Blackfoot

This story is based of Boku No Hero Academia. The author owns no rights to this series.

This story includes violence, blood, controversial topics, and other material. Rating may be subject to change.

This work is purely fictional. Any resemblance to characters living or dead is purely coincidental. They are only as real as you believe them to be.

Enjoy

...

Prologue

"-This was by no means a simple decision. The very core of American belief is being challenged today, yet, this is necessary. America must take the time to adapt, to heal itself from it's sickness- our survival depends on it.

Though, I fear, this sickness is far deeper than we can understand, and far more difficult to cure. That sickness is the human way of thinking- not these congentions.

It is my hope, that in time, we as a people will be able to open ourselves to the world again. Improved. Safer. Without the fear of our neighbors, hanging over our head. Until that day, I hope that all of you do not forget what this country stood for and will continue to stand for."

—American president on closing of borders and isolation in the new world.

The sunset, a picturesque pastel orange sprawled across the vast Japanese sky and dotted with beautifully varying hues of yellow, red, and the cottony streaks of white from lazily drifting clouds. The sunset, superimposed by the darkened horizon built by countless skyscrapers and glass structures was a sight visible to all who simply took the moment to gaze outward for once, instead of downward or forward.

The orange glow filtered through the glass frame of the long windows and into the empty classroom, bathing the wooden desks and hard tiles with the mid-spring warmth. It was a simple beauty, fleeting and inconsequential in a world where far grander sights lay just around the bend, but to the lonely inhabitant of the emptied classroom it was everything.

Wakatsuki Ishimaru, freshly divorced and infinitely curious by nature, kept his gaze glued to the window as a clock ticked away just above his head. Awash in the evening glow, the aged man's wrinkles, once prominent indicators of his waning youth, were nowhere to be seen; such was the virtue of the heavenly sight.

This sight was one of his favorite things. Despite the troubles of life, simply gazing out into that skyline at this time of day seemed to wash away his worries. Dimly, he wished he could share this view with his students, teach them to understand something that only he seemed to grasp.

But children didn't have time for that. Their eyes were ever pointed forward, chasing dreams and hopes with energy that he simply didn't possess anymore. As a teacher, the most he could do now was guide them, and he was perfectly fine with that. He was a cog in the background of something greater than himself, yet no less a part of it.

Ishimaru glanced away from the sight, regrettably, and his Kaleidoscope colored eyes landed on the clock. As per his own request, after he taught English lessons for the day he was one of the few teachers that handled the tasks that took place after the students had already gone home. Partly because of the wonderful view he experienced every day now, but also because he was genuinely fond of his job.

He loved to teach children, to impart some small impact on them that only a teacher possibly could. Better to spend time after school improving upon his work and bettering the lives of the younger generation than to spend it at home, alone.

His efforts were not constrained only to the school of course, but that was neither here nor there.

Currently he was awaiting a transfer student to arrive for an in-depth psyche examination. It was too late in the year to admit any students into Junior high for lessons, so instead the school would serve as a 'recommender' to allow the transfer student to apply for the next stage of schooling. Specifically, a certain school.

Yuuei high, colloquially known as U.A. A specialized school created for the sake of grooming the next generation of aspiring heroes. The overseas transfer applied directly for that school and since he had no meaningful record in Japan he would have to be evaluated.

Two knocks pounded, measured and fairly firm against the solid hickory of the only door to the class. That would be his guest, Ishimaru assumed. A little late, but not enough to annoy the teacher in any worthwhile way.

"Come in please"

Ishimaru kept his unusual eyes trained intently on the doorway as it slowly opened. A boy, a teenager far younger than himself, hesitantly stepped into the near vacant classroom- his footsteps loud against the silence. The teen took a couple steps in before swinging his head around to take in the classroom.

He measured him closely. The first noticeable thing was that he was tall, a good deal taller than most people normally were around here. A couple inches over six foot, was his guess. His clothing was also simple, jeans and a fur-lined canvas jacket and shirt over his pale skin.

For a moment, the teacher started in confusion. His clothing was a little warmer than the weather outside merited. Health issues? Though it could also just be chalked up to a fashion statement.

The boy's eyes landed on the teacher seated behind his desk, and Ishimaru got a good look at his face. A very average face, normal features with nothing out of place or overblown in any standard.

It was fairly handsome, friendly and inviting, but just average enough to not stand out at all. He also had a head of short natural black hair that barely reached his neck; unruly in the way that straight hair could get from only a cursory combing. Interestingly enough, from a glance the teacher noted that a couple tufts of hair along the back of his neck and the crown of his head seemed to curve upward, like fishhooks.

Ishimaru gestured toward the chair, and the teen immediately moved and took a seat, joining him in the sun. Kaleidoscope eyes met seafoam-green and a beat passed as the two stared.

The teacher moved first, his hand stretching out into a handshake that the teen hastily took, "Good evening, my name is Ishimaru Hyoudou. I'll be examining you today. I know you probably want to hurry and get this over with, so how about we start now?"

The teen spoke, stumbling over his first words before ironing them out into something stronger, "Ye- yes. Yes sir."

Ishimaru stared at him for a moment at the momentary lapse in speech. Shortly Ishimaru realized that the boy was put off by his strange eyes, as most people who first met him often were.

Reaching under his desk for a moment, Ishimaru revealed a small white rectangular box which he placed bottom-down on his desk after flipping a small switch on it's side. A bright red light glared from it's LED at him, causing the boy to grow even more unnerved.

"Don't worry. This conversation is going to be recorded for the sake of later review or in case it must be presented as evidence during court. Is that okay?"

Staring at the box for a moment longer the boy turned his attention back to the teacher and nodded resolutely.

"Good" Ishimaru leaned forward and laced his fingers, "Then let us begin."

"This is the preliminary examination for transfer to this school district and, subsequently, approval for the Yuuei hero course entrance exam. Please state your name, age, and country of birth."

The teen cleared his throat, his voice strong despite how uncomfortable he seemed, "My name is Ritch- ...ah. My name is Richard Hugh Blackmore. I'm fourteen years old, and I'm a transfer student from America."

"Alright then Richard,-"

"Oh, uh, please call me Ritchie. Richard doesn't really fit me."

"Hmm… alright, Ritchie, tell me about yourself."

"Right. I lived in Alaska, out in a cabin and I spent most of my time helping my father with his dogs or working around town or some chores."

Laced fingers, a more relaxed posture to put the young man at ease, "How about schooling? What kind of school did you go to?"

Ritchie Blackmore hurriedly shook his head, "Not much. I was homeschooled by my dad and some of his teacher friends mostly."

"Did you enjoy it?"

Now there was a fond smile, Ishimaru smiled in return, "Yes."

Ishimaru jotted a few notes down on a fresh sheet of paper beneath his hand before glancing back to the boy. "Anything else? How about special skills?"

"Sk-skills? Oh, uh, I know how to ride a horse and hunt…"

Ishimaru continued to stare at him making it clear that he was waiting for more.

"I...I can cook…?"

He was floundering now. Time to pull back and ask some easier questions.

Ishimaru peppered him with a couple easier queries. The boy opened up again, easily answering to his relations with his family, the animals he took care of, and his opinion on Japan so far.

Then…

"Tell me, Ritchie, do you do the things that other people want you to do, or would you rather do the things you believe are 'right'?"

"I'd do what other people tell me to, I guess."

Ritchie quickly faltered at the frowning expression on the proctors face. Ishimaru continued the questioning, his answers not quite so gentle anymore.

What is the lowest grade you would be okay with? His answer: a C

Do you consider yourself better than your peers to some extent? His answer: a resounding no.

You are a doctor, a patient comes in heavily wounded and in a critical state, the doctor is busy elsewhere, what do you do? Anesthetize and wait for the doctor.

Ishimaru rubbed at his forehead during a lull in the examination, his eyes firmly locked into the sheath of paper with his notes. The results were… not good.

The boy was nice enough, polite and thoughtful with most questions. But his answers didn't paint a pretty picture.

Ritchie Blackmore had a crippling lack of self confidence and self esteem. Every answer was accompanied by hesitation, a moment where he was left uncertain. The answers themselves easily proved that he did not put much stock in himself, and was readily able to admit that other people were more capable than him. Humility wasn't a bad trait, not at all, many kids could use a lesson or two in that regard, but it wasn't the trait of an aspiring hero.

Ritchie was, all in all, a very mundane teen. Not only was his personality surprisingly self-deprecative, but there was nothing outwardly impressive about him at all. He had an athletic build, but only in such a way that made it obvious he did the bare minimum amount of exercise to maintain a natural figure. He wasn't strong and based on his grades on the earlier test he wasn't particularly intelligent either.

He was near incompetent.

Though, that's not to say he didn't have any redeeming factors. The sheet of paper at Ishimaru's side briefly detailed his birth-given quirk, and it was impressive enough.

But…

Ishimaru sighed tiredly. The American simply wasn't cut out to be a hero- to even attempt to try to be one. He had the quirk, but in almost every other way he failed to meet the requirements that all heroes must achieve.

He wasn't stupid, but he wasn't smart enough. He wasn't weak or frail, but he wasn't strong enough. Simply put, he wasn't impressive enough.

It was a sad thought, and Ishimaru hated that he had to think it. Children shouldn't be judged like that.

He wasn't looking forward to what he was going to have to do. Turning away kids from their dreams was difficult enough, even harder when that same kid traveled across the world to chase that dream. He pushed that thought aside for the moment. Only one more question left on the sheet.

"Okay, Ritchie… this is the last question."

"Why do you want to be a hero?"

Silence for the moment. The American furrowed his brow as he thought. He worried at his lip, his eyes firmly locked on the desk instead of the teachers eyes.

The near-silent whirring of the tape recorders inner mechanics and the marching of the clock dominated the room. Soft taps accompanied the noise from the teacher gently drumming his finger on his pen.

There was a pinched moment where Ishimaru worried the teen simply wouldn't answer, but Blackmore soon spoke, his head rising and eyes meeting his own.

"I want to change myself."

The teacher paused, his fingers stilling against his pen as he glanced at the boy questioningly.

"I… I'm not proud of who I am now. I'm not good at anything, I can't do anything right and everybody knows that… I know that too."

"But," Ritchie glanced out the window toward the suspended sun, "Well, awhile ago I saw a video of Japanese heroes and the work they do… and I was amazed. Fighting with people much stronger than themselves… risking their lives to save other peoples… they aren't useless. they can do anything! They're everything I'm not!"

"Being strong, being confident, giving other people hope… that's what being a hero is all about."

"I want to become a hero because I think it's the only way I can change myself."

…

He was stunned. For just a moment, all the hesitation and doubt was washed away. There was still the lack of self confidence, but now it was directed towards something that made sense. It wasn't that his faltering self-esteem stunted him, it was the exact purpose he was here.

Ritchie Blackmore wanted to change who he was, and to Ishimaru that invalidated all the other answers he had given. So what if he wasn't impressive in any way, he wanted to change. That meant something! Desire for improvement is worth more than a perfect man, it is the potential for perfection.

Kids shouldn't be judged for who they are now, but rather for their potential to become better. For a moment, Ishimaru had forgotten that.

"Right. Well, that's it then." He was all business as he switched off the recorder, laid it flat on the desk, and moved to organize his notes.

"T-that's it?"

Ishimaru chuckled at the bewildered young man. "That's right. Just a quick evaluation, thirty questions. You're done."

Ritchie shuffled in his chair, distinctly uncomfortable. "Did I…"

"Pass?" He flinched and Ishimaru softened his eyes, "Yes. I'll write you up a full record tonight and the school will handle signing you up for the entrance exam this winter." with all the papers arranged, he turned back to the shocked American, "You passed."

The small content smile Ritchie gave was more than enough for the teacher. It was relieved, and very much grateful.

"Of course, this was just an entrance exam is the real test, and it's up to you to pass that."

"Right! I won't let you down."

"I know you won't." To tell the truth, Ishimaru was taking a chance here. If Ritchie really didn't have what it took to be a hero and if he got badly injured in the entrance exam, then questions would be asked. It would lead back here and officials would question how he could let such an obviously inept boy attempt one of the most difficult tests on this side of the Atlantic.

It was too late to turn back on his word now, though. He would just have to have a little faith.

"Go on, son. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'll handle it from here and get in touch with your parents."

Ritchie quickly moved from his seat with a nod, and moved to the door before stumbling awkwardly.

"Oh um…" Ritchie faced the teacher with some apprehension, stumbling over his words for a moment before snapping into a deep bow, shocking the older man. "Thank you, sir!"

"Ah… you're most welcome?"

Ritchie snapped back up like a particulary tight rubber band and robotically marched toward the door, his ears burning red.

Just as he swung the door open, Ishimaru called out to the boy and stopped him one last time.

"Yes?

"Good luck, Ritchie."

The boy smiled at him and gave a sharp, mildly confident nod. With that the door shut behind him with a final, silent, click.