If I was a strong man, I would change my fate, if I were a smart man I would work around it, if I were a rich man I would pay to improve myself. Sadly I am none of those, and the only option I had involved a steep drop off my school's roof. And for the first time I was happy, I was at peace, like nothing in the world would ever bother me again. I had no one to live for. No one to let down if I ended it all. My childhood friend abandoned me. My father left my family when I was born powerless. My mother passed away shortly after due to illness. And my dreams had been crushed. Huh, maybe this was the right path all along. People like me weren't meant to live in this world, that became apparent when we were left behind in the genetic lottery. I smiled as I rapidly approached the ground. This was it wasn't it; this was my end? Huh, in a way this was fitting, a useless death for a broken kid. I would have laughed if I wasn't ten feet from hitting the ground. I closed my eyes, just a little closer. "I'm coming, mom."
A sudden jolt. What was that? My eyes slowly opened, the light that had previously been fading seemed so much brighter. Was I dead? No, I don't think I ever hit the ground. If I wasn't dead then what happened? Better yet, why was I still floating off the ground? "The hell were you thinking?" Came a voice that spoke in broken Japanese. Wait, a voice? Who was it? My eyes adjusted, and in front of me was a tall man. His voice gruff and his appearance frightening. He had to be at least six feet in height, and he seemed to be African American. A goatee and chiseled jaw lined his face, and his eyes were a piercing brown. "You gonna answer or what kid?" Oh. "Uh, what was the question again?" I asked him feebly. Who was this guy? He seemed familiar to me for some reason. "I asked what the hell you thought you were doing." Right, he did say that, didn't he. "Uh." Think of something quick! "I was... diving into the pool?" I'm an idiot. His brow furrowed and a snarl was let loose. "I don't appreciate liars kid, worked with them for too long. Tell me the truth. Now." Okay, not a good start. I could only sigh at this point and tell him everything. It was only after I was done did he let me down from his arms. Did he have to hold me that entire time? "So quirkless huh? Have to admit kid that's pretty rare these days." I know that. I know that better than anyone else. "Still ain't no reason to go ending your life like that. You do that, and all you do is prove them right. Take it from me kid a strong quirk ain't everything; I've knocked people on their ass more times then I can count cause they thought that their quirk was hot shit." It was a strange thing, a stranger being the only person actually to care. Or at least I think it's kindness; maybe it was just pity. Either way, I suppose it doesn't matter. "Thanks for your concern, but I need to get home soon." I needed to leave I've bothered him enough with my problems. "Hey, kid you don't have anywhere to go do you?" I froze. I lived alone ever since mom passed away and while I got to keep the apartment, well it never felt the same. "I knew it. I've seen that look before after all. Come on let me show you something." Wasn't this something my mom always warned me about? Never go anywhere with strangers, since when did I start ignoring that? All logic told me to run, to get away as fast as I could. However, there was a small part of me that screamed that if I left, I would lose my one shot. 'I should leave.' I turned. 'Following this guy could be dangerous.' I took a step. 'Does it matter? I was looking to die anyway.' I was halfway to him, and he was looking at me expectantly. 'Stop turn around.' The final step. I paused, and he snorted in amusement. "Bout time kid, come on."
We winded our way through twisting allies, and I suddenly found myself on the ruffer side of Musutafu. I was never allowed here when mom was still alive. A few small-time thugs lined the streets, and it was apparent that the vast majority of them were on some drug or another. A few approached at the sight of me but quickly backed off when they saw who I was walking with. That was weird, they all seem to be afraid of him. Wonder why that is. 'Maybe he's a gang leader.' He didn't look like it, but he was definetly dangerous if he had the whole neighborhood on edge with his arrival. "Ignore them, kid, they ain't worth the time of day. Stick close to me, and they'll leave ya alone." I nodded. Nothing else that I could do at this point. We walked for a little while longer before we came upon a building, its walls a dirty grey, and the sign hung lower on one side than it should have. The door was loose on its hinges, and the paint was peeling off of it. The sign read "Combo Gym" in faded red letters. Combo Gym that sounded so familiar to me, yet I couldn't place it. I dawned on me that I never got his name. 'I followed a man whose name I don't even know. Maybe I hit my head on the way down.' "Ya comin or what kid?" He held the door open for me as we walked inside. What I saw I could never forget. Every wall was lined with newspaper, and boxing trophies stood upon shelves. There was a ring in the middle, and a few punching bags lined the walls. "Make yourself at home kid." "Could you stop calling me kid?" I froze, my voice unrecognizable to me. No stutter and angry, I couldn't remember the last time I was angry. I was afraid he'd be angry, but all I received was a laugh in response. "Okay fine, what's your name then?" "It's," Was I really about to tell this stranger my name? "Izuku Midoriya." I guess so. "Midoriya huh, well welcome to my gym." Despite how run down the outside was, the inside seemed to be in near perfect condition. The floors were freshly polished, and all the equipment was in pristine condition. "So whatcha think?" I smiled, the first smile I've had in a long time. "It's wonderful." He chuckled. "Knew you'd like it. So what do you think about going a few rounds in the ring up there?" Was he serious? He had to have at least half a foot on me. "Sure sounds fun." Wait. What! What the hell did I say! This wasn't me. Did this guy have some sort of quirk that changed your personality?! No a quirk like that would be too uncommon, there had to be an explanation for this. Maybe he released a passive pheromone that made people more aggressive... "A mumbler huh." Oh no. Was I doing that out loud? "S-sorry its a nervous habit." That was the me I remembered meek and good for nothing. "S'no problem. And just so your aware kid I'm quirkless." What? Did he? No this had to be a joke of some sorts. He was probably making fun of me. That was the most likely situation. "You're doing it again." Oh shit. "I ain't making fun of ya kid I really am quirkless." "S-sorry it's just I've n-never met another q-quirkless person." My stuttering was back... hurray. "I already said it's fine." There was a long pause, and for a moment I was worried I had insulted him. His next words, however, changed my life. "Let me ask you something kid, are you tired of being useless? Don't try to deny it I can see it in your eyes. You've been called that before haven't you? What you did at the roof is proof enough. So let me ask you something if you had a chance to change it all, would you? Or would you stand around all day being depressed and hoping something comes along and changes your life? Well, this is that moment kid. This is your one chance to make a difference. You said you wanted to be a hero right? Who's stopping you?" Was... Was he. "Kid you can become a hero." I couldn't take it anymore, and I dropped to my knees, a sob ripped through my chest as tears freely flowed from my eyes. "Come on kid your gonna ruin my floor." There was no bite in his words. "Hey kid, what say we make you the first quirkless hero huh?" I smiled. The only answer that came to mind was "Yea let's go kick some ass." He smirked. "Good, now get in the ring and let's go a few rounds." I nodded as I put on the boxing gloves. It dawned on me again at that moment. I still never asked his name well no time like the present. "Hey, mister I gave you my name now tell me yours." He had finished putting on his gloves at this point, and he stepped into the ring. "My name?" He smirked once more.
"You can just call me T.J. Combo."