Chapter Text
Midoriya was used to others trying to crush his dreams, he always tried not to let it get to him, but he couldn't stop this one from hitting him right in the heart.
All Might had just told him that he couldn't be a hero.
On his way back home he saw Kacchan being attacked by the same villain as he had been, and without thinking he rushed in. He had his notebook in hand and used the corner to hit the villain in the eye. It loosened it's grip on Kacchan enough for the other boy to get free. Midoriya dropped down with him. He should have felt proud, but the same disappointment from earlier still stuck to him.
Midoriya saw All Might walking up to him and ran. He likely wanted to insult Midoriya and tell him all the reasons why it was a bad idea to jump into the fight, he didn't need that right now, he didn't know how much more he could take.
It turns out that both he and Kacchan had ended up on the news, immediately after the incident. His mom was worried and sobbed while holding him tight.
After Midoriya had finally gotten to his room, he fell asleep, exhausted after all that had happened today.
He awoke to the sound of his mother calling him from downstairs.
He had to rub his eyes to make sure he wasn't seeing things, because standing in the doorway was Kimi Tomoken, the principal of Shiketsu High.
Tomoken wasn't as well known as Nedzu, not even close, he's pretty sure that she would rather keep to the shadows. Or at least as much as the principal of a hero school can, and if Midoriya can find information on Eraserhead then obviously he can find information on Tomoken, and he had, a lot actually.
Midoriya knew that her hero name was Pop Rock, due to the nature of her quirk, which allowed her to create a kind of crystal, kind of like rock candy but stronger, she also needs sugar in her system to create these rocks. Midoriya always thought that the name was kind of ironic considering that she was typically a serious person, and Pop Rock wasn't a very serious name.
"It's nice to meet you Tomoken-san!" Midoriya said excitedly, not realizing that it might be weird that he knows her name.
She blinks in surprise, but doesn't show her shock outwardly in any other ways, Midoriya who likes observing people, catches the action but obviously doesn't comment.
"You're in your last year of middle school, am I correct?" Tomoken asks with a slight raise of her eyebrow.
His mom, who doesn't seem to know who she is talking to, speaks before he can. "Yes! He is, but why are you asking?" His mom's tone turns from enthusiastic to partially suspicious, which must be hard for her, because she is probably the most gentle, trusting person there is. Which you wouldn't expect from someone with a quirkless child, but there is a reason why she still likes Kacchan after all this time, she simply doesn't realize how much of a jerk he can be sometimes.
"I'm sorry if that came off the wrong way," said Tomoken, sounding genuine, "what I wanted to ask was how your son felt about attending my school next year." She smiled, and Midoriya couldn't see a single hint of malice behind it. Does she not know that he is quirkless? He was disappointed that he would have to tell her, she would quickly take back her offer, it was nice to be wanted, even just for a bit.
"I'm quirkless though, and you run a hero school." Her shock wasn't quite as obvious this time, but Midoriya could still see it. Of course she wouldn't think he was quirkless, maybe she would also yell at him about how he could have gotten hurt going after the villain like he did.
"I have to ask, how do you know so much about me?"
Oh, of course she would be worried about that too. Did she think he was a villain?
"I like analysis and heroes, so I- uh, just kind of figured some stuff out," he looked at the ground ashamed, she already knew he was quirkless, now she completely knew what a freak he was.
"That's pretty amazing, most people don't know that much about me. So, about my offer, what do you think?"
"But, I already told you I'm quirkless. I can't be a hero." There was no question in his voice, he knew he couldn't be a hero.
"Who told you that? If course you can be a hero, anyone can." She clearly wasn't taking thinking straight. He was a nobody. He was nothing.
"But," he started, he had to find a way to convince her, sure he would love to be a hero, but everyone had told him he couldn't, and he believed them. "Even All Might said I couldn't be a hero."
Her expression darkened, finally she understands! "He did what?" Her voice sounded angry, but not at him. Who else was there to be angry at?
"Izuku! All Might said what? I get that you're quirkless, but a hero shouldn't tell you that, when was this?"
"Um, yesterday," he mumbled, this was starting to get awkward.
"Okay, Midoriya. Do you want to be a hero?" Tomoken asked.
"Well yeah, but-" "Well then it's settled, you are going to be recommended by me to the hero course at Shiketsu, if you want to apply to any other schools then I'll give you a recommendation there too." She said.
Midoriya has always wanted to go to UA, but when All Might was talking to him on the roof he had told him that he would be teaching there, and Midoriya didn't want to face him yet.
"I want to go to Shiketsu," Midoriya said, and for the first time since before yesterday, the smile on his face was genuine.