Chapter Text
Izuku Midoriya was standing silently in line to get his food from the school's cafeteria, and he already knew exactly what he wanted, but just hoped that even due to his tardiness he still got to enjoy a warm plate of Katsudon. Why was he late? Well, maybe the fact that the number one hero wanted to speak to him about something in private didn't help, and the fact that he had seen the bulky man shaking in fear did not help. However, when All Might explained to him that he actually did get an internship request from his old teacher that also knew about One For All. He was ecstatic and couldn't wait, but he had no one to tell this to. So he decided to go to lunch leaving All Might behind, not before hearing him curse about how the microwave did not heat up his food evenly. He found himself in an odd situation, listening to a voice he recognized and one he didn't talk about the internship and he didn't know how long he could keep his mouth shut.
"So we are both going to Uwabami's agency for the internship? That's great!"
"Yes, I really do hope that the experience helps us to gather information on hero work that we will need to use later on. Or maybe just hero skills in general and learning from her."
Izuku took one small glance back and saw his class Vice President Momo Yaoyorozu along with an orange haired girl who had it in a ponytail fashion similar to Yaoyorozu. He didn't know her full name but recognized her as Kendo or 'big sis Kendo' from what he heard from some class 1-B students in the hallways of the school. They also had arrived late because of their duties as class representatives, Kendo being the class president in contrast to Yaoyorozu. 'Okay, you can do this, you know about Uwabami, it doesn't matter they are girls...... beautiful girls.... but come on just don't interrupt or be friendly. DO IT!'
"I really want to see if she can teach me in any other fighting style other than some basic martial arts or how to use my quirk better."
"A-actually, y-you may n-not get to d-do that..." 'Aaaand you ruined it, well done Izuku' He trailed off as he regretted butting into the conversation in a manner that could be disrespectful and to the girl that wasn't even in his class.
Still, she decided to give him the benefit of the doubt, knowing that with just how shy he sounded and the lack of confidence he emitted, then there must be a good reason for his statement. "Okay, why do you say that um.... Midoriya, right?"
He blinked a few times, not really knowing how she knew his name. Completely oblivious to the fact that he not only held amazing power, but had also had arguably the best fight in the entire sports festival with Todoroki just a few days ago. "U-um, y-yeah, that's m-me."
Both girls had to stifle a laughter when he pointed at him with both his thumbs, but Yaoyorozu having seen first hand just how awkward he could be, decided to continue. "Well Midoriya, care to explain why you said that?"
They moved along the line where each of them asked for their food politely before he decided to speak up as to not interrupt any further. "Y-you see, Uwabami i-is a rescue hero, meaning t-that she m-may know some f-fighting styles but probably just the b-basics. S-she could teach you h-how to use your quirk better in rescue situations but she also holds a standard quirk that can only be trained in terms of sensitivity, not combat, so may-"
He stopped when he felt a small poke at his shoulder, and looked to see Kendo with an amused look that he couldn't quite place. "Um, great analysis Midoriya but we are kinda just standing here and you were starting to gain speed."
Looking around, there were not many seats available, so he had to give his small moment of victory at a bit of small talk with a girl that wasn't Uraraka a pause, not knowing how to continue onwards.
"Still Midoriya, your analysis is quite insightful and you are the best at hero history in class, so care to join us at a table and continue discussing? The information may be useful."
Ever so formal Yaoyorozu had thought nothing of the request, but Izuku was far more different and felt like he was living in a dream right now, but he couldn't pinch himself to make sure he wasn't asleep due to the tray he was holding, so he just nodded and went along with it, hoping he wouldn't wake up.
As they sat down, there was a moment of silence, not really knowing what to do in this situation, as they had little to no interactions between each other before. Not liking the unpleasant silence, Kendo cleared her voice before speaking. "So can you continue Midoriya?, without starting to pick up speed like a Yamaha Motorcycle."
"Y-yeah o-of course. S-so like I said, Uwabami is a rescue hero so you will probably be staying out of c-combat for a w-while. Furthermore, s-she is very popular with the m-media, so you may learn about that heroing aspect as well."
"Well that's a bummer, I really wanted to improve my combat skills."
"Me too, after my fight with Tokoyami, I really need to improve on my combat, especially after such an embarrassing loss."
Izuku started to panic, fearing that he had caused the dampening of his classmate and schoolmate's mood. He understood what it felt like not being able to improve or not being enough. Self doubt was just one of his many issues, but he could not bear the sight of having to see that in someone else. He had to fix this. So he decided to do the best thing he knew how to do throughout his middle school days and that is apologise for no apparent reason and throw praise.
"I-I'm s-sorry, b-but t-think about it t-this way. Y-you will be i-improving on one of the k-key aspects of being a h-hero. C-considering w-we missed the USJ l-lesson, this is g-great for you Y-Yaoyorozu. P-plus, y-your quirk is the m-most versatile of the class, m-making you p-perfect for a-any situation. A-and Kendo, I b-believe y-your quirk a-also gives you a s-strength b-boost, s-so you a-are of great h-help in m-many situations. Y-you both have so m-much potential and c-control over y-your quirks. I-if I m-may be able to learn something at m-my internship, then I'm s-sure you'll do m-much better. S-so don't f-feel bad, and r-remember that anything that happens at the i-internship will probably help y-you in the future."
The girls just stared at him with wide eyes after his little stuttering speech and could not believe that they now knew as probably the most nervous kid on campus had just said what they both needed to hear. For Yaoyorozu, due to her fight against Tokoyami, she was feeling devastated and was not showing just how much she really needed someone to give her even the tiniest confident boost, but Izuku had just practically called her perfect for any situation. Completely different from the 'perfect' compliment she would get due to her body from the boys in and out of school.
Kendo on the other hand just wanted to hear that someone believed in her other than her parents and close friends. Yeah, she had a quirk, but big hands and knowing some martial arts isn't exactly the flashiest thing, nor the girliest thing. But Izuku here had just told her that she had unbelievable potential and control over her quirk that she didn't truly believe, but in comparison to Izuku, she was much better, considering he was constantly breaking bones.
"Thank you Midoriya, that's really nice of you." Yaoyorozu could only nod as she was still deep in thought how someone that she barely took note of before could become the friend she needs at this point in time.
'Okay, so that's done, and this may be a long shot but I already have my notebook and pencil in hand' "A-anyways, d-do y-you mind if I a-ask q-questions about your q-quirk Kendo?"
"Ahem, Yeah sure, go ahead."
And he fired away, his stuttering becoming less prominent as time passed until he finally lost it completely as he jolted down notes, theories and sometimes mumbling out loud earning a few chuckles from both Kendo and Yaoyorozu. It was amazing how invested he was and truly interested in just quirks in general, viewing all the possibilities that even the most useless quirk could have.
"And finally, I know you said it's called 'Big Hands', but can you also increase the size of other body parts or the size at which you expand your hands?"
"Well yeah, I can actually control the size but I need to work on it. It takes a lot of concentration, and I mean a lot. But on the other body parts is a hard pass. I wish I was like Mt. Lady and could spread out my size evenly, the strength and power wouldn't be so concentrated and much easier to use."
"Yeah you're right if you could do that then..... it would be much easier." 'Wait a second, spread evenly across, that's what All Might wanted with his food in the microwave. If I were to use my entire body....'
The class representatives could hear him mumble somethings along the lines of microwaves, food, lifting with your entire body and becoming big all together until they saw him light up like a light bulb and with wide eyes and staring directly at Kendo who got a tiny bit freaked out do to how fast he went from scribbling notes to just pure excitement.
"Kendo you're a genius thank you!"
"Well thanks for the compliment but what do you mean?"
"I'm Mt. Lady!"
"Did you fry your brain with how fast you were writing or......"
"Nonono, I am microwaved food!"
"..... Yaoyorozu can you do some sort of drug tester like some sort of drug litmus paper?"
"Wait no! I mean, I've been using my quirk wrong, thinking of it like moving it from part to part, but I need to have it active in my entire body!"
And just after he said that, he got up, bent his legs a bit and started to let One For All course through his entire body, imagining the egg not breaking and feeling a much easier and better control over his quirk, as green lightning started dancing over his body and the red vein like marks in his body disappeared.
"Wow dude, that's amazing!"
Both Momo and Itsuka couldn't believe what they were seeing, as not only was Izuku not breaking his bones while using his quirks, but he started to emit this aura around him that wasn't necessarily the lightning. As if he were inspiring progress and power at the same time. However, it ended as fast as it started but apparently Izuku had no idea what happened until a gruff voice came from behind him.
"Midoriya, don't use your quirk in the middle of the cafeteria, or whatever that was. I don't want to label you as a problem child so early into the school year. Also, class is about to start, so get going."
"Sorry sir, yes sir,"
He went back and grabbed his tray from his table, having eaten most of it at lightning speed. Who could blame him? Katsudon was his guilty pleasure. But he still knew that he had to thank both of the girls for being so nice and welcoming, something he was sure he did not experience his entire life, really being the odd one out.
"T-thank you so m-much for e-eating with me a-and for c-conversing with me. I k-know I'm pretty plain and w-weird s-so thanks."
"No problem Midoriya, I'll see you in a few moments in class."
"Yeah, bye Midoriya, see you later."
They watched him go away as he had a smile on his face, the first one that Yaoyorozu had seen from him all year, considering he sat in front of her, and the first one Kendo had seen, but there was something that had bothered both Kendo and Yaoyorozu. Especially the orange haired girl.
"He thinks too low of himself and downplays his achievements and himself in general." Kendo voiced her thoughts while Yaoyorozu could only nod understandingly, having heard how he used himself as the negative example, the lowest point. And this was something that Kendo couldn't just let pass. She did not take crap from anyone and wouldn't let anyone she knew take crap, encouraging that they should stand up for themselves and prove everyone wrong, just like she did. No one believed in the girl that could only change the size of her hands to get into U.A., even with her constant top grades back in her middle school. So, even if she could barely consider Izuku an acquaintance, she would make sure that whenever they were together, she would help his self esteem and try to teach him how to view himself in a better light. Still, she doubted that they would be seeing each other again.
'Izuku Midoriya, what an interesting guy.' And just like that, she headed to class as the bell would soon be ringing, signaling the last few sets of classes before heading back home and resting for the next day.
"Young Midoriya, I understand that you wanted to meet me here at the beach, but I'm sorry if I didn't understand when you said you were, and I quote, 'microwaved food'." All Might knew of the egg in the microwave analogy and still couldn't believe the things that led to his successor making progress with One For All. Sure, it was bizarre, but if it helped him stay away from hospital beds then he wouldn't question it.
"Right, sorry. So I had lunch with Kendo and Yaoyorozu and after she said something I got an idea and well, let me show you." He repeated his process back at the cafeteria, and saw the green lightning start arching around his body, but the smile he held was something that All Might would cherish forever as he had only seen his student smile so brightly on very few occasions.
"Well done young Midoriya, I say that your limit is probably 5 percent so keep it at that. Now, can you move?"
"I-I don't know."
All Might turned into his buff form before taking a wrestling stance and looked at the green haired boy in the eye. "Now young Midoriya, let's see what this 'full cowling' can do against this old pro."
Midoriya dashed forward, feeling the air rush past him and speed he had only imagined of having, trying to savour the feeling of high speed movement before fighting his mentor. He wasn't sure what his plan was, but damn did that speed feel good.
"You know young Midoriya, you need some combat lessons..." said All Might while panting. He couldn't believe the speed at which Izuku moved and even had trouble keeping up at times with his fast movements and even faster adaptability, but how he fought was amateur at best. Although he did have an idea.
"You said that this happened because of a conversation with young Kendo and young Yaoyorozu?" He asked, to which Midoriya just nodded mindlessly, still trying to catch his breath. He had to admit, fighting All Might was an exercise in itself and couldn't help but feel a small amount of pain for the low time villains that had to face him.
"Well, you might want to keep them close, considering that young Yaoyorozu is very smart and young Kendo is very skilled in martial arts. You can learn from your classmates too, not only your teachers. Plus, they seem to already be a good influence on you."
"Y-yeah, you are probably right, but I can't just ask Kendo to teach me martial arts or Yaoyorozu to tutor me."
"Sure you can, they seem like good people and would surely understand."
"All Might, it isn't t-that easy."
"I know that it isn't your strong suit, but if you managed to break the ice today, then I'm confident you could find a way around this. I believe in you. Now go home before your mother gets worried."
Izuku wiped the tears that were forming in his eyes, his crybaby trait showing just by his idol saying he believed in him. Still, he stood up and waved All Might goodbye before heading back home and making a few preparations.
"I can't wait for my internship with Gran Torino. Thanks All Might, I'll see you later."
He watched him speed off into the streat, already seeing how the spark of greatness was slowly becoming a flame inside the boy, feeling nothing but pride in his chosen successor. From a skinny, weird and quirkless kid to a buff, weird and super powerful kid.
"Yeah..... Gran Torino is going to kick him to the ground...." Feeling a small bit of sympathy for the hell he would be putting Izuku through for the next week.