All men are not created equal.

That's the reality of our world, one in which 80 percent of the population has a "quirk" of some kind. An ability that changes their very DNA to something extraordinary. Though when everyone is super, no one is.

That's why I wanted to be a hero. I wanted to be super in a world where super had lost all meaning. The heroes are the only one's who shine in this saturated world. I would watch All Might and Best Jeanest protect civilians every night before bed. I would close my eyes and dream of how great it would be to stand with them and be adored by the crowds. I would bathe in their admiration as I stood above the masses. That is what lulled me to sleep every night.

I didn't make it far.

To become the best, you must be trained by the best. Thus the only place that I would accept being trained by is the UA Academy's Hero Course. I applied for the General Education course as well because I believe in backup plans. The entrance exam was not in my favor however.

My quirk allows me to control the aggression of anyone I touch. I can affect up to 3 people at once and the effects last up to 24 hours. I can hike up their aggression for a full 24 hours with one touch, or I can lower them to a meek mouse for the same duration. Its not the power I would have asked for, but beggars can't be choosers.

I figured that as a hero I could be the one that other hero's call for help with a combative prisoner. I could cool down anyone who refused to sit and listen to reason. I would be the Cool Down Hero: Serenity.

That's all I ever wanted.

The entrance exam does not favor someone whose power only affects other people. Giant robots do not have aggression. They kill with cold hearted precision. I was shit out of luck.

I had my backup plan though. So, I attended UA with the hope that with enough training in hand to hand combat and a good grasp of my quirk I may be able to slip into the Hero Course on good behavior. The UA festival did not favor me either though. I could not manage to cross the tightropes quickly enough. This may be due to a deep-rooted fear of heights. I choose to blame the game coordinators. I swore that next year I would do better and prove myself once and for all as hero material.

Everything changed when Stain was captured.

I had heard of the Hero Killer before on the news. I had never paid much attention to him however. He was just another villain that I would have to drain the aggression from one day.

Then the video detailing his beliefs was circulated and I came to understand all that was wrong with society. Heroism is about defending the weak and saving the unfortunate. All Might is a hero. I was never going to be hero. My motivation was completely selfish, and I only dreamed about what I would gain from becoming a hero. I only wanted recognition. I had barely given a thought to those I would be helping, rather how they would help my self-esteem.

I was what Stain wanted to rid the world of.

I resolved to change that.

First step was to change my ideas on heroism. Stain was right, All Might is the only hero in our generation. Thus in order to save society from further corruption, all fake heroes must be removed. How would a 15 years old girl accomplish that? By finding bigger friends.

I started spending my after-school time searching out dark areas in the city underbelly. I would find bar's that allowed a 15 year old girl inside and chat up anyone who looked like they would have connections. Nothing happened for a long time. For weeks I would search alleys and clubs for someone who would know how I could contact the League of Villains, the group that was connected to Stain. My search only doubled when All Might lost his powers. With no real heroes on the streets time was scarce. I found a lucky break one night and managed to arrange a meeting at a bar off a side street downtown.

This was my chance. You only make a first impression once. So I squared my shoulders and entered the bar after my contact waved me in.

My contact did not stick around, he introduced me to the room then made a hasty exit. This did not bode well.

The bar was tidy and well maintained, though smallish. There were only 2 occupants after my contact left me alone. A bartender stood behind the bar, polishing glass and looking busy. He was made from some type of ephemeral mist that leaked into the air in wisps.

He looked up when I entered and said to the other man, "We have another possible recruit".

The other man was hunched over the counter staring at a photograph in his hand. He was covered in an odd assortment of hands that grasped his body at odd angles. He didn't acknowledge my presence.

After the silence became too much, I cleared my throat. "My name is Sumiko Yuuma and I would like to join the League of Villains", I said with a tremor in my voice.

The bartender was watching me but Hand Man did not move.

"I want to offer help in any way I can. Stain was right and we need to cleanse society as soon as possible" I added.

Nothing.

"I can help you!"

"How?" His voice startled me. He didn't turn from the picture he was gazing at.

"I'm decent at hand to hand combat and I have the ability to affect the aggression levels of anyone I touch. I can make them rage out of control or give up the will to fight."

He was quiet for some time. Then he said "Is that all?"

I was stumped. That truly was all I had, but I figured that the League of Villains could find some use for me. I didn't have a retort though, so I hung my head in shame. The silence stretched for an uncomfortably long amount of time.

"I don't need you." The man turned then and showed me the picture he had been staring at. It was a photo of the winner of the UA sports tournament, tied to the #1 pedestal at the end of freshman games. The veins were sticking out of the boys forehead and he seemed to be trying to escape his bonds and leap to the left. Katsuki Bakugou was his name if I remembered. "I need him. I need unrestrained fury paired with talent that can topple even pro heroes." He returned to staring at the photograph quietly.

I didn't know what to say. From the news I knew that the League of Villains had already captured Bakugou once before. It seemed they hadn't quite gotten through to him during the few days he was gone. But why did they want him? Because he was angry? Because he yelled a lot?

Anger blossomed in my own chest. They wanted a raging idiot who refused their ideals over a decent fighter who offered herself wholeheartedly to the cause? This wasn't right. I would show them how useful I could be. I would show them my own talent.

"I'll get him for you".

Hand Man turned to me once again. He seemed to consider me, before turning back to the photo.

"He's a little more hardheaded than you think. I don't think kidnapping him again will change anything." He sighed, "I have to move on." He watched me from the corner of his eye. I felt like I was no longer welcome. "Leave before I decide to kill you".

I left.

The Idea stuck with me though. The League of Villains underestimated me in every way. I needed to show them what I was made of. I needed to prove myself.

To do that I needed Katsuki Bakugou.