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Izuku had another terrible day at school-another day at the hands of his bullies. What peeved him was not even being caught. It was how he got caught. One of Kaachan’s lackeys, “Fingers”, managed to outsmart him. That hasn’t happened since kindergarten when the guy used his quirk to make a better finger painting than Izuku!
It led to his capture, and the consequences were drying on his space heater. School uniform, singed and tattered. His schoolbag was dirty with footprints. He only managed to save it because he used it as an improvised projectile to keep “Wings” off his trail, but by then it was too late. Kaachan already had him in his sights. It took over 10 minutes for them to get bored, and leave him lying there, to disgracefully pick himself up, patch his wounds, and get home looking like a dirty delinquent.
Having sown his uniform together again, and hand-washed it so his mom didn’t have to see, Izuk decided he deserved some internet browsing. He checked his regular forums when he stumbled upon something. A new interesting link from the beginning of the 2010s was recovered. In the early years of the second millennium of counting years, the users of the internet generated millions of websites. Most of it was lost in the Dawn of Quirks where many things collapsed. Now some proper computer nerds pass their time trying to recover and find interesting URLs to share with the world. Izuku dove himself into the description.
…This URL led me to one of many personality quizzes that were popular during the 2010s. but I find it unique because unlike many others, connected to live-action, or animated chow characters, this one stems from a song. The Oh Hellos released a musical album sometime in the year 2015, which included the song “Soldier, Poet, King”. Through the ensuing years, the song gained popularity as a quintessential tavern music, despite its religious contents. It led to the creation of the quiz, in which by answering a series of questions, the algorithm would then decide whether you are a soldier, a poet, or a king. Having solved the quiz multiple times myself, this Poet who hasn’t written a rhyme in his life can assure you there isn’t much stock in this. However, you do you.
Izuku found it mildly interesting. How would a hero view themselves? The answer that came to mind immediately was soldier, however, with the influence they wield these days, maybe king wasn’t too far-fetched of an option either.
Having thought it over, he decided to solve the quiz himself, before stopping. The OP mentioned this stemmed from a song. Maybe he should give it a listen before he tries this. Looking it up, he found it quite fast, along with a modern remaster someone called “DeepDopeJack” posted a mere few months ago. He decided on the original first.
AN: do not read further without listening to “ Soldier, Poet, King ” by The Oh Hellos. You have been warned XD
The song certainly gave him a new perspective. If the soldier with the sword is coming to tear down a city, then this answer could only fit a villain! Maybe to be a hero, one must be a poet. All Might in the past managed to pacify the situation just by speaking his catchphrase. In that way, even his words became a weapon of justice!
Izuku was excited now and pressed the link to the quiz. The first question was… Nothing. he had to put in his name first. He did so swiftly, and…
WHAT IS DUTY?
Huh. Not quite what he expected. Still, it didn’t seem too hard. He looked over each of the options. How can duty be an Excuse ? Maybe, in the case of his father, he was using his duty to provide for the family as an excuse to stay away from his quirkless son. Wow, that got dark fast! He shook his head to push those thoughts away. Duty as a Weapon ? He could see it. Abuse of power under the pretense of duty happens all over the world. Like in his school, where other children saw it as their duty to educate him on his place in society, and- damn. Maybe trying this quiz was a bad idea. Still, as someone who strived to become a hero, Izuku could only pick one answer. Duty was Undeniable. Next question!
IF YOU WERE TO HOLD A CROWN, WOULD IT BE COVERED IN BLOOD OF:
Izuku leaned back. He never wanted to hold any kind of crown, let alone covered in blood! Were the 2010s that morbid? Still, two of the three answers were unfitting to one who wants to be a hero. Blood of the Innocent , that would go against everything a hero is! And the blood of the Guilty ? No hero ever held the right to act as judge, jury, and executioner. Izuku thought a little more, trying to change the perspective. Supposedly, the crown could be a metaphor for a goal. And blood representing sacrifice? In that case, the only blood that should be spilled for his goals should be his Own. Izuku locked his answer and moved on.
THE THRONE LOOKS…
From crowns to thrones, it seems this was a royal package. A throne was just a fancy chair, so how would it look At him ? Maybe it’s metaphors again, the throne could represent… Authority? Government? Not something that Should be destroyed . Even if the current government couldn’t care less for people like him. The third answer, Golden and covered with flowers appealed to him most, but maybe gold was too much. But the chair covered with flowers would probably smell nice, unlike his seat at school, which was often a target of pranks aimed at him. At least the teachers put their foot down about placing strong-smelling substances on it, even if it was for their sake, not his. Answer three it was!
THE SWORD…
These weren’t really questions, were they? More like statements he has to finish. Also, the first option sounded an awful lot like a euphemism. In your mouth, hope you don’t choke could easily be taken out of context! In your hand, you picked it up yourself. Something he did himself, this appealed to him. He decided to be a hero, no one else! He picked the second answer.
THERE ARE RULES HOW MANY?
A question this time. About rules. Izuku thought he obeyed the rules pretty well, except in school, of course, where he somehow seemed to be breaking them almost daily, by bothering other kids. Still, the first answer, None, and I will keep it that way , was another that seemed perfectly suited to a villain. The second one, One and I’ll follow it seemed very selfish. Like only your rules and beliefs matter. Izuku didn’t like it, and he did find himself agreeing slightly with the third answer. Too many. It felt like the truth, anyway. Quirks determined everything about a person, more power equaled more worth. Unless the quirk made you unpleasant to look at, or made you stand out too much, or carried some uncomfortable connotations, as with most mental quirks. No one likes the idea that someone can mess with their brain. His small tangent over, Izuku continued.
PICK SOMETHING FUCKED UP
Despite living around Kaachan who dropped F’s faster than Twitch chat, Izuku still disliked the profane word. or maybe it was because Kaachan used it so much. Negative associations and all that. He had to agree though the options were not pleasant. Bodies . He did not want to pick bodies. Parents . Despite him having parental issues, an absent father, and an overbearing mother, he did not want to pick that option at all. This one seemed to stand out by the virtue of being most unassuming. Names. Izuku clicked fast and moved on faster.
A FEAR
Izuku was quite familiar with fear. He lived in it every day. But he was unprepared for the second choice to so accurately hit the nail on the head. You did your best and it wasn't enough. You tried and failed and kept trying and it wasn't enough. You had the power to change things and it wasn't enough. You left the world a worse place than you found it - or, worse, you left it identical. You were useless. It was his name, wasn’t it? Deku. Useless. He heard it every day. How could he not be afraid to admit Kaachan was right? That he could never save people. That his smile would never reassure anyone. That he could never tell anyone: “I AM HERE!”. izuku moved on fast before delving too much. But, he was also scared of where the next question would hit him.
THERE IS A HOME WAITING FOR YOU (I PROMISE). WHAT DOES IT HAVE?
He couldn’t help but laugh. Just as he was thinking of quitting, the quiz reassures him. Home was always safe, even if his mom wasn’t there 100% of the time. The answers didn’t seem to be carrying any heavy connotations either. When he eventually had a home of his own, Izuku wanted all three of the options. Windows, of course, he’d have to be on very hard times to have a home without windows. Peace when sitting down, knowing he did his best that day, that sounded wonderful! And… Someone else. He would have loved to have a soulmate. A companion, to traverse the walk of life, but. Who would want him? A quirkless nobody, with a creepy muttering habit and nervous stutter? Best not to think about it. But. Maybe, he could be a little selfish, right? It's just a quiz after all. Izuku picked up and moved on.
YOU ENTER A TOWN. IT IS…
Izuku felt better after the last question, and this one was simple as well. Something to breathe in sounded swell, except if it was a heavily industrial city or maybe a fairly neglected one. Still, he could imagine himself as a pro hero entering his new town, ready to serve and protect. And if it was dirty he could always clean up, community service was just another aspect of heroism. Something to make yours could be taken as something a villain or a hero would say. Some heroes got a bit too territorial with their base of operations, but at the end of the day, they were all fighting for the common cause, making the citizens feel safer. Something to accept sounded too indifferent or even uncaring, so he picked the first answer.
YOU LEAVE THE TOWN AND YOU LEAVE IT…
Oh, a continuation of the previous prompt! Izuku quickly decided that option three was most to his taste. If he’s a hero in the town, if he’s leaving he’d want to be Laughing the whole way, to give people courage in his absence.
PICK A QUOTE, AND MAKE IT ABOUT LOVE
Izuku was woefully inexperienced when it came to love. It just wasn’t something that passed his mind a lot. It was mostly heroes and quirks and homework. Also, these quotes were probably old or strange even back in 2010. He was hard-pressed to pick. In the end, he chose the quote by Pablo Neruda because he read somewhere women like mysterious guys and his quote seemed most mysterious.
THE ONE WHO HURT YOU, HAUNTS YOU. IN YOUR NIGHTMARES, WHAT DO THEY SAY?
And we’re back to heavy-hitting questions. People who hurt him? So many! But many of them would never say I love you. Nor did anyone ever say I forgive you . He didn’t even do anything wrong to be forgiven! He was only born with two joints in his pinky! He also had many nightmares, mostly involving his bullies. Except, there was one other. His mother, crying, apologizing. It was hard to remember that day, the aftermath of his diagnosis. How much more would it hurt if she said “ I’m disappointed in you”? Izuku didn’t dwell longer than it took to click away.
WHAT DOES YOUR ANGER FEEL LIKE?
A double whammy for the ancient internet website. Still, the answer was an easy one, unlike the previous question. Izuku did not like being angry. it felt wrong, it got uncomfortably hot in his head, and even angry, his eyes would tear up, making it hard to see. What right did he have to get angry anyway?
WHAT IS A SIN?
Another simple question, one that didn’t invoke a feeling he disliked even! Sin was Wrong ! Then again. For some people, it might feel Inevitable . But Izuku refused to believe it was Alive. But if it was, could it be killed? Would that mean no more sin?
WHO TAUGHT YOU ABOUT GUILT?
Well, Izuku enjoyed the break while it lasted. It was The World who told him to feel guilty for burdening it with his worthless existence. He tried not to hold it against it, of course. Most children at school didn’t even think about what they were doing, just following the lead of the loud minority.
HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Alright, Izuku needed a break. Why were people from the 2010s so weird?!! Either morbid or horny, there is no in-between! At least he should probably be grateful this quiz stayed morbid rather than horny, he did not need that today. The options given weren’t that good either. As a consequence, Consequence of what?! His “disability”? His actions? Actions of others? He did not like that.
Tired. Tired of what? Living? Was he overworked? Maybe, dying tired from all the people he saved could be seen and alright at best, but it’s not something to be desired! And Lonely. Who wants to die alone? He heard some pets do that to try and spare their owners the pain. But to him that sounded like it would only cause more of it. He picked the second answer but he did not like it at all.
WHEN YOU DIE, WHERE WILL YOU GO?
Izuku didn’t consider himself religious. When he was younger his mom took him to see his grandparents and they walked to the shrine together for New Year's. He’d pray and clap, but after his doctor’s appointment, he and mom stopped going. His grandpa died sometime later, seeing it fit to leave him and his mom both some money, which angered his step-grandma, who moved back to Sendai with her family. He never heard from her again and wasn’t even sure if she was still alive. Suppose it didn’t matter. Cutting off that tangent, Izuku decided to stay positive and pick the first option. He had no interest in Hell , and Anywhere but here was too depressing to think about.
WHAT IS HELL, ANYWAY?
Ho, boy. Maybe he should have stayed religious, then he’d at least have an idea. Then again, Hell would probably be the option that appealed to him the least, so he should just go with his gut. Other people were tempting, but after forcing positivity with the previous answer, declaring every other person as his Hell would be pessimistic and unfair to them. Barren, he could see how that would be painful for some people. He wasn’t exactly a social butterfly, but he’d feel bad staying all alone. However, the third option spoke to him the most, with familiarity even. Doubt. Hell indeed, one he’s been living in, and so he picked it. Just two more questions to go!
THROW A WISH TO THE WORLD!
Izuku clicked the first option before even registering the motion. It was the correct one though, at least for him. Let me fight, for my dream, for my ideals. Let me try to be who I want to be! Damn it, he almost made himself cry, thinking of his heartfelt wish.
IT’S 3 AM. WHAT DO YOU ASK THE CEILING? (QUOTES FROM KEATON HENSON’S “INSOMNIA”)
Izuku glanced at the clock. Thankfully it was not 3 am, but he did spend more time on this quiz than intended. He took a look at his ceiling, leaning back. A smiling All Might poster looked right back. Of course. But what would he ask All Might? He knew it already. Can a quirkless be a hero? But he’ll never meet the No.1, so he should move on. He felt he needed more context so he looked up what “Insomnia” by this Keaton guy was. Turned out it was a poem. A short one, but it did appear quite charming and slightly thought-provoking. But, while he did sometimes think a mile a minute and his brain felt full, he liked that feeling, liked following strings of thought where they took him. it helped with his analyses and predictions, even if he sometimes wandered off. And, again, he felt he didn’t know enough about love for it to be keeping him up at night. Oh, who is the man I’m trying to be? That sounded right.
Oh wow. That was the last question. He looked at the clock again. It took him over half an hour to answer 20 multiple-choice questions. Then again some were rather heavy. He felt a bit drained, but also satisfied. He also completely forgot what the point of the quiz was. Thinking back he could see how some of the answers would suit a soldier, a poet, or a king. He was also slightly curious about what he would get. Probably a poet. Out of the three options, the poet seemed most liable to overthink it all as izuku did. But that was alright. Maybe Izuku should go into poetry, or at least educate himself a little on the subject. That Keaton guy lived a while back but maybe some of his stuff survived. Also Pablo Neruda, maybe he should look him up.
More assured about getting Poet Izuku clicked one last time. The screen went white, freezing for a moment before the results revealed themselves. And Izuku sat there speechless.
FAST FORWARD 10-20 YEARS
“And for the conclusion, all I can say is… LOOK MOM! I’M THE PRIME MINISTER OF JAPAN!”
The audience laughed heartily as the camera cut to the shot of Inko Midoriya, sitting among the cream of the crop, busily wiping her eyes in the super absorbent handkerchief. Izuku bowed once more before stepping down from the podium, receiving heartfelt congratulations from his campaign manager, his many sponsors, and friends who helped him along the way, and lastly the opposition party candidate. The inauguration gala lasted well into the night, but upon arriving at his new home, with both windows and peaceful quiet. As for someone else…
“Honey, I’m home!”
Duty. Strength. Resignation. You were told to do things and you did them (no one told me to be a hero, it was me who chose this path) . The world is something that was put into your hands and that you must deal with - so you will (no one gave me the world, I took it with my own hands to make it better) . You have a rigid back and steady hands, either metaphorically or physically (my hands still shake when thinking of what I lost, but I will hold my back straight and keep going forward) . Is it nature or nurture (I was not born with greatness, nor was it entrusted to me, I am a self-made man) . You don't know (I know better) . You are tired of being steady (but I’ll still keep going with a smile) . You dream of feeling alive (I’m not just alive, I’m living to spite the people who wished me death) . Not that you aren't, but, sometimes, it's hard to remember that there is a heart between your ribs (despite the attempts, it’s still going strong) . Your love is where you breathe ( Then love knew it was called love. And when I lifted my eyes to your name, suddenly your heart showed me my way) . Come on, breathe. In. Out. It starts now (Japan is only the beginning) .
A passage from Izuku Midoriya’s guide “Path to Leadership” soon available at the bookstore near you!