"All right class. Today is the start of your third-year graduation project. Remember that this a ten-month assignment which needs to be done in pairs. Choose your partner wisely otherwise you will have a very difficult school year. Now if you do not pass, turn-in, or complete this project you will fail the class. Any questions?"
The class remained silent, accepting or at the very least acknowledging their teacher.
"Alright then, I will give the remaining of this class to pick your partner and choose a topic to study over."
With that said, many jumped, turned, even shouted from their seats to the person they want to ask if they can be a pair.
One of these many students was a timid boy, with socially awkward behavior. His green hair matches his emerald eyes. Keeping his sight and head down from any attention, it's not like people want to hang out with a Quirkless nobody.
The assignment seems relatively easy to follow. Just research a topic and give a full detailed background, achievements, downfalls, and what it is now in today's time.
Most of the topics seemed a bit outside of his standard hero analysis for the future. He might as well just get something he can somewhat interested in.
"Modifying Evolution." He said to himself as it was one of the hundreds of topics that caught his attention but it did seem a bit...off.
Pulling out his phone, he did some light look-ups on the web to see where he could start. Finding a lab/museum dedicated to the evolution of animals, insects, etc. He could head there on Friday as looking up books, newspapers, and reports on the study of Modifying Evolution in the local library.
Before he could do any of that of course...he needed a partner. As much as his mind would like to think he was okay to work by himself, on the rule-brick it clearly says on the top of the page that a partner is required for this long-term project. Looking around his class, he noticed at many of his classmates had already paired up.
Luckily there were the few that seemed open and available to ask. Just glancing around he could see that an odd number of students chatting away to figure out a compromise of who to pair up. Almost suddenly he saw a short girl, seemingly annoyed at her female classmates.
"What do you mean no? Is there something wrong with partnering up with me?"
"It's just that... Mineta-Chan, you're to... inappropriate. You talk way too much about certain things. That makes us feel uncomfortable. I think it's better we don't work together this year."
The shorter purple-balled hair girl seemed more so betrayed and further annoyed.
"Oh is that it? Cause it seems that you got something else to say to me?!"
The taller group of girls remain silent with a hint of shame and displeasure.
"Well fine! I don't need to work with you anyway!"
This, of course, caught the attention of everyone else in the classroom.
"Ms. Mineta, care to explain your outburst?"
"Just trying to look for a partner Sensei."
The shorter lass said with heated impatience. Right away the home room teacher raise a palm forth towards the class as a means of silence and pay attention to him.
"Alright is there anyone who doesn't have a partner yet? Raise your hand if you do not have a partner otherwise keep your noises down until we figure out a solution."
The class remained silent, none didn't raise hands even those who weren't in pairs. Confused yet in need of a partner, the green-haired teen raised his hand somewhat hesitantly. Sensei saw this.
"Ah Mr. Midoriya. Would care to be Ms. Mineta's partner or is there something else you wanted to say about the situation?"
Sure, the boy did have some questions in mind. For one, how come some of the guys that didn't notice him before where now motioning him to say no. Even the girls widen there eyes at his actions. What was so bad about partnering up with Mineta. The purple-balled hair girl didn't seem like trouble, then again you can't judge a book by the cover.
"I wouldn't mind being partners with Mineta-San."
The teachers expression soften a bit before telling the rest of the class to continue their plan of completing a ten month long assignment.
The boy known as Midoriya sat back down to see if he can look up any more places that could help him complete the project. That was the plan anyway...
"Hey, Midoriya-San. My name is Misaia Mineta, thanks for agreeing to be my partner."
It's like the just now the angered impatient girl had turned into a grateful opposite. The boy did not mind. What he did mind was what came out of his tongue.
"I-Izuku...I-Izuku Midoriya. It's nice...to meet you as well."
The stuttering came out. Now the first impressions were given and to the boy, he felt like he made a fool of himself just by the way he was talking.
"What your thinking of? The project I mean."
"O-Oh, I was thinking of doing Modifying Evolution. It...It seems interesting to do."
Sadly it was the only thing that seemed to catch Izuku's eye. Unless the assignment had a hero category than he would have instantly took it. Alas, he will just have to roll with a topic for the next ten months.
"Well then, we will just go with that one then, I didn't really decide to pick a topic first before partners."
Yep, that open some holes as to the outburst earlier.
"Any leads or head starts to begin with."
"I-I found a laboratory...which is also a museum that research Modified Evolution. There... is also the library we can use at school or the local one."
Izuku explained to Misaia.
"Are you free today?" She asked him. Was he free? He remembered that his uncle needed him to help fix the wall between the den and Izuku's bedroom. He would have to be home before Uncle Katsuki shows up. It would be around three when Izuku gets out and the trip home would be another ten minutes by train. Hmm, maybe his Aunt was home already. Of course~
"Uh..."
The boy blinked at the shorter girl who was now sitting in front of him but facing her body towards him and away from the board. He looked around for a second and noticed the number of stares aimed at him. Was he muttering? Of course, he was! Otherwise, they wouldn't be looking at his way.
"Well, at least the weirdos are paired up."
Ouch. That hurt. Some classmates calling him and Mineta-San weird.
"O-Oh...sorry." Sheepish and now embarrassed completely. Izuku's face turned red at the sudden display of his habit.
"It's...no big deal." Mineta was a bit stunned at the number of words that just came out of the boy's tongue.
"If not today, then can you do Friday?" She asked a bit about returning to her causal mood.
"Y-Yes, I have time on Friday."
In truth Izuku did have a lot of time(besides today which was Thursday), just he didn't think he would spend time with classmates to use those minutes or even hours with others besides his uncle and aunt.
"Great. We can pick this up tomorrow and head to the laboratory in the afternoon."
The boy was silent but attentive to the anticipation of the next day.
"S-Sure..." He whispered to himself.
School ended, Izuku had packed his bags and headed out. Before leaving the room he looked around and sure enough like always: he was the last one to leave even after the teacher had left.
Maybe it was the patience or the mood to go at your own pace rather than some else's. Because that was Izuku.
Venturing home with little more than ten minutes with the added five for the walk from the station to the house. Eventually, he had arrived at a normal sized house in the middle-class neighborhood.
Walking past the mailbox and towards the doorsteps. He pulled out his spare house keys and inserting it into the knob.
He opens the front door to be greeted by the smell of meat being cooked. Walking in and taking off his shoes, the teen made his way towards the source. A woman cooking stake, her husbands favorite.
"Izuku? Katsuki?"
"It's me Aunt Ochako." The boy responded kindly.
Her voice turned even more cheerful.
"Izuku! How was school? Did you get to make some friends?"
Her enthusiasm never once faded since Izuku was taken in by the Bakugo family, his godparents.
"School was...good. And maybe the friends will come tomorrow."
That paused was noticed but Ochako did not pry any further.
"Well, that's good to hear. Keep those hopes up. Want some dinner? I made Katsuki's favorite today."
Izuku but his bag down on the nearby couch and walked towards the dining table. His thoughts now focus on food and his uncle who hadn't come home yet.
"Yes, please. Thanks."
"It's no problem dear, hurry up and eat before Katsuki comes home and haves you working on a bloated stomach."
Her bubbly smile gave Izuku kindness and a touch of gentle love. She was the boy's mother figure for the past ten years. The family he now has is his escape from the world outside the doors of the house.
Izuku ate silently while Ochako was preparing food for her not-present husband. Not a lot could be said during dinner as the only two that would talk would be the Godmother and Godfather. It never seemed off that Izuku would address them as uncle and aunt. After all, they could never replace his actual parents. Though his now present guardians didn't mind the title of uncle and aunt. After all, the family speaks more than member titles.
After finishing dinner, Izuku sat down on the couch waiting for his uncle to arrive home. Waiting for the next thirty minutes, he arrived home...finally.
"I'm back." Called a loud yet patient voice.
"Welcome home!" Ochako called back to the man coming through the front door.
"Hey, Uncle Katsuki," Izuku said aloud but not the same extent as his Aunt.
Nephew and Aunt, waited as the man came in through the hall and into view. He was still in his hero costume but it was covered by the leather jacket he would always wear.
"Hey hon, hey sport."
Katsuki usually did not smile. Especially to anyone, but sometimes aside from the thrill of taking down villains, he would give his family the genuine soft grin. A grin that was not menacing but somewhat pleased that he came home.
"Ocha, you cooking stake?"
"Your favorite, want a bite?"
Ochako did not need a response as Katsuki just walked to the dining table.
"Hey sport, after I am done eating we start working on the walls, alright?"
Izuku continued to pay attention to his uncle who did not meet his gaze because solely the adult was only looking at his wife. The teen smiled to himself.
"Sure thing, Uncle Katsuki."
Somewhere else...
Walking home, that was her task. Maybe glancing at some guy that caught her attention but that was just a small distraction. Her home was small. Living with only her mother and older brother.
In the home, that carried two-bed rooms and a basement(which her bother gladly took). She was never at peace. Her fantasies of gazing and grinding on her ideal male along with the dilemma of a broken household.
Her mother, full-time worker that works two jobs. Her brother, an addict( and a deadbeat)known to the house of three who constantly takes money from mom to satisfy his addiction before withdrawal kicks into gear.
Unlocking the nob just above her head, the wooden door creaked as it opens to meet a small living room. Her mom wasn't home which was good since the bastard brother of hers will just cause problems her and mom.
Throwing her bag into the small dark room which was hers. She did not bother turning the light on. Instead of heading into the kitchen, grabbing a bag of chips before walking back into her room and doing some research on "Modifying Evolution" with the help of her smartphone.
Smart, she is. Patient, somewhat. Resourceful...depends.
Flipping the switch, revealing her messy room. Misaia walked towards the edge of her bed frame and sat down but not before picking up a notebook. Once seated, she began looking up facts about Modifying Evolution and began taking notes.
As she first started, she can vaguely smell the essence in her bothers "bedroom" thanks to a bottom vent. Sighing in disappointment and grabbing the metal slit to cover the whole vent. She turned on the small fan and began resuming her research.
After what seemed like an hour of just looking at facts and background of the study of evolution and genetic modifying animals. Mineta seemed done for the day. They were giving a whole school year to finish this, so she just goes at her own pace.
The sound of her bedroom door opening to reveal a balled-haired woman similar to her hairstyle.
"Hey...did you get something to eat?"
Her voice tired, exhausted and any other synonyms that go with the phrase "need sleep."
Misaia looked up at her mother's eyes, dull and full of bags underneath them. She would question how much is she going to put herself through this. Supporting two children is enough, but when one is a deadbeat and addict taking money whenever he needs it. It gets to a point that money will become tight. Her brother didn't care so long as he had some pocket change to pay his seller.
"I have a bag of chips...though I lost my need to eat."
She pointed out the unopened bag sitting next to her leaning slightly against her hip.
"If you want I can cook dinner."
"No, it's fine mom, I can cook for the two of us."
She really put the emphasis on the word two. So that means no inviting the boy down in the basement for dinner today either.
"Are you sure I can~"
"Mom. It's alright, take a break."
Her mother, cannot even object to the prospect of taking a short break. Oh, how she needed those. Give or take she only had about two hours before she has to leave again to her second job.
An early dinner was served without the company of the third member which was better than having him around. Not much was said on the table beside Misaia was gonna be home late the next day for a project. At least the mother was warned ahead of time, so she wouldn't have to cook too much.
After finishing up dinner, both mother and daughter heard the steps creak and screech as the steps were the cause. A figure came up from the darkness of the basement. His hair unlike them was messy slick by the amount of sweat by his head. His eyes were red by the number of blood vessels strain. The white powder was noticeable from both entrances. Teeth were slightly yellow and his breath was nothing by the smell of alcohol. Wearing nothing but a pair of jeans gave both females at the amount of sweat dousing his body.
The late adolescent teen did not say anything or pay any mind to his family members. Instead, he walked out the door or seemly rushing out.
The mother breathes a relief as the daughter sighed.
Ever since the previous man of the house had passed, the son had really let himself go. Against the arguments and displeasure of both mother and daughter, he turns to drugs instead of therapy.
"You should nap. You only have thirty minutes before you have to get ready again, mom."
The mother nodded without saying anything more than a 'thank you' for the early dinner.
After cleaning the dishes, Misaia head back into her room and left it locked just in case.
The next day...
It was Friday afternoon, the school was over. As Izuku was getting ready for his trip to the laboratory(which he did let his aunt and uncle know ahead of time) alongside with his classmate Mineta.
The pair did not say much. Not at first. It was until they were halfway there by train when they started talking about the project.
"From what I looked up; Modifying Evolution was a study before quirks were even a thing. The study of changing or altering genes in species from any kind, mammals, reptiles, insects, and more. Although it was paused thanks to the study of quirks(when they first appeared) so it was until recently that they resumed the program of modified evolution."
"Y-Yea, I got the same amount with the...intervention of changing behaviors in animals and other species. Specifically, there was no-one about in Africa: It was meant to alter the personality to have it be more social and docile with people."
The shorter girl scoffed at the idea of a taming a lion, predator of the savanna to be friendly and docile. In her mind, the scientist should just leave nature be. It is important to learn about nature but to tamper with it...that should be the job of natural evolution.
"So what do you think we should focus on first?"
In her opinion(even though she did not state it) was that they start looking into how the study came to be like a form of history and which were the first species to be examined.
"I-I will say background...we don't really know a lot besides what the web is telling us. S-So there might be more information that we...can pull."
Wow, he just read her mind. Figuratively obviously. Since she knows that Izuku is Quirkless.
"What...was your idea?"
"I was thinking the same thing. So let's go in there and do some more research I suppose."
Izuku just nodded at the response and plan for the both of them.
Inside...
It was clean. The floors almost reflecting the shape and figure of their bodies but with the mesh of color in there. Although that wasn't there main attention, it was towards the many corridors that were separated from the main lobby. Each hallway had a display of which animal was already tested and deemed eligible for the public eyes.
Luckily, both Izuku and Misaia found what they were looking for; the history bookshelf of records. All records showed the species tested on the past.
Truly it was confusing on why so many animals and others were tested to have alternative genes. Both middle schoolers just focus on the dates and records of said foundation was made.
It took a while until they founded what they needed. A book of the background of the study, first group of scientists, and the first species tested.
To Izuku's surprise and Misaia curiosity it was insects that were first category. Although it did mention on the insects being the first tested but they didn't have anything to go from it so dropping the that part of research was done.
"W-We should look around for more." Izuku suggested.
"It's not like this place is going anywhere, we have an entire school year to do this project." Misaia denied.
Not one to argue back, but still reluctant, Izuku made a mental note to come on the weekend and do some more note taking.
As the pair made there way to the exit, something caught the shorter partner's eye. Her sight fell upon a cracked open door, that was most likely closed earlier.
She drifted away from her partner and towards the door to look inside by the creaks.
"M-Mineta-San?"
Izuku was confused to the sudden action from the girl but followed suit.
Upon opening the door, it was an overall dark room with few lights around the small space. She was sneaky upon the entrance, suspicion why a room would be dim and yet colored to the rest of the building. It was unnoticed by the visitors but employees would most likely know of this room.
"Midoriya come check this out." She motioned the taller boy to follow her as they both fell into the room.
"Mineta-San I don't...I don't think we should be in here." Nervous was the teenage boy.
"Let's look in here for a second." She grabbed the wrist of the partner and quickly went in.
She closes the door to avoid any bod coming into contact with them. It was fast but they needed no one to find them.
Izuku while looking at the room, his curiosity peaked a bit. Walking as Misai closes the door behind them. Izuku saw a table with one single-file row of glass square cases. His mind was assuming that these were part of the main display that is until each one of those cases had a single label on them.
Prototype-one: Female, age fifty-seven.
It was odd. For one the word 'prototype' as in this was before the success scientist had developed with other insects. The gender was somewhat self-explanatory but the age. The age was far too great. In this case was a simple spider, how can it live that long?!
Izuku was far more than curious, he was somewhat wonderous and oblivious to the world around him as he looked at the prototype-one spider.
In the glass case, housed the fifty-seven-year-old arachnid. Her fangs were long and sharp. Almost stalking Izuku. The white spider stared at the teen with its eight dark red eyes. Almost petrified, the teen shook himself out of his trance and looked at the others.
Prototype-Two: Female, age sixty-nine.
This one looked similar to a black widow with the hourglass symbol. Particularly, it was swaying back in forth on the tips of her eight limbs. Again, Izuku fell into fascination as his eyes followed the movements of the older arachnid. Until he noticed a couple seconds that the spider was swaying towards him, he jumped at the little widow leaped at the glass.
Not looking into further detail, Izuku just decided to look at the labels, deep down he knew something was wrong with this. He didn't know what though.
Prototype-Three: Female, age seventy-four.
Prototype-Four: Female, age eighty-two.
No. This is not right. No spider can live this long. It was hard enough to see that a white spider was already fifty-seven. All of this seemed so...wrong.
Izuku looked at the rest.
Prototype-Five: Female, age ninety-one
Prototype-Six: Female, age hundred-ten.
Prototype-Seven: Female, age hundred-thirty.
Prototype-Eight: Female, age hundred-forty-five.
The next two glass cases brought to the boy's confusion. Izuku had to read it over.
"Failure: Male, age ten."
Failure? Why? The spider looked like an ordinary spider aside from the age. Considering it was the youngest so far. The next was even more puzzling.
"Success: Male, age two months."
Never mind, this was indeed the youngest of the ten. Although the term success? It raised a lot of questions in his mind. Unlike the others, this seemed like a natural spider. Then again he could be wrong.
"Was this their first group of insects?" Izuku ask to himself before he realized what happened to his project partner.
"Mineta-San!" He said loud enough to be audible in the room but not loud enough to yell or shout. He then heard a bump on one side of the room. Izuku waited a couple of minutes
"Y-Yes! Right here, just looking at some stuff."
He heard her enough to walk until he felt a sudden pain in different spots of his body.
His left foot and right calve were pinched tightly. The sharp pain in his neck seems twice as strong like electrical shocks to that point. One was appearing on his left forearm it burned while his right hand heated as well. Next was his back, somewhere on his middle posterior, the dull yet heavy sensation became apparent, and finally his chest.
Moving his body through the instant pain was hard but he couldn't see what it was until he focuses on of his wounds underneath the ceiling light. It seemed like two red dots so small yet noticeable on the skin. Attach to the said wound was a lifeless corpse of a spider.
Izuku's eyes widen. He shook off his arms and legs to noticed that something or somethings were in his uniform. For a moment, he saw one by one little spider corpses fell from his clothing. He crouched down in shock and confusion. Nine, nine dead arachnids.
He looked up at the glass cases. It wasn't noticeable at first but each one had a ceiling slit of its own which served as an entrance...and exit. Izuku's mind was lost for words each one of those cases was empty. All ten were gone that is until he connected the dots. He looked down to check and definitely see the white spider that he was once looking at.
He knew each one had passed. Although he was unsure how, what, or even why this happens.
"Ah!" A loud moan of pain brought Izuku's attention. Quickly and as best he could, he made his way to Misaia who was now on the floor grasping her foot. It was noticeable on her ankle there was a bit of blood on her...bite.
"Damn spider." She cursed before getting back up. Holding tightly to her backpack.
Izuku saw it clearly on the floor a very much dead arachnid that he recognized. It was the widow that swayed before Izuku when she was still alive moments before.
"We should go," Izuku said with enough worry in his tone. He received a nod from the shorter girl.
Exiting the room and extension the building was hard for both teens. Their bodies were still in pain but bearable enough to move around. The only spot for rest was the train station as both took different ones. Izuku and Misaia said there goodbyes and headed home.
In the Mineta household, it was silent. The girl's mother was not there most likely gone off to work while her older brother was getting stoned, high, or drunk out of his ass: she didn't care which.
Her body was cold and warm. A fever she thought. Maybe she should call the emergency number but she...was to exhausted too. Falling down on her bed. Letting the darkness welcome her.
Meanwhile...
Izuku just got home. His body was numb, literally numb. He couldn't feel his skin, the backpack, his phone, or the door nob of his home.
Coming inside, he heard chatter. His uncle and aunt most likely but they suddenly stop once they heard the door.
"Izuku/Kid?" Both adults address the teen coming into the living room.
To the adults, he looks somewhat okay thanks to his facial expression. Although Izuku was feeling not so good. His body was numb for sure but there was still the lingering pain inside and the messy body temperature. His brain couldn't understand what he was feeling.
"Hey? Your alright dear?"
"Y-Yea I am fine Aunt Ochako. Just I need some sleep."
"Good call, you seem to like you see some shit. We will check on you in a bit." Katsuki added his thoughts aloud.
"O-Okay. I am going to bed."
Both adults saw Izuku get upstairs in a rush before looking at each other.
When upstairs, the boy went into his room and immediately shed his top while changing his pants into PJs with an added winter sweatpants. His body was changing temperature fast but it was noticeable that it remained unbearably hot on his top half while unbearably cold on his bottom half.
Looking at the narrow dressing mirror next to his dresser he saw the bits on his upper body each one turned a dark purple or black...he couldn't tell anymore. His body instantly collapsed on the bed as he grabs for the sheets to cover himself.
He was sick.