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“Izuku Midoriya, return to the classroom and collect your things. You’re expelled.“
It was with those words that Izuku knew his life was over.
His entire being had gone numb as Eraserhead dismissed the rest of the class. Izuku hadn’t reacted at all to Bakugo’s smug grin, or Uraraka’s look of wanting to say something.
It wasn’t until he was on the train home that he had finally processed what had happened.
He began to cry.
All Might’s words to him a year ago should have broken him. But they didn’t. He asked if he could be a Hero like All Might, but All Might told him to be realistic.
To most it would have been the final nail in the coffin, a call to give up on his dream, but Izuku was nothing if not optimistic. He had chosen to interpret All Might’s words a different way.
Maybe he couldn’t be a Hero like All Might, but Izuku knew there were more than a few Heroes whose Quirks were almost useless in combat and thus they mostly fought Quirkless. The Wild Wild Pussycats were a popular Hero Team, and half their number had non combative Quirks.
So, with renewed resolve, Izuku made his way off the rooftop that day, too busy coming up with a training regime to notice the explosions and smoke coming from a nearby street as he made his way home.
He would be a Hero.
(He later learned that Bakugo had been involved in some Villain attack, with the same Villain that had attacked Izuku earlier, but made it out fine when Backdraft had used his Quirk to dilute the Villain. Izuku could tell by how much more aggressive Bakugo had gotten that the Explosive boy’s pride had been shot.)
Since then, Izuku had gotten much more serious with his preparation. He had found a small gym to train at, and had picked up some techniques from online videos.
Izuku’s strongest asset though, was his mind. And he intended to make full use of it.
It paid off in the end, where he had used his wits to pass the Entrance Exam, just managing to scrape 32nd place. It wasn’t the best, but it wasn’t last place and he was still proud of his achievement.
(He was especially thankful for the hidden ‘Rescue Points’, since those made up most of his score in the end.)
In the end though, it was all for nothing.
On the very first day, the teacher had made them perform a Quirk Assessment Test under the threat of last place being expelled…
Izuku got last place.
It didn’t make sense. How had he managed to place so low? He knew he wasn’t going to place within the top five or anything, but he was expecting to at least get within the 15-10 range.
He had done pretty decent on the tests from what he understood, and he certainly didn’t want to see anyone get expelled, but he honestly couldn’t wrap his head around how he had managed to place lower than the invisible girl who struggled with every single test, or the short, purple haired boy who really only got a high score on the side steps and spent most of the time making the girls uncomfortable with his leering and inappropriate comments.
It didn’t make sense…
“Are you all right?”
Izuku jumped at the unfamiliar voice, as well as the tan skinned, purple haired woman bent down to speak to him.
“H-huh!? Oh! Yes, I’m fine ma’am. No need to worry about me… Ha…”
“No use lying to me love.” The woman spoke, and Izuku could make out an English accent. “I could feel you all the way from the other side of the next car.”
“I… What?”
“My Quirk. I can sense people’s emotions.”
Immediately Izuku perked up, which the woman apparently sensed as she leaned back a little.
“How far away can you sense them? Can you sense complex emotions or only basic? Does it in any way influence your own emotions? How- Mph!”
A rough, calloused hand covered his mouth, and Izuku turned to see a similarly tanned woman with dark brown hair in a bob cut that reached down to her neck. The most interesting thing about her were the minor mutations throughout her body, giving her the ears, tail, claws, and eyes of a cut.
Izuku thought she looked familiar.
He also thought the completely apathetic look on her face was a bit creepy.
“If you’re going to ask questions at least give them a chance to answer.”
“It’s fine dear.” The purple haired woman replied jovially.
Did they know each other?
“Now then.” The purple haired woman smiled at him. “My name is Maria. I would love to answer your questions, but only if you promise to tell me what’s bothering you.”
“Why do you care?” Izuku asked before he could stop himself.
Maria looked thoughtful.
“Good question. The truth is, I’m actually a teacher. Granted I teach elementary level, but there are times when I simply need to lend an ear to my students, and my Quirk helps a lot with that.”
“I…”
“Come on now, it’s okay. Some times the best thing to do is just vent. We won’t judge, promise.”
“I… I got expelled from U.A….” The woman frowned as she contemplated something.
“Isn’t it the first day of the school year?” She asked her companion.
“There were rumors in the Underground of a teacher at U.A. with an unnaturally high expulsion record.” The cat woman shrugged blankly.
The Underground? Was she a Pro Hero? It would explain how Izuku found her familiar.
“Y-yeah. Eraserhead-Sensei. He made us do a Quirk Assessment Test instead of Orientation under the threat that last place would be expelled due to having ‘no potential’. I… I got last place…”
The woman grimaced.
“I… That CAN’T be allowed.”
“He said that all of the teachers at U.A. had the authority to run that class however they see fit-“
“Even so, there’s a difference between leniency and negligence, and allowing a teacher to freely expel students at his own whim is BEYOND negligent.” Maria huffed. “Why don’t you start from the beginning.”
He didn’t know why he started spilling everything to this woman he barely even knew. May it was the emotional turmoil, or maybe he just really needed to get it off his chest. Either way, he explained everything, as if on autopilot: how he was beaten down his entire life for being Quirkless, how he had managed to get into U.A. In spite of that, and how he was singled out and expelled on the first day of class.
He had just enough awareness of what he was saying to not bring up his encounter with All Might though. The man was the Number One Hero and the Symbol of Peace. It was a can of worms he’d prefer not opening.
“You poor dear. You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you?”
Thankfully, she hadn’t said anything about his Quirklessness.
“I… I did my best, but even then, in the end-“
“You didn’t fail the Assessment Test.” Izuku jumped as the cat woman spoke up. He had almost forgotten she was there. She wasn’t even looking at him, simply staring at something ahead with an apathetic look on her face.
“I… What do you mean? I-I still placed last and-“
“The test was rigged. Your teacher had it out for you, singled you out, and sabotaged your placement so he’d have an excuse to expel you.”
“I… That doesn’t…”
“I hate to say it, but that’s looks like the explanation everything is pointing to.” Maria said sadly.
And Izuku despaired.
He wanted to hope, to pray desperately, that U.A. would be better.
In the end, it was just as bad.
Maybe it was even worse. At least Aldera didn’t try to target him for expulsion.
(Most likely cause they figured Bakugo would grow to out of control without his favorite punching bag to go off on, but still…)
He left the train numbly, his feet carrying him home.
His mother was of course concerned to see him home so early, but he could only give a shell shocked expression her questions as he numbly made his way to his room.
He lay on his bed, mind blank.
He fell asleep at some point.
…
…
…
He had woken up a few hours later. His mother by that time had gotten a call from U.A. regarding his expulsion…
He had never seen the normally meek woman so angry before.
Granted, it wasn’t HIM she was angry at, and Izuku was thankful.
But hearing her suddenly start screaming at whoever was over the phone definitely startled him.
When she had finally slapped the receiver down and calmed herself down, the first thing she did was tell Izuku it wasn’t his fault.
It didn’t make him feel better. There was a black mark on his record. None of the schools he had contacted over the next couple of days would take him, even when Quirks or lack thereof were not a factor. As far as they were concerned, anyone who was expelled from the illustrious U.A. was a lost cause.
A couple of days after Izuku’s first, and last, day at U.A., the boy had stumbled out of his apartment to try and get some air. He made his way down to a nearby park to try and clear his head.
“Holy shit, is that Deku?”
And just his luck.
“Well look what we have here!” A boy whose Quirk Izuku recalled gave him claws. Dangerous against flesh and blood human, but wouldn’t do much against a robot unless he aimed for the exposed joints.
Alongside him was a boy who could extend his fingers. Izuku recalled him as one of Bakugo’s lackeys. The finger boy wrapped his arm around Izuku’s shoulder roughly.
“Heard something pretty interesting. You got expelled from U.A.. On the first day too.”
He tightened his grip.
“Even the Pro Heroes know just how useless you are huh?”
“Why did you even bother trying anymore? Are you seriously that fucking delusional? Huh?”
At that moment, several days worth of frustration and despair burst forth, and Izuku spoke without thinking.
“At least I actually made it into a Hero School!”
There was several seconds of silence, before the clawed boy’s fingers pierced Izuku’s shoulder, drawing blood. His other hand reared back, ready to attack.
“Listen here you useless little shit! You won’t be opening your mouth much when-“
Someone grabbed the boy’s wrist and yanked. Izuku hissed as the boy’s claws were ripped from his shoulder, his white shirt stained red.
He witnessed Maria’s companion from the train knee the clawed boy in the gut before flipping him over, causing him to land on his back painfully winded.
“What the fuck!?” Fingers yelped, tightening his hand around Izuku’s neck. “Don’t you dare come closer-“
The woman had moved two fast for him to react as she punched him in the mouth, before grabbing him by the back of the neck and throwing him, causing him to land painfully on the clawed boy.
The woman turned to a nearby bike rack, raising her hand to reveal a device attached to it that sprayed blood onto the rack, which promptly tore itself from the ground, twisting and bending as it flew over and pinned the boys to the ground.
“Y-you psycho bitch!” Claws yelped. “You can’t do this! We’ll call the Heroes-“
“Hi, I’m a Hero.” The woman responded apathetically, holding up an International Hero’s License. “What seems to be the issue?”
Frankly, the boy’s reactions were priceless, and it was a few minutes later they were escorted away by police.
“You’re the Hero Hela! Head sidekick to the United Kingdom’s Number One Hero Ninetails! A Japanese born Hero who left the country for unspecified reasons! Your Quirk, Animation, lets you animated and control any non living thing using your own blood!”
“I am well aware of all that stuff. You don’t need to remind me.” The woman sighed. “Also, just call me Din. I’m not even on duty.”
“Er… Yeah, about that, what are you doing back in Japan anyway? Are you on vacation?”
“I’m visiting family.” The woman replied shortly. “With my girlfriend.”
Ah, she must mean Maria-San.
“And… Are you sure you won’t get in trouble for…” He gestured to the direction the police had led the two boys.
“They were showing aggression towards you and one even caused you physical harm. I merely subdued them.” The woman replied, strangely sounding as if this was far from the first time she had to say this.
“O-oh. Okay. Well… Thank you for the help anyway… I should get going-“
“Wait.” Izuku stopped as the woman stared him down.
It was kinda creepy.
“If you had another chance to be a Hero, would you take it?”
“H-huh?” Din sighed.
“Maybe it would be better if your parents were here.”
“M-my dad works abroad, so it’s just me and my mom.”
“Fine. Lead the way.”
“Um…”
It was with that the two Midoriya’s sat awkwardly across from the cat woman who proceeded to explain everything with an ever apathetic look on her face.
Apparently, she had called up her boss Ninetails and, after explaining Izuku’s situation, Izuku was apparently being given a chance to enter the Hero Course at Caliburn Academy, the top rated Hero School in England.
Both Izuku and his mother were stunned while Din just nonchalantly sipped her tea.
(It was good tea.)
“W-wait! Why!? Why me!? I’m little more than a stranger you met on the train a couple of days ago!”
“I’m afraid I have to agree with my son.” Inko spoke up. “This all seems too good to be true. It doesn’t make sense.”
Din just sighed.
“I wouldn’t be a very good Hero if I just stood by while society deals a bad hand to a kid for something out of his control, and that’s black mark is going to destroy whatever future you may have had in this country. Ninetails was wary at first but became interested when I told her a Quirkless kid had passed U.A.’s Entrance Exam.”
“…Did Maria-San convince you to do this?” Izuku asked warily.
“She… Suggested the idea, but that was pretty much it.”
“Still, in another country…” Inko voiced.
“Caliburn Academy has dorms in place for transfer students and students who live far away. And the Ninetails Agency is willing to act as his guardians during his stay, but this is all a big IF.” Din sighed. “The school has agreed to test you if you’re interested. They have an open spot in one of their classes since a student pulled out due to family issues. But you’ll still have to pass another Entrance Exam, so it would either be a second chance at becoming a Hero, or a short vacation depending on how well you do. Nothing is guaranteed yet.”
“I… This is a lot… Can we have a day or two to think it over? Let me call my husband…”
Din gave a short nod.
“My plane leaves Friday morning.” She said, handing over a slip of paper with her number.
X
X
X
“And that’s basically what happened.” Inko sighed as she held her phone to her ear.
“I admit it does sound too good to be true.” Hisashi replied. “I brought up files on the Hero in question. Din Yaramoto. Eldest of five in a lower class family. She attended Seiai Academy where she befriended her senior, who is now the Number One Hero of the U.K.. She is a somewhat controversial figure though. Mostly that she used her Quirk to animated dead bodies a few times, but her reason was always valid, such as getting bodies out of the way to try and keep them from taking damage. All in all I can’t really find anything to suggest she’s a bad person.”
“Still, It’s all the way in another country Hisashi.”
“I know but… I think we need to stop considering our own worries and think about what’s right for Izuku. U.A. Won’t take that black mark off of his record, so even getting him into a decent regular school will be next to impossible. That mark is going to haunt him for the rest of his life if he stays in the country, and I can’t find any lawyers who are willing to go up against U.A.. He’s being given a second chance now by someone who, from what I can see, just wants to help. We would be cruel not to let him take it.”
“I know.” Inko smiled sadly. “I guess the only thing now then is to ask Izuku what he wants to do.”
X
Naturally, Izuku had jumped at the chance, and after calling to confirm it with Din, he was now standing in the entrance hall of his apartment on a crisp Friday morning with a suitcase of extra clothes.
“We can send for more of your stuff when and if you get accepted.” Din sighed. “No use lugging it at to another country at this exact moment. Don’t worry, being a top ranked Hero has its perks so you won’t have to worry about the complications of importing this stuff. Just, say your goodbyes real quick. We have half an hour to get to the airport and we still have to drive there.”
“Make sure you call at least twice a week okay.” Inko told him with a sad smile.
“You make it sound like I’m guaranteed to get in.” Izuku mused.
“…Izuku, when you were a little boy, you asked me if you could be a Hero without a Quirky, and all I did was stand there and apologize.” Inko replied sadly, surprising the boy. “I didn’t support you when you needed it the most, and I’ve regretted it ever since.” She gently cupped her son’s face. “You’re not the only one being given a second chance right now. Even without a Quirk, you WILL make it into that school, and you WILL be a Hero. Your father and Ai are so proud of you, and we will have your backs this time, I swear it.”
Izuku looked at his mother in shock. After a few moments, the two of them burst into tears as they hugged each other, Din awkwardly standing off to the side as they both cried with the force of a fire hose. After a couple of minutes, Din awkwardly coughed and reminded them that Maria was waiting and they had a plane to catch.
With that, the two left, and Inko smiled as she sat in the now quiet apartment, feeling happier for her son than she had in years.
Of course that happiness turned to shock later that evening as she turned on the news and realized the major bullet her son had just dodged.
BREAKING NEWS: ATTACK ON U.A.’S USJ FACILITY LEAVES TWO STUDENTS AND FIFTEEN VILLAINS DEAD.