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Inko sat comfortably in her favorite armchair, engrossed in a new book. The sound of her son, Izuku, playing with his new action figures echoed from his bedroom. He’d received a lot of new toys for his fourth birthday, and everyone was very curious what kind of quirk he hoped to manifest. The anticipation filled the air, as everyone knew it could happen any day now.
It was an exciting time for Izuku, and his imagination ran wild as he created elaborate scenarios where he defeated villains and rescued innocent civilians. Inko often joined in with his imaginative play, but this time, he’d granted her the rare opportunity to indulge in a good book.
As Inko immersed herself in the pages, she couldn’t help overhearing Izuku’s enthusiastic voice from the other room. “You won’t escape from All Might Jr this time, Captain Stupidpants!”
She chuckled softly. Naming characters wasn’t her son’s strongest suit.
“Take that! Ptchoo! Ptchoo!” she heard him exclaim.
"Wait a minute…Laser vision this time?" Inko thought. She knew that Izuku liked to change his quirk every day, depending on what had inspired him.
“Agh! I’m hit! Help me, All Might!”
“ Never fear, All Might Jr! For I am here!”
Inko blinked. That wasn’t Izuku’s voice. Did he have one of those fancy talking action figures that responded to sound? She vaguely remembered seeing one in the toy store. It must have recognized the name All Might Jr and activated itself, she thought. How cute!
“ Anything for my best friend, Izuku! Now let's go ask your mother for some nutritional sustenance! Plus ultra!”
What the hell?! Inko dropped her book and ran to Izuku’s room. She opened the door and saw her son holding a smiling All Might figure in his hand. The figure looked at her and gave a clunky plastic salute.
“ Hello there, Mrs. Midoriya! I’m All Might, and I’m here to help your son become a great hero! ”
The quirk specialist was scratching his head in bewilderment as he witnessed the astonishing scene before him. A pen, which was once a lifeless object, now had a face and a voice. It greeted him cheerfully, and gave him a wink with its tiny eye.
"Nice to meet ya at last, doc!" said the pen in a friendly tone.
Izuku's beaming smile seemed almost too big for his face as he proudly proclaimed, "Cool, huh!?"
"Well, 'cool' isn't the word I would've used, but it's undeniably fascinating," the specialist replied, turning to Inko with a serious expression. "Mrs. Midoriya, it appears that your son has developed a rather potent reality-altering quirk. It seems to grant a personality and a voice to inanimate objects when he touches them with all five fingers."
Izuku’s smile stretched even wider, he giggled and radiated pure delight as he playfully pressed his palm onto the table. To his amazement, the table sprouted a pair of wide eyes and a mouth
“Oh, hello there.” The table greeted in a deep voice, looking up at the trio of humans who were staring at it in disbelief.
“Hi! I’m Izuku! What’s your name?!” he asked eagerly, bouncing on his seat with excitement.
“Umm… Table.” The table answered simply, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Inko smiled politely and bowed her head slightly. “Hello, Mr. Table. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
She then turned to the doctor and asked “Is there anything important we should know about his quirk?”
The specialist rubbed his chin thoughtfully before offering his insights. “Well, Izuku, it appears your quirk is…very unique. It can be a big responsibility, so be mindful of when you use it, and always consider the consequences.”
Izuku nodded eagerly, taking the words to heart. “Don’t worry, I’m going to use it to help people, and be a great hero!”
Smiling at the boy, the doctor said “That’s a fantastic attitude to have, Izuku! Now, do you happen to know if there’s a way to turn your newfound friend back into an ordinary table?”
Izuku tilted his head and thought for a moment. He didn’t want to say goodbye to Mr. Table so soon, but he also didn’t want to cause any trouble. With a resolute nod, he decided to give it a try. “Bye bye, Mr. Table! Thank you for talking to me! Maybe we’ll meet again someday!” he said, waving his hand cheerfully.
“Bye bye Izuku. You’re very welcome. It was nice talking to you too.” The table replied warmly.
With that, Izuku gently placed his hand back on the table’s surface, making sure to touch it with all five fingers at once. As soon as he did, the animated face on the table disappeared and it returned to its normal state. A burst of joyous giggles escaped Izuku’s lips, echoing through the room.
“Holy crap!” exclaimed the pen that was lying on the doctor’s clipboard.
The doctor’s expression turned pensive, contemplating the situation before speaking. “You might want to consider purchasing an artist’s glove for Izuku, to prevent him from accidentally touching objects with all five fingers at once and activating his quirk.”
“Thank you, Doctor. We’ll make sure to get one as soon as possible,” Inko responded with gratitude. She was relieved that the doctor was being so understanding and helpful.
“I’M GONNA HAVE SO MANY FRIENDS!” Izuku yelled.
“Shut your damn mouth, you piece of trash!” Bakugo snarled, his palms crackling with explosive energy as he slammed Izuku against the wall of the school hallway. His eyes were blazing with fury and contempt as he glared at the smaller boy. “How dare you let your stupid quirk insult me like that!”
Izuku felt a surge of fear as he felt Bakugo’s grip tighten on his collar. With a nervous smile, he tried to stutter out an apology. “K-Kacchan, please, it’s not my fault! Desk was just being weird! He says things I don’t understand sometimes!”
“You think I care about your excuses? You think you can mock me and get away with it?!” Bakugo roared, his explosions growing louder and brighter. “No one makes fun of my hair and lives to tell the tale!”
“Maybe you should try washing your hair once in a while, then!” A loud and familiar voice interrupted. Izuku felt a sinking sensation in his stomach as his near constant companion, his old All Might action figure, emerged from his backpack and hopped onto his shoulder. The toy was wearing a smug grin. “You call yourself a hero, but you can’t even handle a little dandruff!”
“All Might, stop it! You’re making things worse!” Izuku pleaded.
Acting on instinct, Izuku reached for his backpack, hoping to find something to defend himself with. But as soon as he touched the straps, he felt a jolt of his quirk activating. The backpack came to life with a loud and obnoxious voice. “Yeah, you smelly jerk! Why don’t you take a shower once in a while?!”
“Backpack, stop it! You’re not helping at all!” Izuku cried out.
Bakugo’s face twisted with rage and disgust. “You think you can be a hero with a pathetic quirk like that? You think you can make fun of me with your stupid talking objects? You’re nothing but a worthless nerd!”
He was about to unleash another explosion when he heard a snarky remark from the notebook in Izuku’s hands. “Your mom didn’t think he was worthless last night!”
Bakugo’s eyes widened with shock and anger. He let go of Izuku and backed away, his face turning red. “You…you…you damn nerd! How dare you say that about my mom!” He turned around and stormed off, muttering curses under his breath.
As he walked away, he heard a chorus of “Ooooooooh!” from Izuku’s various friends.
“I know you guys meant well, but you shouldn’t provoke Kacchan like that. He’s not a bad person, he’s just…misunderstood. He’s going to be an amazing hero someday, I’m sure of it.” Izuku said, trying to sound optimistic.
“An amazing hero? Him?! Yeah, right!” The All Might figure on his shoulder scoffed. “He’s nothing but a bully and a jerk! He doesn’t deserve to be a hero!”
“He does, trust me! He has a really strong quirk, he’ll be able to rescue a lot of people.” Izuku said. He then looked around and realized he didn’t recognize the street they were on. “Uh-oh, did we get lost? Do you think I should ask someone for directions?”
“Nobody around behind us, Zooks!” Backpack said. “We’re all alone!”
Izuku sighed, knowing he had no other choice, and reached out to touch a streetlight. He could feel his quirk energy flow into it, blessing the inanimate object with life for a short while. The streetlight blinked its surprisingly kind eyes and smiled warmly, looking down at Izuku from where the face had manifested on the light covering.
“Well, hello there, dear. What can I do for you?” The lamp asked.
“Hi, Miss Streetlight. I’m Izuku, sorry for activating my quirk on you,”
“Think nothing of it!”
“Can you please tell me how to get to the Nabu apartment building?” Izuku asked politely.
Grateful for his respectful behavior, Miss Streetlight offered him directions with a friendly smile. "Of course! You need to take a left down this road, then-"
"IZUKU, LOOK OUT!" Backpack shouted in fright.
Before Izuku could comprehend the warning, he felt a slimy and wet substance cascading over his body, enveloping him in its sludge. Soon enough, he found himself immobilized.
“HELP, SOMEONE HELP!” Miss Streetlight shouted. Luckily for Izuku, as a connected network of streetlights, she was able to flash all of their lights erratically, hoping to attract attention and aid. Her efforts paid off when a familiar voice echoed through the air, but this time it was not Izuku's action figure; it was the real deal!
“A villain?! Darn, and I need to get these groceries in the refrigerator! Texas Smash!”
In a blink of an eye, the villain attacking Izuku was swiftly defeated by All Might's powerful attack. Now covered in the remnants of the sludge, Izuku gasped for breath, relieved that he, and his friends, were safe. All the while, his collection of animated objects erupted into cheers and applause for their savior, All Might.
“Couldn’t have done it better myself, bigger me!” Praised the action figure.
Miss Streetlight, if she possessed hands, would have wiped her brow in relief. "Oh goodness, thank you so much, All Might! I don't know what I would have done if my lights hadn't worked!"
“SIGN ME! SIGN ME SIGN ME SIGN ME!” Shouted Izuku’s notebook.
“ Quite a collection of friends you have there, my boy!” All Might said, picking up Notebook and signing his name on the inside pages.
“Th-thank you, All Might!”
“ Don’t thank me, young one! Thank your illuminative friend here! ” He gestured towards Miss Streetlight, recognizing her crucial role in aiding Izuku. “Now you get yourself home, while I collect this evildoer and deposit him at the nearest police station!”
“I will! Thank you so much!” Izuku awkwardly saluted the hero before turning to run back the way he came. However, before leaving, he remembered the streetlight and approached it. "Oh, is it okay if I turn off my quirk on you?" he asked politely.
Miss Streetlight responded with a warm smile, her face glowing softly. "Of course, dear! I believe I have served my purpose, wouldn't you say?"
"Yes, definitely! Thank you again! You were a huge help!," Izuku replied gratefully, with a bow. He gently placed his hands on the streetlight, observing as the face on its surface faded away, returning it to its inanimate state.
All Might observed the peculiar sight with a mix of confusion and curiosity, almost missing the eyeball discreetly slithering away from him.
With his trademark booming voice, Present Mic was nearing the conclusion of his energetic and lively explanation of the UA entrance exams. He had been using his quirk to amplify his words and make them more engaging for the audience of aspiring heroes. Izuku Midoriya, who had been dreaming of this day for months, was trying to pay close attention to every detail. Unfortunately, he’d been so excited that he neglected to put on his gloves before entering the hall, and without realizing it, he had activated his own quirk on the information leaflet that he was holding in front of him.
“Hey buddy, you don’t want to miss this! There’s a lot of useful stuff in here, especially on page 4. Some real juicy deets!” the leaflet exclaimed in a cheerful voice, waving itself in Izuku’s face.
“Please, be quiet, I need to hear what he’s saying. We can talk later, after the presentation is over.” Izuku whispered urgently, hoping to calm down his new friend. He was aware that some of the other examinees were staring at him.
One of them, a boy with glasses and a serious expression, stood up abruptly and interrupted Present Mic. “Excuse me! I have something to say.” He turned around and pointed an accusing finger at Izuku. “If you are not here to take this exam seriously, then you should leave right now! Your constant chatter is very rude and disruptive to the rest of us who are trying to focus!”
Izuku felt a surge of embarrassment and fear, sinking into his chair and wishing he could disappear from the spotlight that was now on him.
“Who do you think you are, four-eyes? You can’t tell us what to do!” the leaflet retorted loudly, showing no signs of backing down. Izuku felt himself sinking lower and lower in his seat, until he was almost completely hidden under it.
Not long after, Izuku stood nervously at the edge of the entrance exam battlefield, surrounded by a bustling crowd of other prospective students. The atmosphere crackled with anticipation as they awaited the signal to begin. Izuku's heart raced in his chest.
Suddenly, Present Mic's booming voice shattered the silence, sending a surge of energy through the crowd. "Well!? What are you waiting for?! Go! Go! Go! There are no timers in the real world!" he bellowed. Without further hesitation, Izuku sprinted forward, joining the throng of students as they charged toward the sprawling, makeshift city.
Okay, Izuku, no time like the present, he thought to himself, his nerves battling against his resolve. Purposefully, he removed his gloves and placed his hand against his shirt, feeling a familiar surge of energy course through him. Eyes and a mouth materialized on the fabric, transforming his shirt into a lively companion.
"Shirt, reporting for duty, sir!" the animated garment exclaimed.
Izuku grinned, his worries momentarily forgotten. "Okay, Shirt, you're my eyes, alright?! Point out anything you can that I might miss, and I'll work on taking out the robots!" he shouted, his voice determined and resolute. With a renewed sense of purpose, he charged ahead, his newfound ally guiding him through the chaotic battlefield.
As the clash of metal and the sounds of battle intensified, Izuku soon found himself face to face with a towering 1-point robot, its cold, metallic gaze fixated upon him. Instinctively, he placed his hands on its sleek surface, his quirk springing to life. In a remarkable twist, the robot, once poised to strike, faltered and spoke with an unexpected voice.
"Oh gee whizz, kid, was I about to do something reprehensible? Forgive me, please! I ain't normally like that, it's just my programming!" the robot exclaimed, worried.
"Oh n-no, don't worry, it's fine! It's expected, it's a training exercise!" he stammered, waving his hands in a futile attempt to calm the robot's unease.
The robot's optics flickered with a mix of relief and curiosity. "Well, if there's anything I can do to help, you say the word!" it offered, its voice tinged with genuine sincerity.
Izuku contemplated these words for a moment, then said “I think I have an idea.”
From atop his robotic perch, bounding through the city streets with an air of authority, Izuku's voice carried behind him, commanding his newfound allies. "Alpha squad, status report!" he called out.
Another living robot, positioned some distance away, responded promptly, its voice ringing out loudly. "Alpha squad reporting in, Mr. Midoriya! All's well!" The resounding affirmation filled Izuku with a sense of pride.
Encouraged by the success of his command, Izuku continued, his voice carrying through the bustling streets. "Beta squad, delta squad!"
Two more groups of robots echoed his call, their metallic voices clanging in unison as they saluted their new general. "Some expected casualties, sir! Numbers are still within accepted parameters. We've sacrificed a few units to allow other students to pass, sir!" they reported
The other students watched the scene unfold before them, their expressions a mixture of bewilderment and awe. This unassuming green-haired kid had managed to rally the majority of the robots to his side. It was as if the allocation of points and the distribution of success were entirely under his control!
Meanwhile, the teachers observing from their vantage point above were equally taken aback by the turn of events. They found themselves in a quandary, unsure of how to evaluate and score this extraordinary display of quirk utilization. While the exam guidelines did specify that students were expected to "destroy the robots," surely reprogramming them counted?
They then caught sight of the boy, now perched cross-legged on the foot of a zero-point robot, guiding it with gentle gestures as it gingerly maneuvered through the city, actively avoiding any harm to the students.
After a brief but intense discussion, they reached a unanimous decision. They would give Izuku Midoriya a passing grade.