Chapter 2, Vigilante Virtues
How far would you to go to fulfill your ideals?
Protesters were a common occurrence. Whether it be about a hero failing to save someone, or some controversial steps taken in the pursuit of a villain. What you don't see every day is a lone man on the street, preaching to passerby about how the hero system is flawed, about how most people are just in it for the money. So you must forgive his surprise when the UA dropout found just that on his way home. The man was bruised and ignored, shouting at the people doing their best not to give this 'clearly crazy' individual their attention. It would almost be funny, if he wasn't making valid points.
"Most heroes are only in it for the money! Really, I've seen it!"
Everyone kept walking and ignoring, his pleas for recognition falling on deaf ears.
"The only true hero is All Might!"
That, of course, momentarily turned some heads, most of them thinking "at least he's partially correct." Before long, the man was left alone with his thoughts, and a student standing in front of him.
"You made some good points."
The man is clearly taken aback that someone else supposedly thinks the same. Maybe the days upon days of being shunned was worth it.
"You alright, man?"
The kid taps him on the shoulder.
"Do I need to call an ambulance? You're pretty beat up."
The man forces himself to look at the student, expecting a mocking look despite the seemingly sincere tone. He had been duped before, and he expected it to happen again.
He was met with a worried look from a young man in a U.A. uniform.
"Seriously dude, do I need to call-"
"Nah, kid. I'm not that fragile."
The man pats him on the shoulder
"I appreciate the thought, and that you think I'm right."
The student shrugs,
"I've recently discovered that not every hero is willing to risk their lives for someone else, or that they're just in it for the money. Two days ago, actually."
The man sighs.
"What kind of situation was it?"
The student sighs,
"Armed robbery, at least 8 hostages, and a hero with a quirk perfectly capable of stopping them. But, she just walked away."
He shakes his head.
"A shame really. Had she acted then, she'd be alive today. All because she 'wasn't on duty."
He does air quotes to get his point across
The man sighs.
"How did she die?"
He gets the answer he least expected, from what he assumed was a future hero.
"Painfully."
The young man looks up at his senior with disregard for how he had responded. The older of the two stands in bewilderment as he processes the thought. The young man, no, the boy for such an age had blood on his hands. Not only that, he sympathized and agreed with him, the cause was justified, but also sparks an idea. Not all who bear the title deserve it, so why not weed out the unworthy? With enough preparation, surely that could be done. But, maybe it shouldn't be done alone. Despite his age, the boy had potential. But what he would put that potential towards had seemingly already been decided. Perhaps with some convincing….
"Hey, kid-"
"Nah, I don't want to join you."
He looked shocked for a moment
"How did you..?"
"You had an evil grin and a nasty look in your eye. You should work on a poker face, or really just anything else."
he replies with a smirk, then walks away before the man can reply.
The ex-student shakes his head
What a weird dude. The way he talks, you'd think he's crazy…. well I guess I can't say anything about that*
He stops and turns back towards the man.
"How far would you go to fulfill your ideals?"
The man stops and thinks about it for a second.
"As far as I'd need to."
He barely sees the student's wide grin before he turns back and keeps walking.
"Good luck with that! You'll need it."