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The decision was unanimous.
The commission needed to get one step ahead of the low and high villains in society, and this was one of the best proposals given to them. Yes, it was risky and practically insane, but they had done much worse over the years. Not that the public really knew that specific piece of information.
Crime in Japan was rising steadily and fast, it rose at least 5% every few months. It was getting the public restless and scared, and they wanted something done. Thus, how the Villain Reform program came to light, brought by non-other than the highly intelligent Nezu. Principal of the most famous Hero school in the nation, UA.
The Villain Reform program wasn't for people that were already well rooted in their villain ways, there were other ways and processes to deal with people like that. The reform program was for young teens who are tethering along the edge of villainy. Teens that had been dealt the wrong hand of society and saw the uglier side of it, ones who felt they had no other choice but to choose crimes to get what they wanted for themselves. Nezu decided to target the program towards this group, specifically because they were young. Young and still learning their place in the world.
Even if they committed crimes that no other teen could be able to accomplish, they still had much to learn, whether they agreed or not. He saw it could benefit everyone in the future if they were able to stop the future generation of villains before it even started. So the program was put into place, this was 5 years ago.
In the past five years they have seen an amazing response and the crime rate in Japan has decreased considerably. Of course, it wasn't much of a difference since there were always new teens and villains going out to do what they wanted, but you can't stop something that had been happening since the beginning of time. You can only stop it from getting worse than it is.
However, as the times go on and intelligence grows, it has shown that every year the teens at risk have grown smarter and more cunning throughout the years. It was starting to become a challenge to get them to understand and even think about reforming within the program, but UA had managed to get down 5 generations of teenagers to change their ways for the better.
Which brings us to now. It was time to greet and welcome UA’s 6th generation villain class, a class that was like no other class they had ever had before. A group of teens with such different abilities and beliefs, with so many experiences. Nezu couldn't help but grin, looking over their files in his office when he had picked them for this year's class. Something about it made him highly interested in how they would turn out, and he couldn't wait to see what they could and would do with their time at UA.
“I believe it is time to greet your class Erasure Head. I believe they will be a curious bunch for you to teach” Nezu said with a bright smile on his face. A grunt was heard before footsteps walking to the door and the sound of the door opening and closing followed. Leaning back into his chair, Nezu looked at the cameras that were placed all around the school, focusing on the ones by the front gate.
“Let's see how this young flock flourishes.”
Izuku hated everything. Right now and in general to make things clear. He was currently in his room holding a piece of paper in his hands, reading over the words for the 10th time since he first opened the stupid thing. UA wants him to join the new Villain class for the reform program. What kind of sick joke was that?!
With an angry groan, he crumpled the paper and threw it to the waste bin in the corner of his room, making the shot perfectly. He fell back and laid on his bed, running his hands across his face. “What the hell? Why me?” He mumbled, turning to his side, looking out the window in his room. Izuku wasn't upset that the school saw him as someone who needed to be in the program, or that he was considered a villain already at only 15 years old. No, no, he was upset over the fact that he needed to be stuck with a group of teenagers the same as him for three whole fucking years! Not to mention, he would be stuck in the same place he had wanted to go to for completely different reasons. It was like life wanted him to feel pain for being who he turned out to be.
With another groan, he sat up and looked around his room, the letter they had sent him was announcing he would be at UA the day before classes started. They had already sent him his uniform and other essentials that were sitting in a suitcase downstairs in the living room. As if to mock him and tell him he couldn't get out of this no matter what. He got up and was about to start getting his things ready for tomorrow when he heard a knock at his door. Looking over, he saw his mom peeking in with a nervous smile.
His mother, Inko Midoriya, was the kindest person you will ever meet. It's a miracle she gave birth to someone who is labeled as a villain. Izuku loved his mother, truly he did, she was his biggest support in everything since he was young, but there were times when he resented her for the small things she would let slip. Not that she ever did them on purpose, it's more of her own character flaw for being overcautious and not knowing what to do in really stressful situations like comforting someone. He understood this completely, yes, but it didn't make him any less annoyed or upset, not that he would ever tell her that.
“Izuku, I just wanted to ask you. Are you alright with going to UA for the reform program? I know you never wanted to set foot or look anywhere near UA for years now, so I won't fault you for not going.” She said entering the room, standing by the door. Izuku gave her a small smile and walked over to her giving her a hug to which she returned immediately. Izuku had spoken to her about his thoughts and feelings one day during middle school. He had no one else to talk to, and she was the only person who was willing to listen to him. He had never wanted to tell her anything, but that specific day had broken him and changed him. It was a stressful day, and they were both crying and apologizing till they both fell asleep in each other's arms on the couch.
After that day, Inko had been nothing but supportive, sure she didn't agree with many of the things Izuku had ended up doing. But she would always say that he was his own person and if that was the path that he wanted to take for himself, she would support him no matter what.
For some people that would be considered bad parenting, but for Izuku it made her the best parent in the entire world. Releasing the hug, he held his moms hands tightly in his scarred ones. “Mom, don't worry about me, ok? I'll be fine, yes this is entirely something I don't want to do, but I can't exactly get out of it now that they already sent me everything. Hell, they even had an automatic robot set to place an ankle tracker on me the second I opened the suitcase.” he gestured to his ankle, which indeed now held an annoying tracker that had started transmitting the second it was put on. No matter how many times and ways he tried to get it off, it wasn't budging.
Inko looked at his ankle with a small frown and looked back at him when he continued talking. “But you know I'm smart enough to get myself out as soon as I see what the reform program is all about. Just know mom, that if I do end up getting out of this tracker and away from UA I won't be able to come back here, I need to keep you safe.” He said, his words becoming soft as he noticed tears started to form fast in his mother's eyes. She sniffed and nodded, “I know honey, I know. And… And even though I don't like it, you know I’ll always be here if you ever want to come back. No matter what you do, I'll be here for you. Just promise me one thing, Izuku, promise me that you won't lose sight of yourself, ok?” She said, taking one of her hands to cup her son's face gently.
Izuku looked at her and leaned into her hand, he knew what she wanted to promise him, and he understood, but he also knew that she knows he can't make a promise like that. Life is unpredictable, and sometimes you have to do unpredictable things to keep yourself and those around you safe. Even if it means killing someone. Izuku had never killed before, he tried his best to stay out of the picture when something as such came up or was prone to happen. But had faced his fair share of death that could have left blood on his hands plenty of times.
He stayed quiet for a bit then moved his head out of his mother's hand, “You know I'll try my best not to fall down that path, mom, but you also know I can't make a promise like that. Not while I'm like this.” He said. Inko’s eyes flashed with sadness, but also with understanding. She nodded her head and wiped her teary eyes. “At least I know you will be careful about it. That's all I can ask for.” She paused for a second, “You know I love you Izuku, and I know you may not want to hear this but… I hope you find something with this program. Whether it be to change for what society says is better or to find something else to cherish, I hope that this isn't for nothing.” She said, giving him a small, watery smile.
Izuku smiled at her and nodded, giving her one more hug, though his smile fell as he looked at the wall in front of him. ‘I doubt I'll be able to find something like that there.’ He thought to himself.
After that, the day went by fast, and he had gotten his bag ready and set it by the front door, so he could easily take it and leave. He had also dealt with some of his work, since he had a feeling he wouldn't be able to do anything as soon as he entered UA. He couldn't just leave his unfinished work behind, so he had to solve a few things and get things in order, in order for everything not to fall apart while he was gone. Contacting a few people and tying up loose ends, he finished late at night and decided to go to sleep till his alarm gave him a heart attack in 5 hours.
(03/19/2024)