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Izuku Midoriya was made of wood.
Katsuki watched the smoke from his quirk drift away, a few embers catching the light.
Izuku Midoriya was made of fucking wood.
"What the hell, Deku has a quirk after all!" Wings exclaimed in disbelief.
Fingers retracted his quirk. "Holy hell, I thought your grandpa said he was definitely quirkless, Tsubasa?"
"Yeah, he did." Wings murmured. "What are we gonna do, Bakugo?"
"Tch." Katsuki lowered his hand. "The Deku isn't worth it. Huh, I guess I was right after all."
The Deku seemed to go slack, his skin returning to normal.
Katsuki turned, the extras copying him.
"That quirk, it isn't that bad."
The years went by, the emergence of Izuku's quirk only made his will to become a hero stronger.
Even then people told him his quirk wasn't suited to being a hero. Izuku couldn't use it to do anything but turn his body, his whole body, into wood.
It wasn't like Kamui Woods, he couldn't grow branches, he didn't have super-strength. But even then, Kacchan's words of acknowledgment kept him going.
Their friendship wasn't as strong as it had been before their quirks came in, more of a one-way rivalry in truth.
"You're planning on applying for UA as well, aren't you Midoriya?"
Izuku looked up from his Hero Analysis notebook, before shrinking down in his seat when he realised everyone's eyes were on him.
"Really? With a weak quirk like his."
"Yeah, you can't get in on good grades alone."
"Midoriya's like a budget version of Kamui Woods."
"Cram it!"
Kacchan's hand slammed down on his desk, releasing a small explosion that instantly silenced the classroom.
"You're all just jealous." Kacchan growled. "Deku's the only one of you extras with a halfway decent quirk so you just want to rip him down to make yourselves feel better."
Izuku gave a small smile, heartened by the blond's words.
"Plus, his quirk makes him an excellent punching bag for me to train on."
And there's the Kacchan I know.
Izuku flicked through his notebook, comparing the analysis he'd done of the new hero, Mt. Lady, with his previous one, making sure there was nothing he'd forgotten to add.
"Hm, a medium-sized skinsuit, better have a decent quirk."
A jolt of panic ran through Izuku, activating his fear response, but before he could react green sludge suddenly engulfed him.
Izuku clawed at his mouth as the sludge poured down it, suffocating him.
On instinct Izuku activated his quirk, his wooden fingers allowing him to grab brief breaths as he dug through the sludge.
"Huh, made of wood, that's kinda useless, not to mention boring." The villain grumbled. "Oi, stop struggling, I need to hide before the smiling bastard shows up."
Smiling bastard, that must mean a hero, I just need to hold on a little longer!
Getting another mouthful of air, Izuku held it in tight, before digging in again, desperately trying to keep himself alive until help arrived.
"Oh shit, he's here!"
"TEXAS SMASH!"
Wait, Texas Smash? That must mean-
A massive gust of wind hit Izuku and the villain, blowing the latter away entirely.
Izuku dropped to the ground, his wooden body absorbing the blow with only a few scratches.
He didn't black out, but it took a while for Izuku to regain his senses, hacking up lungfuls of sludge as he did.
"Hey, kid! Need a hand up?"
Izuku looked up.
"All Might!" The wooden boy exclaimed, pitching backwards and landing on his buttocks with a crack, his quirk deactivating as he did. "It's really you, you're really here!"
"That I am." The No.1 exclaimed, striking a pose. "And I must apologise for my tardiness, I am not familiar with Mustafu's sewer system quite yet."
Izuku looked around in panic. "The villain, where's the villain?"
"Fear not, young citizen." All Might held up a bottle with familiar sludge inside. "This villain has been safely apprehended."
Izuku spied his notebook, resting to one side, stained but intact. "A-All Might, would it be possible to get your signature?"
Opening the notebook to the first empty page Izuku nearly fainted at the sight of All Might's legendary signature daubed across a double spread.
"You already did it! I'll treasure it forever!"
"I'm glad to hear, kid." All Might smiled, sliding the bottled villain into the leg pocket of his trousers. "But I have to be off, this villain won't turn himself in. Stand back."
Izuku watched as the No.1 Hero began to squat, preparing himself to launch into the sky.
"Really? With a weak quirk like his."
"Yeah, you can't get in on good grades alone."
"Midoriya's like a budget version of Kamui Woods."
"All Might, there's something I need to ask you!"
"I'm afraid I really must be off." All Might replied quickly, his tone strained.
You can't, All Might, there's something I need to ask you!
All Might jumped.
And Izuku held on.
Izuku's mind reeled, still taking in All Might's injury, his emaciated form, it was all too much to handle.
"So, kid." All Might lowered his shirt, hiding his scar. "What you said about being a hero with a weak quirk. The truth is, being a hero is a difficult and dangerous path, even with all my power, I still ended you like this."
Izuku shook, dreading the next words that would come out of his idol's mouth.
"With a weak quirk, I can't recommend that you should become a hero." All Might stood, a forlorn look on his face. "I'm sorry, it's just a sad reality, but you could consider another line of work, perhaps a police officer, or a quirk analyst, the stuff that notebook isn't half bad."
Izuku bowed his head.
All Might, those aren't the words I wanted to hear.
"No, I will become a hero, I'll work twice as hard as everyone else." Izuku stated. "I won't let my dream remain just that, a dream."
All Might smiled sadly. "I wish I could encourage that fire."
And with that he left, Izuku stood alone on the rooftop.
An explosion suddenly ripped through the air, making Izuku stumble slightly.
What was that?
Izuku raced to the railing, staring out at the city to see a massive plume of smoke rising from near where he and All Might had come from.
What bad luck for the same area to get two villain attacks in less than thirty minutes.
Tightening his grip on his notebook, Izuku turned and raced down the stairs, taking them two at a time.
All Might's right, I can't be a hero with just a weak quirk like Wood Body, I need something more, my analysis, like Nedzu or Sir Nighteye.
And to do that Izuku would need to analysis as many villain attacks as possible, if he was lucky he'd make it to this one before it was resolved.
Izuku's feet moved before he could think.
He got halfway to Kacchan before it occurred to him that he should activate his quirk.
What do I do? What do I do? Wait, page twenty-five, that might work!"
Unhooking his backpack, Izuku spun, dodging a slime fist, and hurled it at the villain. A loose pencil flew from the bag along with the rest of its contents, finding its mark, striking the villain in the eye.
The villain howled in a mixture of pain and anger, the sludge retreating and allowing Kacchan to breathe again.
"What the hell are you doing, Deku!" Kacchan yelled, as Izuku clawed through the sludge.
"I don't know, my feet moved before I could think!" Izuku exclaimed, panic in his voice.
Just as the sludge was about to reclaim Kacchan, Izuku found purchase, grasping his friend-stroke-rival's arm and pulling.
"Not so fast!"
Izuku had only managed to get Kacchan halfway free when a sludge fist was brought down on him.
Screwing up his eyes, Izuku did his best to brace himself for the blow.
But it never came.
Opening his eyes, Izuku saw All Might, the hero blocking the villain's arm with his own, the other grabbing Izuku and Kacchan.
"I really am pathetic, I told you the traits that make a great hero, but I see now I wasn't living up to my own words."
All Might pulled Kacchan free, and both he and Izuku clear of the villain.
"Pros are always risking their lives, that's the true mark of a hero!"
All Might reeling his free arm back, forming a fist.
"DETROIT SMASH!"
The sludge villain was completely obliterated, a massive tornado shooting up into the sky.
In seconds the clouds shifted, rain beginning to fall, extinguishing the fires that littered the area.
"Woah, All Might defeated that villain with just one blow."
Izuku looked to his idol, watched as he stumbled slightly, before regaining his footing.
All Might, I see what you mean now. My quirk just isn't strong enough.
Izuku kneeled on the hard asphalt, tears streaming down his face as the sunset lit up All Might's withered form.
"What I should have said on the rooftop earlier." All Might paused. "You too can become a hero."
The tears intensified, Izuku's heart felt like it would burst.
"That's why I've chosen you to inherit my quirk.
Wait, what?!
Izuku released a guttural scream into the morning air, standing atop a massive pile of junk.
The air finally leaving his lungs, Izuku pitched forwards, falling from the pile. Even in his dazed state Izuku had the awareness to activate his quirk before he hit the ground.
But he didn't, instead he found himself in All Might's muscular arms.
"Young Midoriya, I can't believe you went above and beyond cleaning this beach." All Might set Izuku down, making sure he was capable of standing. "Remember, this is a power you've earned with your own efforts, from now on, One For All will be your quirk too."
Izuku gave a firm nod, reassured by his hero's words.
"Now, eat this!"
"Huh?"
"Out the way, Deku."
Kacchan brushed past Izuku as he stomped towards UA's entrance.
Same as always, Kacchan.
Izuku braced himself, before setting off after his childhood friend.
I'm going to become a hero, no matter how hard it is!
A wave of dizziness washed over Izuku, causing him to trip.
Or maybe I'll just die.
Activating his quirk, Izuku braced himself to hit the ground.
But the impact never came.
Izuku was floating, a foot in the air. Flailing wildly, Izuku panicked as he could move, stuck in place.
"Sorry for using my quirk on you, I just thought it would be bad luck to fall."
Two hands grabbed Izuku, reorienting him until his feet were just a few inches off the ground.
"Release."
Izuku dropped to his feet, holding out his arms to balance himself.
"Woah, super cool quirk, your whole body is super strong!"
Turning his head, Izuku felt his cheeks set aflame as he realised a cute girl was touching his arm.
"Woah, it's made of wood, and like super-dense."
Wait, super-dense? My quirk just makes me into wood.
Looking down, Izuku held back a scream of surprise at seeing his skin. It was knotted and crenulated, like some kind of hardening quirk.
This must be what All Might told me about One For All enhancing my natural quirk.
"Anyway, I'd better head off, the exam is starting soon."
With that, the girl was gone, leaving Izuku alone, still staring at his arm.
Thank you, All Might.
Releasing his quirk, Izuku set off, rushing off towards the entrance.
Izuku raced through the streets of the mock city, desperately searching for more robots.
So far he'd managed to get just three points, a two pointer and one pointer, using just his enhanced base quirk. The only other robot he'd encountered, a one pointer, had been stolen from him at the last second by a French boy.
"That must be twenty-eight."
It was the cute girl from earlier.
"Forty-four, now forty-five."
And the scary guy who'd yelled at him during Present Mic's orientation and then just before the exam started.
Twenty-eight! Forty-five! How the hell am I supposed to catch up?
The whole city shook as the zero pointer appeared from out behind a building.
Instantly the entire atmosphere changed, the other candidates turning tail and running from the zero pointer.
Izuku watched as the scary guy rocketed past, amongst a horde of other candidates.
Turning his foot, Izuku began to follow the others, hoping to find more robots before the time ran out.
"Help."
Izuku froze, his head slowly ratcheting around to see the cute girl trapped under rubble.
His feet moved before he could think.
Crouching down, Izuku instinctively charged One For All into his legs and leapt. Rocketing into the sky at blistering speed, Izuku reeled his arm back.
Clench your buttocks and yell this from the bottom of your heart!
"SMASH!"
Izuku expected the same explosive power as All Might's attacks.
But instead, it was entirely different.
Izuku's arm suddenly grew, lengthening until it impacted the zero pointer's head, burying itself deep. In an instant the end of his arm exploded, branches growing in every direction, ripping the robot's head apart from the inside out.
The zero pointer pitched backwards, landing with a gigantic crash. Izuku stared down at his arm, the end of it shattered and broken.
Oh shit, I destroyed my arm, All Might said this was why he trained my body!
As if hearing him, the extra wood his arm had grown during his attack fell away, revealing his arm, whole and uninjured.
But Izuku's relief was cut short as he realised he was falling, at high speed, towards the hard concrete below.
I'm going to die! Maybe if I use One For All I can-
A hand slapped his cheek and suddenly Izuku's fall ceased.
Looking over, Izuku saw the cute girl, floating one of the robot's heads as she led on it.
She'd saved him.
"Release!"
Izuku touched down, his Wood Body deactivating as an immense tiredness washed over him.
"Need more points." Izuku murmured, weakly trying to move. "Three isn't enough."
But it was too much, Izuku collapsed in a dead faint, the last thing he saw was the girl vomiting.
Wow, she even throws up cute.
And then it went black.
Two weeks later found Izuku saw off into the middle distance as he absentmindedly lifted his weights.
I'll get the UA rejection letter any day now, I'm sorry All Might, I was the wrong choice.
Izuku had woken up three hours after the exam ended in the nurse's office. His newly enhanced Wood Body had healed all the damage One For All had inflicted on him, but at the cost of his stamina.
Recovery Girl hadn't needed to use her quirk to heal him, just letting him sleep it off.
His mother had nearly had a heart attack when Izuku had shown her his new abilities, bar One For All, faced with the sudden reality that Izuku had a 'perfect hero quirk'.
"I-It came!"
Izuku's head whipped around to see a letter held out to him, the red wax seal of UA staring back at him.
Reaching out, Izuku took it, the letter felt like it weighed a tonne, but that was just the dread pooling in the pit of his stomach.
Let's get this over with.
Izuku stood, making his way to his bedroom, he didn't want his mother to see how much the rejection would upset him.
"Welcome!" The hologram of All Might struck a pose. "To your hero academia!"
Izuku stared in disbelief at the hologram, and especially the scoreboard.
I came sixth, I came sixth in the UA Entrance Exam!
Then a second wave hit him.
I got into UA!
Shakily, Izuku stood, moving to his door and slowly opening it. Seeing his mother panicked expression Izuku felt a pang of guilt for not opening it with her.
"I-It's okay, Izuku." His mother tried to assure. "There's always other options, like post-high school training or-"
"I got in."
His mother froze, before suddenly tackling him in a hug. "You did it, you did it, I'm so proud of you, Izuku!"
Izuku let the tears fall. "Thanks, mom."
"And I know your father would be too."
"I know."
I did it, Dad. I got in.
Izuku held back a sob.
I wish you'd gotten to see it. But I'll be the hero you saw in me, I'll give it everything I've got!