Chapter Text
~After school…~
Two shadows were seen exiting Aldera High, belonging to our dear Midoriya Izuku and Utsushimi Camie. Camie had a rare scowl on her face, only present whenever someone tried to do the school queen wrong, or when someone tried to bully her bestie; Izuku on the other hand, was slightly shivering, holding his singed and soggy Hero Analysis for the Future Volume 13 close to his chest, courtesy of yours truly: Katsuki Bakugo.
She groaned angrily; the events that happened beforehand are still present in her mind. “For reals, I hate that guy! How could he suggest such a thing…” Camie muttered, her heart clenching at the sight of her best friend getting lost in his thoughts, still shocked from the actions of his former childhood best friend-now bully.
(`If you wanna be a hero that badly, there´s a quick way to do it. Take a dive off the roof and pray that you´ll be born with a Quirk in your next life! ´)
Camie looked towards Izuku as they were walking home, looking for the right words to console him after such a traumatic moment. She held his hand, bringing him out of his thoughts, and made him look at her. “I know what is running through your mind right now. Don't listen to those voices nor him, it's not true Izuku-kun.”
Izuku frowned, and clenched his hands into fists, turning white at the knuckles. (Prick… He should be careful suggesting such things to others, Bakugo is smart enough to understand what would happen if they took his advice.)
He sighed, thankful she brought him out of his thoughts. “Thank you, Camie. I can't imagine what it would be like if you weren't here… I can't let one person's opinion, no matter who it is, affect who I want to be or what I want to do. I want to be a smiling, dependable, cool hero like All Might, even if I know no man is born equal.” He then looked at his right hand, closing it into a fist then opening it again, psyching himself up for the long road ahead.
Camie smiled, seeing her best friend was back to his normal hero dreaming self. “Of course! It isn´t, like, you totes don´t help me too or anything!”
“H-huh, me?”
She giggled. “FR! My grades are proof enough that you also helped me be better, never mind the rest; once we became BFFs, it was GG for everyone!”
Izuku chuckled, amused by her antics as always, and flattered by her compliments, even if he deep down still struggled to accept them fully. “I´m not a miracle worker Camie, my help doesn't do anything if you don't put the work in, which I'm very proud of, BTW.”
They took a right turn, getting inside a tunnel that went under a bridge, on their way to the apartment complex they both live in. While they talked, Izuku and Camie didn't notice a pothole moving slightly before it popped open, startling them both. A sludge being came before them, with big round eyes and yellowed sclerae, accompanied by a big and evil-looking smirk.
“Lucky me, that bank robbery might´ve not gone the way I expected, but seeing two wonderful bodies to take over… I´ll take it!!”
They both heard the pothole clank, with Izuku just barely fast enough to push Camie out of harm's way. He struggled with the villain´s liquified form, sludge going down his throat. “Don't fight it, it´ll all be over soon, be grateful that you´re my chosen meat suit!”
“IZUKU-KUN!” Camie yelled, trying to use Glamour before she was smacked to the side of the tunnel. Her vision started to get blurry, but she willed herself to stay awake for her bestie’s sake, with the thoughts of saving Izuku on her mind. Her brain worked overdrive, and her fear did not help her move even a toe ahead to save him.
(Camie…) Izuku whispered in his mind, exhausted from trying to fight back the sludge villain´s possession. (… A fitting way to go, from a Deku. Someone help us…!)
He would never realize what help would come for them.
“WORRY NOT, YOUTH!” A loud, booming voice coming from the entrance of the tunnel, Izuku´s, Camie´s and the sludge villain´s eyes widening due to recognizing that particular voice. “Why, you may ask?” That voice belonged to a tall, buff blond man with a wide grin on his face, two hair strands falling on each side of his face, wearing a white t-shirt, dark green cargo pants and brown shoes.
“Because I am here!” He boomed.
(All Mi…ght?)
“TEXAS…SMMMMMASH!” All Might bellowed, throwing a punch towards the mass of sludge full of strength and air pressure, freeing Izuku from said villain. He fell near Camie and passed out from lack of oxygen, and she in an act of protectiveness and caring laid his head across her lap and rubbed his fluffy hair, grateful that the Number One Hero saved him when she couldn´t.
Said Number One picked up a few empty coke bottles that fell from the plastic bag he was carrying, and captured the sludge villain inside those. With that, he turned towards Camie, with the usual wide smile on his face.
“Well, that's one more villain stopped, all in a day's work! Even though your fear didn´t let you move, I saw your desire to save your friend, Young…” All Might trailed off.
“Camie. Utsushimi Camie. I ain't going delulu for realsies am I, is All Might really in front of me?” Camie blinked, still astonished at the sight of the Symbol of Peace, Izuku´s enthusiasm for All Might slightly rubbing off on her.
All Might laughed. “In the flesh, Utsushimi-shoujo! As I was saying, I saw your desire to save your friend here, that's the attitude of a Hero at its core, if I ever saw one!”
“Speaking of said friend, let me try something here…”
All Might started to repeatedly slap his face. “Hey! Hey! Hey! Time to wake- “
Izuku stirred awake, slowly blinking his eyes. (Huh, what a wild dream, saving Camie from a villain and being saved by All Might…)
He then noticed where his head was laying, looking at Camie who was blushing and giggled, and then at All Might who saluted to him with two fingers.
“I´m glad you´re okay! Sorry for getting you two involved in putting this villain away, but this villain was tricky, and I was in such high spirits spending my day off in a new place!” All Might laughed, like he always does.
“Are you okay, Izuku-kun? Hurt anywhere?” Camie asked, with a caring tone in her voice. She cupped his chin with two hands, slightly moving his head to check for bruises or any other kind of injuries. Izuku became tomato faced; with his freckles making him look like a strawberry. He then got up quickly, still shivering in embarrassment.
“I-I´m fine Camie, thanks for asking! Sorry i-if I was a bother while I laid on your lap!”
“Don´t be silly fr, Izuku-kun.” Camie giggled, having also gotten up. “You´re, like, my bestie, of course I would worry and care for you. Although seeing you all flustered never stops being totes cute. Anyways, thank you for saving us, All Might!”
Izuku took a step back, still not able to deal with her quips after all these years. “C-cute?! What do you- ALL MIGHT?? YOU´RE REALLY HERE??” Izuku shouted, seeing his favorite hero and idol in the flesh.
He then saw his notebook on the floor, still singed but completely dry due to the air pressure from All Might´s Texas Smash. “Can you please sign my notebook- HE'S ALREADY SIGNED IT!! Thank you, thank you so much, All Might!! I'll treasure it forever, a family heirloom even!!!” He rapidly bowed down towards the Number One Hero.
`Hehe, he's so cute when he nerds out over All Might. ´ The Glamour user looked at him in fondness.
All Might gave a thumbs up to Izuku. “You´re very welcome, young man! I must go now, to take this villain to where he belongs!” He started to get ready to move away, stretching his muscles.
(Wait, already?! I still have questions for him...!)
“W-wait- “
“Pros are always fighting both villains and time, constantly. Be seeing you, youth, AND I'M COUNTING ON YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!!” All Might yelled.
“Wait… HEY HEY HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” He bellowed, seeing the young man holding on to his leg with wide eyes and mouth flapping, and the young lady in a similar state but holding on to the young man instead.
“LET ME GO, YOUR FANBOYISM IS TOO MUCH!”
“We can´t, we´ll die!!”
“Oh, you´re right.”
The three landed on a nearby roof of a building, with the youth shivering from the scary experience. Camie then turned to Izuku, angry at him for being so reckless.
“WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?! What you just did is giving hella idiot energy, fr!!” Camie blew softly, using Glamour to make an illusion of herself that hit Izuku with a baseball bat, making him have a comically large steaming lump on his head.
“I-I´m sorry Camie!! It's just that I had more questions for All Might, please forgive me…” Izuku lowered his head, sad that his impulsiveness and selfish desires made his bestie angry.
Camie sighed, then hugged him. “I totes get it. You´ve, like, dreamed about this day forever. We're Gucci.”
Izuku hugged her back, relieved at her words. “We're Gucci?”
“We're Gucci.”
All Might started coughing, a small trail of blood slid down the corner of his mouth, and steam came out of his body. (Carrying those two wore out the rest of the time I had, holy shit…! If I don´t get away, I´ll-)
“I really don't have time for this.” All Might started walking away.
“W-Wait...!”
“No! I will and cannot wait.”
Izuku had his hand stretched towards All Might, but brought it down, memories flooding his mind.
(`You should give it up, without a Quirk…`)
(`I´m sorry, my baby Izuku! `)
(`The hell are you gonna do, worthless, Quirkless Deku? `)
…
(Those things may be true. But still, I never gave up…!)
Camie looked in worry, knowing he was pushing through his dark thoughts again, and building himself to ask the one question she knows has been on his mind since the age of 4. (He needs me rn, pull yourself together Camie!)
She held his hand. That action alone spoke louder than a thousand words between them, reminding Izuku that he was never truly alone.
He took a breath. “Even though I´m Quirkless, can I still be a hero?!”
All Might stopped, looking towards the young man from the corner of his eyes in shock, his face not showing such emotion, however. “Quirkless?”
All Might hitched, steaming more. “Holy shit, not now...!”
“Because of it, I´m made fun of, mocked and belittled, even with Camie beside me… But still, I think saving people is really cool…!”
“Saving people with a fearless smile…”
He lifted his head, slowly opening his eyes and being bright-eyed towards the Number One Hero.
“I want to become the greatest hero, just like you!”
He then saw a skinny blonde man with clothes just like All Might was wearing, but now looked baggy on him, and with blood sliding down the corners of his mouth. His blue eyes were sunken into his skull.
Both Camie and Izuku sputtered in shock. “WHERE DID ALL MIGHT GO?! ARE YOU A FAKE?!”
All Might sighed, his true appearance being revealed. “I assure you, youth, I am not a fake. You know when guys are at the pool constantly flexing and posturing in insecurity? That's what it is. Regardless, what I am about to say must never be known outside of us three, got it? Don't write it anywhere, be it physical or online, accidentally or not.”
They nodded. (Flexing, huh.)
“This is my true form. I was left like this after a villain attacked me 5 years ago, half of my respiratory system and entire stomach gone… This was the best medicine could do post multiple surgeries, and me spitting blood after turning back is one of the many aftereffects.” All Might said, after lifting up his t-shirt and showing Izuku and Camie his gruesome purple injury on the right side of his ribs.
Izuku started thinking, and Camie wondered out loud. “5 years ago? I swear Izuku-kun spoke about that one time…”
(Wait… Does he mean…?)
“All Might, do you mean Toxic Chainsaw did this to you?”
“That's what it was!” Camie remembered.
All Might laughed slightly, somehow a lower tone than his usual booming iconic laugh. “You are a true All Might fanboy, knowing about that fight! But… no.”
He sobered. “That low-tier villain couldn't lace my boots. The real one was much worse… So bad I had to ask for it to not be public to the world. The Symbol of Peace will save people with a smile, and cannot be daunted by evil!”
“So, when you smile, you…” Izuku looked woeful, realizing what he meant, and Camie wrapped her arm around him, bringing him to a side hug.
“You´re a smart kid. I smile to show the pressure heroes face daily, and to trick the fear that runs inside of me. With all of that, I can only be a hero for three hours a day.”
All Might looked towards Izuku and Camie. “To answer your question… Pros are always risking their lives. With what I´ve seen for over 40 years, not only as a pro hero but as the Symbol of Peace, I cannot in good conscience say that you can be a hero even without powers…”
All Might got up.
Izuku stared at the floor, wide-eyed, broken over hearing the one person he wanted to validate his dreams deny what he always wanted to do since he was a child. “I… I see.”
Camie looked angrier than she ever was, clenching her hands into fists, knuckles turning white. (No… not like this. I refuse to see Izuku-kun like that ever again!)
“So, if you want to help others, I suggest- “
“Now, hold up just one goddamn moment, All Might.”
All Might, who was beginning to walk to the exit leading to the stairs, stopped and turned back to Utsushimi-shoujo, a sweat drop having slid down his face seeing how angry she was.
“All those things may be totes true, but you forgot that you have peers that fight essentially Quirkless. Quirks may be powerful, but they have not only limits but counters too. Midnight's Somnambulist? Less effective against women, and not only that, if her opponent covers their face with something like a mask, she has no option but to throw hands fr. Death Arms? Minor strength boost Quirk, bruh. Point is, while his road to being a hero is tougher than yours and mine, Izuku-kun can absolutely do it! He knows Quirks like no one else knows, no cap, and he's smart, and he is good at thinking while on the fly! Your answer to him is giving rotten, and even if his idol doesn´t believe in him, guess what, I believe in Izuku-kun. Always have, always will… If anyone can do it, he can. He's the strongest person I know.” Camie finished her rant, now more relaxed and composed after getting that off her chest.
Izuku was looking at Camie with tears in his eyes, seeing she cared for him so much she was willing to face the Number One Hero and rant to All Might´s face in his defense, his heart fluttering.
`Camie… Thank you. `
“All Might.”
“While there is truth in what you said, I´m not stopping, and I´m not giving up. Why, you ask? Because I´m not alone in this! I have Camie by my side, and I´m not letting her or myself down. I´m gonna be a hero no matter what it takes, and I hope to see you on the field with me, someday.” Izuku smiled, Camie´s words spurring him on.
The Glamour user looked at him with shining eyes.
`His bravery, his willingness to make his own path no matter the odds… is one of the reasons why I love him. `
The Symbol of Peace grabbed the knob on the door. “You're lucky to have a friend like her.” He closed the door and went down the stairs, walking away.
He then checked his pockets, the bottle imprisoning the villain no longer there. “Where did he go?!”
He gasped. “Wait, don´t tell me it fell while I was carrying those young ones…!”
“Whew… That was tense.” Izuku said while slightly shivering.
Camie held his hand. “I know. And I´m totes proud of you for that fr fr, you showed him who you are, Midoriya Izuku!”
He hugged her.
“… I don't know what I did to deserve you, but you just stood up against All Might. For me. T-thank you, that means more to me than I can ever express to you…”
Camie softly bonked him, winked at him with one eye, and stuck her tongue out in playfulness, all in one smooth move. “Like I said to All Might, I´ve always believed in you, and I always will, bruh. Besides, that speech you gave to him? That was totes Plus Ultra!” Camie laughed.
Izuku chuckled. “I guess it was- “
An explosion went off in downtown Musutafu, smoke and flames coming out of the Tatooin Shopping District.
“What was that explosion?!” They ran towards the guard rails. “Oh no…” Izuku realized what happened.
“Izuku-kun?”
“Camie, the bottle that had that villain inside it must´ve fallen while All Might was carrying us through the sky! We need to go check it out, there must be pro heroes in action!”
“Izuku-kun, you know I love your obsession over heroes, but you said it yourself, whatever is happening there is probably that villain´s fault…”
“Camie, please.” He grabbed her hand and silently pleaded with her.
She sighed. “Fine… But we´re totes not getting involved, okay? There's gonna be capable pro heroes to put that villain away, fr.”
“Let's go!” Izuku dragged Camie by the hand, her blushing from the contact.
All Might was running towards the Shopping District as fast as he could in his true form, panting from constantly running since that building. He reached it, and then stopped, behind all the people that were there to see the chaos in said district being barricaded by police for their safety.
The villain stood in the middle of it, with a blonde junior high schooler stuck to him, trying to get free.
“A child was taken hostage?!” Death Arms exclaimed. “You coward!!”
Death Arms punched him to no avail, half of his arm being sucked into the villain´s matter, who then grinned evilly and punched him against a garage door.
“Tch, couldn't grab hold of him...!” He clutched his side in pain.
“Death Arms!” Airjet yelled in worry, and dodged an incoming whip from the sludge being.
“Don't come near me, damn heroes!”
Bakugo forcefully managed to get his mouth free from the villains, trying to free himself from the evil bastard that had him in his clutches.
“I won't let this piece of sewage trash swallow me…!!!” He let out explosions that pierced the villain´s body, but no damage was made.
“YOU LITTLE MOTHER- “
A bigger explosion occurred, blowing the heroes back with wind and smoke.
“Oh hohoho, I´ve hit the jackpot!!” The villain gleefully grinned. “With this powerful Quirk, I´ll be able to get revenge on that guy!!”
“Woah, could he be a big shot villain?!”
“She's here, the rookie hero, Mt. Lady!!”
A blonde giant woman ran towards the scene, wearing cream colored spandex with purple highlights, pink eyes and purple horns that belonged to her outfit. She gasped then stopped on her way. “Oh c-come on… I need there to be at least two lanes of space…!”
Tree roots grabbed two random high school students that were surrounded by debris and fire around them, belonging to the Wood Hero: Kamui Woods. “I don´t do well with explosions and fire… I´ll have to leave it to someone else today!”
“Thank you!” Water was seen being fired from three cannons by the Fireman Hero, Backdraft. “There's so much fire… Why haven't the fire trucks arrived?!”
“Death Arms, Airjet, how´s the situation looking?!”
Both of them clutched their hands into fists, gritted their teeth, and stood their ground. “This guy is sticky and hard to grab, and there's a child with a strong Quirk trying to get free from him!”
“With how this looks, it´s an absolute minefield! We can't do much else with these conditions!” Airjet concluded.
They dodged another incoming whip.
“All we can do is wait for someone with a more suitable Quirk to arrive!”
“Prioritize holding back the damage then!” Backdraft upped the pressure of his water cannons on the fires around them, meanwhile Kamui Woods kept rescuing civilians from the chaotic situation.
“I'm sure someone will be coming soon!” Kamui Woods said, with a determined but hopeful tone to his voice.
“I feel bad for that kid, but he´ll have to hang in there for a bit longer…! Damn it! If only my Quirk was strong enough to blow that guy away!” Death Arms tensed.
“You can do it, heroes!” A random woman screamed, trying to motivate them to the best of her ability.
All Might held on to a nearby lamppost, clutching his side. “He slipped back then! I was distracted by my time limit, I can´t believe I made such a stupid mistake after admonishing those two!”
“Pathetic… Pathetic…!” All Might clutched his injury harder, scolding himself.
Izuku and Camie were running hand in hand towards the explosions, with Izuku´s backpack strapped to his back. “We're here…!”
(Damn it, it's our fault this happened…!)
They began cutting through the crowd, reaching the barricade of police at the scene.
“Why aren't the heroes doing anything?”
“They can´t, apparently the villain caught a junior high schooler, it's been like that for a while.”
(For a while!? How can they withstand that suffocation, I thought I was gonna die after a few seconds…!)
“Hey, isn't that villain the one All Might was chasing after earlier?”
“No way, he's here?!”
“I think I saw him earlier…”
“Then what the hell is All Might doing?!”
All Might, who was unrecognizable to the crowd and hearing what they were saying, looked down in disappointment. “Pathetic…!”
(Tch, All Might totes can't do anything, his time limit went zilch!) Camie noted nervously in her mind.
(It´s my damn fault, if only I wasn't so selfish…!) Izuku berated and blamed himself for this internally, feeling angry at his own actions.
(They can't catch that guy no matter how hard they try, they´re gonna have to wait for a hero with a more suitable Quirk…!)
“Pathetic…!” All Might furiously and anxiously gripped his wound harder.
(Izuku-kun…!) Camie noted the signs of him being hard on himself again.
(Do your best everyone, I´m so sorry!!)
“Pathetic! Pathetic!!” All Might gritted his teeth and held the lamppost as hard as he could, a bead of sweat rolling down his face.
(I'm sure someone will arrive soon… a Hero… please…!) Izuku then widened his eyes, now realizing the high schooler that was being held by the sludge villain was Bakugo himself.
Bakugo struggled as hard as he could physically, opening his eyes and seeing Deku at the front of the crowd, looking at him like he was… scared?
Izuku gasped, dropping his burnt Volume #13 on the ground, and ran towards the villain.
“IZUKU-KUN-!”
All Might and the rest of the heroes present gasped in shock at the kid who got through the barricade and ran towards danger.
“IDIOT, STOP!!” Death Arms screamed.
“That kid…!” The sludge villain angrily whispered.
“Deku…”
(Why am I running out, why can't I stop?!)
(WHY?!)
(What do I do at a time like this…!?)
(Wait… Page 25!)
Izuku remembered one of the notes on Kamui Woods in his latest Hero notebook, using pre-emptive Lacquered Chain Prison to make the opponent flinch back, then use that opening to restrain the opponent.
“Get a load of this!” Izuku threw his backpack at the villain, his pencil case hitting the villain in one of his eyes, making him flinch back.
He then tried his absolute hardest to free Bakugo from the villain, his fingers just kept sliding down the slimy body.
Bakugo felt the villain´s grasp on him because of it, coughing hard. “The fuck are you doing here, Deku?!”
“I DON´T KNOW, MY LEGS JUST MOVED ON THEIR OWN ONCE I SAW YOU!”
(You should give it up.) Dr. Garaki said when he was four.
(It´s my fault…)
(Hey nerd, still thinking about being a hero?)
(No matter what it takes, I´ve got to give it a chance, even if the stacks are against me…!)
( The Symbol of Peace…)
(He always saves someone with a smile…) Young Izuku mused.
And his present self got teary-eyed suddenly, the memories rushing to him…
“You looked like you were asking for help…!”
All Might gasped hearing those words, his blue eyes shining brighter than they were moments ago.
Bakugo screamed and pushed as hard as he could in desperation.
“Stop it…!!!!!!”
“Pathetic…! PATHETIC!!!”
“So close… MOVE IT, DAMN KID!!!” The sludge villain raised a whip, preparing to attempt to crush the green haired kid in front of him.
“Does he have a death wish?!” Death Arms and the rest of the heroes stretching their arms forwards, trying to save the kid from dying via a whip crushing.
Suddenly, the floor gave up in one spot, and the whip didn't hit Izuku… Because All Might blocked it with one arm.
“All Might…!!”
“I really am pathetic…”
“Even though I admonished you… I wasn't putting what I said into practice!!”
All Might freed his arm from the villain's grasp, Izuku still looking wide-eyed at him, and Bakugo shocked at seeing All Might in front of him.
He then grabbed one of the blonde high schooler´s free arms, pulling him away.
“PROS ARE ALWAYS… PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE…!!!!”
“ALL MIGHT!!!” The villain bellowed, attempting to hit the Number One Hero.
“DETROIT…"
"SMAAASHHHH!!”
He then punched the villain square in the middle of his body, blowing him away. Heavy wind pressure came after he punched the villain, Mt. Lady held one group of people behind her arms to protect them, and the other heroes grabbed and pressed the rest of the crowd into a nearby building to make sure they didn't fly away. A very tall tornado formed where the villain once stood, going away after a few moments.
All Might panted and had steam coming out of his body, and Camie realized he pushed his time limit again to save the day. Both Bakugo and Izuku were laying on the floor next to him, having passed out from stress and the pressure from All Might´s Detroit Smash. After his tornado disappeared, everyone present looked at All Might before they started to get hit with drops from over them.
“Rain?”
“From the wind pressure just now?”
“An updraft formed and…”
(He made clouds?!)
“ARE YOU TELLING ME HE CHANGED THE WEATHER WITH ONE PUNCH?!”
“THAT'S ALL MIGHT FOR YA!!”
Said Number One Hero took a step back slightly, and raised his right arm with a close fist, his typical pose after saving the day.
Camie ran towards Izuku and held him to her lap, waking him up. “Izuku-kun… I'm so glad you're safe…!”
“Sorry Camie, I broke what we agreed on…”
“I don´t care rn, you idiot…! You´re safe, that's what totes matters. Don't scare me like that ever again…”
“You know we´re gonna be heroes, right? I can't promise you that I won't do it again…”
“Promise me that you´ll work on this as best as you can, therapy included.”
“I'll do my best, I promise you Camie.” Izuku rubbed his hand on one of her cheeks in fondness, before he got conscious of what he was doing. He blushed heavily and slowly got up by himself.
Airjet, Backdraft, Mt. Lady, Death Arms and Kamui Woods gave the scattered remains of the villain to the police, before sending him for interrogation.
“Jeez, how rash can you be?! We almost thought you died, kid!”
“There was no reason to put yourself in danger- “All Might stopped Kamui Woods´ and Death Arms´ scolding on Izuku.
“Midoriya-shounen, you and Utsushimi-shoujo should go home now, I´ll deal with them and the press.” All Might said with a hand on Izuku´s and Camie´s backs.
They began walking away before Izuku noticed Bakugo was getting praised by Backdraft. “You were amazing out there! You and your powerful Quirk… You should join my agency when you become a pro!”
What they didn't notice was that Bakugo was looking at Deku with a scowl on his face, angry that the Quirkless bastard tried to save him.
The sun started setting, and they were on their way to the apartment complex they both shared in Musutafu.
(Before I could apologize to All Might, he began telling off Kamui Woods and Death Arms, then being interviewed…)
(I´ll try sending him a message on his website when we get home.)
“Izuku-kun?”
“Camie?”
“I'm just gonna say fr- “
“DEKU!!” Bakugo yelled while panting. He then clenched his hands into fists in anger.
“I… I never asked you for help!”
“OMG, you´re full of brainrot fr - “
“And you didn't help me!”
“GOT IT?!”
“Prick.” Bakugo widened his eyes. “Like I told you before, my legs started moving before I saw you. It could´ve been you or anyone else, it wouldn't matter…”
“Tch. I was doing well by myself! You´re just a Quirkless loser that keeps playing without a full deck, don´t get off looking down at me!” A vein popped out of his head, still struggling with the reality of what happened earlier.
Camie stepped in before things could go wild. “I dunno about that, napalm boy. It, like, looked to me like you didn't have that situation under control!”
“OMG, can´t you just like, say thank you or whatevs?” She rolled her eyes at him, annoyed at his usual attitude.
“Don´t get funny with me right now, Illusion bitch! And you, damn nerd, are you trying to make me owe you?!” Bakugo spat at the two.
Izuku walked forward and stood almost eye-to-eye to him, their difference in height not allowing him to do so.
“Don´t call her that. Insult me all you want, I can deal with it, but don´t you dare curse at her, not even once! And no, I'm not trying to make you owe me, in case you haven't noticed; despite my anger on how you treated me, I'm trying to get my best friend back.”
“The one that went with me to get limited edition All-Might holo cards, the one that would play with me Heroes and Villains till the sun came down, just like it is right now; Before you started getting influenced not only by your Quirk, but the way everyone treated you like the most powerful person around, me included. I may be a idiot for this, but I do genuinely hope I get to see Kacchan back, not only for us, but for Mom, Auntie Mitsuki, and Uncle Masaru too…”
Camie could see the wheels turning in Bakugo´s head, hopeful that Izuku-kun´s words could light a spark in bringing their friendship back, even if she hated him. She wants to see her Izuku-kun happy, and if that meant tolerating them slowly mending their connection, she would do it, no questions asked.
“…Fine, damn nerd. Don´t think I´m thanking you for this, use your fucking brain next time!”
“…I´ll send your regards to the old man and the hag.”
He turned around and left, Izuku and Camie not expecting that response after all of that. (… That could've gone worse.)
“W-well, time to go- “
“I AM HERE!” All Might came rushing out of a nearby street.
“A-ALL MIGHT?! What are you doing here fr?!” Camie and Izuku shouted, shocked at seeing the Symbol of Peace again. “Didn't you have the press around you- “
“HAHAHAHAHA! Dealing with the press is easy for me, you see!”
“Why you may ask? BECAUSE I'M ALL MIGHT- “
All Might spat blood, and turned into his real, shrunken skinny form. “Damn, must´ve flexed a bit too hard there…”
They blinked. (You didn´t, no cap.)
“Anyway, it was fine and quick, youth. I also reprimanded the heroes present, for not going beyond despite the situation, having the Quirkless one being brave enough to turn. I came with thanks, a correction, and a suggestion, for the both of you.”
“Y-you don´t need to thank us All Might, we got in the way of your work, especially me who is Quirkless as you know…”
“You don't get it, do you Midoriya-shounen?”
“Huh?”
“If you hadn't been there, told me your life, and Utsushimi-shoujo here showing me the error of my ways through her words, I would´ve just turned into a guy inside a bodysuit that was all talk.”
“But still… I had no right to bother you with those impertinent thoughts…”
“You may be right, Midoriya-shounen. But do you know what is also true?”
Izuku looked at him with wide eyes. “What?”
“That thanks to you, the brave and Quirkless you, that back then I was able to move forward.” All Might said with a smile.
His Number One Fan gasped, not expecting those words from his idol.
“Do you know what are the most common stories about top heroes from their school days? One simple, but very brave thing: their bodies moved before they had a chance to think.”
Tears started to come from Izuku´s eyes, his mother's words after the Quirk test at the doctor´s and Camie´s words to All Might sprang into his mind.
(`I´m sorry, my baby Izuku! I´m so sorry! ´)
(`I believe in Izuku-kun. Always have, always will…´)
“That is what also happened to you, didn´t it, Midoriya-shounen?”
Camie hugged him with tears of her own, seeing his heroic nature being validated after all his struggles.
“You too, Izuku Midoriya, can become a hero.”
Izuku started to bawl hard, for once hearing the words he always wanted to hear, since he was 4. “…T-thank you, All Might!”
“That's why… I want you to inherit my power!”
Both of them looked shocked at the Number One Hero. “Your… power?”
“Exactly! With your actions, shounen, you´re the perfect candidate to inherit my Quirk!”
“B-but… me?!”
All Might laughed, finding Midoriya-shounen´s face to be amusing at the moment. “What's with that face?! It's only a suggestion.”
“Anyway, Number One Fanboy, I still haven't heard if you wanted to accept my offer or not!!” All Might pointed at him with blood coming out of his mouth.
“The tabloids may have called it a boost and superhuman strength, but I always hid it´s true powers in interviews with funny jokes, because the Symbol of Peace, All Might, had to be a natural born hero. But in reality, Midoriya-shounen and Utsushimi-shoujo…”
“I was Quirkless too.”
“HUH?!”
“Exactly! I was just like you, Midoriya-shounen. My Quirk was passed down like an Olympic torch from my master, and to her from her master, and on and so forth!”
“And if you take it, it will be your turn next.”
“H-hold on All Might!! While it may be true that your Quirk is hotly debated online as one of the World's greatest mysteries, I didn´t consider that your Quirk would be able to be passed down through generations! How is it possible? I´ve never heard that to be possible before, and it's never been considered in debates before! Why, is it because since the Dawn of Quirks, a Quirk like that was never confirmed?...”
Muttermuttermuttermuttermuttermuttermuttermuttermuttermutter
Camie sighed, and softly blew to create an illusion of her slightly bonking his head with a baseball bat, bringing him out of his mutter spree.
“Izuku-kun, focus please. You know I love to see you nerd out over Quirks, but now is not the time, NGL.”
“R-right. Sorry, All Might.” Izuku scratched behind his head.
“No need to apologize shounen, those analysing skills are perfect for heroes! Just work on them being vocalized in your mind instead of saying them out loud, we´ll work on those too.” All Might chuckled and shook his head in fondness.
“Besides, I wouldn't lie, especially to you, Prince of Nonsense! That instinct of denial is not good for you. My Quirk, the power through transferring power, is called… One for All.” He opened his hand, a myriad of light in different colors bursting through it.
“One… for All…” Izuku and Camie lowly repeated its name.
“Accumulating power through one generation to the next… It is the ultimate power of those brave people with a courageous heart.” All Might grinned.
“But… with the country being so big, of all people, why me?” Izuku questioned him, slightly doubtful but also curious to understand his idol´s reasoning.
“To put it simply, I´ve been looking for a successor. And after seeing what you did today, I want you to be my successor. I saw me through you. You, a Quirkless fanboy, who was more Heroic than anyone else then.”
Izuku hitched, a few tears coming down his face, his doubts vanishing.
“At the end of the day, it is up to you, Midoriya-shounen, to decide if you want to or not.”
He wiped his tears. Camie, the one he trusts the most, held his hand in support.
“With your inspiring words, telling me your secret… How could I say no, All Might? I´ll do my best to succeed you!” Izuku grinned widely, nervous but ecstatic about the Number One Hero´s offer. Camie grinned widely too, her wish of them being Heroes together coming true earlier than expected.
“That is what I thought you would say, Midoriya-shounen, thank you.” All Might put a hand on one of his now protégé´s shoulders.
“It will not be easy, seeing as you are right now, but it is definitely possible to get you ready for the practical part of UA´s Entrance Exams. I want you to meet me in Dagoba Municipal Beach Park tomorrow at sunrise, we will start then!”
“Yes! Although, All Might…”
“Yes, Midoriya-shounen?”
“May I be a little selfish?”
All Might raised an eyebrow, curious where that was going.
“Can… Camie also be trained by you? If possible, anyways… You´ve seen how much she means to me, and I want her to have the best possible chance to pass UA´s exams too. I´d love for us to be in the same class together if I pass, being heroes together… We promised each other we would when we were younger.”
(Midoriya-shounen has a support system… Good, I won't let him make the same mistakes I made.)
All Might laughed. “Of course, it's possible! Although, she won't be doing the same work as you´re gonna be doing, we have to build your body to be able to handle One for All. You´ll see what I mean tomorrow. What do you think, Utsushimi-shoujo, up to the challenge?”
“Yes, All Might! I promised Izuku-kun I´d always be here for him, thank you for the opportunity fr!” Camie gleefully smiled, hugging her green-haired bestie, who blushed at the physical contact.
Izuku then chuckled. “Who knew Camie would turn out to be such a hardworking person? Definitely not, like, the same girl I met in middle school.”
She pouted and crossed her arms. “Look who's talking! You could´ve totes gotten into a dojo or something.”
“That much is true, I have no excuse for that. Thankfully, we got the chance to make it right, ne?”
“Totes!”
All Might coughed lightly. “Sorry to interrupt your little moment, youth. But it's getting late, and it's time for all of us to get ready for tomorrow.” He smiled behind his fist.
Both of them blushed. “R-Right!”
“You know, hearing your story together, it reminded me that when I was back in America, I learnt an interesting expression that would define you two.” He grinned teasingly at the pair of potential future heroes.
They gulped.
“By the way you talk about one another, it seems to me that you were a Domino Effect for each other.”
“Domino Effect? What do you mean?”
“Yes. When one event sets off a series of related events, a chain reaction, if you will. Very fitting, from what I learnt from you both today!”
“Hey, do you know the existence of Hero Duos?”
Izuku got excited, and answered to the best of his abilities. “Of course! Sometimes, heroes find a partner that covers their weaknesses, though it does require for them to have a lot of chemistry, and that's why there aren't a lot of them present today. They set up their agency together, even if that means that there´s double the pressure on them solving cases…”
“Like Water Hose! They had loads of success fr, before dying two years ago. Scary af…”
“Bang on, you two! Now what if I told you there are Hero Duos at the top that you don't know about?”
Izuku widened his eyes in amazement. “There are?! OMG, I got to write these down in my notebook, that would mean some of the weaknesses I thought of are null, and new ones can appear- “
All Might grabbed Izuku´s hand. “No, Midoriya-shounen. You never know if villains get a hold of your notebooks, it's best if you keep this information to yourself! Wouldn't want to put hero colleagues in danger, right? HAHAHAHAHA!” (Can´t tell him I would also get my ears blown off if this came out to the public…)
“That is true, All Might, sorry…” Camie sighed comically, and he started to scratch the back of his head while slightly chuckling.
“No worries, Midoriya-shounen! Anyway, there is Mt. Lady with Kamui Woods, and Midnight with Present Mic! Just a little suggestion for the both of you, I see plenty of potential! Also, just for the record, it´d be best if while I'm in this form, you call me Toshinori, is that okay? This needs to be a secret like the rest…”
“Yes, Toshinori-sensei!”
“Good. With that being said, see you later, youth! ALL MIGHT, AWAY!!”
All Might buffed up, and jumped away in the distance. Izuku and Camie relaxed, ready for what's coming, knowing they got a tough time ahead of them, but willing to put in the effort. They began their way home again, with Camie eventually cutting off the silence on the way.
“So, Hero Duos… That's something we, like, didn´t consider, Izuku-kun. And Domino Effect… It sounds totes cool! Like, seriously, although with what we know now, you´ll be picking up most of the slack considering your Quirk…”
Izuku stopped. “No. We´ll be doing it together, I won´t have it otherwise! There's plenty of situations where my Quirk won´t be as reliable as yours, we´re equals. Besides, how cool would it be if Maboromikemi and Deku showed up at the scene together?” He smiled widely, blowing her doubts away, and Camie widened her eyes, remembering something he said when they were younger.
(`D-don´t you dare mock her Quirk, Kacchan! It's strong and it´s versatile, she´s gonna be a great Hero one day, I'm sure of it! ` )
(I love him. Like, seriously. After everything we´ve been through, how could I not?)
“FR! Domino Effect it is.” Camie giggled. “Glad to have you with me, partner.”
“Me too, partner!” He hugged her.
She suddenly stopped walking.
“Camie? -“
“?!”
As soon as he turned back to her, he felt a pair of lips on his own. His eyes opened wide in shock, not expecting this (ever, so he thought). Camie stepped back, with a visible blush and a look he never saw on her face, while his was completely red.
“C-camie?! W-why- did you? –“
“Well… like, being totes honest here, I´d like us to be partners in more than one sense of the word. You´re the one person that fr has been there for me for the longest time; You didn't find the way I yapped weird, nor did you want to get close to me because I was the school queen; Like, you saw me how I truly am, and you fully believed in me like no one else did. Plus, you defended me from Bakugo, even if that meant sometimes you came home singed, injured and with your uniform torn. Your looks too: your hair is fluffy and nice fr, your green eyes are so pretty, the way your freckles make a diamond on each side is cute, and your smile is contagious! You´re a catch, Izuku-kun, anyone would be lucky to date you.” She finished with a smile.
“B-but I'm not…”
“Izuku Midoriya, if you say you're not worthy, I´m gonna kiss you until you get it through your thick skull. You're not what Bakugo and everyone else says you are, I thought you been knew this.”
Izuku would never admit how scary she looked then.
“S-sorry. But… I-I feel the same. You know my history better than anyone, I didn't think relationships would ever be possible for me, especially with my Quirkless status… Hell, you´re the first girl I ever talked to and got close with, and yet you never brought me down like the rest, instead lifted me up and you were a constant reminder to believe in myself, and that I would be okay as long as you were there."
"Today was the best day of my life, and you being there made it even better; I'd be lucky to date someone as amazing and pretty as you, Camie, if you will have me, t-that is.” He grabbed her hand and held it with a smile, surprisingly more confident than she thought he would be.
“Yup!” Camie giggled. “It's totes official then, Izuku-kun.”
She wrapped herself around his right arm, and intertwined their hands together. Suddenly, she got self-conscious of what she did before, heavily blushing and muttering “OMG, I just kissed Izuku-kun…” under her breath, with Izuku also blushing and chuckling at her reaction.
“Would Y-you like to do it again, Camie?”
She seriously considered it, before deciding on something else.
“Later. You know what we´ll do, handsome~?”
“W-what- handsome?!”
“We´ll face the embarrassment of bringing it up with our parents, then we´re gonna go rest early cause we totes got a busy day tomorrow.”
She began dragging him towards home.
“…God-damn it, I love her.”
“Love you too, Izuku-kun.” She kissed him again.
“Remind me to work on my muttering tomorrow?”
She laughed loudly, and both of them couldn't wait to see how their lives would go after today.