Chapter Text
In a world where 80% of society has a special power of sort, an aspiring hero transforms from a weak nobody to one of the greatest Pro Heroes in existence. But what if certain events prevented that from happening?
Yes, it is possible that by changing certain backstories around, it will drastically change their paths in life. Sometimes you grab the wrong item that ends up being deadly, or other times you choke and let someone else take your place by accident. But for some unlucky few, a chance encounter can lead to your own life coming to an abrupt end.
Those minor details in life can transform the story into one that is completely different than the one you're familiar with. This tale takes place in one such world. How is it different than the main story? Well you'll just have to wait and see...
"Just your name?" Ms. Kayama asked. "That's it?"
Neku muttered a disgruntled 'yeah' before returning to his seat. His classmates weren't thrilled that he went up first, having just scribbled down his name and presenting that as his supposed 'hero name'. Then again, what else would you expect from a guy who was chosen to speak before the sports festival and let out a dismissive 'f*** you' at the very idea of being a Pro Hero?
But he wasn't the only one who cared very little about hero work. Shiki grasped her marker tightly. She knew her classmate would be this emo, but was it really a surprise she was affected by his actions the most? The two had been clashing since the beginning of the year, with Neku seeing her initial desire as selfish and repeatedly talking down to her for that. Apparently this had to do with his quirk, but he never went into further details regarding his animosity.
Still, it wasn't as if Shiki was having a great day to begin with. She was bothered by what happened in the sports festival, being the only one in her class who didn't make it past the first round. Her ability to generate cherry blossoms couldn't do much against villain robots and a mine field. Granted she used her quirk as a pathway to avoid the tightrope, but that was all she could do. Her teammates were quicker to adapt, especially a certain smarmy boy who was now presenting his hero name.
"The king explosion hero, Ignite," Joshua revealed.
"Like starting a fire," Ms. Kayama compared. "How creative."
"Why, thank you," Joshua replied. As he proceeded to explain why he chose that hero name, Shiki's eyes were still fixated on her still-blank whiteboard, seemingly drowning out everyone else's voices.
The brunette never really considered what her hero name should be, even after getting accepted into UA High. Yet here she was now, the only one whose pen wasn't squeaking on the blank white surface. Even Beat, the one who actually came in first place at the sports festival, had no trouble deciding his hero name once Joshua was finished with his long-winded explanation.
"The name's DJ Beatdrop, yo!" the blonde announced with a big grin.
Shiki nervously shook her head. "Come on, focus!" she quietly reminded herself. "Think about why you came here. Why you want to be a Pro Hero-"
"You people disgust me, wanting to be heroes. Smiles can't save everyone."
Those were the words Neku told her after throughly beating her during the Trial of Battle. That day was a terrible day for Shiki. Due to his anger towards her dream and how much she wanted to prove herself to him, they were ultimately separated by a furious Mr. Aizawa and the round was declared null and void, resulting in the two teens failing. That was when a bitter rivalry was formed between them, resulting in them being paired up with other classmates for future assignments.
Of course, a lot of time had passed since then. Shiki tried her best to be a hero, but her quirk wasn't strong enough compared to her classmates. Now she was actually considering transferring to General Studies, especially since she barely got any offers. But until then, all she could do was sit in silence as he classmates revealed their hero names one by one.
"The shimmering hero, Moonbeam!"
"Lady Lapin, hero of the shadows!"
As more and more classmates presented their names, Shiki thought hard about what to write down. She didn't want to be outright rude and ask about transferring. What if Ms. Kayama turned down her request? That was most likely going to be the case, since the whole reason why she was in this class was due to recommendations. Her mother was the number two Pro Hero, Blossometta. She wasn't really a strong hero, but she earned a favorable reputation for being the one who restores all plants that get destroyed during battle, making her just as beloved as All Might himself. It was that reputation that led to those same recommendations.
Come to think of it, why was her mom treated like a big deal when she was essentially a gardener?
And then, a memory flashed into her head.
"Being a pro doesn't mean deciding who has the flashier quirks. Sometimes just trying your best can be treated like a big deal. It all depends on what you're capable of doing."
That's what Shiki heard from her mom so many years ago, while seeing the news talk about how Blossometta's plants were able to cheer up ill kids at a hospital. That was her reason for continuing her work as a Pro Hero. No other pro can grow plants like she can. Whether it was for bringing smiles or restoring wildlife, she was just trying her best.
And maybe...that was easier to do than simply give up on her dream.
"Misaki?" Ms. Kayama asked. "You're the only one who hasn't presented yet. Are you ready?"
Shiki stood up with her whiteboard in hand. "Yeah," she replied. She walked to the front of the class and presented her hero name. However, her classmates weren't exactly impressed with what she had chosen.
"You sure you want to go with that?" Eri checked. "You know we can't exactly change our names."
"I am sure," Shiki insisted. "Being a Pro Hero doesn't just mean saving others with a smile. What really matters is trying your best to help others. So, that's the kind of hero I want to be. Someone who wants to try her best and help others." She smiled wide. "From now on, I will work hard to become the Pro Hero known as FirstTry!"
Neku slumped in his seat, but the other classmates were clapping for Shiki. The name 'FirstTry' wasn't related to her power, but it was a perfect way to reflect her kindness and how she wanted to help others. Even if the orangeylocks teen didn't care much about being a hero, or that she had a weak quirk, there was no way she would let those things dampen her spirits.
As for Ms. Kayama, she couldn't help but think about the two students. Shiki was actively struggling to be a hero despite having a weak quirk. Neku, on the other hand, was blessed with a powerful quirk that led to his sour mood. But despite how different they were, neither one of them were given offers for hero agency internships, while their classmates were given a more balanced amount. Of course, that meant they would have to choose from a list of forty agencies. They would have until the end of the week to decide, but Shiki would have trouble coming up with an agency that works for her, while Neku would most likely dismiss the whole assignment altogether. They both needed proper guidance to help them with figuring out their respected paths.
And luckily for the R-rated hero, she knew just the guy to contact...