Chapter 1: Midoriya Izuku

All men are not created equal.

In a world where fantasy becomes reality, where the astonishing is normal, and where eighty percent of the world has a Quirk, I learned this unfortunate fact about life.

I happen to be one of the lucky few that are born without a Quirk, otherwise known as Quirkless. Usually, kids get their parents Quirks, either one or the other. My mother always said that my father had fire breath, and she even make small objects move towards her. And somehow I ended up with nothing?

When I was little, I aspired to be just like the greatest hero of all times, All Might. The day I learned I was Quirkless nearly destroyed me.

I say nearly because I still believed, hoped, and wished with all my might (pun intended) that I would become the greatest hero ever, even without a Quirk. I just had to work double, no maybe even triple, times the amount that my peers had too. But I knew, once I got into the greatest hero school in all of Japan my story would be heard all of the world. I could be a legend, just like my hero, All Might. He wouldn't want me to give up on my dreams.

I will be the first Quirkless hero! I will show the world that anyone can be a hero!

Determination guided me to the right path, and I never let it go. It was a promise I was never going back on.

Of course, there was a huge backlash. Bullies always made bigger and bigger dents in my heart. Especially Kacchan and his friends. Excuse me, Bakugou Katsuki, a very powerful neighbor and friend of mine. Kacchan was a nickname I created for him.

Despite his temper, constant bragging, and constant bullying, I still felt like, deep down we were close friends. He needed me to keep him grounded and I needed him to boost my determination. He doesn't know it, but he's part of the reason I trained for so long.

Being a big fanboy comes with advantages I must add. With thirteen journals I had kept detailed notes on nearly every hero in the world. Strategies were something I could come up with quickly. What I lacked in a Quirk, or in strength, I would make up for in battle notes that I had memorized from years of closely analyzing heroes and how they fight villains fearlessly.

I also decided, two years before the UA entrance exam when I would be old enough to enter, to start building strength, aka muscle. Heroes needed to be strong, not just mentally, but physically too.

Whenever I had free time, after school, I would sneak off to find things to lift, haul, carry, hurl, pull, and push. I also started running. One mile in the morning, another in the evening. After all while, I had to increase the distance to two and eventually three miles, two times a day.

My mother quickly noticed I was growing, not just because I was a kid, but because I was working out so much. Mom constantly complained that I was eating all the food. I smiled and told her the same thing each time. "Mom, heroes have to eat a lot. And I'm going to be one so I'd better start eating like one!"

So my quest to get into UA started. I struggled to work harder than all my classmates, who didn't have to overcome challenges like mine.

Kacchan always seemed to lead the attacks against me and my heart's mission. Like today for example.

The teacher was talking about what high schools we were going to go to, and of course, the most powerful kid in the class, Kacchan, boasted about going to UA. "I'm going to UA to be the greatest hero the world has ever seen! I'll surpass even All Might! Just you weaklings wait." In his hands, mini explosions crackled, showing off his excitement and determination.

I always admired his Quirk. Not only was it beautiful to watch, it was very strong. His battle skills had also greatly increased in the past few years.

The teacher, however, had to ruin a perfectly good moment and announce something about me. "Isn't Midoriya trying to go to UA as well?"

Every student turned to stare at me before bursting into laughter, like I was a complete joke. My cheeks heated up and I looked towards the ground, my hands fiddling as I shifted in my seat.

"Deku? Going to UA? That's the best joke I've ever heard. He's Quirkless. He can't get into the top school. He'll never be anyone more than a merchant, or a store worker." Bakugou simply laughed in my face, poking my chest violently.

I fell off my chair backwards, only causing more of the class to laugh at me. I pushed my body into the back corner of the classroom.

"And if he tries to go to UA, I'll kick his fucking ass right back where it belongs."

I couldn't help the weak whimper that escaped my lips as I raised my shaking hands in an innocent gesture. "L-look, Kacchan I'm not looking for competition. I promise I won't get in your way," I muttered quietly.

"Good, because I'm going to be the first and only one from our school to go into UA. You hear that, Deku? ME!" A small explosion popped right in front of my face as a final warning as Bakugou walled off with his friends, laughing.

I stood up slowly, my legs wobbly as I tried to regain balance, arms failing. I fixed my chair, setting it upright and sat down, staring dimly at my journal of hero notes. Before I knew it, tears were silently sliding down my cheeks. He was right and I knew it deep down. "I . . . can't become a hero without a Quirk, can I, All Might?" I muttered, almost wishing he was here, smiling down upon me. But nobody was here. I was alone. All Might. More like All Alone.

My sour mood never improved until later.

"What's this here? Your nerd book? Deku, are you expecting to get into UA with your brain alone? Let me tell you here and now, that's not going to work. You need to have a quirk to pass the practical test, without one, you'll fail miserably. You have to be strong. And you aren't so just give it up!" Bakugou yelled, suddenly snatching my notes away from me. He dangled them just in front of my nose. I fell for it and tried to grab them back.

"Hey give them back!" I yelled when he moved his hand high into the air. He was at least a few inches taller than me so I couldn't reach it no matter how hard I tried. It was agonizing. Why does he does this to me? Why me? Why . . .?

"What? Do you need this so badly? Really? Loser." His explosions fired up, making me wearily step back in fear of being hurt, but most importantly. I stared at my notes in his hands.

"No wait! Don't destroy it! Please," I begged desperately. Those notes were important to me, for my mission. Even if I did have the majority of them memorized, I still needed them, for reassurance.

"No don't." He mocked me in a high pitched squeal, then laughed as he threw it out the window. "Go get it if you need it that much!" Bakugou yelled and laughed in my face. "You're so weak you need a flimsy notebook to save you."

That's what kicked in my determination. I stood up, making a fist. "Actually, Kacchan, you have backwards. You're the weak one. You bully me because you fear I'm an actual threat to you. Well guess what? I am!" I punched him with all my strength I had been building up over the past year.

He flew back a few feet, eyes wide in shock as he stared at me, his mouth open.

"Cat got your tongue, Kacchan? Good. I'll make it into UA. I doubt you will." I smiled and raised my fist into the air. "I'm Midoriya Izuku! Remember me when I become a hero like All Might!" I turned heel and left the classroom, heart racing.

Did I actually just stand up and declare war to Bakugou? Adrenaline was pumping through me. I guess I choose fight over flight this one time.

And that was the start of it all. As my declaration of war finally sunk into me to be true, I realized now was my chance to push harder and harder than ever before. My strength wasn't at the peak it could be. I needed more training. Thankfully, I still had nearly half a year left to train. I could do it. I just had to believe in myself and not let my determination down. I was going to be the greatest hero ever. The first one without a Quirk.

Watch over me while I go on this long journey, All Might.

Cross-Posted on AO3 under my own account Caroline_Fangirl.