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Midoriya Izuku saw the beauty in heroics.
Ever since he first saw the All Might rescue video, he wanted to be like him. He wanted to be a hero. He wanted to be like his all time favorite hero. Midoriya couldn’t wait to be a hero!
He was four and he got the worst news of his little life. He is quirkless. He has no quirk. Nothing from his mom. Nothing from his dad. Nothing. How could he be a hero?
“I’m so sorry, Izuku!”
Midoriya just cries as he slowly lets go of his figurine. He was hoping for some support from his mom. At least something comforting and that dream isn’t fully dead. No. All he got was an apology.
His whole daycare found out. Those from the neighborhood found out. Everyone found out. A quirkless kid in this new generation. Impossible, right? Not so much as about twenty percent of the population didn’t have a quirk. The statistics were horrifying in terms of suicides, homicides, drug problems. Did anyone care?
No. No one cared. After all, they were bottom of the barrel in this new society. They had no time to deal with them. Even those who were villains were thankful they weren’t quirkless.
Midoriya went through hell. He was called names, teased, bullied, cast aside. No one wanted someone like him next to them. But he didn’t care. Not really. He found a new passion. Hero Analysis. This way, he could at least mentally prepare himself. He would do anything and everything to be a hero.
His childhood best friend, Bakugo Katsuki, was not his best friend much anymore. Ever since that one little incident, everything changed. He was the main instigator, but no one would believe him. He had such a powerful quirk while he was just a Deku.
Deku. He didn’t like it, but he didn’t say anything. That would just anger Bakugo.
Life went on for Midoriya. He still saw the beauty in heroics, wanting to be a hero so badly. He wanted to be like All Might.
He wrote and wrote. He filled up many journals, exploring many heroes and even his own family. Midoriya just wanted to be ready. He would apply to UA, would try to pass everything even the practical exam. To do that, he needed to train.
Midoriya started his physical training at the age of ten. His mom signed him up for martial arts, even did his own workouts. He was a smart kid, he knew what to do.
“Why do you even try? You won’t ever be a hero. No one would accept you. You’re Deku.”
Midoriya trained hard. He everything he could to prepare himself. He did his best to block out the words he was told everyday at school. He would ignore his mother’s tears as she kept crying about his diagnosis. He would ignore the whispers from the adults he knew.
He ignored it all and focused on one goal.
To be a hero.
Midoriya started to question the beauty of heroics when he was twelve.
There were some things he would see in public that was never mentioned in the news. He would see heroes neglecting their duties sometimes. Heroes would be more focused on the cameras on them than the mission. There would be citizens who seemed to be arrested for minor offenses.
Midoriya kept a close eye on it. It made him wonder what truly motivated these heroes. He knows heroes are famous and they earn good money, but is that all they cared about? Did they not care about actually saving people and making the world a better place. Odd.
Midoriya tried to push away his doubts but couldn’t. He would sneak out at night, climb up buildings, and watch from above. (He added climbing up buildings in his training.) Midoriya would watch heroes who would abandon their station, would lazy around and seemed to not care.
Why would they do this? Midoriya saw a criminal run off with someone’s purse, while a hero patrolling was on the phone. It makes him frown, it makes him feel heat in his body.
Is this anger? He can’t really tell. He has suppressed so many emotions, that it’s hard to tell which is which. Maybe it was, and he would say it is reasonable anger.
These heroes were disappointing.
Midoriya was starting to question his beliefs. He was starting to think that maybe heroics isn’t that beautiful.
He was now fourteen, in his last year of secondary school. He was still thinking of applying to UA, feeling ready. He still had training he was working on, but he felt confident. However, that died a little as his teacher announced he wanted to apply there.
It didn’t help that Bakugo was always in the same class as him. Midoriya had slowly started to part himself away from him, starting to accept that he and Bakugo may not be friends. He has done so since he was twelve. It hurt, but it was for the better.
“Hey Deku!”
Oh great. Not this again.
Midoriya turns to face, listening to him speak. His eyes dart over to his lackeys, seeing them smirk and laugh. Midoriya looks at Bakugo and sees him take his journal and insult him. He stays quiet as he uses his quirk to burn his notebook and throws it out the window. He wanted to say something, that intense heat coming back in the pit of his stomach.
“You know if you really want to be a hero that badly, there's actually another way. Just pray that you'll be born with a quirk in your next life and take a swan dive off the roof of the building.”
That makes his head snap over to Bakugo as he now stood by the entrance. He watches him leave and feels his hands shake. Idiot, doesn’t he know it’s illegal to suicide bait?
Midoriya sighs as he picks up his notebook from the pond it fell in. No point in reporting, not like the teachers cared anyways. He holds it as he walks home, his mind empty. He just wanted to lie in bed for today.
However, of course that wouldn’t happen. He was attacked by some sludge villain, and then he blacked out. When he awoke, he sees his all time favorite hero above him. He gets his autograph, and he feels his day brighten compared to what happened. He has All Might’s signature!
This was an amazing day now! He felt like everything would get better from now on. Then, All Might had to leave. Before he knew it, he was clinging to his leg as he flew up high. He felt a surge of relief when they landed on a roof.
“All Might, Is it possible to become a hero even if I don't have a quirk? I'm a normal kid without any powers. I want to be able to help and save people, just like you, with a smile.”
“Pro heroes are always having to risk their lives. Some villains just can't be bitten without powers. So no, I honestly don't think you can be a hero without a quirk.”
He didn’t expect the answer he got. He listens to what All Might says, feeling his whole world view shatter. Midoriya looks at All Might as he stood up, not even being able to swallow down the knot in his throat.
“ I’m sorry, Izuku.”
“Just pray that you'll be born with a quirk in your next life and take a swan dive off the roof of the building.”
“So no, I honestly don't think you can be a hero without a quirk.”
Midoriya looks down at his feet as All Might walks away, his hands balling up into fists. He grits down his teeth, feeling tears stream down his face. He looks over at All Might, the burning sensation intense.
“All you heroes are alike,” Midoriya speaks up, making All Might stop in his tracks, “All you care about is the media. I never wanted to believe it, seeing as you get to save heroes. But you just supported that theory. I’ve seen heroes who don’t save civilians, being less than thirty feet away. That’s what you guys get paid for!
You are to help us! To support us citizens! To protect the weak! You were my inspiration on everything! I had my mom sign me up for martial arts, and then I started training myself! I want to be a hero, and I will be a hero no matter what you say! I will prove to you, that even as quirkless Deku, I can do it! You will regret your words, All Might.”
Midoriya doesn’t know where he got that confidence, but he felt good. He felt really good about it. He grabs his bag and walks to the door, ignoring as All Might called for him. He walks down the stairs, panting and needing to get away fast.
He saw the truth, the bullshit hiding behind the curtain, the lies they spread to the nation.
Midoriya should be deterred away from heroics, but he wanted to be one out of spite. He would prove that their words are bullshit.
Midoriya Izuku would show that he, a quirkless human, could be a hero too.
He loved All Might, but now he hated him.
Midoriya Izuku didn’t see the beauty in the heroics.