Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Ch 1   

IMIMIMIMIMIMIMIMIM  

When the gate opens and Present Mic finishes his torrent of enthusiasm, Deku charges into the practical. It takes a moment for others to charge in, but they’re already a point behind. Yet by the time Deku reaches his third bot, Deku knows he’ll never get ahead since he’s expending too much power to score  more er points.    

So it’s time for a change in strategy since he can dance on the hair trigger of his quirk. It’s a heroic school, it’ll be fine. No way the entire exam depends on the destructive potential of quirks, too many people graduating UA don’t have combative quirks,  Eraserhead  is one of the teachers here, Deku knows he’ll be fine in the exam. Deku’s not useless.   

But that's a memory for another time, as Deku put his arm through another bot.  

Three charges left,  the aspiring youth thought.  

No way to recharge his gauges without help, and nobody in the Testing Grounds he could ask for help. Still, he hoped the maybe thirteen or fourteen villain bots plus assisting a few test takers would help improve his score. Deku can't imagine that it wouldn't improve his odds of acceptance in UA, it's a hero academy after all.  

Learning how to use the quirk, Consternation, was a chore, but it was certainly worth it for this day.   

And with a screech of metal and heavy thump all the contestants felt in their bones, the hopeful applicants collectively turn and see the Zero Pointer tower over the buildings, stepping through several buildings.  

A yelp draws Deku’s eyes down. A girl with a round face and chestnut hair lay trapped in rubble. And the Zero Pointer was approaching.   

Deku does the math.   

Technically 3 knotches on his gauge, distance about 30 meters, debris is that breakable cement so it’s lighter than real stuff.   

OUOUOUOUOUOUOUOUOU  

Ochaco yelps as the Zero Pointer steps closer. Twisting and turning, Ochaco is forced to accept the debris nearly  crushed her leg,  immobilizing her. She only hopes it isn't broken but thankfully she's in enough pain that she's not nauseous anymore.   

Too bad that doesn't translate to enough focus to float the debris away.   

So she can focus enough to maybe watch the giant fucking robot crush her underfoot. Great.  

"CRAWL!"  

The command came from behind Ochaco, who turns to see-  

A body smashes into the crevice and kicks the debris off so quickly Ochaco almost misses it.  

Ochako catches onto what's happening and starts crawling, her leg buckling underneath her, unable to hold her weight.  

The person who saved her lifts her like a sack of potatoes and shifts her to a bridal carry before launching themselves with a burst of speed.   

Ochaco barely registers the person has green eyes and hair when they come to a stop. Suddenly still, Ochaco basks in her saviors radiant smile and shining green eyes.  

Then the green boy turns away, looking around.   

"Yo! Speedy! Fast Man!"  

Ochaco turns to find who Green is shouting at.   

A stiff looking guy with glasses sprints up, the billowing smoke behind him drawing Ochaco’s eyes.   

"Excuse me! Why are you calling on me, delinquent?"   

Glasses has engines in his legs. Weird.   

"Because I'm planning, we just need- Oi! Jesus girl!"  

Ochaco twists at the direction Greenie is shouting to see a flabbergasted green headed lady staring at them. Probably offended.   

Realizing her predicament, Ochaco tries to stand up to moderate success with Greenie's help, confirming her leg isn’t broken. Mr. Glasses lectures Greenie about cultural sensitivity, which Green ignores while flustering over Ochaco’s leg.   

Once the green lady was in speaking range Greenie starts talking to Iida and the green lady- Ochaco realizes her hair is entangled with vines- "Alright yes, it was insensitive to shout that and I apologize but I needed your attention so we can stop the Zero Pointer together. Now, Vines, can you set up-"  

"Excuse me, but there is no point in engaging with the Zero Pointer as it is meant to be an obstacle to be avoided-"   

"So is Godzilla,” Izuku turns to Iida, pointing at him, “but heroes would still fight a monster if only to prevent hypothetical civilian deaths, like in those buildings there," concludes Greenie, waving his hand at the environment behind him. “Now," Greenie, regaining his composure, standing straighter returns to thus-dubbed-Vines, "I’m gonna knock it down and we’re going to try to stuff the joints with trash. Do you think you could help hold it down with your quirk?"  

The Vine lady hesitated, looking between Greenie and the Zero Pointer getting closer. "Ye-Yes I may be able to do that."  

"Chestnut,"  Who? Oh, he means me,  "You can make stuff float, right?” His face was one of uncertainty until Ochaco nods. Beaming, he continues “Can you help Glasses get a bunch of debris to shove into the joints? Stick with sharper metal debris if you can."  

And I could, my nausea has died out a bit, thanks to the pain.    

"Sure."   

Checking his watch, Greenie takes a deep breath and motions to everyone, "Okay heroes, we got three minutes. Let's go!"  

That last line was directed at Mr. Glasses, who stood flummoxed as Greenie and Vines start heading towards the Zero Pointer. Ochaco moves to follow them, but stumbles.   

The guy in glasses hesitates for a moment before taking Ochaco’s hand and helping her up.   

TYTYTYTYTYTYTYTYTYTY  

Nezdu was reviewing the footage from the practical exam again, scanning for the best view of The Take Down, as some teachers have taken to calling it. A youth by the name of Midoriya Izuku gathered a few others and then proceeded to knock down the Zero Pointer, giving others the opportunity to tear the mechanics apart while another wrapped the giant in a massive amount of vines, holding the machine down. Two others joined their efforts in causing further damage to the Zero Pointer to make sure it couldn't stand back up before the buzzer ended the Practical Exam.   

It brought All Might's full attention on the boy.  

After the exam, the students were confronted by Vlad King who then questioned Midoriya about his actions. Midoriya, as if reading from a prompt, bluntly states, "we immobilized it to prevent further property damage and to give more time to the evacuation of civilians," smiling brightly all the while.  

"The boy scored a total of 21 villain points, but continuously aided and set up others to get more points than he did." "Meaning he technically didn't earn any points." "Doesn't it count as rescue points though?" "Rescue points aren't assisting points, though adding that category would fix several problems I have with the exam." "He did earn some rescue points though, another 18, technically." "That's too low for a listener as flashy as he is. And with what he said at the end!" "I agree with Present Mic, the boy shows too much potential taking command of a situation and directing everyone for optimal performances."  

The tapping from the dean’s desk stops all conversations, "Has anyone else looked at his exam? 98 points total, with the other Aldera student getting 94. And on the testing document he started making dossiers observing his peers around him," Nezdu interrupts the collective arguments. “Two of which involve students that he asks for help during the Practical Exam.   

Everyone ponders that.   

Then the room explodes again.   

"Why can't we give the normal sixty rescue points to the listener?" "Because five other students helped as well!" "I vote to give them all twenty points each!" "Forty for the dashing leader!"  

The arguments deteriorated into noise Toshinori couldn't parse, nor did he care to. His mind turned to other matters, more personal ones. He exchanged a glance with Nezdu, who silently communicates with Toshinori.   

This kid might be a candidate.  

I'm open to that possibility.  

Any history you know?  

Nothing/no records. I'll keep looking into him.   

All Might restrains from sighing, feeling that harshness that precedes a coughing fit in his throat.   

His time as a teacher begins. The first step to his retirement, whether he wishes to cease being a hero or not, he has to step down with his body failing him.   

This is the fifth student All Might considered today.   

He may be…  

All Might can’t describe what he’s feeling now.   

Aizawa ends the argument of Midoriya's point distribution, loudly presses them onto the next set of students.   

Causing another bout of arguments over a blonde bomber and his apparent attitude problem being concerning.   

All Might restrains from sighing again.   

Chapter Text

Ch 2   

IMIMIMIMIMIMIMIMIM   

“Are you ready Izuku?” “Yeah, yeah I am.” “Wait did the letter come yet?” “Not yet.” “Calm down, Yuki, you’re not the one applying to UA.” “Hey, I got accepted to Shiketsu-” “So did I.” “Yeah you went straight for the Support Course, coward.” “I know I know-”  

Izuku sits over a phone, leg tapping insistently as he waits for the mail.   

Rarely is Inko so happy for her son, given the hardships he's put himself through. The hardships the world put him through.  

Even now, watching him, Inko can’t help tearing up as he talks to his two closest friends from the Quirkless Support Community. His time in that place was for the best, it helped him find out what real friends are while pressuring the school to stop the bullying.   

Although, Inko is uncertain Izuku getting his quirk improved his life, it only escalated things at school and took away any influence the QSC had on the campus.   

Her poor boy withstood abuse from the school administration and student body until Izuku returned the abuse on them.   

She’s still upset what the QSC had him do.   

When he went to UA for the Entry Exams, she didn’t even know he applied, just returning home with a story to tell and bruises to treat, yapping away happily.  

Then he mentioned Katsuki applied as well.   

But right now, Izuku is acting exactly like when he was for years old, watching that All Might fire rescue.   

Waiting for his acceptance letter.  

Inko chuckles bitterly at the sight. Her little boy has certainly grown up, but some things never change.  

He’s already decided what kind of hero he’s going to be.   

Inko’s scared of that.   

Izuku told her what he’s been doing for the past year.   

He’s been tutoring 13 applicants. 10 of them are confident in their applications. They’re all aiming for Hero schools. And his quirkless friends are also applying for the Heroes courses.   

Izuku sat there, looking at his application with holographic All Might cheering jovilly at her little boy’s success at being accepted.   

And he’s upset one of his friend’s failure, already planning around that so they can steal a position through some other means in Sinketsu   

All Might’s laugh echoes in the Midoriya home.   

“Welcome to your Hero Academia!” 
 

ITITITITITITITITIT  

The insolence and disrespect on display is inconceivable of any applicant for the upstanding UA Heroics program! Actively disrupting people from their activities before the exam and interrogating them about their intellect and ability through some discriminatory observations, the nerve of that ruffian! He and his blonde compatriot have no regards for proper decorum or manners becoming of a True Hero.   

Undoubtedly, the Greenette failed given his performance. Undoubtedly the ruffian had intellect and skill to go with that strength-enhancing quirk, but his social disregard cannot be overlooked by the staff of a school as prestigious as UA.   

So thinks Tenya Iida of Class 1-A on his first day of school, showing up precisely ten minutes before the class starts.   

The cacophony of noise from his fellow academics do not sound promising.   

People are going to be people, even heroes are someone outside of their duty.    

But there still needs to be a measure of  decorum . Five students are sitting inappropriately on the desks, but that's casually accepted outside of educational hours. Two people are improperly wearing their uniform, but within reason. Several are accessorized, yet acceptable.  

One student Iida recognizes.  

One student is behaving unacceptably.   

This a student Iida didn't believe could be a representative of UA.  A student UA has apparently admitted.   

Iida intervention is to help correct his delinquent tendencies.   

"It is unacceptable to put your feet on the desk!"  

The blonde boys response was to glance at Iida and to merely cross his feet in reverse order.   

Iida began his listed diatribe of offenses the blonde had offended, causing said blonde to begin arguing (yelling) back in earnest.   

Then the ruffian came inside.   

Green hair, green eyes, twitchy, almost entirely the body language of someone with no regard to education. He talks happily with that gravity manipulating girl from the exam, looking around the classroom once they step in. Catching Iida, the green haired ruffian waves insultingly, "Hello again, Engines."  

Decorum demands manners.  

"Hello again! It was certainly impressive that you discerned the true purpose of the exam! My name is Tenya Iida, I suppose we will be having class together for now on."   

Iida tried to sound neutral, he didn't want to sound judgemental towards a potential teammate and future classmate.   

"Hm? Oh it was nothing. A lot of people seem to forget Heroics involve helping others, not brawling," the green boy waves off, dismissively. "My name is Midoriya Izuku, a pleasure to meet you."   

There where insults in those words, ones Iida couldn't help but feel were intentional.   

"Deku."  

Even Iida picked up on the tone the blond boy had for Midoriya.  Seething distain .   

But Midoriya was unfazed by such a blatant opinion, "Nice to see you again Kacchan. Think we're ready for this?"  

The blonde, Kacchan, only grunts in response.   

It was an adequate response for Midoriya, who nodded and turned back on to-  

"I'm Ochako Uraraka, nice to formally meet you, Iida-san!"   

Iida returns the girl’s greeting while watching Midoriya. During Ochako's ramblings, Midoriya glances to the front of the classroom before smiling and waving at no one.  

“-And when the buzzer went off I couldn’t help but look around and go ‘Wow, we just did that’!” Ochako exclaims, reliving the Practical exam.   

Midoriya chuckles, “Yeah, that was fun. Turned out pretty well, too. We should probably take our seats as well, since our homeroom teacher is here.” Midoriya just walks away, taking a seat near the back of the room.   

His sluggish motions and the sway of his walk, it spoke of a silent thuggish pride, the kind Tensie’s other brother had told him to watch for when patrolling. The walk of someone ready to react, to run, or sometimes, to watch authorities as they go about their business. The smile of someone convinced they did nothing wrong while undoubtedly being poison to the world around them.   

Iida hoped he had a bad first impression of Midoriya Izuku, because this person intimadated him.   

SASASASASASASASA  

Shouta rarely believed himself to be overwhelmed by his students. Especially given his career as Pro Hero, and his time as a teacher here at UA. Sure, there have be a few problem children that needed course correcting or deplorable kids that needed to grow up, Shouta never thought himself above doing what he needs to do to make sure students understand what the Heroic career needs.   

The moment Shouta decided to peek at the kids from his sleeping bag, he noticed two sets of eyes on him.   

Bakugo and Midoriya. The combat savant and the analyst. Two kids from the fallen Aldera, currently undergoing a government inquiry due to their actions. Problem children from the start.   

Something was certainly different about them.   

But there are 18 other students here, and class is starting.  

Popping out of his sleeping bag and giving his usual spiel about constant vigilance, Aizawa led the way to the athletic fields the school maintains. Traditional competitive sports have no place in a hero school, but their layouts and students' competitive natures have proven their presence to be worth their upkeep.    

And with the annual threat made, Shouta prepared himself to see the basics of each student’s abilities.   

STSTSTSTSTSTSTSTST  

“If you’re not going to take this seriously, I should expel you right now instead of at the end of class.”  

Midoriya, the green headed freckle face kid, bites his lip in response. Shoto doesn’t understand why the kid didn’t use a quirk in helping throw the ball, but Aizawa apparently has high expectations with the green kid to call him out in front of everyone else.   

Midoriya looks at that bomber kid, Bakugo, neutrally. The kid that got 850 meters with an explosion that was at least ten meters from his hand.   

Shoto tries to not think about what his father would have thought about this kid.   

Everyone stood in silence for a moment before the kid spoke up, “Kacchan, please?”   

Bakugo made a mocking noise in response, stepping up. Aizawa and the rest of the class merely watch as he approaches before pulling his arm back.   

It was at that moment that Shota realized Midoriya was going to take a bomb at point-blank range, then Bakugo swung his arm and nothing happened. Sounds of shock swept the class at what should have occurred.   

“Aizawa-sensei, please,” Midoriya exasperated, “You want me to use my quirk, right?”   

Shoto could tell Aizawa wasn’t expecting this, having seen his father surprised twice while in  stoic professional mode , but Aizawa recovers quickly.   

“Why weren’t you prepared when you entered the class?”   

Midoriya  scoffs , “I rather not walk into class feeling like I’m squeezing the sharp side of a knife. There’s side effects to not using stored energy.”   

Bakugo patiently waits out the conversation, his gaze drifting between the two as he continuously flexes his hands.   

“Very well, you should expect to be tested to see if you can carry storage capacitors that can supply you with fuel for your quirk. For now,” Aizawa nods to Bakugo, who prepares another explosion.   

Midoriya stands up straighter, bracing for an impact with an outstretched arm without a worry on his face. “Three please.”  

Bakugo gave a small huff of amusement as a response before blasting Midoriya.   

The sound of an explosion reverberated into something almost aquatic before vanishing like soup in Midoriya’s outstretched hand. Several students had backed away, Shoto himself would admit to taking a step back.   

Then the second explosion was larger than the first. Someone screamed.  

A third joins the ringing in everyone’s ears, and everyone takes a moment to wallow in the moment of excessive power and the sound of maybe soup.   

Midoriya barely looks disheveled, instead he and Bakugo both smile with a smugness of a shared joke before Bakugo goes back in line with the partially retreated class.   

Aizawa’s posture didn’t budge a centimeter, though his goggles covers his eyes now. The rest of class gawked or whispered amongst each other before stepping closer again. The girl with pink cheeks started dancing in place, probably in excitement of sorts.   

Shota wasn’t above admitting they shocked him with this display of casual quirk usage. Especially such destructive quirk usage.   

Then Midoriya, grinning, turned around and began his throw.   

Surprisingly, there wasn’t an explosion. But there was definitely some kind of Emitter effect as Midoriya’s arm snaps launching the ball, a gust of wind sweeping the rest of class.  

After the ball vanishes in the distance, Midoriya turns to observe the class. Shaking his hand like it had been slapped, he made eye contact with each student. His eyes crossed Shoto’s, sending a shiver down Shoto’s spine.   

It wasn’t a friendly smile, or a casual look. There was something cold to it.   

“Six hundred eighty six meters,” Aizawa reported, dryly.  
Midoriya’s smile widened.