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Izuku had to admit that his dad wasn’t exactly the best person in the world, nor was he the friendliest, and while his ideals and opinions of the world were correct he went about them in less than pleasant ways. But he still cared for the green haired teen and he was the only person in the whole world who believed Izuku was actually capable of something, even without a quirk. He still remembers the response he got when he regretfully told the man that he didn’t have a power “quirk or not, you have the will of a true hero. The soul of someone who’s worthy. I thought that Allmight was the only worthy one. Now I see otherwise. But you. You have the potential to be something great. And I will help you do so.” he freckled boy had just had his dreams crushed by the hero he admired the most just an hour prior. And this man who he would soon find himself calling dad mended it and ignited a new spark of determination.
At first he was just his teacher, a mentor who the boy looked up to and admired. After a very tragic incident whIch Izuku doesn’t like thinking about, the poor boy was left with nothing and heroes once again let him down. And his mentor was there to help him pick up the pieces.
That villain attack was one of the worst days of his life. Only a month and a half since he last considered the words of his childhood friend, since Allmight destroyed his hopes and dreams, since he ran at that slime villain, since he met Stain for the first time. One month and a half after that rollercoaster there was a villain attack in Izukus neighborhood. The boy had been a few streets over picking up some groceries. His mom wanted to come along but Izuku insisted on letting her rest at home and doing the shopping himself. On his way back a light shined and a huge monstrous villain emerged from the crowd and started a rampage. The small teen couldn’t contain himself and tailed the Villain and heroes after it. The excitement quickly turned to horror however as the trail of toppling buildings and screaming civilians grew closer and closer to his apartment building. And it all came crashing down as his home did. He remembers slipping past the heros rushing after the large destructive villain. He used the skills Stain taught him to vult, swing, and parkour his way to his collapsed apartment building. When he finally found his mother she was badly hurt but still alive. It didn't stay that way. Izuku was quick on his feet but not physically strong enough yet. He strained himself lifting the heavy support beam off of his unconscious mother and then had to haul her up and out. He yelled for help and the most he got was a grimace and an apologetic look from two heros who rushed past them. Izuku couldn't understand how heros would just ignore someone in need. A child and his mother no less. Looking around he noticed many other hurt civilians making their way out of the rubble on their own. Izuku struggled to choose between helping them and focusing on his mom but as he did Stain showed up. His mentor took his mom and rushed her to a nearby hospital while Izuku ran around helping who he could until other heros showed up half an hour later and started rescuing people from the rubble. Inko passed later that day in the hospital and Izuku had lost his home and his heart. With nowhere to go he wandered back to the wreckage where he found Stain already shifting through and picking out anything that survived the calamity, setting the stuff in bags and boxes. Noticing the boy the self proclaimed vigilante pat his head and told him that from now on he was under the one and only hero killers care, whereupon the teen started sobbing.
From then on Izuku lived and trained with Stain. And while he hadn't killed anyone yet he did occasionally trail heros and gather information for his adoptive father. Izuku didn't really want to kill anyway and if he did he doubted Stain would have taken an interest in the greenet at all. Actually he once told Izuku he didn't expect him to kill, and if he did Stain made it clear it should be for a good reason. He knew that while Izuku respected and admired the man and his message, he still had a few issues with how the villain went about doing things. He was coming around, slowly, but Stain in return also respected Izuku and the way he prefered to do things. The boy had no issue in learning and executing lethal blows however. When he started he knew he was weak, and he knew that without a quirk he was at a disadvantage. While others could train without the worry of getting too severely hurt thanks to their quirks and focused on control of said powers and how to hold back, Izuku didn't have that luxury. Against someone with a quirk they could use it to defend themselves or add unbelievable power that could and would definitely kill someone who was quirkless. The green haired teen had to defend and dodge as though someone was trying to murder him and attack with the intention to kill, or he wouldn't make it through a single show match. It wouldn't be the other's fault, after all who wouldn't use a quirk in a fight if they had one? And while Izuku would fight with the intention to kill he wouldn't aim for it, and the opponent could avoid it easily enough with their quirk.
Izuku had to work a little more lethally but at the end of the day that's the only thing that would put him on equal ground. For the past few months Izuku has been training nonstop, and trailing a few heros around. His dad's teachings really were rubbing off on the kid and while he didn't agree with the methods he couldn't deny that the hero system and the heros in it were quite corrupt at this point. As the days passed Izuku found himself caring less and less about the hero world and what happened to them. Don't get it wrong, quirks were still unbelievably incredible things and Izuku still got a kick out of analyzing both hero and villain along with their quirks and how they're used as well as other ways they could be utilized. Stain told him it was a good hobby and it would help him in the future. "Know your friends and know your enemies better than they know themselves. It's a good rule of thumb. Just in case. But above that it's a talent no one else has. Your notebooks and analysis are more impressive than you think. You are amazing and what you do is amazing. I would go as far as to call it your quirk." This really made the freckled kids day. His life really. Never in his wildest dreams did he think someone would actually say that to him and genuinely mean it. It was heartwarming, until the moment was ruined with a punch to the guy and a reminder to focus. It was common practice to have a conversation while they sparred and trained, it helped turn the fighting into an instinct or the talking into background noise. Both heros and villains like to banter, but it can lead to slip ups and that can lead to defeat. So his dad insisted that he learn how to turn both into a subconscious act when needed. Keep the other engaged in the showmanship and no matter how bad the situation seems you can turn it around. Words are weapons as well, just as sharp as any sword and just as powerful as any quirk if used correctly.
This is what was happening at the moment actually. Izuku and Stain were in the middle of the forest, swords in hand, various other sharp tools hidden away on their persons as they weaved through the trees throwing various sharp objects at each other. They were speaking on the subject of Izuku's schooling. Since his mother passed Izuku had switched to online classes. He was content doing so and he reminded Stain of this as he raised his sword blocking a hit that pushed him down on a knee. The metal clanged against each other and Izuku was quick to push his opponents blade away and use the momentum to roll to the side to be narrowly missed by a dagger that flew past and embedded itself deep in the dirt where the boy once was. Stain reiterated that a physical school was always an option, and a good one. While his father was quite a loner and he advocated for being sceptical of companionship of any kind and constantly told the kid to be very careful in who he places his trust in, he was also worried about the boy's social life. He was young and hormonal. Stain often told Izuku that while being cautious of others is good and working as a lone wolf is not only convenient but safe, humans are not solitary creatures. He pointed it out almost daily, that humans are pack animals. "We're social creatures Izuku. You may want to stay by yourself, and I know you often feel as though you have everything you need and you can function just fine on your own, that isn't always true. Quirk or not we are only human. Sometimes we need help. And sometimes, we just need company. You're a teenager, you need company the most in this stage of your life. School would be good for you." Izuku rolled his eyes and almost got another dagger in the arm for his troubles. He shifted his body watching the small blade graze his skin while it tore a hole in his shirt and pinned it to a tree. He got scolded for that one and the conversation continued as the boy rushed forward swinging his trusty katana at the man "I know. But I'm fine. I get plenty of interactions from you and the neighbors and the dog park. What do i need that school could possibly give me?" He swiped at his guardians legs and the other jumped over the swinging blade and kicked the boy in the chest sending him back a few steps and knocking him to the ground. "Friends'' the man brought his sword down and the greenet raised his own just in time to stop the blade from coming down across his chest. His back was pressed firmly against the grass as his mentor hovered over him and pushed the blade down on the boy laying on the ground. Blade across his chest, one hand gripping the handle, the other pushing up on the flat of his own blade to try and put more space between him and his father's unbelievably sharp weapon he shifted "I have friends" he managed to push out through gritted teeth. "Friends your age Izuku." The boy gave a shove of his sword up against the other and kicked Stains hand causing him to let go of the blade's handle. The weapon went flying and Izuku somersaulted back and onto his feet. "You said others can be detrimental to one's life." In the blink of an eye the kid's own sword was sweeped out of his hands and to the ground and he was pinned to a tree with a blade against his neck. "I never said in what way. Detrimental doesn't always mean bad." The adult sighed and lowered his short sword while Izuku relaxed his posture and caught his breath.
He was sweaty and tired, Stain while definitely in better shape than the kid was also a little sweaty and was breathing a little harder than usual. "Izuku, while an ally can be potentially dangerous and always a gamble, they can also be valuable and very good assets. While you have the possibility of loss you have no chance of winning if you don't play." The boy let out a sigh of his own. "Fine, I get it."
"I don't want to force you to do anything kid. But this would really be good for you. Not to mention it would double as a very important mission."
"A mission?"
"Yes. One that could change the world."
"How would me going to school do that?"
"You're not blinded by the glamour of the heros like most teens are. You know the truth. You can see the corruption and you know what needs to be fixed." The teacher turned around and began gathering his scattered weapons. "Yeah? Your point dad?" the student followed his lead also collecting all of the blades that he had thrown about. "Why don't we enroll you into UA? You'll be joining a little late and you will have to take a specialized exam for exchange students. But i have no doubt you can pass it." The kid shook his head in disbelief of the suggestion. "Wait what? UA? But that's the school that breeds the biggest, worst heros!"
"Exactly Izuku. We can cut it at the source. I'm not asking you to kill anybody. But this is how you can purge the next generation of that filth. Its maybe time to start going about it a different way. Try a more...Izuku method. Go in and influence them. Teach them. Make the new generation good heros. This is something only you can do. So." Stain pocketed his last knife and sheathed his sword grinning at the kid. "Are you ready to change the world in your way son?" Izuku grinned back "When you put it like that. I'm more than ready, Dad." With a nod, a ruffle of green curls, and a pat on the back, the two began making their way back home discussing how to get Izuku enrolled in the first place.