenge, as well?”
“Don’t let him cut you!” Izuku yells at them. “You won’t be able to move if he licks your blood!”
“Got it!”
Izuku, Iida, and Fearless Devil are huddled together in the far end of the alley, up against one side wall, a couple meters before the space between the buildings makes a sharp left and continues to connect with more alleys. Todoroki’s initial blast of fire forced Stain and Toga back and to the opposite wall, closer to the back end.
Toga narrows her eyes at Izuku’s friends. “Just how many people did you invite to this party, Izuku-kun? Do you like them more than me? Should I be jealous?”
“Yes, you should be,” Todoroki deadpans.
He stomps, sending a wave of ice from his right foot that catches Toga’s legs, freezing her to the floor by her ankles. Toga hisses. She swiftly flips her knife in the air, adjusting her grip so she can use the butt of the knife to shatter the ice around her feet.
She glares at him.
“You’re really starting to piss me off.”
“Todoroki, cover me!” Uraraka yells.
Todoroki stomps again, sending a thick ice wall down the dead center of the alley, separating Izuku from Stain and Toga. As soon as it’s up, Uraraka races towards them. She slides to a stop by Iida and Izuku’s prone bodies. Through the ice wall, Izuku can see bright flashes of fire and the glint of blades as Todoroki tries to hold off the villains.
“Gotta be quick, Todoroki can’t distract them forever. Who’s the most hurt?”
“Iida,” Izuku answers. “Try not to move his right arm. Fearless Devil—Stain’s target—has several knife wounds. I’m fine, just a scratch.”
“Don’t do this,” Iida begs. “This is my fight, don’t put yourselves in danger for—”
Both Izuku and Uraraka ignore him.
“Okay, I’m sending you back first.”
Uraraka taps Izuku’s shoulders, activating her quirk. She floats him up and then grabs him by the waist and pushes, sending him flying down the alley towards Todoroki. Todoroki catches him just as Uraraka deactivates her quirk. He sets Izuku down behind him.
Now that Izuku isn’t backed into a corner, he can see that Todoroki has arced the ice wall up and over the heads of the villains, creating an icey tunnel. To keep them trapped, he’s been icing over the open end of the tunnel, which Stain and Toga have to repeatedly slash at to break. It’s effective, but not sustainable. Already Izuku can see Todoroki shaking, his left side not enough to keep him warm enough to keep using his ice like this.
“Are you alright?” Todoroki asks him.
“I’m fine. I… thank you. For coming.”
“What else were we supposed to do when our friend sends us a location for a secluded alley during a city-wide emergency?”
Uraraka has floated Iida and is now quickly, but carefully guiding him down the alley, instead of throwing him down it like she did with Izuku. She gently sets him down with Izuku and then goes back for Fearless Devil.
“Any idea on when—ah!—you’ll be able to move again?” Todoroki asks.
“Soon, I think,” Izuku says, already feeling his fingers twitch, the thrum of One For All thundering in his veins. “Stain’s quirk is blood-based, maybe blood type from what I can guess.”
Stain breaks through Todoroki’s latest ice wall, only to be met with a hot blast of fire. He dodges and Todoroki just barely manages to trap him behind another wall as Uraraka comes back to them with Fearless Devil safely in tow.
Todoroki drops to his knees.
“Todoroki!”
“I’ll… I’ll be fine,” he huffs. “I just n-need to warm up again.”
“What’s the game plan, Deku? That ice isn’t going to hold them forever.”
Izuku tests his limbs, pleased to find that he can move them again. He shakily gets to his feet, moving to stand in front of his friends.
“Get Iida and Fearless Devil to safety. I’ll hold them back long enough for you to—”
“Bad plan, Midoriya,” Todoroki cuts in, still panting. “I’m staying with you. The two of us can fight them while Uraraka—”
“No! Todoroki is exhausted and Deku—how long have you been fighting? I can’t leave either of you. None of us can go alone, we need to stay together. Don’t forget about the things rampaging around the city!”
Crack! Stain and Toga have almost broken through the ice.
Izuku thinks. Uraraka is right. Even with her quirk, trying to get both Iida and Fearless Devil to safety while keeping a lookout for Nomus and other threats is impossible. Todoroki can’t go alone, there’s no way he can lift two people and transport them without exhausting his ice. And Izuku—forget it. Izuku is the most experienced here and the only one with a license—there’s no way he’s leaving Uraraka and Todoroki with Stain and Toga.
“Okay,” Izuku decides. “We fight, then. Together.”
“Together!”
“Todoroki, melt the ice.”
When the flames disperse, Toga and Stain stare them down from the far end of the alley. Stain eyes the protective formation Uraraka, Izuku, and Todoroki have taken up to defend their two injured party members. He gives them a sickly grin.
“How cute. You have good friends, Ingenium.”
All hell breaks loose.
Immediately, Izuku goes for Stain. He and Uraraka are close-range, but there is no way in hell that Izuku is letting Stain get within striking distance of her. Her hero suit—and Todoroki’s, for that matter—is not designed to deflect blades, even with the extra body armor. Izuku will bodily throw himself in front of Stains sword before he lets him get anywhere near them.
(He hopes he’s not jinxing himself with that thought.)
Uraraka takes on Toga and Izuku goes toe-to-toe with Stain, with Todoroki supporting the two of them from afar.
“Stop!” Iida yells, still paralyzed on the ground. “Do not sacrifice yourselves for me! It was my mistake, I should face the consequences. Please, my friends, run—”
“With all due respect,” Todoroki interrupts, sending a volley of icicles at Stain as Izuku bounces off the walls, aiming kicks to disarm him, “shut up, Iida.”
“Yeah!” Uraraka crows. “Shut up, Iida! Your fights are our fights!”
The way Todoroki, Uraraka, and Izuku fight together flows like water. If their brief team-up during the USJ attack was a trial run, their teamwork now is just downright scary.
To keep Todoroki’s line of sight clear, Izuku bounces off the alley walls above Stain’s head, dodging stabs from his katanas and landing kicks when he can. He herds his fight towards the back corner of the alley, keeping Uraraka and Toga closer to Todoroki for more support.
“Deku! Up!”
Izuku jumps, shooting up just in time for Uraraka to send an entire dumpster at Stain. She manages to catch him off guard, just with the sheer ridiculousness of using a dumpster as a projectile. Toga dodges the dumpster herself, but falls right into one of Todoroki’s ice traps. She yells in frustration, pausing long enough to break free from the ice, which allows Uraraka to get a few good hits on her.
Izuku uses a fire escape to push himself back down. He kicks at Stain, who is just emerging from behind the dumpster. Stain is quick, though, and manages to roll. Izuku’s kick hits the dumpster full force, and the metal folds like paper. Izuku dances back, hopping closer to Todoroki to regroup.
“Midoriya,” Todoroki calls. “Colorado Slope Smash?”
Izuku lights up with excitement. “Let’s do it!”
Colorado Slope Smash is a—jokingly named—combination move that Izuku and Todoroki have been workshopping for weeks. It started from the way Todoroki and Uraraka supported Izuku’s fighting during the USJ, and then just branched out from there. They’ve only recently been able to start pulling it off in training, and everytime they do it’s devastating. During last week’s two-on-twos, Izuku and Todoroki completely crushed the others.
Todoroki creates a large club of ice and hands it to Izuku. Izuku takes a few steps back, shakes out his legs, and then takes off sprinting towards Stain. Todoroki makes him an ice ramp to jump off of, and then uses his flames to distract Stain while Izuku flies over him, bringing the ice club down over Stains head with a resounding whump!
Izuku drops to the ground behind Stain and sweeps his legs out. Stain lashes out with a sword, which Izuku deflects with his steel-toed boot. Izuku is about to go in for the knock-out hit when Toga, noticing her master is in trouble, abandons her fight with Uraraka and throws herself at Izuku.
“Deku!”
Izuku and Toga roll. Toga leaps to her feet and swipes at him, cutting his costume across his chest but not drawing blood.
“Leave sensei alone!”
“Toga—Toga, stop! It’s not worth it, just stop!”
“You don’t understand!” Toga screeches, swinging wildly with her knife. “You don’t know what it’s like to—to love someone so much it hurts! To love someone so much you want to become them!”
“I do,” Izuku says, catching her knife between his gloved hands. “I just used that love to motivate me to become a better version of myself. You can’t try to be the people you admire—that’s not living.”
She pauses for a moment.
Izuku hesitates.
Then, she lashes out and rakes her nails over his cheek, drawing blood.
“No! Only Stain-sensei understands. You—you all think I’m a freak. I’m normal! Sensei says I’m normal.”
“Midoriya, left!”
Without thinking, Izuku throws himself to the left. Todoroki throws up a fire wall between him and Toga. Izuku regroups just in time to see Stain raising a blade in Uraraka’s direction. Izuku closes the space between them in an instant, kicking the blade off course enough for Uraraka to scramble back.
Crap. It’s all going so fast.
Izuku and his friends wordlessly close ranks, falling back into their defensive stance together to take a breather. Todoroki’s fire wall has gone out, allowing Toga to slink back over to Stain’s side.
“Iida?” Uraraka calls out. “Can you move yet?”
“Yes, but—” Izuku looks over his shoulder. Iida’s arm is definitely broken. There’s no way he can get both himself and Fearless Devil out of here. “I’m so sorry. This is all my fault.”
“We can process our emotions later,” Uraraka says. “For now—”
They leap back into action.
The next few minutes are a blur. Izuku laser focuses on matching Stain blow-for-blow, not giving him time to target anyone but Izuku himself. His brain goes into overdrive, trying to figure out a way to end the fight. Izuku and his friends can’t go on indefinitely. Something’s bound to give sooner or later, and Izuku can’t have it be them.
Miruko said it herself. We don’t lose.
These three people are too precious to Izuku for him to even consider losing. They’re going to walk away from this together. Izuku refuses to think about any other outcome.
“Todoroki, Deku!” Uraraka calls. “Take cover!”
Todoroki creates a mini overhang out of ice, which Izuku quickly dashes under. Uraraka stays where she is. She calmly brings her hands together.
“What is she—? Oh.”
Izuku follows Todoroki’s gaze up. Hovering above Stain and Toga’s heads is a cloud of steel, discarded throwing knives and dropped swords that Uraraka has been tagging during the fight, along with several large, sharp shards of Todoroki’s ice.
Izuku grins. Uraraka is brilliant.
“Eat shit,” Uraraka says, smiling sweetly.
She brings her fingertips together, releasing her quirk to rain hell down on the two villains. Stain contorts himself to dodge, zipping around to try to avoid the projectiles. Toga gets hit in the arm with one of her own knives, and then gets bonked over the head with a chunk of ice. As soon as she’s down, Todoroki sends out more ice to freeze her in place, pinning her hands so she can’t break free.
Toga has been restrained. Stain is running out of blades. Neither Uraraka or Todoroki are heavily injured.
Izuku takes a deep breath. They might just win this.
Which is, of course, when things go from bad to worse.
Izuku wants to know what he did wrong in a past life to warrant the universe throwing a whole Nomu at him—literally—while he’s trying to fight off a serial killer.
Izuku’s senses flash white-hot. He barely has time to tackle his friends to the floor, sensing the incoming danger, before the Nomu crashes down into the building making up one wall of the alleyway.
“Midoriya!”
“Are you guys okay?!”
“What is that?”
Izuku and his friends have managed to squish themselves into a corner with Fearless Devil. Todoroki instinctively iced them into a dome, but the ice is clear enough to see the hulking figure of the Nomu shake itself off and look around. It launches itself across the street, tearing through another building with its large, mutated hands, seemingly searching for something.
Nomus. League of Villains. Izuku’s heart sinks into his stomach. It’s probably looking for him.
“It’s… it’s like the thing from the USJ,” Uraraka whispers, horrified.
One of the buildings making up the alley is half destroyed, the lower half facing the street now reduced to rubble and a couple support pillars. It’s thankfully empty, but Izuku still itches to make sure. The Nomu managed to clip Stain in its descent. Izuku can see him shifting a pile of rubble off of himself. Toga is still safely secured by Todoroki’s ice, farther down the alley.
Across the street, the Nomu continues to tear into buildings. Someone screams. Izuku stands, automatically moving to the source of the noise. There are people in some of the buildings, civilians, Izuku needs to help—
He hesitates.
“Go,” Todoroki says, reading his mind. “We can handle Stain.”
Izuku eyes Iida warily.
“I will not make the same mistake twice,” Iida promises him. “You—Midoriya-kun, you’re needed elsewhere. You can trust us to finish this fight.”
Izuku nearly loses his mind. “No. Not you, Iida, you can’t—”
“I won’t lift a finger. But I can offer Todoroki and Uraraka support from here, as well as defend Fearless Devil if needed. Trust me, Midoriya.”
“We got this Deku-kun! We almost had him earlier!”
Izuku closes his eyes for a second, before pulling each of his friends into a quick, tight hug.
“Be safe,” Izuku begs.
“You, too,” Todoroki squeezes his shoulder. “Ready?”
Izuku nods.
Todoroki melts the wall of the ice dome enough for Izuku to break free, shattering the ice with a powerful kick. He’s off like a shot, speeding right past a dazed-looking Stain, out into the street.
The Nomu tears into another building. Bad luck. It just happened to be a safe house. One of the walls of the building is peeled away to reveal a crowd of about 30 people, probably the residents of the building who had all decided to hide together for safety. The Nomu looms over them, and the crowd erupts into panicked screams.
Izuku dashes forward and plants himself in between them and the Nomu, cracking the ground even more and sending a spray of debris into the Nomu’s eyes, forcing it to back up.
“H-Hey!” he shouts.
The Nomu blinks. It’s different from the one that was at the USJ. This one has a set of leathery wings and a metal gas-mask like lower jaw instead of a beak. It has molted, sickly yellow skin and bird-like feet. Its talons dig into the concrete, breaking it up in big chunks as it pivots to face Izuku fully, tilting its head and making a series of unsettling clicking noises, like some kind of raptor. Izuku’s instincts scream at him to run—there’s something ungodly, something horrifically unnatural about this creature.
There’s no point in communicating, but Izuku tries anyway.
“Stay back!”
A low, menacing growl erupts from the Nomu. Izuku flinches.
The Nomu lashes out with a wing, swiping the clawed tips of it at Izuku’s throat. Izuku lets his instincts take over. He dodges, dropping into a low crouch. The Nomu misses. Izuku pounces, crackling with power as he aims a charged kick at the Nomu’s chest.
The hit lands, causing the Nomu to stumble back a few feet. It grabs for Izuku with its arms this time, aiming to crush Izuku to its chest. Izuku dances out of the way quickly, hopping back. The key is to be light on his feet. They’re out in the open, which means Izuku doesn’t have much to bounce off of. The crumbling structure of the wrecked safehouse is too dangerous to try using in this fight. Izuku needs to try to steer the Nomu close to the middle of the street, where he will be able to let loose his more powerful attacks without worrying about anyone getting caught in the crossfire.
“The building isn’t stable,” he calls at the crowd, over his shoulder. “Try to get out! Move down the street, there’s an agency if you turn—”
Wham!
The Nomu lashes out with its wings again, this time catching Izuku’s ankles. Izuku rolls backwards and out of the way of the Nomu’s second strike, which cracks the concrete where he was just standing.
Izuku doesn’t dare look back to see if the crowd is following his instructions. He needs to focus on this fight. He estimates that he can take one, maybe two hits if he braces with One For All, before he’s done. The Nomu is strong, and Izuku has already taken a couple slices from Stain earlier.
“Over here!”
Izuku bounces away from the crowd, baiting the Nomu into following. He’s careful, immediately jumping away as soon as he sees the Nomu moving to strike. Izuku manages to get a few solid kicks in. He tries not to be discouraged when it seems like the hits don’t even phase the creature, no matter how much of One For All he’s pouring into his attacks.
He briefly dashes past the alley where his friends are fighting Stain. He can’t see much, but it sounds like they’re holding their own. With Toga out, Izuku hopes Stain is distracted enough for Uraraka and Todoroki to hold out at least until Izuku figures out what to do with the Nomu.
Izuku has pushed the Nomu far enough away from the crowd and the surrounding buildings to start using Air Force. Izuku lands a solid kick on the Nomu’s shoulder and uses it to push off, flipping so he lands on an overturned car. He kneels, dropping his center of gravity, and braces his arms.
Delaware Smash: Air Force. 20%.
Pressure erupts from Izuku’s hand, shredding his support glove instantly. The blast ripples out and sends compressed air that tears through the thin skin of one of the Nomu’s wings. It howls. Izuku blanches. He’s never used it at 20% before and never at close range.
He’s only able to be shocked at his own power for a second before the Nomu uses its legs to launch itself at Izuku, its injured wing curled in and tucked tight against its body.
Izuku braces with One For All, but the Nomu still knocks him off his feet, sending him flying down the street. He skids against the pavement, his costume scuffing and tearing . He rolls until he hits a parked car, setting off its alarm.
The alarm blares as Izuku shakily pushes himself up on his elbows, looking up just in time to see the Nomu swinging at him again.
This time, Izuku doesn’t have time to brace. The Nomu hits him with enough force to send him flying again, but this time he hits the side of the ruined safe house with a resounding crack! He slides down the side, sitting propped up against the wall as he tries hard not to cry. Izuku may have an insanely high pain tolerance, but he’s pretty sure he just cracked a rib.
To buy himself time, he raises his arms and aims another Air Force blast at the Nomu. It hits the Nomu square in the chest and sends it crashing back down the street, crushing several cars and parking meters in the process. 20 meters down the street it clips a fire hydrant, which erupts into a geyser of water. Izuku doesn’t even want to think about how much property damage he’s just caused.
Izuku shifts to get his feet under him, and almost immediately crumples back down. It hurts.
He hisses a breath out, clenching his jaw. It won’t hurt like this forever. The adrenaline will kick in, he’ll get used to the pain. Help will come. He just needs to power through long enough to keep the Nomu occupied—and hope he doesn’t puncture a lung while fighting.
“D-Deku-san?”
Izuku whips his head to the side. There, still huddled in the remains of the safe house, is the civilian crowd that Izuku instructed to run away.
“I—” Izuku coughs. He wipes the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand and smiles at the civilian that called his name, a little girl. He hopes his teeth aren’t coated in blood. “I’m fine. Everything’s going to be alright.”
The girl—and the other civilians in the shelter—stare at him, wide-eyed. Izuku casts a nervous glance down the street, where the Nomu is still struggling to get out from under the cars piled on it from its tumble.
“I need you to be brave,” Izuku says in a rush. He gets to his feet, hiding a wince. “I’m gonna need all of you to be brave, o-okay? I need to fight that thing and I can’t do it with you all here.”
“No way are we going out there,” someone in the crowd says. “T-That thing will plow us down in a second!”
“I’ll make sure it won’t,” Izuku says. He glances over his shoulder. “Please, you need to hurry.”
“It just crushed you,” someone else says, their voice high with hysteria. “No! We’ll just hide out here!”
“I can’t protect you here!” Izuku struggles not to lose his patience. Any second now the Nomu will be back for round two, and Izuku honestly doesn’t know how many Air Forces he has left in him. It’s a miracle his hand isn’t broken.
“Guys, just listen to him! He’s a hero!”
“Intern! I’ve seen you on the news, you’re just an intern, how can you—?!”
“Just do what he says, dumbass! I don’t wanna die!”
“He’s a kid—”
“Yeah, but I have a license,” Izuku snaps. “I’m the most qualified person to deal with this situation, so please just do as I say so we don’t all end up smeared on the road by that thing out there!”
Silence. One of the younger kids in the crowd starts to cry.
Izuku flushes. He should know better than to speak to civilians this way but—he’s frustrated, and hurt, and his friends are fighting a serial killer and—
“Deku! Look out!”
Izuku dodges, stumbling to the side just before the Nomu crashes into him. Crap! He wasn’t paying enough attention. Izuku ignores the flare of pain in his ribs and picks up a concrete pillar, swinging it like a bat to push the Nomu away from the civilians. He puts too much power into the swing and manages to catch himself in it, knocking his forehead against the concrete. It flies from his grip and crashes into the side of a nearby building.
Shit. Blood pours into his eye from a cut on his forehead. He’s getting sloppy. He’s in pain and he’s been using his quirk for too long.
The Nomu stumbles to its feet. Izuku is pleased to see it’s at least bleeding, and still has its injured wing folded up. It doesn’t seem like it can regenerate or absorb shock, like the Nomu from the USJ. If it can be injured, Izuku can win. He just needs to outlast it.
Izuku plants his feet, standing squarely in front of the shelter. He can’t move much without hurting himself, so his best chance is to brace himself here and try to push the Nomu back with his Air Force blasts.
“Sneak around the side,” Izuku throws over his shoulder. “I’ll keep it distracted. Stay close to the edges of the buildings. Turn left at the end of the block and keep going until you get to Monarch’s agency. It’s got a big sign, you can’t miss it.”
There’s some low murmuring. From the corner of his eye, Izuku can see some people inching their way to the side of the building.
Izuku fires off two more Air Force blasts. He blasts the Nomu back, it shakes itself off and advances towards him again, Izuku blasts it back. Rinse and repeat twice, until the Nomu gets used to the pattern. Then, it picks up a nearby crushed car and throws it at him.
Izuku can’t dodge. The car will flatten the civilians behind him.
Izuku powers up and catches the car—but at a cost. He concentrates on using One for All to brace his ribs and arms, catching the force of the car with his legs.
Snap.
Izuku screams as something in his left leg gives, sending him crashing to the ground with a sickening crack. The car tumbles off to the side. Deliriously, all Izuku can think is, at least it’s not an arm this time.
He giggles. He is so fucked.
From the ground, Izuku picks up a baseball-sized hunk of concrete and uses One for All to throw it. By pure dumb luck, it bonks the Nomu in its stupid, exposed brain. The Nomu screeches and stumbles back, blinking as blood pours down its face.
Crap. It’s not looking good for him.
Izuku takes this time to use a nearby piece of wood as a make-shift splint. He quickly tears strips off his costume, haphazardly securing his leg to the board. Then, he gets to his feet, using a piece of pipe as a crutch. Izuku looks towards the Nomu and squares his shoulders.
If he’s going down, he’s gonna go down swinging.
The Nomu shakes its head, also shaking out its remaining functional wing. It roars, digging its talons into the ground as it prepares to launch itself at Izuku again. Half of the crowd of civilians are still in the shelter behind him, the other half still sneaking away within eye-sight. Shaking, he raises his hands up to fire one last Air Force blast at it.
The Nomu launches into motion—only to be caught mid-jump by a blur of red.
The Nomu is dead before it hits the ground. One of Stain’s katanas is buried in its head up to the hilt. Stain himself stands on its chest, wheezing. He’s lost all his weapons, and just generally looks rough. He’s holding his hand against his side and gasping. If Izuku had to guess, he’d say he’s broken some ribs. How ironic, so has Izuku. Twinsies.
“Do you see now, Deku?” Stain pants.
“...What?”
“Hero society… is corrupt.”
Izuku blinks dumbly. He points at the downed Nomu. “That’s not a hero. That thing is from the League of Villains.”
“The League is only a product of hero society,” Stain preaches. He gingerly gets down from atop the Nomu, stumbling as his feet hit the ground. He limps closer to Izuku and the civilians. Izuku lights up with One for All, more for show than anything else really.
“S-Stay back!”
“You still defend them? Look at what a beating you’ve taken on their behalf, and even still you would lay down your life for them. Even as you bleed, they just stand and watch. Some of them are filming! And, tomorrow? If you die, they’ll turn you into a martyr for their own agenda and if you live, they’ll criticize you!”
Izuku glances over his shoulder. It’s true, some of them have their phones out.
“You shouldn’t even be here in the first place,” Stain continues. “What kind of a world do we live in where a child is expected to lay down his life for strangers. The adults in your life should have stopped you before this point, Deku. Midoriya.”
“And what—” Izuku swallows hard. “What do you think I should have done? Sat back and watched people get hurt?”
Stain tilts his head. He chuckles lowly.
“No, I don’t suppose you’re capable of that are you? A true hero, through and through. It’s a shame you are so naive, so blind to your situation. These people don’t care about you, little hero. The people at the HPSC don’t care, the teachers at your precious hero school do not care about you. They care about the numbers and the money and the blood—but they don’t care about you. You can’t see it but—”
“Shut up!” Izuku snaps. “Just shut the hell up! I am so tired of people talking down to me.”
“You defend them so doggedly. None of them are here to help you, and yet you remain blindly loyal. I suppose every great hero has a fatal flaw.”
“I’m not blindly loyal! I’m not a hero because I think everything's sunshine and rainbows with the HPSC, and I’m tired of everyone pretending I don’t know what I’m doing! I knew what I signed up for when I applied for my provisional license. I made my choice and I don’t need you of all people to try to tell me what to do with my life, you psychopath!”
Izuku pants, shaking with the effort it took to yell. He doesn’t get angry often but, god, when he does—he’s a forest fire.
Stain narrows his eyes.
“This world isn’t fair. You don’t know what it’s like outside your comfortable little hero bubble, out in the real world.”
Izuku throws his head back and laughs hysterically.
“You think I don’t know that?!” He gasps, tears welling up in his eyes as he giggles. “You think I don’t know that everyone isn’t created equal?! Me?!”
Stain stares. He looks unnerved.
“Since you think you know me so well,” Izuku starts, “why don’t you tell me what I was like as a kid? What do you think middle school was like for me? You don’t know anything about me. You’re just as bad as them! You’ve seen me with All Might on the news, you’ve tried to kill me a couple times, but you don’t know me.”
Izuku tips his face up to the sky, his eyes slipping closed for a moment. The humor drops from his face as he opens them again, fixing Stain with his coldest glare.
“I was quirkless—” Izuku catches himself. “—up until I was 15. I only had my mom and my neighbor as friends. School was hell—the bullying, the suicide-bating, even the teachers treated me like trash. If I wasn’t being actively harassed, I was isolated, excluded from things with the excuse that the quirkless kid was too delicate to play with the other kids.
“And then I became a hero! My quirk manifested and I got my license and everything was supposed to go up from there—but you’re right! The HPSC and hero society and the media—it’s all poisoned. I’m so anxious all the time. Everything I do or say gets blown up and you know what? I’m one of the lucky ones!”
Stain watches him wearily. “Deku—”
“Don’t interrupt me!” Izuku bites, half-feral with rage. “You got to give your whole anti-hero manifesto and now it’s my turn.”
Stain quiets down.
“I’m lucky, because I have All Might to look after me. And Hawks, and Miruko—Aizawa-sensei, too. You’re wrong. They care about me and, more than that, they want to fix things and they’re actually doing something!
“What do you do?” Izuku asks, laying into Stain. “Huh? Hide in the shadows, kill people for not being perfect? Indoctrinate young kids into your fucked up way of thinking? How can you say that hero society is too violent, too superficial when you’re literally killing people for the stupidest of reasons?”
The more Izuku gets worked up, the more his quirk leaks out. He’s crackling with energy, green lightning dancing along his skin. Izuku leans forward and Stain flinches, stumbling backwards with his hand still pressed to his broken ribs.
“I’m so lucky,” Izuku says, “and most people aren’t. How is it that someone can leave their job as an accountant to become a vigilante—to help people who were being ignored by heroes—and when he got arrested, his only options were villain rehab or jail? And how is it that mutant quirks are statistically underrepresented in hero schools, even though they’re just as useful to hero work as anyone else? And—why does anyone have to be useful to have value?!”
“I… Are you saying I’m… right?”
“Yes!” Izuku laughs maniacally. “You’re right! The world sucks—but you know what? The answer isn’t murder! It’s not all bad and it’s not all good. And maybe they,” Izuku gestures to the recording crowd behind them, “will tear me to shreds in the media tomorrow, but I will defend their right to do it to the death.”
Stain sways on his feet. He looks at Izuku, resigned.
“So be it.”
He reaches down to his boot and slides out one last knife, advancing on Izuku. Izuku tries to shift his weight into a defensive stance.
Stain stops. He drops his knife.
“Perhaps,” he wheezes out, “I was wrong.”
And then he just—stops. Stain freezes just like that, standing up. Izuku tenses, waiting for a surprise attack.
“I think… he passed out?” Someone in the crowd murmurs.
Izuku’s shoulders drop. He turns his quirk off. It’s over. He needs to check on his friends, still in the alleyway, and then get the civilians to safety. He hopes Fearless Devil hasn’t bled to death by now. He hopes Toga is alright and he hopes that he can do all of this without somehow jostling Stain back into consciousness, because Izuku is in no shape for round 3. Izuku blinks hard to clear the spots from his vision. Just a little longer, he just needs to hang on for a little longer before help arrives—
“Stand down, Deku!” a voice booms. “I will handle it from here!”
Izuku turns, dead-eyed, to see Endeavor in all his stupid, firey, twenty-minutes-late glory, arriving on the scene.
Izuku sighs. “Of all the Pros available, did it have to be you?”
And then he passes out.
(“No, no, no!”
Shigaraki rages, pulling at his own hair. He lashes out and disintegrates a nearby pipe, and then the corner of the rooftop they’re perched on.
Kurogiri surveys the scene below them with a sort of unsurprised resignation. Of course Deku managed to defeat Stain and cost them several Nomu, just by virtue of being hard to find. Of course.
“Another one!” Shigaraki commands. “This level isn’t over yet! Kurogiri, release another—”
“There aren’t any more.”
“That can’t be—”
“The rest were taken down by Pros in other parts of the city. That was the last one.”
And even if it wasn’t, Kurogiri doesn’t think sending another Nomu after Deku would work. The kid is already unconscious with Endeavor and his whole entourage surrounding him. Additionally, he’s too heavily injured to capture without killing him— and All for One insisted Deku be taken in alive. Not to mention the UA students in the alley across the street, who have started making their way to Deku’s prone body. No, there isn’t much else the League can do at this point.
“Argh!”
Wonderful. In the midst of his tantrum, Shigaraki has managed to decay one of their henchmen.
“We’ll engineer a better Nomu,” Shigaraki decides. “One with better quirks. Deku won’t get away next time, I’ll make sure of it.”
“Of course,” Kurogiri humors him. “For now, we best get back home before we’re spotted.”
One day, perhaps, Shigaraki will learn that he can’t throw Nomus at all of his problems.)
Japan Trends
1 • Trending
Hosu City
2 • Trending
Deku
Trending with DEKUS SPEECH, Intern Deku, deku video
3 • Trending
League of Villains
4 • Trending
#ProHeroDeku
Related: Deku, #DekuDebut, #NextGenAllMight
5 • Trending
#StandWithHosu
Prime Minister Machida ✓ @JPN_PMO • 3h
Now, that’s a real hero. #ProHeroDeku
[Video of Deku’s entire speech to Stain. The video ends just as Endeavor is arriving on the scene.]
24.5k retweets 12k quote retweets 145.3k likes
Hero Intern vs. Hero Killer: Deku Takes Down Notorious Villain in Viral Clip
By Mura Madoka for Hero Times Japan
Published 5 hours ago
Thursday, May 28, 20XX—Hosu City was catapulted into chaos late Thursday night when a swarm of quirked creatures, now claimed by the League of Villains, attacked the city. But amongst the chaos, a smaller but no less important battle was being waged.
Hero Intern Deku (unranked) faced off against the notorious Hero Killer: Stain. Stain has been terrorizing the hero community for years, with his attacks slowly ramping up in frequency and severity in the last couple of months. Just two weeks ago, Deku bore witness to the Hero Killer’s attack on Ingenium (Rank: 84, Peak: 53), an attack that left Ingenium paralyzed from the waist down and shook Hosu City to its core.
Despite the tragedy, Deku emerged from his most recent encounter with Stain victorious.
Not much is known about the fight itself, as the police and the Miruko Agency have decided to keep a tight lock down on any information pertaining to Intern Deku (for safety of a minor reasons, among others)—but what is known is how the fight ended. The full footage of Intern Deku’s final stand against Stain is available online, from multiple points of view, all filmed by various brave souls in a crowd of civilians that Deku was protecting.
Following his arrest, Stain (full name: Akaguro Chizome) has been detained in an undisclosed Tartarus Prison offshoot campus to await trial. The Mighty Agency has released a statement to inform the public that Deku is being treated at Hosu General and is expected to make a full recovery by the end of the weekend.
When the Hero Killer first emerged into the public eye, the HPSC officially ranked him as an S level threat. Whether Deku’s arrest will be solely accredited to him, or split between the Miruko and Endeavor agencies is yet to be determined. What’s clear from the footage is that no matter how it goes down on paper—this was Deku’s sole victory.
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[1,462 Comments]
stream permission to dance @spookytulip • 10h
“did it have to be you” LMAOOOO DEKU YOU LEGEND
10.2k retweets 903 quote retweets 24.1k likes
Kyo | follow limit @crowncoffee • 2h
y’all i’m freaking out.. i was in the crowd that deku saved and i filmed the whole thing and uploaded it on youtube for like?? idk proof that deku was defending us bc i know how the media is
ANYWAY i just woke up and my video has 12 MILLION VIEWS???
126 retweets 3 quote retweets 394 likes
replying to @crowncoffee
maki rights! @downwithzeninclan • 2h
Holy shit. I was there too! I think we might have seen each other? I also uploaded a video of the speech (it’s my pinned tweet) and it got? 2 M views on twitter within the hour? News stations are asking for permission to use my footage and I don’t really know what to do?
2 retweets 6 likes
replying to @downwithzeninclan
Kyo | follow limit @crowncoffee • 2h
omg !! DM me we should start a support group! my brother (who was with me) said that there’s a whole collection of videos of the speech from different perspectives on reddit… it’s kinda crazy
0 retweets 1 like
Mari (she/they) @darling hurricane • 12h
Deku calling out quirkless discrimination and quirk-based prejudice just means SO MUCH. I’m quirkless. Do you know how many police officers/teachers/even some HEROES have ignored me when I tried to report things? Or treated me like I was helpless? Hearing the arguably most popular upcoming hero talk about his own quirkless experiences is just so important #ProHeroDeku
20.3k retweets 2.3k quote retweets 65.4k likes
—
r/legaladvice
↑↓ 2.4k
Posted by u/radioactivepigeon
I’m (16M) being sued for defamation?
… or slander or libel or whatever the fuck. I won’t put names because my mom said it could get me in even WORSE trouble (as if that’s possible) but I’ll try to explain.
A big hero agency (think HUGE) sent me a letter informing me that they’re gonna take legal action against me for things I posted here on reddit (in r/HeroFail and r/AskReddit) and also some stuff from twitter. At the time I thought what I was posting fell under publicly available information. It was just some old pictures of someone who is now REALLY well known, and I was also maaayyyybeeee saying some stuff about what he was like as a kid, and maybe some of it wasn’t super accurate.
Can they sue me for that? I mean, yeah I might have said some less-than-great things, but it’s not like I was harassing him? Or spreading TOTAL lies?
TL;DR: I talked shit about a celebrity and now I’m being sued by one of the biggest agencies in the country. What do I do?
Comments
↑↓ royalokapi 2.7k points
OP you should have made a throwaway account, or AT LEAST deleted your posts… I see that you posted pictures of Deku in primary and junior high, some of which look like they were taken to make fun of him.
I also checked out your twitter (same user, bro, really?) and… dude, you know it’s fucked up to tell people to unalive themselves, right? Like, even if you think @ing a celeb means they’ll never see it, it’s still pretty bad. Also, posting his old address? When he was JUST kidnapped by villains? Fucked. Up.
Not to mention that quirkless discrimination is starting to be talked about more after Deku’s speech. You better hope your trial goes through BEFORE the government passes legislation making quirkless discrimination a hate crime, otherwise you’re in for a painful time, buddy.
Yeah, I don’t know what to tell you. Don’t bother paying too much for a lawyer, because there’s no way you’re gonna win this case.
(If you don’t wanna look at OP’s other posts, the pics I’m talking about have Midoriya with trash being thrown at him, rude things written on his desk, etc. I’d like to discourage anyone from saving or spreading these, even to report them. Poor kid was obviously being brutally bullied.)
↑↓ caterpixie 273 points
LMFAOOOO you tried to slander deku didnt you
↑↓ wincubus 62 points
I heard the Mighty Agency is cracking down on that kinda stuff
↑↓ artisticpygmy 23 points
Yeah, I just saw like 5 other posts on this subreddit asking for help and it all seems like it’s from the Might Agency LOL
↑↓ 🎤 radioactivepigeon 3 points
Other people are going through this too? Do you think we could like band together or something? Is that what a class action lawsuit is?
↑↓ artisticpygmy 2 points
Oh OP no… I almost feel sorry for you.
Aldera Junior High Under Investigation
By Murakami Toshiaki for Musutafu Times
Aldera Junior High is suspending operations over the break to conduct a series of investigations, both internal and by the Musutafu Junior High School District. The catalyst for these investigations was a seemingly off-hand statement made by Hero Intern Deku in the now viral video of Deku defending a group of civilians from the Hero Killer Stain.
Deku’s comment about his junior high’s role in his experience with discrimination has inspired other Aldera alum to come forward with their own stories of neglect and abuse that were either ignored by or actively encouraged by staff. Over the past few days, it’s come to light just how many reports against Aldera have been buried over the years.
The investigations are still ongoing, but it’s clear that this local event has sparked somewhat of a movement all over the country. Reports are coming in from Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and more of quirkless citizens coming forward to report their schools for quirkless discrimination. There have also been whispers of a movement in Deku’s name to push for legislation that would require schools to protect quirkless students, similar to the laws that protect students with morphological quirks from being discriminated against.
Deku could not be reached for comment, as he is still in the hospital recovering from his injuries, but one thing’s for sure—in one night, he’s made waves that’ll be felt throughout Japan.
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Izuku opens his eyes to a familiar sight: the ceiling of a hospital room.
He bolts upright.
“Stain!” he gasps, looking around wildly. “Iida, Todoroki, Uraraka—Someone—”
“Shh,” his mom hushes him. She moves slowly, making sure Izuku can see her hands and avoiding sudden, jerky movements. She places her hand over his, smoothing out Izuku’s death grip on the sheets.
“It’s alright, Izuku,” she says. “You’re safe now.”
(And, really, isn’t it heartbreaking just how many times Inko has had to reassure her son of that? She isn’t even entirely sure that it’s the truth anymore.)
“W-Where are my friends? They were fighting Stain and then—Stain took out the Nomu—but I didn’t see them—”
“Midoriya,” Todoroki says, “please breathe.”
Izuku whips his head to the side. There in the hospital bed next to him, is Todoroki. He looks… fine. A bandage here and there, but safe and in one piece.
“If you faint again, that will be three times in the past two weeks that you’re passed out in front of me. I’m beginning to think I’m cursed.”
Tears spring to Izuku’s eyes. “Todoroki-kun.”
Todoroki frowns. “Please don’t cry. That was a joke.”
“Not a very good one,” Uraraka quips. She’s in the hospital bed across the room from him.
“Now, now, let’s not be mean,” Iida says, “Todoroki-kun’s sense of humor is simply… complex.” Iida completes the set, occupying the fourth bed in the room. His arm is in a cast.
Uraraka snorts. “Yeah, complexly bad.”
Todoroki sniffs, mock offended. “Midoriya always laughs at my jokes.”
“Deku-kun laughs at everyone’s jokes.”
“Guys,” Izuku gasps, tears streaming down his face, his mom’s hand gripped tight in his own, “guys, please. What’s going on? Is everyone—everyone’s okay? We’re all fine?”
Uraraka hops off her hospital bed and pads across the room to Izuku’s bedside.
“Iida’s arm is broken, but we’re all fine,” she says, patting his shoulder reassuringly. Iida and Todoroki also congregate at Izuku’s bedside. Iida passes him a box of tissues.
“You were unconscious for 12 hours,” Iida informs him. “You had two cracked ribs and a fractured leg, as well as some minor scrapes and bruises. We were… worried, but the doctors said that you will make a full recovery, thankfully.”
Izuku looks down at himself. Yup, bandaged chest, leg in a cast—everything checks out.
“What happened after I left you guys?”
“We kept Stain busy,” Uraraka says, “and Toga was still restrained, thanks to Todoroki. Iida stopped Fearless Devil from bleeding out—he’s fine, by the way. He’s also in the hero ward so if you wanna go see him, you can. Um, then, uh—”
“Stain slipped past us and killed the Nomu,” Todoroki finishes. “Then you two yelled at each other and then both of you fainted. After that, Endeavor and the other Pros showed up and took us all to the hospital.”
“Oh, Endeavor. Right.”
Todoroki’s mouth twists into a scowl. “He’s trying to take credit for Stain’s arrest.”
Uraraka snorts. “Like he’ll get it, with all the video evidence.”
Izuku’s stomach sinks. “Video evidence?”
The others exchange looks. Inko sighs, smoothing some of Izuku’s curls back from his forehead.
“Izuku, how much of the fight do you remember?”
“I remember everything I said to Stain, if that’s what you’re asking.” Izuku gulps. “I remember the, uh, civilians recording me?”
Inko nods. “Right. Well, you’ve gone viral, sweetheart. Again.”
Izuku groans. He flops back in his bed, closing his eyes. “How bad is it?”
Silence. Izuku mentally kisses his hero career goodbye.
“Honestly… it’s kind of early to call it, but I think you might be a legend, Deku-kun.”
Izuku cracks one eye open. “What?”
“The class group chat has been going crazy. Everyone’s sending links to articles and stuff like that—translations even made international news. It’s pretty positive! I saved some of my favorites to show you, but I’m sure your media team will give you a full breakdown. It’s… incredible. You’re inspiring people!”
Izuku blinks. He looks to Todoroki and Iida, who nod in agreement.
“I, um,” Izuku says intelligently. “Me? Like… me?”
Todoroki nods, straight faced. “You.”
“Uh, okay?” Izuku squeaks. “That’s, uh, good? I guess? I’ll… process all of that later, I think. What about Stain? And Toga? Have you heard from Miruko? And what about… ?”
Izuku trails off, suddenly realizing why a room full of 5 people still felt so empty.
“Where’s Yagi-san?”
Inko chooses her words carefully. “Toshinori is talking to All Might, who is going to have a word with the police and the HPSC about Stain. He should be back soon.”
“Your dad is kind of scary when he wants to be,” Uraraka says. “I wish you were awake when the police were questioning us! He was like a protective mama bear! And then, Todoroki almost fought the chief of police!”
“Todoroki-kun?!”
Todoroki doesn’t deny it. “I don’t respect him or anything he stands for and I refuse to apologize.”
Inko muffles a laugh into her shoulder. Iida pinches the bridge of his nose.
“Yes, well—the important part is that the three of us will not be dismissed from UA for engaging in unauthorized quirk usage.” Iida adjusts his glasses. “We were fortunate in that none of the videos of the fight caught any of us. The Hosu City police have agreed to keep our involvement off the record.”
Izuku opens his mouth to ask more questions, but he’s interrupted by someone arriving.
“I am here!” Toshinori calls out, using his hip to push open the door. In his arms is enough food to feed a small army. “And I’ve brought lunch!”
Izuku’s friends all abandon his bedside to help Toshinori with the food.
“Wow, thanks Mr. Midoriya!” Uraraka says, claiming an entire pizza for herself. “This is so much better than hospital food!”
“Your kindness knows no bounds.” Iida uses one hand to pop open a takeout container, his glasses fogging up with steam.
“You brought cold soba,” Todoroki says, face blank but eyes shining. He looks up at Toshinori. “Can I…?”
“Of course! This is for you, Young Todoroki! Izuku mentioned it was your favorite some time ago.”
“Midoriya,” Todoroki says softly, touched.
Toshinori looks up, then, seemingly just realizing Izuku is awake.
“My boy!”
Izuku waves dorkily from his hospital bed. “Hi.”
Toshinori rushes over, only pausing to pass Inko her lunch. “I apologize for not being here when you woke up. How are you feeling? How are your ribs? Your leg? If anything hurts, we can call the nurse and request—”
“I’m fine, I’m fine!” Izuku insists, trying to stop Toshinori’s fussing before it snowballs out of control and he ends up tearing down the hospital to bring Izuku all forms of mortal comfort. Toshinori’s mother hen tendencies know no bounds.
Toshinori frowns. “Just ask if you need anything. Inko, have you…?”
“The kids and I caught him up,” she says. She uses her quirk to pull another chair up to Izuku’s bedside. “Toshi, sit. Eat. You’ve been running around all night and morning, you need to rest.”
“Right.” Before he sits, he hands Izuku a takeout container. “I wasn’t sure if you’d be awake, or well enough to eat, but I brought you katsudon. Don’t tell any of the nurses, I’m not entirely sure you’re allowed to eat something like this yet.”
“I’ll eat slowly,” Izuku says, fully intending on inhaling his meal.
For a few minutes, the room is filled with the sounds of them happily enjoying their meals.
“So,” Inko says, breaking the peace. “How did the talk with All Might and the others go?"
Izuku perks up, interested. “Todoroki said that Endeavor’s trying to take the arrest credit?”
Toshinori sighs, a crease forming between his brows. “Yes. Endeavor’s argument was that at the time of Stain’s arrest, Miruko was incapacitated, meaning that the responsibility of any interns under her agency would automatically fall to the highest ranking hero in the area. Meaning, Endeavor would be responsible for supervising Izuku, as if he were his own intern.”
“That’s stupid,” Inko says. She reaches over and steals some food from Toshinori, who half-heartedly bats her chopsticks away.
“So… Stain’s arrest goes to Endeavor? Not Miruko?” Izuku shakes his head. “That’s not fair! Miruko did all the work of tracking him, and—Endeavor didn’t even show up until Stain was already unconscious! How does the credit go to him?”
“It doesn’t. It goes to you, my boy.”
Izuku pauses, chopsticks half-way to his mouth.
“Huh?”
“The HPSC, the Hosu Police Department, the Miruko Agency, and I—er, All Might—all agreed that Endeavor’s argument was stretching it at best. Miruko insisted that sole credit for the arrest go to you. I admit, I was surprised when the HPSC and Hosu Police agreed, but I suppose they have their own reasons.”
Izuku blinks, hard. He sets his chopsticks down.
“Congratulations, my boy. You’ve made your first S class villain arrest.”
“Woo!” Uraraka whoops. “Yeah! Go Deku!”
“Congratulations, Midoriya-kun.”
“Mm?” Todoroki looks up from his bowl of noodles, slurping happily.
“What does this mean?” Izuku asks Toshinori. “Like… okay? I get credited? I don’t understand.”
“It means, if you get your sidekick license within the next year, you’ll be eligible for ranking on the hero billboard charts. You’ll also get added to the call-list of heroes capable of handling S ranked emergencies.”
“R-Ranking?” Izuku sits back, stunned. “Wow. That’s crazy! Ha, I bet I won’t even make the charts, though. Still, that’s cool to think about!”
The others exchange glances.
“So, what are we betting, guys? Top 50 debut?”
“I’ll put a thousand yen on a Top 25 debut,” Todoroki says.
“Gambling is illegal,” Iida says, like he wasn’t fully prepared to exact revenge on Stain not 24 hours ago.
A familiar figure darkens the doorway.
“I see they’ve managed to concentrate all the trouble makers into one room.”
“Aizawa-sensei!”
“And Shinsou!” Izuku beams. He moves to get up to greet them.
“Do not move, Midoriya. Your leg is literally in a cast, why would you try to get up?”
“Ah, Aizawa,” Toshinori greets. “I apologize, if I knew you were stopping by, I’d have gotten you lunch as well.”
Aizawa waves a hand. “It’s fine. We do have a couple more things to discuss, though, now that Endeavor’s not breathing down our necks.”
The adults congregate in their own corner, allowing the kids time to catch up.
“What,” Shinsou groans, “the hell were you thinking?”
Ah. He sounds more and more like Aizawa every day.
Izuku grins at Shinsou. “You’re scolding me, which means you aren’t that mad at me, right?”
Shinsou crosses the room so he can gently cuff Izuku’s shoulder. With a completely straight face he says, “I’m furious. What the fuck gives you the right to text me ‘I’m just worried about sensei’—and then go off and fight a whole ass serial killer? And a mutated quirk monster?”
“Your Midoriya impression is really good,” Todoroki comments.
“Do it again!”
“I’m Deku and my favorite hobby is worrying Shinsou Hitoshi to death,” Shinsou says, pitching his voice up.
Uraraka cackles. Todoroki and Iida look away to hide their amusement. Even Aizawa cracks a small smile.
“Aw,” Izuku says, “Shinosu! You were worried?”
Shinsou stares at him.
“I’m going to strangle him,” he informs the room.
Izuku and the others catch Shinsou up to current events, which turns out to be redundant, since he’s spent the past day shadowing Aizawa through various HPSC and police meetings. Shinsou fills in the gaps of information that they don’t have, since the four of them have been sequestered to this tiny room in Hosu General’s hero ward since last night.
They all end up huddled on Izuku’s bed, chatting and doodling on Izuku and Iida’s casts with some pens Shinsou had with him. The adults are still speaking quietly amongst themselves. Izuku is starting to think that maybe they’ll get away with no lecture from Aizawa.
“Guys,” Izuku says quietly, eyeing Aizawa. “Guys, he hasn’t yelled at us and it’s been, like, an hour. Do you think maybe he isn’t mad?”
“Think again, Problem Child.”
Izuku yelps as Aizawa suddenly turns to face them. The other kids straighten up—even Shinsou, who hasn’t even done anything wrong. Aizawa gives them all the most disappointed stare.
“I expected this from the Problem Child, but the rest of you? Uraraka? Iida?”
Izuku very carefully does not bring up the fact that Iida is definitely the most unhinged one here, given the whole premeditated revenge thing.
“In our defense—”
“Save it, Problem Child.” Aizawa sighs heavily. “You’re right, I’m not mad, but I will be giving the four of you extra lessons on self-preservation and the proper procedures in emergency situations. You’re not doing anything without my supervision for the next month. That’s not a punishment, it’s just for my own peace of mind.”
Izuku sighs with relief. They got off easy.
Aizawa turns to Izuku’s parents. “I’ve learned at this point that it’s better to just teach him how to be safer. Asking him not to do it again is pointless.”
Inko, who has had to pick Izuku up from the police station no less than thirty-seven times for vigilantism, just smiles knowingly.
“Wow,” Uraraka whispers, “I hope he’s this nice next time, too.”
“Next time?”
“It’s like you said, sensei! Asking us to not do it again is pointless.”
Aizawa looks up at the ceiling, seemingly talking to the universe at large. “How is it that Bakugou and his friends are the normal friend group in this class?”
“I haven't had many friends in the past,” Todoroki says, “but is this not what friend groups do?”
“No, Todoroki,” Aizawa answers patiently, “friend groups usually do not commit crimes together.”
Todoroki blinks. “Ah. I see. This makes us special, then.”
Shinsou bursts into laughter. Izuku gives up on trying to pretend like he isn’t amused. Even Iida has to turn his head to hide the smile working its way onto his face.
“Think of it this way, sensei,” Izuku says. “We just did a team building exercise outside of class!”
“Yeah!” Uraraka adds on. “It was basically an extracurricular activity!”
“Perhaps we should receive extra credit,” Todoroki says, face blank.
Aizawa sighs heavily. He turns to Shinsou.
“Promise me you’ll be the voice of reason when you transfer,” he practically begs.
Shinsou scowls. “What makes you think I wanna be a part of this absolute disaster of a group?!”
Aizawa gives him a flat look.
“You’re already attached,” he reports gravely.
Shinsou flushes and frowns, but he doesn’t deny it. Izuku is counting that as a win.
“We’ll need to fight another S ranked villain together, once Shinsou transfers to 1-A,” Izuku says decidedly, only mostly joking. “It’s basically a rite of passage at this point.”
The others hum in agreement.
“Therapy!” Aizawa exclaims, throwing his arms up as he gets up to exit the room. “For all of you!
(Izuku can’t help but think that maybe he’s gotten off too easy.
Izuku knows that for a minute there he wanted nothing more than to hurt. He wanted to destroy Stain for daring to raise a hand to his friends. There were times during that fight where Izuku wasn’t swinging to incapacitate or to knock out, but to cause permanent damage and while he’d like to say that it was a one-time thing— a heat of the moment impulse, an instinctual reaction— he knows that deep down, if Stain was in front of him right now—if he had to do it all again, he’d still be going in for the kill and—
Oh. Maybe Izuku isn’t as morally righteous as everyone thinks he is.)
A couple hours pass.
Despite the others’ lack of injuries, the police and other Pro heroes insist on them all being held in the hospital room together, at least until the official police statement can be given and it’s confirmed that Stain won’t bust out of custody and hunt them down to exact revenge.
A morbid thought, but a valid concern.
Izuku gives his statement. Detective Tsukauchi even comes all the way out from Musutafu to be the one to take it. Izuku thinks it’s fitting that Tsukauchi is the one handling the Deku side of the case. Oh, how far he’s come—from filing Izuku’s quirkless vigilante shenanigans to processing Izuku’s very first S class villain solo arrest.
People filter in and out of the room, but Izuku remains. His friends promise to give him a full tour of Hosu General’s hero ward as soon as he’s cleared to use a wheelchair. Eventually, Izuku’s friends wander off to stretch their legs and Inko runs back to Musutafu to bring Izuku back some clothes, since it’s looking like he’s going to be in the hospital for a couple more days. It’s late afternoon, close to dusk, when Izuku finds himself alone with Toshinori.
“Izuku.”
Izuku looks up from the bland, hospital-provided hero magazine he was half-heartedly flipping through.
“Yes?”
Toshinori looks serious, regretful and guilty. Oh. So they’re having this conversation now.
“I’m so sorry I wasn’t there, my boy.” Toshinori hangs his head in shame. “It seems I’m never there when you need me the most.”
Izuku scrunches his nose up. He needs to nip this in the bud, otherwise they will just spend the next hour apologizing back and forth to each other. Izuku knows. They’ve done it before.
“You don’t need to keep apologizing to me. I mean… isn’t the point of you training me so that I can stand on my own one day?”
Toshinori blinks. “Well, yes.”
“Besides, I’m always using things you taught me. So I guess, in a way, it’s like you’re always with me.”
Toshinori tears up. “Izuku.”
Izuku looks away, embarrassed. It’s true. Anyone who sees Izuku fight will be able to see the connection to All Might. Not just in his quirk and the way he fights, but also in the way he conducts himself as a hero. Even just in the way he lives his life.
He’s Yagi Toshinori’s kid, through and through.
Toshinori sighs. He sits back in his chair and smiles up at the ceiling wistfully.
“You never fail to surprise me. You’re right, of course. I suppose I… well, I suppose I thought you’d need me for just a bit longer.”
Izuku looks at him, panicked. “I do! Wait, that’s not what I meant! I just mean you can start giving me more responsibilities, and maybe not worry about me so much?”
“My boy, I’m going to worry about you regardless. I will probably still worry even when you’re an adult, topping the hero charts.”
Izuku smiles bashfully. He looks down at his hands, heavily scarred, fingers crooked. The right one is bandaged and his palm feels rough from where he used his hands to catch his many falls, scraped up against the asphalt. Him, the number one hero. Is it possible? Toshinori seems to think so.
Then again, Toshinori thinks the world of him. Izuku understands that now.
“Hey, Yagi-san?” Izuku shakes the hero magazine. “Have you seen Misty Manta’s new costume design?”
“What an abomination,” Toshinori says, pulling his chair closer so they can leaf through the magazine together.
The sun sets with the two of them going back and forth, dissecting different Pros’ fighting styles and theorizing on future team-ups. For a while, Izuku is 13 again and working the register in Toshinori’s hero merch shop, geeking out over the new action figure shipments and trading hero trivia together. They’ve grown since then—both as people and as student and mentor—but some things don’t change.
Izuku hopes he’ll get to debate Pro Hero stats with Toshinori for a long time. That feels like a happy ending, to him.
processing current events @sukiyaking • 5h
Deku makes me want to be brave.
6.7k retweets 863 quote retweets 15.3k likes
here comes the boy ✨ @inumakistan • 3h
Deku has been talking for MONTHS about how shitty the HPSC is. Now there’s several videos with clear audio and it can’t be swept under the rug anymore. We want accountability @HPSC_JP @HPSafetyComm @HPSCPres
12.3k retweets 283 quote retweets 20.4k likes
Izuku gets his second apology a few hours later.
The sun has long since gone down. Toshinori and Inko are asleep in the next room, a breakroom that Hosu General has graciously opened up for them to crash in. Aizawa popped in earlier to check-in on them again, with a vague threat of future personal safety lessons at school on Monday. Since then, Izuku and his friends have just been relaxing, enjoying each other’s company. Izuku feels light and bubbly, effervescent in the presence of his friends. If you ignore the fact that they’re in a hospital following a serious villain attack, it’s almost like a sleep over.
The mood winds down eventually. Izuku is just thinking about calling it a night when Iida clears his throat. Uraraka and Todoroki look at him, then at each other.
Iida clears his throat again.
“Was that the signal?” Todoroki asks. Uraraka face palms.
“Todoroki! We’re supposed to be discreet.”
“Oh. Sorry, Iida.” Todoroki stands and, with an air of exaggerated nonchalance, makes his way towards the door. “Uraraka and I are going to check out the vending machines for approximately 20 minutes.”
Izuku raises an eyebrow. “Uh huh. Alright.”
“Feel free to have a heart-to-heart in the meantime,” he says. Uraraka tries her best to push him out of the room. “Bottling up your feelings is unhealthy. You taught me that, Midoriya.”
“I sure did.”
Todoroki and Uraraka leave. Izuku turns back to Iida, who is bright red with second-hand embarrassment.
“What was all that about?”
“Earlier I asked Uraraka and Todoroki to give me a moment alone with you. I suppose I should have known better than to think they would handle things delicately.”
“Right,” Izuku says. He’s starting to get a little anxious. If Iida confesses to another revenge plot, Izuku is going to lose it.
“I’ve apologized to the others, but for some reason apologizing to you scares me the most. I believe it’s because I hold your opinion of me in high regard. I suspect you know, already—you’re good at understanding how I feel before I myself understand it. Still, it needs to be said.
“Midoriya-kun,” Iida says, looking at Izuku with such open remorse it makes Izuku’s chest tight. “I am so, so sorry.”
“You learned from it,” Izuku says, laying back against his pillows. Hosu General is treating them well. The pillows are nice and fluffy. “None of us were permanently hurt. We’ll all be better heroes for it.”
Izuku closes his eyes. The overhead fluorescent lights paint the backs of his eyelids red.
“I’m not just sorry for going after Stain.”
Izuku hears Iida move to cross the room, he feels his bed dip with Iida’s weight. When Izuku opens his eyes, Iida is sitting at the foot of Izuku’s bed.
“I’m sorry for how I acted before then. I shouldn’t have bottled my feelings up, and I shouldn’t have taken my anger out on you when you were only trying to help. I should’ve spoken with an adult about how I was feeling.”
“I can understand not fully trusting adults,” Izuku says.
Iida pauses. He looks away from Izuku and out the window, at the Hosu City skyline.
“Is it true, then?” he asks. “The things you said to Stain in front of all those civilians—is all of that true?”
Izuku swallows hard. He nods. He hasn’t watched any of the videos circulating online, but he remembers what he said.
“Midoriya, why did you not tell me?” Iida asks, quietly devastated. “We were friends while we were in middle school. Maybe not as close as we currently are, but you must know that I would have—well, I don’t know. I would have tried my best to help you.”
Izuku sits up. “You did help. You were my first friend. You were kind to me when not many people were. Don’t discount that. You were there for me and—you knew I was quirkless before my quirk manifested and you never—I mean, you were so supportive and—”
“I could’ve done more,” Iida insists.
Izuku smiles, bright and easy. “Like what? Stormed to my school and demanded they treat me better? I couldn’t ask that of you.”
“You fought a serial killer for me. Midoriya—”
“It’s in the past,” Izuku interrupts gently. “Let’s move forward. I know you’re here for me, Iida. No need to prove anything.”
Iida frowns, clearly not content. “Perhaps I can send a few strongly worded emails—”
Izuku laughs. “Enough. Really, Iida. We’re good.”
Iida smiles. Tiny, and still a little insecure, but a smile nonetheless.
“Good.”
(Todoroki and Uraraka come back exactly 20 minutes later, arms full of snacks pilfered from the vending machines down the hall. Apparently, they take credit cards. Izuku just hopes Endeavor mind the 5,000 yen vending machine charge.)
check pinned for art @eyewearwolf • 5h
Literally every time I see Deku trending it’s because he’s gone viral for saying something during a fight. Does he ever shut up? Dude can’t even sneeze without getting it trending. Main character energy if I’ve ever seen it.
839 retweets 2 quote retweets 1.5k likes
replying to @eyewearwolf
check pinned for art @eyewearwolf • 5h
Ok wait I just saw the whole speech video… YOU GO MAN!! Nothing but straight facts all while defending civilians. No wonder people have been crazy about Deku. Didn't get the hype before but now I do.
replying to @eyewearwolf
check pinned for art @eyewearwolf • 4h
Everyone needs to watch this RIGHT NOW! The line he says after stopping the dude with the alligator quirk is GOLD… I might be on a Deku deep dive right now don’t mind me
[Link: 10 mins of deku being the future #1 hero | YouTube]
53 retweets 192 likes
Izuku’s friends get discharged the next morning, after getting the all clear from the HPSC. Hosu General wants to keep Izuku one more day, for observation. Izuku says goodbye to them and then, when the silence they leave behind gets too loud, he begs Toshinori to let him visit Miruko.
It doesn’t take much for Toshinori to cave. He fetches Izuku a wheelchair and takes him to Miruko’s room.
“I’m going to get Aizawa,” Toshinori says, depositing Izuku at Miruko’s bedside. “He’ll probably want to debrief on your internship.”
Toshinori leaves.
Izuku looks at Miruko. Miruko looks back.
“... Well?” Izuku asks.
Miruko blinks. Her ear twitches. “What?”
“I… don’t know.” Izuku awkwardly rocks back in his wheelchair. “This is usually the part when adults scold me? Or tell me to be less reckless?”
“Why would I do that? You’re fine, I’m fine. Stain’s been arrested. Feels like a win to me.”
Simple as that? Wow, Izuku and Miruko really are more similar than he initially thought.
Miruko gives him a tired smile. “What do you want me to say kid? I’m not surprised. I told you you could do it, didn’t I?”
“Oh, yeah. Yeah, I guess you were right.” Izuku grins.
Miruko grins back, sharp-toothed and wide. “Of course I was! I’m always right. Now, come on, update me on what’s going on out there. I had one meeting with the HPSC and Endeavor and almost choked him out on the spot and now they won’t let me leave my room.”
Izuku updates Miruko on the general state of things, internet and hero society-wise. He tries to thank her for insisting he get the Stain credit, but she refuses to hear any of it. Literally. She folds her ears over and hums childishly, which makes Izuku laugh so hard his newly-healed ribs ache. After a while, Toshinori and Aizawa come in, but they hang back and let Miruko and Izuku talk.
“So, I guess I’m, uh, kind of popular right now? Because of the Stain video? Um, yeah.”
Miruko snorts. “Serves him right, getting his murderous supervillain speech upstaged by a teenager. I hope they put him away for a long time.”
“Ha, yeah.” Izuku’s smile fades. “Um, Miruko? I know you said they’re not really involving you in the case anymore but… do you know what’s going to happen to Toga?”
Miruko turns to Aizawa and Toshinori, who move to hover by Izuku’s wheelchair.
“I know she’s being detained. Either of you have any news besides that?”
“I don’t want to sugarcoat things, kid,” Aizawa says. “She’s probably going to jail. For a long time.”
“But—I mean, that’s not the only option for her. Right?”
Toshinori shakes his head. Aizawa shrugs.
Izuku turns to Miruko with wide-eyes. “Recommend her to the Shiketsu Villain Rehab program. Please.”
Miruko, Aizawa, and Toshinori all exchange looks.
“My boy,” Toshinori starts gently, “I’m not sure she qualifies. She’s been classed as a C class villain and an accessory to attempted murder. She’s violent. She… frankly, has too many issues to be considered.”
“Kacchan had issues,” Izuku fires back. “Kacchan was violent, but he got proper therapy and help and now he’s on his way to earning a hero license.”
Aizawa sighs. “Problem Child, you know those aren’t the same things.”
Izuku’s voice wobbles. “We can save her. I know we can.”
“She’s under supervision,” Aizawa says. “That’s the best we can do for her right now. She needs to undergo evaluation by a certified psychologist before they can even consider her for the program—not to mention the waitlist for acceptance is a mile long. All of this hinges on whether or not she’ll be declared too violent and volatile after the Stain trial, too.”
Izuku’s heart sinks.
“I’m not shooting down the idea, I just want you to be aware of all the facts.” Aizawa’s mouth presses into a thin line. “That being said—”
Izuku looks up, hopeful.
“I’ll try to put a good word in. I think you’re right. She needs help.”
“We can make the HPSC help her,” Izuku says. “I mean, I just gave a big speech about fixing hero society, right? The HPSC probably wants to fix their image. What better way than to push a program to help former villains, with Stain’s protege, too?”
Aizawa raises his eyebrows, impressed. “You wanna try to manipulate the HPSC into helping out a villain?”
Izuku flushes. “I mean—do you have to say manipulate? I was thinking more like… firm suggestions.”
Aizawa blinks. “Everyday you become more like Nedzu, and that terrifies me.”
Toshinori barks out a surprised laugh. Miruko smirks.
“Guess who just flew in!” calls a voice from the doorway.
“Hawks!” Izuku tries to get up to greet him, Aizawa uses a hand on his shoulder to push him back down into his wheelchair. “You’re back in Japan! Where’s Tokoyami?”
“I sent him back to the agency a few days into my mission! He’s really good at intimidating suspects, though, it’s a shame he couldn’t stay.”
“Oi!” Miruko barks, sitting up straighter in her hospital bed. “Don’t you have anything to say to me?!”
“Rumi! So glad you didn’t die!”
Miruko scowls.
“And you!” Hawks turns back to Izuku. He reaches out to ruffle his curls. “Mr. S-ranked arrest! Already leaving the rest of us in the dust before you’ve even debuted, huh? Don’t forget about your dear old mentor when we’re fighting for spots on the charts.”
Izuku flushes.
“Now, I hate to be rude, but I’m going to need some time alone with Rumi. Best friend bonding, you know how it is. Super secret HPSC living weapons talk only, sorry.”
Miruko visibly perks up. “New case? Did you bring me a new case?”
“Maybe,” Hawks singsongs.
“Is it a new case or not, asshole?!”
“You, technically, shouldn’t even be working. Any hypothetical new cases I’m here to hypothetically give you should be considered a gift. Hypothetically.”
“You better tell me or I’ll hypothetically throw you out the nearest window.”
“Ha! Jokes on you, I can fly!”
“And that’s our cue to leave,” Aizawa says, starting to wheel Izuku out. “We’ll keep you updated on the case, Miruko. Problem Child, let’s get you back to your room.”
“Bye Miruko, bye Hawks!”
Hawks gives him a fond look as he goes.
“Don’t forget to have some fun in between all your training, kiddo. Take some time to be with friends,” he says. “The heart is a muscle, too.”
Miruko makes a face at that and fully shoves him off of his perch at the edge of her hospital bed.
“Don’t pretend to be all wise and mentorly, bird brain.”
“I’m trying to give him advice! One of us needs to be good with people.”
“I’m good with people!”
“Rumi, you have three employees. 50% of the people you’ve spoken to this week are in this room.”
“Just because I’m injured doesn’t mean I can’t still beat your face in, you—!”
“Okay!” Izuku cuts in, before they can devolve into more bickering. “T-Thank you for the advice! Um, and thank you for the training. Both of you.”
The two of them give Izuku matching grins as he leaves. He has a feeling this won’t be the last time he works with them.
Hawks ✓ @HawksOfficial • 1h
Visiting the bestie!
[A series of three photos: The first picture is of Hawks sitting at Miruko’s hospital bedside, throwing up a peace sign. Miruko is in the middle of stuffing carrot cake in her face, her neck bandaged up and her arm in a sling. Her mouth is open and there are crumbs all over her face. The second picture is of Miruko noticing Hawks taking a selfie. The third picture is a blurry shot of Miruko smacking Hawks upside the head.]
59.6k retweets 4.3k quote retweets 89.4k likes
Izuku gets discharged from the hospital on Sunday morning.
“With all due respect, Deku,” his nurse says, “I hope we don’t see you again too soon.”
Izuku smiles wryly. “Ah, I’ll try my best to stay out of trouble!”
As soon as the nurse is out of earshot, Inko comments dryly, “I can’t believe you lied to that nice young man like that.”
“Mom!”
“I’m only teasing.” She pats his curls reassuringly even as Izuku fakes offense. “With the amount of stress you’ve put me through these past couple of weeks, I think I deserve a few jokes.”
“That’s not fair,” Izuku whines.
“Hm, I think I’m right about this one, Izuku.”
“Your mother is right, you should listen to her,” Toshinori says, sweeping into the room.
“You didn’t even hear what she said!”
“I don’t need to, whatever it was, I know she was probably right.” Toshinori starts gathering up Izuku’s stuff, including the little green Deku bear that the members of class 1-A gifted him with when they visited last night. “All the paperwork is sorted. Ready to go?”
“I was ready yesterday.” Izuku slides off the hospital bed and reaches for his crutches.
“Less than 3 days and he’s already got his sass back.” Toshinori hovers at Izuku’s elbow as he adjusts his stance.
“He gets it from you,” Inko says.
Toshinori sends her a look over Izuku’s head. “I think we all know where Izuku gets his sass from, and it is certainly not me.”
They meet up with Katayama at the elevators. The Mighty Agency had also deployed bodyguards for Izuku and his family while he recovered—something that Izuku thought was hilarious. Toshinori hardly left his side. How could any amount of bodyguards be any safer than having the current number one hero at your bedside? The bodyguards gather now to escort Izuku out of the hospital. The elevator fills up with Izuku’s entourage, and they all fan out as soon as they get to the lobby, falling into a protective formation. It all makes Izuku feel very precious and important and—he realizes with a jolt that he kind of is.
Important, that is.
(If only his younger self could see him now.)
Through the glass doors of the lobby, Izuku can see a gathered crowd of reporters. The sight is so familiar, Izuku doesn’t even bat an eye. He just sighs heavily and adjusts his grip on his crutches. This morning, Katayama gave him the run down of the current state of the media surrounding his name and, honestly, it could be worse. At least Izuku knows what to expect.
Before they step out, Katayama stops him.
“You don’t need to answer any questions if you don’t want to,” she says firmly. “The agency has already put out a statement and, well—the video speaks for itself. Say the word and I’ll have the crowd disperse.”
Izuku thinks for a moment, really taking stock and trying to decide if he has the emotional energy to deal with the media right now.
“I feel like I probably should say something, though, right?” He looks between his mom, Toshinori, and Katayama for confirmation. “It’s like Yagi-san said, I can’t control what gets said about me, but I can control what I say. I know that I’m, um, kind of being talked about a lot right now? Maybe a little… uh, popular?”
“Try an internet sensation,” Katayama mutters, looking just so tired. “Practically a permanent spot on the Twitter trending page.”
Izuku flushes. “R-Right. So, I think I want to answer a few questions. For clarification? To make sure no one is misinterpreting what I said in the video.”
“If that’s what you want to do, we’re right behind you,” Toshinori reassures. Inko nods in agreement.
“I’ll mediate,” Katayama says. “We can’t stay for long. The steps of Hosu General aren’t exactly a secure press conference room, and it would be wise to limit the amount of videos and images of your injuries as possible, for safety reasons.”
Izuku is suddenly hyper aware of the silly little bunny doodles his friends left all over his cast, as a joke. He has no idea what he’s going to do in the future if he decides to move away from the bunny theme. It’s practically ingrained in his brand now.
“Are you ready?” Katayama asks.
Izuku takes a deep breath to steel his nerves. Strangely, he’s not as nervous as he was facing down the crowd of reporters last week, the day before the sports festival. Maybe it’s because this time he’s expecting the ambush, but Izuku really can’t find it in himself to be anything other than impatient to go home. Call it character development.
The reporters just don’t seem so scary to him anymore. Izuku guesses that facing off against a serial killer and winning probably has something to do with his new found confidence.
He nods.
As soon as they step out the doors, Izuku and his family are hit by a wave of sound. He’s briefly blinded by the flashes of several cameras before Katayama snaps, “No flash photography! He’s still recovering, for god’s sake.”
Katayama and a few security guards from the Mighty Agency herd the crowd to gather at the base of the steps, with Izuku standing a few steps up, flanked by Inko and Toshinori. A nearby reporter tries to subtly inch closer, but Inko glares at him so hard that he flinches back. Izuku loves his mom so much.
“Deku only has time for a couple questions,” Katayama announces sternly, “and once he says he’s done, that’s it. You will wait for Deku or I to call on you. There will be no questions about fight specifics or Deku’s medical details.”
The reporters, of course, ignore all of this. They all clamor for attention. Izuku ends up just picking someone at random and hoping they’re not here for a gossip rag.
“U-Um, you in the green hoodie? What’s your question?”
“Deku! Teshima Keiichi, for Hero Hopefuls Daily.”
Izuku relaxes a bit. He’s familiar with that publication; he knows that it’s targeted towards young kids in hero school or trying to apply to hero schools. He used to check their site daily, pre-UA.
“Go on.”
“Your statements on quirkless discrimination and the hero system are extremely popular with the youth online. Do you have any advice for the young prospective heroes—quirkless or not—who look up to you?”
Izuku sputters.
“T-That’s—well, I’m flattered that—I mean, um. It’s great that others are taking what I said into consideration, b-but what I said is only a small part of the problem. I was only, um, quirkless until my quirk came in, because I was a late bloomer. Quirkless discrimination for most lasts a lifetime. I hope people aren’t just listening to what I have to say, but also listening to each other. I’m lucky enough to have a supportive mom and an amazing mentor, so my experience is probably different from a lot of other quirkless—er, formerly?—quirkless people.”
Izuku blinks. “Um. I guess I didn’t really answer the question, huh? My advice would be to keep going. Don’t be afraid to do what’s right, but also know your limits. Ask for help. You’d be surprised by how many people are willing to help you out.”
Izuku smiles shakily. He looks over at Katayama and receives a small nod of approval. Looks like he’s getting better at lying about being a late bloomer.
“Next question?”
Izuku answers three more questions in a similar manner. It’s not so bad, except for when Katayama has to cut off the second reporter for being too invasive. Overall, it’s actually kind of… nice, to be able to clarify his statements. It almost feels like people actually care about what he thinks, which is something that Izuku never really thought would happen.
Dealing with the media only gets easier from here, Izuku reminds himself. That’s what Toshinori said, weeks ago, and Izuku is starting to believe him.
“Okay, maybe just a couple more questions?”
Izuku looks over at Katayama, who nods. He lets her pick the question asker and she gestures to someone in a yellow hat, wearing a NNN press pass.
The reporter smiles at him. “Isa Masako, for Nippon News Network. Intern Deku, people are calling you the new Symbol of Peace. What’s it like to follow in All Might’s footsteps like that?”
Before the reporter is even done with her question, Izuku starts shaking his head.
“I’m not the next Symbol of Peace,” he denies. There’s a dull roar from the crowd—whether agreeing or disagreeing with him, Izuku isn’t sure. He waits for the sound to die down before he continues.
“There will only ever be one Symbol of Peace. All Might is exactly what we needed. Believe me, I-I’m so honored to be compared to him—but I’m not him. I’m not the next All Might or the next Symbol of Peace—”
Izuku breaks off with a wry chuckle.
“Nothing I’ve done as a hero intern has been remotely ‘peaceful.’ I wanted to be a hero because I thought it was the best way to help people, but now that I’ve seen how the system works, I think my goal is a little different. I’m going to be a hero because I want to change things.”
The crowd explodes into sound.
Toshinori rests a hand on Izuku’s shoulder, the warmth from his palm is grounding in the face of so much movement and noise. Toshinori leans down and says, quietly so only Izuku can hear:
“In my eyes, you are already a hero. I am so proud of you, my boy.”
Izuku bites his lip, struggling to not burst into tears right there. He needs to wrap this up quickly, before he forgets all his media training and just flings himself into Toshinori’s arms, sobbing.
“O-One more question,” Izuku tells the reporters, “and then I need to go. Sorry.”
Katayama nods to a reporter near the back. She pushes to the front and Izuku can see the bold NHK logo on her mic. Oh, cool, only the biggest broadcasting corporation in Japan for his last question. Fantastic.
“Hero Intern Deku,” the reporter starts, “you say that you want to change things, yet you deny your status as a symbol of peace. Wouldn’t you have the power to change the system, like you said, as the Symbol of Peace. What about the aspiring heroes across the country who now look to you for guidance? Do they not need a symbol?”
Tough question. What a way to go out.
“Of course they do,” Izuku says. “I—I mean, I needed one when I was growing up. All Might was—is—everything to me. What I’m saying is that I’m not All Might. I can’t do it by myself—and All Might shouldn’t have had to do things by himself. I d-don’t want to speak for him, but I like to think he’s glad to have me around.”
Behind him, Toshinori huffs out a tiny, amused sigh.
“If I—or anyone else for that matter—am going to be a symbol, then that can’t be it. I can’t reform a system on my own and I can’t fix every problem. There are things I don’t understand well enough to help with. The change has to happen with all of us. We have to work together.”
Izuku blinks, stunned at his own mini speech. He flushes, bringing his unbandaged hand up to rub the back of his neck.
“A-At least, that’s what I think. Sorry for going off for so long.”
The reporters quiet down for a second and Izuku blinks down at them with wide eyes.
“... He’s perfect,” someone in the crowd whispers.
Izuku squeaks. Nearly falls down the steps.
That seems to set the entire scene in motion again. The reporters all talk over each other, trying to squeeze one last statement from him. The Mighty Agency bodyguards close in as Katayama tries to wrangle the crowd back into some semblance of order. Izuku shuffles awkwardly on his crutches.
“That’s enough questions,” Katayama cuts in. “Deku needs to rest. Please allow him and his family some space.”
Under Katayama’s cutting gaze, the crowd settles slightly and parts to allow Izuku, Inko, and Toshinori to quickly slip down the hospital steps, where Toshinori’s old beat up Toyota is idling at the curb. A Mighty Agency intern gets out of the driver's seat and hands Toshinori his keys. The Midoriyas quickly get into the car. Toshinori locks the doors as soon as they’re all in, Inko looking a little frazzled in the passenger seat and Izuku with his broken leg propped up in the back.
The media crowd up around the windows of the car, attempting one last sound bite.
“They’re like piranhas,” Inko says, eyeing them wearily through the window. She sighs. “I guess I just have to get used to this, huh? You’re only going to get bigger.”
“Ha, sorry, mom,” Izuku says sheepishly.
“Izuku, don’t apologize for sparking a social revolution, honey.”
Izuku grins, ducking his head. “Sorry.”
Inko huffs, faking annoyance. “Toshi, knock some self-confidence into this boy, please.”
Toshinori lets out a deep belly laugh. “I’ve been trying for years. Looks like you and I will just have to be proud enough to make up for him.”
“Should we make more t-shirts?”
“Excellent idea, Inko!”
“Guys!” Izuku squawks, face flushed with embarrassment. “Please, don’t.”
Inko and Toshinori laugh, joking back and forth about design concepts as Izuku tries his best to melt into the backseat. Toshinori starts the car as Katayama tries to herd reporters out of the way.
Izuku sits back, watching his parents bantering in the front seat. His phone has been buzzing nonstop for the past five minutes, no doubt with messages from his friends—real, incredible, amazing friends, friends Izuku knows he’ll have for the rest of his life. Outside this car, the world shifts. Maybe they’re tearing Deku to shreds on the internet. Maybe they’re piling on the pressure and expectations. Maybe, somewhere, a journalism student is typing up thousands of words dissecting his every move.
And maybe none of that matters. Right now, Izuku has the promise of coffee with his friends tomorrow after school. He has Miruko and Hawks’ personal phone numbers, with plans for more joint training. He has a teacher that would fight the chief of police on his behalf. For now, Izuku is safe in a car with his two favorite people in the world. He takes a deep breath in and grins, letting himself light up with more joy than he thought he was capable of after the week—the year, the life—he’s had.
Just before Toshinori pulls the car away from the curb, over the cacophony of camera shutters and reporter questions and media buzzing—Izuku hears someone say “the symbol of change”. Izuku smiles because he knows. He smiles because—
They’re talking about him.
Notes:
And that’s a wrap on Razzmatazz!
am i crying?? perhaps…. last few things:
• Chapter title is from Famous Last Words by My Chemical Romance
• The link in the fake deku fanmix is a real link to my razzmatazz playlist ! here’s another link <3
• i have had the last line planned pretty much since the beginning because im a SUCKER for bookends ssjsjdja i know its cheesy and dramatic but thats just part of my brand at this point
• this is the link for my razzmatazz tag on tumblr (art/asks/drabbles/posts i like/whatever!)
• As always, I'm xyloophones on tumblr and @xyloophones on twitter!Note on future projects in the series:
i will be taking a break and writing some one shots/ maybe doing diff fandoms (jjk has me by the throat rn) but dw i have plans for pt 2 so yes pls just be patient w me..,, <3Lastly,
If you have ever: told a friend about my fic, rec’d it to your followers, tweeted/posted/whatever about it, thought about it in your daily life, i want you to know that i love you-- fully, deeply, truly. Writing this fic meant a lot to me. I started it in a very dark time and i dont even know if i’d be here to finish it if it weren’t for all of you reading. I've met one of my best friends, rediscovered my love for writing, rediscovered my love for anime in general, and am just generally a more joyful person because of this fic. I know its a little cliche and sentimental but whatever-- i literally wrote an entire fic about being cliche and sentimental so if you’re here then you get it. Thanks!
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