Chapter Text
As Izuku walked into class, he was pleasantly surprised that there wasn’t a spider lily on his desk. It was not as if he got one every day per say, but he hadn’t gotten one yesterday, so he was expecting one… though there was still a monstrous amount of graffiti on his desk.
Izuku sighed as he grabbed some cleaning supplies from the closest. If the teacher walked in while there was still graffiti on his desk, he would accuse him of writing it himself. Then he would be sent to the principal’s office to get yet another lecture on not harming school property.
He had to be extra quick today since he stopped to watch that hero fight, not that he regretted it, though…
Izuku knows he should be listening to his teacher, but his analysis on the new hero, Mt.Lady, couldn’t wait till after school! He glances at the clock. It’s about 9:5-
“You're all pretty much planning to go into the hero course, right?”
“Yes!” his classmates cry in unison as well as activating their quirk, well all except...
“Teach! Don’t lump us all in the same group. I’m not gonna be stuck at the bottom with the rest of these rejects!”
His classmates hollered in protest, “Hey, that was uncalled for!” “Yeah, yeah!” but they all quickly shut up when Kachan told them to because who wants to upset the school’s golden boy. Izuku had to keep himself from scoffing as the teacher spoke.
“Oh, if I remember correctly, you want to go to U.A. high, right, Bakugou?”
Of course, Kachan wanted to go to .U.A he’d been talking about it all week. However, his classmates called out in fake surprise and awe about how low the acceptance rates were.
“That’s exactly why you guys are just extras!” Bakugou cried as he leapt onto his desk. “I aced the mock test! I’m the only one at this school who could possibly get into .U.A! I’ll definitely surpass All Might and become the top hero! My name’ll be inscribed in the list of top earners!”
“Oh yeah, Midoryia wanted to go to .U.A, too, right?” His teacher spoke in a mock bored tone
SHIT! Shit, shit, why did he have to say that? Izuku worriedly wondered as he lifted his head from his desk... The class erupted into laughter, “Huh, Midoriya, no way!” “You can’t get into the hero course without a quirk!!”
“Th-they got rid of that rule! There’s just no precedent-”
Izuku stuttered. He was so focused on his other classmates' jeers he didn’t notice Katsuki coming straight for him, arm raised...
BOOM!
Izuku flew back a couple of feet near the back of the classroom.
“Hey, Deku! You’re below the rejects! You’re Quirkless!” Katsuki snarled as smoke gathered around him. “How can you ever stand in the same ring as me?”
“No, wait, Kachan! It’s not like I’m trying to compete with you or anything!” Izuku yelped as he scurried to the back of the classroom. “Believe me!” Izuku was now in full panic mode. Was Kachan going to hit him in the middle of class? It’s not as if anyone would try to stop him. He had to convince Kachan he wasn’t trying to compete with him!
“It’s just been my goal ever since I was little. And well… I won’t know unless I try….”
“Whaddya mean unless you try?! Are you taking this test for fun?!” Kachan all but growled, “What the hell can you do? You’re quirkless!”
Luckily for Izuku, Kachan just walked back to his seat instead of hitting him. He was pretty lucky today… No flower and no beating! Izuku thought almost happily as he scrambled back to his desk, just waiting for the day to end.
It was after class when Kachan approached him again, and again he didn’t notice because he was scrolling through his phone. You'd think Izuku’s instincts would be better after all the years of attacks, but alas..,
“The incident this morning is all over the headlines! I wanna hurry up and go home so I can write about it in my notebook.” he mused to no one in particular When suddenly his notebook was snatched from his hands. Izuku immediately snapped his head upwards to meet the gaze of his longtime bully, Katsuki Bakugou.
“We’re not done talking yet, Deku.” Kachan grunted, “Katsuki, what’s that?” one of two Kachans’ lackeys asked, “Huh? Hero analysis for the future? Seriously?” “Midoriya…” “I-it’s fine, isn’t it? Give it back!” Izuku Needed his notebook. It kept him calm, kept him from crying, he neede-
Boom!
Suddenly his notebook, his most prized possession, was covered in ash! “That’s mean..” Izuku whimpered; Kachan then unceremoniously tossed his notebook out the window,
“Most first-string heroes have stories about them from their school days. I want to shine of being able to be called the student to make it to U.A. from this mediocre junior high school. I mean, I’m a perfectionist.”
Kachan grabbed his shoulder and slightly activated his quirk, “So anyway, don’t apply to U.A., nerd” at this point, Izuku was shaking, wondering if he was about to get a beating. Maybe he was wrong about being lucky today... But then, thankfully, Bakugou started to walk out of class, “Come on, you could at least say something back.” One of Kachan’s lackeys almost whined, “Don’t say that. He’s pathetic. He still can’t face reality.” the other snickered, then, of course, Kachan had to say something.
“If you wanna be a hero that badly, there’s a quick way to do it. Hope you’re born with a quirk in your next life and take a swan dive off the roof!”
Izuku snapped his head back up at that, had Kachan seriously just told him to kill himself?.. Well, yes, of course, he did. Izuku had to stop himself from sighing as Kachan and his lackeys left him alone in the classroom.
He began the long walk home as he contemplated what Kachan had said... Idiot! If I really jumped, that would mean you instigated a suicide! Think before you speak... Oh there, there’s my notebook in the koi pond, of course. “That’s not fish food, stupid. That’s my notebook...” He whispered as he grabbed his book... Stupid, stupid bastard…
Why wouldn’t Kachan just leave him alone? God! Why did he keep coming after him? He just wanted one day, one day at peace. Of course, he wasn’t going to stop trying to be a hero no matter what Kachan had to say. He made the decision years ago.
He laughed to no one in particular as he made his way down the tunnel when...
“A medium-sized invisibility cloak..” He tried to run, he really did, but whatever that thing was, it was way faster than him.
“Don’t worry. I’m just going to take over your body. Calm down, it'll only hurt for about 45 seconds.” H-he couldn’t breathe it was in his throat he tried to scream but that just caused more of the... Slime? To go down his throat, he wasn’t truly listening to the monster anymore as it continued to monologue
“You’ll feel better soon.” he tried to grab the strange creature to no avail, “You can’t grab me. I’m liquid! Thanks for your help. You’re my hero.”
Hero, HERO? Is this some kind of sick joke he didn’t want to be this... This MONSTER’S hero he... He couldn’t breathe. Izuku knew he was second away from fainting... Or more likely dieing. Somebody... Somebody, please help me!
Clang!
He heard someone call out but.. Who? Not that it mattered because whoever it was the monster was now focused on them not him! He heard maybe... A whip? but… whatever grabbed him definitely did not have a whip… he heard two final words before he fell unconscious, “Texas Smash!” and a huge blast of wind came with them.. Was that..? All... Might?
“Hey! Hey! He-” what? Who- “Oh, good” Izuku quickly scampered away, di-did he die? Was he in heaven or, or was all might really here talking to him?
“I’m glad you’re okay! Sorry ‘bout getting caught up in my villain fighting. I don’t usually make mistakes like this, but I was in high spirits on my day off in a new place.” All might laughed as he let out the last few words… ALL MIGHT that was all might oh my- “But, you were a great help. Thanks! I captured him safely!”
I-it really is the number one hero All Might... Was he stuttering in his thoughts?.. Well whatever, All Might looked so different in person! He needed to write this down in his notebook.. Notebook… “Oh, right! an a-autograph! Where should I-? In that notebook!”
Izuku speedily scurried over to his notebook. He needed an autograph from- “He already did!” Izuku got up from his knees and bowed profusely, “Th-Thank you very much! It’ll be an heirloom! A family treasure!” “Okay! Well, I need to take this guy to the police-”
“Wait! I-I need to ask you something!” “Yes? What is it? Are you injured?” “N-No! I actually wanted to ask you something..”
“Hmm? What do you want to ask, I’m sorta running low on time.” Izuku inhaled deeply, this was the moment of truth. It didn't matter that Kachan didn’t believe in him, it didn’t matter that his mom didn’t believe in him if he believed in him. “C-Can I become a hero, even if I don’t have a quirk?” Izuku asked desperately, pleadingly, “without a quirk..? No, I don’t think so.”
Izuku felt his dreams and his world crumble at those simple words.
“If you want to help others, then you could also become a police officer. They’re often teased because they get villains delivered at their doorstep, but that is also a fine occupation. It’s not bad to dream, but you also have to consider what is realistic young man.”
All Might didn’t believe in him, All Might.. Why? A-All MIght’s supposed to believe in e-everyone… Right?
“Young man “ Izuku’s head shot up, “I have to bring this villain to jail I hope… you get home safely.” Izuku just nodded. What was the point of saying anything? He always messed everything up.
And so as All Might began his trip to the police station, Izuku started his trip back home.
Izuku needed to think.. But not at home he couldn’t face his mother he just needed to sit somewhere and relax. He just needed to think.
Izuku sighed as he shrank into the bench he was at a local park near enough to his home so if-when he collected himself and just stopped whining he could get home.
“This world is full of fake heroes! Just in it for the money! Or the fame! They are not true heroes, they are selfish!”
Izuku wasn’t listening, not truly. It was just some stupid propaganda… right? Heroes are the pride and joy of our world, who is Izuku, a worthless, useless, quirkless, nobody to judge them.
He sighed as he got up, it was time to head home. It was far too noisy at the park anyways.
“Mom, I'm home!” Izuku plastered on a smile as he saw his mother peek at him through the kitchen, “Welcome back, baby! I’m making dinner right now. So how bout you go change out of your uniform and play on your computer for a bit, hmm? I’ll call you when I’m done.” Izuku could only nod he just.. Didn’t feel like speaking.
Izuku sat in front of his computer All Might merchandise almost leering at him from all sides... He’d have to take that down and soon hopefully he just couldn’t handle the man's smile.
It was simple enough to get past mom’s safeguards; he'd been doing it as long as he’d known they were there. He couldn’t stop thinking about the man in the park, was he right? Was the world riddled with fake heroes? Well, there was one to tell... And that of course is to research, Izuku could feel the smallest of smiles on his face for he had always loved his research... Who would he research though?
All Might was out of the question just the thought of the man-caused his brain to panic. After some thought, he decided on MT. Lady the new heroine he had seen earlier today she was new! She couldn’t have that much dirt on her… right?
Wrong. He was dead wrong it was obvious from just a few moments of research she was in the hero business for fame and money. Not exactly heroic… neither are you, you’re just some quirkless, worthless nobod- no, no Izuku needed to stay concentrated he needed to not think about.. That. what to do... Ah yes, De-Izuku was going t-to write a research paper on.. Mt. Lady! It would take a while a-and take his mind off things, things he didn’t want to think about.
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“Izuku! Dinner’s ready!”
“Be right there mom!” Izuku called as he clicked post, he’d been posting on this hero forum for a while though he never got any reception… not that he exempted any, anyways he didn’t even check for new messages or notifications anymore…
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Chizome licked his lips, finally! Someone who agreed with him! He got more and more excited as he read every word. It was a delectable, beautiful, delicious, research paper on a new heroine he’d been eyeing MT. Lady. this was all the confirmation he needed to see that, she was a fake hero and… well Chizome was known for getting rid of those