If there is one lesson that humanity learned, it's that not all men are created equal. There are some people with more power than others. But this fact won't hold me back. If anything, it pushes me to become better.
The city of Musutafu, home to many types of people. Mainly, it is the home of superheroes.
"C'mon Midoriya! We're going to miss it!"
That's my piece of dialogue. My name is Yurishizu Osuka, but my friend calls me Osu. I have spiky red hair with a white streak going down the middle, blue eyes and light skin. At this moment, I wore a standard junior high school uniform with the exception of my favorite black fingerless gloves, my red backpack on my back.
"I'm coming Osu!"
About my friend, his name is Izuku Midoriya. He had messy green hair, green eyes and skin as light as mine. He also wore a junior high school uniform, his brown backpack on his back.
The two of us ran through the streets of Musutafu, running across a puddle, stopping at the crosswalks and waiting to continue our trek, running past orchid trees only to stop and see a giant man with a head looking similar to a sharks on a railroad track above the street. Midoriya and I could only watch in awe at this creature as Midoriya exclaimed, "That's one huge super villain!"
The first incident was in Qingqing city. An extraordinary child was born who radiated light. After that, reports of people with superpowers popped up across the globe. No one knew what was causing these "Quirks". Before long, the supernatural became the totally normal. Dreams a reality. The world became a superhuman society, with about eighty percent of the population possessing some uncanny ability. Our streets looked like scenes from comic books. As cities swirled with chaos and confusion, a new profession dominated our collective consciousness.
The monstrous villain roared as he completely knocked of an electric tower, it falling down to the streets below.
It was an age of heroes.
Suddenly a man ran down the street and stopped underneath it. He was large and muscular, with black eyes and white hair. He wore a blue-green shirt that did not hide his abs, blue track pants with a white stripe going down one side, black boots, a black and yellow striped belt, headband and braces on his wrists. He punched his fist into his hand and reached up, catching the tower with ease. It was...
"Whoa nice! Way to go, Death Arms!" one man cheered.
"The Punching Hero! I wish I had a quirk that made me super strong!" another yelled.
Another hero arrived creating a blockade with water. He was dressed like a fire fighter. He had a orange orb in the middle of his face and no mouth, his head completely white. He had water pumps for arms.
"Everyone please stay back! This area is far to dangerous!" the hero exclaimed
"Whoa! The Rescue Specialist: Backdraft is here!? He'll make sure we're okay!" a civilian cried.
Izuku and I were trying to take a look at the action as two others have a conversation.
"This guy must be pretty desperate to go full monster in the middle of the city. You know what happened?"
"Just some amateur. Stole someone's bag and then got himself cornered."
It was at this point, Midoriya decided to move forward, so I followed, able to hear the other man's comment.
"A quirk like that and he's just a petty thief..."
The both of us pass through the crowd, hearing people talk about the situation, including a man who's getting held up and might arrive late to work. As we head to the front, a figure jumps over the crowd.
"Ahhh!!! It's Kamui!!!" yelled a group of girls. "We're you're biggest fans!!!!"
The next hero runs up to the scene. He wore a blue body suit, looking to have wood as his arms, legs, head and lower region. He jumped up on to the streetlights and jumped towards the tracks. The hero quickly dodges the monster's attack.
"GET AWAY FROM ME OR I'LL BREAK YOU TOOTHPICK!!!" he threatened.
Izuku and I finally make to the front to watch the battle, excited.
"Ah, this is gonna be good!" my friend exclaimed.
The hero dodges the next attack by extending his wooden arm and wrapping it around some metal, slinging himself away.
"No duh, that's Kamui Woods! Despite being new, he's making a big name for himself!"
A husky man smirked at us. He had some stars sticking of his head.
"One look at those dopey grins and I know what you are. You two are fanboys," he said, pointing towards us.
Midoriya and I responded with a "sorta" and two nervous looks on our faces.
Kamui runs towards the monster, dodging another attack and running up his arms. He jumps into the air and extends his right arm towards the creature, who blocks it with his left. The villain, then, moves his arm to the side, launching Kamui away. The hero manages to land on a roof though, glaring at the villain.
"Assault, robbery, and illegal use of powers during rush hour traffic!" exclaimed the tree-based hero. "You are the incarnation of evil!"
Kamui extends his arm into a series of branches!
"There! His special move!" Izuku yelled.
"C'mon Tree Man! Show us something flashy!" the husky man cried out.
"The Preemptive..." Izuku and I said, smiling.
"Binding..." Kamui said.
"Lacquered Chains Prison!" The three of us cried as Kamui extends his arm towards the villain, who prepares to block it.
"Canyon Cannon!" cried a new hero as she comes from nowhere and kicks the villain down.
She wore a bodysuit with purple, orange and white as it's colors, purple boots and a purple mask. She had blonde hair and pink eyes. I forgot to mention one more thing, what was it? Oh yeah, she was huge!
Kamui, Deck Arms, Back Draft, the stranger, Izuku and I were too shocked by what just transpired as the gigantic woman landed on the ground. A group of photographers startled the two of us as they held their cameras up, taking pictures and chanting the name "Murisha" as the she inspects the unconscious villain.
"Piece of cake for the world's next hottest hero!" she said, turning to crowd. "Hi there everyone, I'm Mt. Lady. You don't have to worry about this bum anymore." Mt. Lady moves her ahem rear assets and gives a flirty wink. More photographers appear as Izuku searches through his book-bag for something, the crowd cheers and I just straight facepalmed.
"Wait, she's getting all the credit?" Kamui asks.
The crowd goes wild for her as she and the other heroes try to wrap things up.
With the rise of superpowers came an explosive increase in criminal activity. While governments were stuck trying to figure how to reform laws with quirks in mind, courageous people started performing heroic acts to keep our city safe, protecting us against villains who abuse their powers for evil. With overwhelming public support, heroes found an official place as peacekeepers overseen by the government. Those who performed the best pegged the most and got all the fame and glory. Their careers depended on their ability to stay in the spotlight.
Izuku started scribbling down his notes as I watched.
"Gigantification, huh? Well, she's definitely got the looks and attitude to be a crowd favorite and her quirk is really showing," Izuku mumbled.
"Yeah, but it would be kinda heard to get around much in the city without damaging lots of things," I added.
"Yeah. That means she might not be very useful."
"What's that, fanboys? You taking notes over there? Wanna be heroes too, huh?" The stranger from earlier asked.
The both of us looked towards him and smiled.
"Yes, more than anything!" Izuku answered happily.
Chapter 1: Look Out! An Odyssey Begins!
Later, at Aldera Junior High...
Izuku and I were in class with many other students who were talking, me sitting behind him. As we waited for our teacher, I tapped his shoulder.
"Hey Midoriya, you think you could send me some of your notes from that battle earlier? I forgot my notebook," I asked.
My friend smiled and nodded. "Sure, I'll send you the details after school."
A smile grew on my face as I said, "Thanks man! You're a lifesaver!"
The door opened as we all kept quiet and Midoriya goes back to writing his notes, the teacher entering the classroom. He stopped in front his desk and looked towards the class.
"So," he started. "As third year students, it's time to start thinking seriously about your futures and what you want to do with your lives. I could pass out some career aptitude tests, but..." he snatched the papers up and smirks. "Why bother?" He, then, throws them in the air. "I know you all want to go to the hero track!"
The students start cheering loudly as they each show off their quirks, except Midoriya and I. Though we did raise our hands, I was showing a bit more confidence than Izuku.
"Yes, yes, you have some very impressive quirks, but no power usage allowed at school. Get over yourselves."
"Hey teach!" said a familiar voice. "Don't lump me in with this bunch of losers. I'm the real deal, but these guys'll be lucky enough to end up as sidekicks to some busted D-Lister."
I, internally, groan as I give attention to the resident jerk, Katsuki Bakugo. He had spiky blonde hair and red eyes that just burn with cockiness. He wore the same uniform as Midoriya and I.
What he said clearly upset some of the students as they glare at him. They started booing him and I heard a student yell, "You think you're better than us Katsuki!?", to which he challenges them, saying he could take them all on.
I kinda wish his quirk was to just shut his damn mouth. Definitely would be useful here. I think to myself, rolling my eyes.
"Hm, you got impressive test results. Maybe you will get into U.A. High," the teacher says.
The class stares at him in disbelief, while Midoriya and I were shocked to hear that he was planning to attend. Midoriya lays his head down as I prepare myself for the worst case scenario, reaching into my bag.
"That's exactly why it's the only place worthy of me!" Bakugo replies, jumping from his seat to his stand on his desk. "I aced all the mock tests! I'm the only one at this school that stands a chance at getting in! I'll end up more popular than All Might himself and be the richest hero of all time!" He clenches his fist raises it up in the air. "People all across the world will know who I am! And it all starts with U.A. High!"
"Oh yeah, Midoriya and Osuka. Don't you want to go to U.A. too?"
The both of us jump at the mention of us. I start sweating as I look at Bakugo and Midoriya raises his head. We felt just about everyone's eyes on us and they started laughing, shocking the both of us.
"Midoriya and Osuka?! You're kidding, right?! There's no way you two are getting in without a quirk!" a student mocked.
Midoriya, then, rises up and says, "Well, actually they get of that rule! I could be the first one!"
I rise up too, thanking someone above for them not noticing my new invention. "Yeah, and I may not have my quirk yet, but I can still try too!"
For context, people born with no joint in their pinkie toes would basically be the ones destined to have a quirk. Usually, they'd get it around five years old, but I still haven't got mine.
Suddenly, Bakugo slams down on Midoriya's desk, making it explode. Shocked, my friend falls onto the floor and I jump in front. I look at him in anger, while Midoriya looked in fear.
"Listen up Deku, Gearhead!" Bakugo yells, smoke coming out of his hand. "You two are worst than the rest of these damn rejects, you quirkless wannabes! You two really they'll let you guys in when they could have me?! Especially you Gearhead! You still don't have a quirk?!"
I grunt angrily as I back away from him with Midoriya, who was panicking like crazy.
"No wait! You got it all wrong! We don't want to compete against you! You gotta believe me!" he yelled. My friend, then, looked down and said, "It's just that... we've wanted to be heroes since we were little. I may not have a quirk, but I can still try my hardest, can I?"
"Yeah, you can. And I can too! Since I don't have a quirk yet, I could at least gear up for the occasion. You know, make gadgets and stuff!" I argued back.
"You two would never be able to hang with the best of the best! You'd die in the exams! Defenseless Izuku and Quirkless Yurishizu, the school's already crappy! You really want to embarrass it more by failing so hard!"
Izuku looks down as I glare back at him.
"Leave Izuku alone, you damn idiot!"
"Oh, almost forgot, when has your inventions ever worked?!" My eyes widen as he noted this. "Your brother must be so embarrassed!"
I felt myself start lose my cool as I trembled, clenching my fists and tears threatened to fall down my cheek.
"D-Don't you dare mention him! You have no right!" I screamed, ready to use my gadget, until I felt Izuku grab my arm.
Knowing that he was trying to stop me from doing something I'd regret. I take a few deep breaths to calm my nerves as the students laughed at us.
3:31 PM
"Thanks for that Izuku. I was just about ready to lose it," I thanked my friend.
"It's nothing Osu. What are friends for?" He responded.
"Right. Hey, I'm gonna head to... the area... real quick. Meet you back at our route?"
He gave me a sympathetic look as I was about leave. "Sure... and Yurishizu?" I looked towards Midoriya, who smiled. "Don't listen to Kaachan. I'm sure Debiddo is proud of you."
I give a smile back and thanked him before running to leave the school.
It took a few minutes to get there, but here I am... the cemetery... but this wasn't any cemetery. It was for those that expressed signs of bravery and self-sacrifice, chosen by All Might himself. I entered the graveyard and walked deeper into it. I picked a rose from a rose bush and stopped at one tombstone.
Here lies
Debiddo Osuka
A wonderful son a fantastic brother
Proof that sometimes, heroes don't need quirks.
I looked at the tombstone and quietly placed the rose in front of it. Stepping away, I close my eyes and take a deep breath.
Flashback
A four-year-old me was hopping all over the regular living room as a thirteen-year-old laughed. He had black hair and grey eyes. I was wearing an All Might t-shirt, khaki shorts and red flip flops. He wore a green t-shirt, navy blue jeans and red sneakers.
"Calm down Yurishi!" the elder laughed.
"No way Debiddo! I'm so excited! I get to get a quirk! I bet I'm gonna grow up to be as awesome as All Might or Endeavor!!" I cheered.
"Too bad I'm gonna be a cop when I grow up," Debiddo said with a smile.
Hearing that erased the smile on my face as I looked down. "O-Oh..."
"Hey, don't worry about it. Tell you what? How about we work together when you become a superhero?"
I looked and I beamed. "Yeah! Look out evildoers! Officer Debiddo and Superhero Yurishizu are gonna get ya!"
"Yeah we are!"
As the memory fades away, I hear me and my brother laughed. Another memory arrives in my head, this time I was five and Debiddo was fourteen. I was laying in my bed, wearing my All Might pajamas, curled up and crying. I hear a knock on my door.
"Go away..."
The door opens and Debiddo says, "I'm not going anywhere little brother." He walks up to my bed and sits on it. "Wanna talk about it?"
"I-I dunno..."
"You don't have to bottle your feelings up. They're yours for a reason. Trust me."
Sighing, I told him that I was losing hope on actually getting quirk. I felt completely embarrassed in class and thought of putting my dreams of being a superhero behind me.
"Hey, what happened to the epic duo? Officer Debiddo and Superhero Yurishizu?"
"What's the point of being a hero if I don't have superpowers?"
"Well, you don't need superpowers to be a hero. Look at Batman. He's considered a hero and he uses his own strength and gadgets."
"I guess."
"And you're just as inventive as him, always coming up with ideas for gadgets and stuff. Maybe you could do that..."
Sitting up, I look at my brother. "Y-Yeah, maybe I can. No, I know I can!
"Thats the spirit!" Debiddo says, punching my shoulder lightly. He, then, turns me and face him. "Yurishi, I need you to promise that you'll never give up on being a hero, no matter what. You have an incredible mind and a kind heart. Whether you have a quirk or not, that's all you need to be a hero. Promise me that?"
I look at him with a small smile. "Yeah, I promise." I, then, hug him tightly, receiving the hug back.
"Thanks big brother."
The memory fades as s new one appears. I was seven while Debiddo was sixteen and we were in our pajamas. Our mother was out on a mission at the time. I woke up in shock as I realized that the house was on fire. Debiddo kicked my door open and pulled me out of bed.
"C'mon Yurishizu! We gotta get Dad!"
The two of us ran downstairs to see our father passed out in the living room, smelling like alcohol.
"We gotta get him out!" Debiddo yelled.
"I'll get the front, you get the back!" I replied.
I went to the front and grab his arms while Debiddo got his legs. We tried our hardest to carry our dad out as fast as we can, him being too heavy for us. As we continued onward, we hear creaking above us and realized the ceiling was going to give out.
"Move!" Debiddo yelled.
We tried to move as fast as we can as the creaking became louder. Suddenly, I got a push as me and Dad managed to escape through the front door.
Panting heavily, I was smiling. "Wow! Debiddo, we did it! We saved..." I turn around and notice he's not there. "Debiddo? D-Debiddo?!"
I look around trying to find my older brother, until I realized something. I looked back through the door of the burning house, my eyes widening as I see my brother's face squished against the wood, his arm reaching out towards me as if telling me to grab him, blood escaping his body. His eyes, once filled with emotion, was now empty as his skin began to burn. Tears started to fall from my eyes.
"Big brother!" I tried to run back, only to be stopped by someone who held onto me. I began to struggle. "N-No! Let me go!"
"Yurishizu, stop!" a woman's voice pleaded.
"No! I have to save him! Let me go! Debiddo!"
I slowly began to give up trying to reach my brother as the woman kept trying to get me to stop, yelling my name over and over as the memory fade.
Flashback ended
"... su... O... Osu... Yurishizu!"
I open my eyes, the trails of my tears still fresh on my cheeks. I look towards the source of the voice to Midoriya.
"Hey, you okay?"
Realizing, he saw me cry, I quickly wipe the tears away.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I was just... remembering."
"It's okay Osu. Wanna go home now?"
I smiled at him and nodded. Looking at the tombstone, I bowed my head. "See you later, bro." I raise my head up and left the cemetery with Midoriya.
Timeskip
We stood in front of the tunnel as he told me what happen earlier with him and Bakugo.
"Damn, did he really do that?" I asked.
"Yeah, told me to kill myself, burned my notebook and threw it in the fishing pond," my friend answered.
A growl escapes from my lips. "That idiot! Who the hell does he think he is?!"
"H-Hey! No need to get all worked! Besides, he didn't change my mind." I looked at Midoriya curiously. "In fact, he solidified my resolve. No matter what anyone thinks, I have to believe in myself and smile through it just like All Might!"
I smile at him. "That's the spirit!" This brought a smile to him as we walk into the tunnel. Together, we raised our fists and laughed wholeheartedly together. Suddenly, Midoriya stops.
"Hey, what's-" I notice a strange sound coming from behind us, which is probably what stopped Izuku. Looking back, our eyes widen as we see a green sludge monster.
"A villain?!" Midoriya yelped.
The creature looms over us as we look it in disbelief, looking towards Midoriya only.
"You'll make a perfect skin suit for me to hide in kid!" it exclaims.
"Midoriya, look out!" I run to push him out of the way, but I was too slow as the creature captures him, pushing me away and his notebook falls to the ground.
I get back up and see the creature holding onto him, sticking its sludge tendrils in his nose and mouth. Thinking quickly, I reach into my book bag and put on my gloves.
I know they're still in the experimental phase, but I gotta save Midoriya!
Turning them on, I turn towards the creature. "Let go of my friend, you monster!" I run towards the monster and try to pull the tendril out of his mouth, it slowly being pulled out.
It's working?! It's working!
Suddenly, the gadget short circuits and I lose the strength! "N-No! Out of power!" I was, then, taken by surprise as another of sludge monster's tendrils grabs me by the throat and pins me to grind. It tightens it's grip, beginning to choke me.
"Don't you worry kids, I'm just taking this twerp's body and tying up a loose end! It'll be easier for all of us if you don't fight back! It'll only hurt for a minute! You'll feel better soon and you won't feel anything at all!"
Midoriya tried to claw his way out as I try to pull the tendril off of me.
C-Can't breathe! I-I can't give up! G-Gotta stop that creature! G-Gotta save Midoriya!
"Grab all you want," the creature tells Midoriya. "My bodies made of fluid. Thanks for the help. You're a real hero to me kid. I didn't know he was in the city. I gotta get outta here fast before he tracks me down."
I could tell that Midoriya was quickly running out of air, as was I. Our attempts to resist started to get slower. I began to feel tears fall as I began to grow weaker, afraid of what was happening.
N-No! T-This can't be it! I-I...! Couldn't save... Midoriya... Debiddo... I'm... sorry... I... fai... led...
Suddenly, as I had began to lose consciousness, a familiar voice rang out.
"Have no fear, you're safe. Now that I am here, that is."
I look towards the voice responsible and see a familiar figure. Only one name passed through my thoughts as this happened.
All... M-Mi... ght...
Before I knew it, everything went black.
Timeskip
I felt something tap against my skin and heard a familiar voice.
"Hey! Wake up! Hey!"
I slowly began to open my eyes, groaning. I also heard the groans of Midoriya. When my vision came to, I recognized the man. He was large, muscular and tanned. He had yellow spiky hair and I couldn't see the color of his eyes. He wore a white t-shirt, green cargo jeans and brown boots.
"Thought we'd lost you there!" exclaimed the one and only...
ALL MIGHT!!!
Midoriya and I gave the hero a very shocked look. In a panic, Midoriya started scooting and I had jumped up in surprise, screaming.
"Well, it looks you two are moving around all right! Sorry about that back there! I didn't mean to get you caught up in my justicing! Usually I pay more attention to keeping bystanders safe, but it turns out this city's sewer system is pretty hard to navigate!" the hero laughed proudly.
Midoriya was in total shock and I was in complete denial.
"Anyway, you two were a big help! Thank you! I captured the evildoer!" All Might lifts up a bottle of soda containing the sludge monster.
This can't be real! Is this real?! Is this a dream?! Please don't pinch me if it is!! Bakugo will never believe this!!
"Holy crap! I gotta get an autograph! I gotta pen around here somewhere! Please sign my notebook!" Midoriya says, as he picks it up, opening it to a page that should have been empty but actually has All Might's autograph. "AH! HE ALREADY DID!"
All Might look towards me, snapping out of my shocked look. "You might want to check your back pocket."
Curious, I reached into one of the back pockets and pulled out a folded piece of paper. Unfolding it, my eyes widen when I see it is a signed picture of All Might! "HOLY SHIT! HE GAVE ME ONE TOO!!!"
Midoriya started bowing and I, in fanboy mode, followed suit, repeatedly saying "thank you". He also gives a thumbs up to us.
Tapping the bottle, All Might said, "Welp, I gotta get this guy to the police so they can take care of them! Stay out of trouble! See you around!"
This backs out of our stupor. All Might begins to stretch as Midoriya says, "Wait, you're leaving? Already?"
"Heroes are always fighting time as well as enemies!"
I gotta bad feeling about this...
A few seconds later...
"Hey, hey, hey, what do you two think you're doing?!" In case, you were wondering, Midoriya and I are hanging off the legs of All Might as he flies through the air. Unexpectedly, he tries to push Izuku off. "Let go! I love my fans, but this is too much!"
"S-Stop! If you push us off while you're flying, we'll fall!" I exclaimed.
"Oh," realized All Might, stopping. "That's a good point."
I turn to see Midoriya lips and eye lids flapping around like their extra skin!
How in the fu-?!
"I just have a lot of things I want to ask you personally! You're my all-time favorite hero, All Might, please!" Midoriya cried out.
"I'm just making sure he doesn't die!"
"Okay, okay, I get it. Just keep your eyes and mouth shut!"
We both do as he says, as he tries to find a place to land. As this happens, I swear I heard someone cough.
Timeskip
After a while, we finally landed on top of a building. I was panting heavily, heart racing.
"That was... awesome... right Midori- HOLY CRAP!" I say, surprised to see my friend basically look like a ghoul.
"My whole life just flashed before my eyes..."
"Not a very smart move," said the hero. He, then, began to leave. "Bang on the door for awhile, someone will let you in. Now, I have to go! See you on the flip side!"
"Wait a minute! You can't leave! Midoriya was going to ask you something!"
"No! I don't have any time!"
"I have to know!" I look towards my friend, who had lowered his arm sadly. I saw him, trembling, knowing he what he wanted to ask. "Is it possible to become a hero, even if I don't have a quirk?" I was surprised to see that All Might had stopped when he asked that. "I'm a normal kid without any powers. Could I hope to be someone like you!?"
The great hero looks towards Midoriya when he asked that question and I look at him with a smile of my own. I knew that this question meant everything to him. To ask our hero this, is something nobody ever thought of doing. I never knew, but that encounter would change everything.
To be continued...
Next time on My Hero Academia: Ultimate Odyssey... the sludge monster we thought was captured has escaped and captured someone. We also learn something new about our great hero. Next time: Ingredients For A Hero! Take two cups of courage, add a teaspoon of selflessness and a hint of risk-taking. We'll see what that makes! Go Beyond! Plus Ultra!
