Chapter Text
Izukun cried as he stood over another child. "Why are you being so mean? You're making him cry, Kacchan! If you keep on hurting him, uh...I'll...uh...I'll stop you myself!" With his fluffy green hair and tears of fear in his eyes, he lifted his tiny fists in the air ready to fight off Kacchan.
I looked over toward Kacchan and his two other friends from the jungle gym wondering in slight fear of what was going to happen.
"Hmph. You wanna pretend to be a hero? You don't stand a chance without a Quirk, Deku." As one friend spreads out his large red wings threateningly and the other stretches his fingers outwardly toward Izukun, Kacchan punches his own hand causing a small explosion to occur. The three of them run at Izukun ready to attack.
"Kacchan, stop!" I yelled. "Don't hurt him!" I began to run to get in between them to stop the fight.
"Get out of the way, Akari!" Kacchan yelled.
"No! I can't allow you to hurt someone just because they're weaker than you!"
"Kacchan, get your girlfriend out of the way!" one of his friends said in annoyance.
"I'm not his girlfriend!" "She's not my girlfriend!" we said at the same time.
"Whatever, this isn't about you! Move!" the other friend said.
"No!" I yelled standing my ground though my heart was fluttering with fear. Before I could do anything else, Kacchan exploded the ground underneath me causing me to be thrown out of the way. They began to beat Izukun up and soon left the playground satisfied, leaving him on the ground dirty and bruised, though the other kid remained untouched. I, also completely dirtied and slightly injured, ran over to check on Izukun's injuries.
Here's the sad truth: all men are not created equal. We were four years old when it became obvious that some are more powerful than others. But that never held Izuku Midoriya back. He wanted to be just as good, maybe even better than everyone around him. I never understood that about him. That day when we were kids and he tried to protect that kid from Katsuki Bakugo, I couldn't understand why a Quirkless kid would try to fight someone like him. I was the new kid in class when I met them. I hung out with them though I was standoffish at first as they had such different personalities. Now in our last year in junior high, I keep more to myself than anything else as not many people really want to be associated with me. It was a normal walk to school when I walk upon the road ahead to see it's closed and a huge supervillain running rampid in town. Great, not this again. I roll my eyes in boredom and annoyance.
Heroes and villains were not always a thing. The first incident was in Qingqing City. An extraordinary child was born who radiated light. After that, reports of people with superpowers popped up across the globe. No one knew what was causing these Quirks. Before long, the supernatural became totally normal. Dreams a reality. The world became a superhuman society, with about 80% of the population possessing some uncanny ability. Our streets looked like scenes from comic books. As cities swirled with chaos and confusion, a new profession dominated our collective consciousness. It was an age of heroes.
The huge monstrous villain slings his arms around reckless knocking down power lines. Death Arms runs unto the scene with his massive muscular body and catches the falling powerline before it can cause more destruction.
"Oh, nice! Way to go, Death Arms!" someone yells from the street.
"The Punching Hero!"
"I wish I had a Quirk that made me super strong!"
Other heroes begin making their way to the scene to help protect the citizens and stop the villain. I look around at the mass of people to find a way through this chaotic show when I see Izukun intensely watching the scene unfold. He lives for this kind of action. He keeps a journal of all the heroes on what they can do and whatnot. I see him push himself further into the group to get a better view as another hero flies above us to the scene.
Loud squealing from a group of girls can be heard nearby screaming, "It's Kamui! We're your biggest fans!"
I roll my eyes. Oh goodie—fan girls. Kamui Woods, who appears to be completely made of wood, fights the villain, but before he can do his finishing move, Mt. Lady, quirk: gigantification, swoops in with a kick to the villain's head taking all the credit. They soon begin to tie the criminal up and reporters spring up everywhere to scrounge for content. Thinking back, the government had such a huge time coming up with new laws on the use of Quirks and criminal acts began to rise. Now, under the government's supervision, heroes make a living on stopping criminals and the more they do, the more fame and glory they get. Their career practically depends on being able to stay in the spotlight, which is so difficult in today's media.
As the road begins to clear up, I continue my walk to my school when I finally catch up to Izukun. As usual, he is writing in his journal and muttering things to himself. A random person nearby asks him, "You takin' notes over there? Wanna be a hero, too, huh?"
A smile appears on his face. "Ah! Yes! More than anything!"
I shake my head and walk up to him. "Come on, Izukun, we're going to be late," I say to him before walking past him.
"Akari-chan!" he says, surprised by my appearance. "Uh, right!" he begins to run after me until he's right beside me. We make it just in time for class and sit in our assigned seats before the teacher arrives.
"So, as third-year students, it's time to start thinking seriously about your futures and what you want to do in your lives. I could pass out some career aptitude tests, but, why bother? I know you all want to go the hero track!" the teacher exclaims throwing the tests in the air. Everyone but Izukun, Kacchan, and I start cheering and showing off a little bit of their flashy Quirks. I sink further in my seat while keeping my head down.
"Yes, yes, you've got some very impressive Quirks. But no power usage allowed in school! Get a hold of yourselves!" he says trying to control the class.
"Hey, teach," Kacchan says as he leans back in his chair with his feet on his desk and his blonde hair as spiky and wild as ever. "Don't lump me in with these buncha losers. I'm the real deal, but these guys'll be lucky to end up as sidekicks to some busted D-Lister. Heh."
The class becomes infuriated by his statement. "You think you're better than us, Katsuki?!" one of them says.
"Let's go, I'll take you all on!" he yells back.
I groan. I don't know why he can't control his pride and pick a fight with the whole class!
"Huh. You've got impressive test results. Maybe you will get into UA High," the teacher says slightly surprised. I can't say that I am, though. Kacchan has always talked about being the best hero the world has ever seen.
One of the girls in our class mutters, "He's gonna try for the National School?"
"That school has a 0.2% acceptance rate!" another student says.
"It's impossible to get into!"
Why would he pick anything less? I think to myself.
"That's exactly why it's the only place worthy of me," Kacchan responds to everyone. Out of nowhere, he jumps onto his desk and says proudly, "I aced all of the mock tests. I'm the only one at this school who stands a chance at getting in. I'll end up more popular than All Might himself and be the richest hero of all time! People all across the world will know who I am. And it all starts with UA High!" His red eyes beam with ambition as he finishes.
"Oh yeah, Midoriya, don't you wanna go to UA, too?" the teacher asks, looking through our forms.
Izukun hides his head in his arms as Kacchan begins to boil. Why would the teacher say that? Putting Izukun on the spot like that just makes him more of a target for Kacchan's bullying! The whole class turns to face Izukun before dying in laughter.
"Midoriya, you're kidding, right? There's no way you're getting into the hero course without a Quirk!" the kid behind him says.
"Well, actually, they got rid of that rule. I could be the first one," he says, defending himself.
Before I could silence them from messing with him, Kacchan comes at him—exploding his desk in half and making Izukun fall to the ground.
"Listen up, Deku! You're even worse than the rest of these damn rejects, you Quirkless wannabe. You really think they'd let someone like you in when they could have me?" Kacchan yells.
"Huh, wait! You've got it all wrong! Really! I'm not trying to compete against you. You gotta believe me! It's just that I've wanted to be a hero since I was little. I may not have a Quirk, but I can still try my hardest, can't I?" Izukun says scooting away from Kacchan until his back hits the classroom wall.
"You'd never be able to hang with the best of the best. You'd die in the exams! Defenseless Izuku. This school's already crappy. You really wanna embarrass it more by failing so hard?"
"That's enough, Kacchan! Leave him alone!" I shout pushing him away from Izukun.
The other students begin to whisper amongst themselves. I'm typically very quiet in class and everyone but Kacchan and Izukun fear me because of my parents. Ever since it was let out who I was in relation to them, no one has ever wanted to be near me again.
"You're always trying to protect him! It just proves that he has no chance if someone constantly has to save him!"
"And what does a bully like you deserve to consider yourself to be the next hero?" I shout back.
"Uh oh, the couple is fighting again," someone mutters.
"We're not a couple!" we shout at the same time in the same fiery nature.
Right on cue, the bell rings. Why does everyone think we're a couple? I think in annoyance as I pack my things up and leave in a hurry.
As I walk through the hallways to get to my next class, many of the students back away from me leaving an invisible bubble around me as I move. There are murmurs as I pass by and even some of their thoughts manage to come through via my Quirk accidentally. The thoughts are the same as always: Is that her? Can she really read minds? She must be scary dangerous. Apparently after all these years, people still talk about the same things as they did before, and treat me as though I'm somehow contagious with my parents' decisions. I can't wait to be out of here, I think to myself before putting my ears buds in so I can listen to music instead of their thoughts. Hopefully I can get through another day.
****
It's the end of the class day and everyone was leaving the school when Izukun and I were still packing up our things when he stops to look through his phone.
"Man, that fight from this morning is all over the news. Better write some notes down before I forget anything," he says, putting his phone back in his pocket.
"You and your notes," I say amusingly as I begin to stand up from my desk beside him.
"Yeah, it helps me learn how to be a better hero," he responds. Before Izukun can put his journal back in his backpack, Kacchan appears seemingly out of nowhere and yanks it out of his hand.
"I dunno what you think you're doin', Deku, but we're not done," he says.
His other friends walk behind him and ask, "Whatchu got there? His diary?" Kacchan lifts it up for them to see.
"Huh, Don't tell me you're taking notes on how to be a hero? That's so pathetic." They begin laughing at him.
"He's delusional!"
"Yeah, real funny, guys. Just give it back," he says. Before I can use my Quirk to get it back for him, Kacchan uses his to burn it.
I gasp and Izukun screams. "That's so mean!" he says.
Without regret, Kacchan throws it out the window and it lands in the water fountain down below. "Most first-string heroes show potential early on. People look at them and just know they're destined for greatness. When I'm the only student from this garbage junior high to get into UA, people'll start talkin' about me like that. They'll realize I'm legit—the next big thing. That's not ego talking, I just know I'm good."
"Yeah, right!" I yell at him.
He ignores me and places his hand hard on Izukun's shoulder while slightly burning it with his Quirk. "Here's a little word of advice, nerd. Don't even think of applying, or else."
Izukun tries to speak but nothing comes out.
As they begin to leave the classroom, one of his friends says, "That's just sad. I thought you at least had some fight in you."
The other says, "He finally gets it. He'll never be a hero. Better to find out now than later, I guess."
Kacchan stops at the door and slightly turns to say, "Y'know if you really wanna be a hero that badly, there actually might be another way. Just pray you'll be born with a Quirk in your next life, then take a swan dive off the roof of the building." Anger fuels inside both me and Izukun, but as Izukun begins to say something back, Kacchan raises his hand ready to use his explosion Quirk, and asks, "Something wrong?" and Izukun cowers down.
"Don't worry about him, Izukun. I'll take care of him," I say angrily as he leaves the classroom.
"You don't have to, really. I'm okay," he says, grabbing his bag.
"No, he shouldn't talk to you like that!" I say before finding where he went. I finally see him walking with those same friends outside of the school and yell, "Kacchan, stop right now!"
He does so but doesn't turn his body to my direction. "What? You trying to pretend to be a hero, too?"
"You know I don't care about that being a hero like you and Izukun! But what you said was wrong! You can't just tell someone to kill themselves! What's the matter with you? What if he actually did? Don't you realize the amount of guilt that would be resting on your shoulders?" I scold.
He looks at his friends and says, "Go on without me."
"Okay, bye," they say, not wanting to stay any longer anyway.
"What does it matter to you, anyway, Akari? It's not like you believe he can be a hero either. All you're doing is supporting his failure. Which is worse?" he says with his intense red eyes piercing through mine.
"He might not have as much of a chance as you do, but that doesn't mean he can't have a goal! I just don't know why it bothers you so much if you supposedly don't think of him as a threat. What are you actually thinking in that egotistical head of yours?"
He turns his head away from me and says, "Don't even try to use that Quirk of yours on me. I just don't see why the nerd believes he can do what I do even though I'm far superior!"
"If you think he stands no chance, then just leave him alone. All he's ever done is looked up to you," I say thinking of the things Izukun told me before in conversation once about how he found out he may never have a Quirk. Research showed that people with Quirks have only one joint in their pinky toe, and when he was told he had two joints in his pinky toe, his world came crashing down. He only wanted to be as cool as Kacchan, I mean, we all did. But that only fueled Kacchan's ego into what it is today.
"Hmph, whatever. All you two have ever done is follow me around like lost puppies. The fact that he thinks he can do the same things I can just pisses me off." He begins to walk away from me.
"Kacchan, wait, where are you going?" I yell chasing after him.
"Away from you. I'm on to bigger and better things and that means I won't need you trying to scold me like I'm a child." He continues to walk away from me, and I let him, not wanting to be around him anymore either.
God, he's such a jerk, I think to myself, but I still can't seem to stop my heart from racing. When we were very little, I had such a huge crush on him, but when his power came in, the older he got, the more big-headed he became that it's so hard to get through to him anymore. I've practically lost hope in him, but the feelings I had still seem to linger slightly. I know deep down that he doesn't mean the horrible things he says, not completely anyway, but he makes it so hard to be his friend. I begin to walk back to my grandparents' home that me and my younger brother have lived in since we were so much younger.
"Well, hello, Akari, how was your day today?" my grandfather asks.
"Very eventful," I answer as I take my shoes off at the door.
"How so?"
"Well, our teacher is wanting us to begin thinking where we want to be in our future and to choose a high school that we want to go to, and Kacchan caused such a big scene by talking about how UA is the only place worthy of him," I respond.
"Oh, please tell me you're going to try to get into UA, too!" my grandmother says bursting in from the kitchen.
"Uh, yeah, I don't think so," I say.
"Oh, come on, you used to talk about how bad you wanted to go when you were a kid!" she says.
"Yeah, well, that was when I was young and impressionable, but I don't really care about that kind of stuff anymore," I answer, trying to leave this conversation and escape to my room.
"You cared before you realized what happened to your parents," my grandfather says gently though it feels like he is rubbing salt in an open wound.
"Yeah, I wanted to be a hero just like them. I wanted to go to UA because they went to UA. But that's all changed now. I rather know I'm safe than be on alert for villains all of the time," I respond bluntly.
"So, you rather be comfortable and throw away your potential and dreams than to face your fears?" He says, this time without being so gentle in his words.
I flinch from his statement, though I can't be too angry at him as I never told anyone what really happened to me back then. If they really knew what happened...Instead I give the excuse, "Yeah, well, how can anyone accept me as a hero after what happened with them? No one would ever take me seriously and probably deny me the moment I stepped foot near that school!"
"They won't deny you just because of your parents! You just have to show them that you're not like them. I have to admit that I'm devastated by how my daughter turned out, but we have taught you to be so much better than that!"
"Yes, please, try to get in!" my grandmother begs. "We just want that best for you, and I know you'll be so happy being a hero!"
I sigh in defeat. The thought of going after that long, forgotten dream I had when I was a kid has such a bitter taste, but thinking of disappointing my grandparents kills me even more so. "Fine. But I'm doing this for the both of you and to bring back honor for our family name."