A/N: After reading Bartt's comment, it occurred to me that I have some explaining to do (Thank you for this discussion point. I was not offended at all, and I'm actually very glad that you brought this up). This story occurs in the MHA universe, so there is NO monsterization. This means that Garou was defeated by Bang, Bomb, and All Might, who I've subbed in for Genos at this point in the story, right after he faced the other A and B class heroes that were sent to hunt him down and bring him in. Due to his sorry state prior to and during this fight, he didn't stand a chance, and there was no Phoenix man or Elder Centipedeto save him. As always, any and all feedback is absolutely welcome, thank you guys for reading.
Shortly after they received the wonderful news that they would be attending U.A. high school, Izuku and Ochako exchanged some texts to find out how the other did and if they were accepted as well.
"I made it in, did you?" Ochako texted.
"Yeah! Apparently I'm the freshman representative, what class are you in?" He responded.
"Woah! That's awesome! I'm in class 1-A, what about you?" She answered.
"I'm in class 1-A too! Looks like we'll be seeing more of each other!" He sent. Ochako was very excited to learn about this. The boy who had carved himself a piece of her life was now going to become a common fixture in it. Before she could celebrate any further, she received an additional text from Izuku.
"I'm gonna go to the dojo for the day, I'll text you later!" After he sent this, Izuku sighed to himself. Texting a girl was awesome. He wasn't all that jittery or skiddish anymore, but interacting with the opposite sex always proved to be quite an endeavor for the young man. He exited his house and strode at a leisurely pace towards his master's dojo, today was going to be a good day. He could finally tell the man who had shaped his entire life that he had succeeded in the first step of his mission, that he had begun his journey to become a hero. Izuku cherished how his master had always believed in him, how he always had from the moment that they met. Izuku was unsure if he could ever fully repay his master for what he had done for him. The only way he could think to do it was to fulfill and carry on Silver Fang's legacy as both a martial artist and a hero. His master had the ability to fight on equal terms with All Might himself when they were both in their primes, though of late All Might seemed to be weakening, and Silver Fang's prowess showed absolutely no signs of diminishing whatsoever.
Izuku continued his leisurely pace, only picking it up once he reached the stairs to the dojo. He began ascending them at an excited pace like he always did. Something about going to practice and train always managed to thrill him, to make his heart beat just a little faster.
Throughout the years, Bang had taught Izuku to hone his senses and to trust them. They had worked on his reflexes and his intuition in battle, sharpening them to a state that was far beyond average levels. They had to be if he was going to compete with individuals who were blessed with incredible powers. Over the past few generations, the average power of quirks had increased astronomically. Some individuals had power over the elements, manipulating and generating them at will. Others had power over the forces of nature, as his new friend Ochako did. In a world where he started off with a crippling disadvantage, Izuku was forced to hone himself in other ways. Traditionally, one might practice the strength and application of their quirk, but Izuku didn't have this privilege. He had to weaponize his mind, senses, and body in order to compete on the same level as his powerful peers. Over the years that he had trained, these facets of his combat ability evolved and grew to perfectly support what it was that he was doing. His senses had developed to the point where they would warn him when he was in tremendous danger, even before he had realized it himself.
To some extent, Izuku could read people. He didn't have the ability to know exactly what you were thinking or anything like that, but he could sense intent. Izuku could always see people coming, and this ability proved to be of great assistance when avoiding bodily harm at the hands of his youthful tormentor Katsuki. That guy always seemed to be furious about something, and whenever his ire was targeted at Izuku, he could tell and react appropriately. This usually meant walking away or telling him to bug off, but occasionally physical force was necessary. Izuku had no idea why that jerk was so fixated on him. He knew better than to consider him a friend, so long ago he stopped calling him "Kachan" and attempting to interact altogether. He didn't hate Katsuki, in fact he found a seldom few admirable qualities in the explosive young man, for instance his determination to improve and succeed. To the outside eye however, these beneficial factors were drowned out by his belligerence and overall foul nature.
Izuku arrived at the dojo, still deep in thought. He opened the doors to see his master doing some simple stretches in preparation for their session today. "You have news?" Bang asked.
"I do. I was accepted and will serve as the freshman representative with a score of one hundred and twenty-three points." Izuku said, a small hint of pride making itself comfortable in his voice.
"Well done, I told you that you would do well." Bang responded simply. "You have grown to be quite an excellent young man, I am very proud of you. You have allowed me to redeem myself through training and developing you into an incredible hero. I still feel shame and sadness when I think of Garou and all of the atrocities that he committed with my art, but seeing you continue to grow into a fine young man eases the pain tremendously. And for that I simply wish to say, thank you." Bang said. Midoriya was moved to tears by his master's admission. His teacher had taught him to be more in control of his emotions, but right now his tears were justifiable.
"Thank you, Master Bang. You have done so much for me, I don't know how I can ever begin to repay you. You've . . you've changed my entire life for the better." Izuku said, weeping happily.
"Come then young man, that's enough sentiment for the day." Bang said as he chuckled at his disciple. "We still have training to do. You may have made it into U.A. but that doesn't mean you're done improving. Go change into your gi and take your stance young man." Bang instructed him. Izuku dutifully responded, changing into his gi and returning to his master within a couple of minutes. They then took their respective stances and awaited the other to make the first move. Bang's stance was a simple but effective one. Both of his hands were in front of him, arms extended out towards his opponent, his left palm facing his target and his right at an angle about a foot behind it. Izuku adopted a similar stance to his master, preferring his fighting style to the others available to him. Both of the practitioners had lowered themselves, spreading their legs wide to the point where their thighs were parallel to the floor as they held themselves in the stand off.
Izuku finally decided to make the first move, surging towards his master and initiating a flurry of flowing blows. Bang responded in kind, and from there the master and student exchanged strikes, Izuku never managing to land a clean hit on his teacher. Each time he was close to what could have been an opportunity to land a definitive strike, Bang pushed his attack aside and landed one on him instead. Izuku noted how Bang's movements were more intense and graceful than his were, even though they were practitioners of the same style. Izuku did his best to emulate his master's movements as they continued their furious flurry of attacks. He found it difficult to not become overwhelmed when Bang increased the pace of his onslaught, but he was determined to keep it up this time. He had practiced for years on his own, he could do this. He would prove to his master that he had learned a thing or two. Finally finding his opportunity, Izuku unleashed a powerful kick from his right leg, targeted at his master's previously unguarded face. Little did he know that Bang read this movement and responded in kind, twisting his body to the side to dodge and releasing a backwards roundhouse kick into his disciple's chest, sending him into the opposite wall.
Not willing to be defeated so easily, Izuku quickly recovered from his master's attack and prepared himself for his onslaught once again. Bang closed the distance between the two within a second, surprising his student slightly with his agility. Izuku took note again that Bang's technique and style was far more forceful than his was, his movements were more certain. Once again Izuku sought to emulate his master's technique.
Izuku then realized what it was that he was doing wrong. He was overthinking things, like he always had. His over analytical mind was processing things as quickly as it could, but it was holding him back. The way Bang moved was out of reflex, instinct, and sequences of practiced motions. This was something that simply was a product of years of practice, but Izuku was going to try anyway.
The master and student clashed once again, their movements becoming faster and faster as they continued to intensify their sparring session. Long and elegant streaks of blue could be seen from both participants representing their limb's motions, and for what felt like several moments the battle was at a standstill, each side struggling to gain the upper hand and land a definitive strike on their opponent.
Bang was having the time of his life. His student, the boy who he had devoted himself to developing, was providing an exhilarating match for him. Izuku had improved so much over the years, and he had reached a point where Bang decided to do him the honors of fighting seriously. The change in pace was very noticeable as bang began striking his student with intense ferocity, driving Izuku back as the young man struggled to stay upright and defend himself against his master's assault. Izuku's attacks were brushed aside with painted strokes as his teacher overwhelmed him, striking his student numerous times all throughout his body before sending him sprawling backwards with a powerful kick, cracking the dojo's far wall as Izuku crashed into it.
Once again, Izuku recovered, refusing to accept defeat. That last exchange nearly knocked him out, and it took all of his willpower to remain standing. His body was quite heavily bruised, but he took a firm and resolute stance against his opponent regardless. Bang considered stopping the match then and there, but this was a perfect opportunity for his student to evolve and grow stronger, so he continued. Rushing his pupil once again, he unleashed another assortment of rapid strikes using the same intensity he had previously, but this time his student was ready. Izuku was adapting and evolving mid fight, growing stronger right before his master's eyes.
"Young man! You really are incredible!" Bang shouted through his onslaught, causing his student to grin wildly. This was the first time in a long while where Bang was fighting seriously, pouring himself into his technique as he continued his assault. Izuku wasn't holding anything in reserve either, but the difference between master and student was still like night and day. Izuku would continue to improve, but he was far from surpassing his teacher. Despite this, he was holding his ground, refusing to be knocked down until it was absolutely impossible to keep going. This conclusion however, came all too quickly. Izuku saw what he thought was an opportunity when Bang moved to strike the pressure points on his neck and thus incapacitate him, so he caught his master's wrists and moved to knee him in the face, just as he had done against Katsuki. This decision backfired when his master responded with his own knee, pushing his student back and bloodying his pupil's face in the process.
"You have improved greatly, but you are far from besting your master at his own craft." Bang said smugly, smiling at his disciple who was now standing upright, easily ignoring the pain of his bloodied nose as he bowed to his teacher. He really had come a very long way since his early days learning under Bang, and he had taken his instructions to heart.
"Yes sensei." Izuku responded, filled with fiery determination. He was once again one step closer to achieving his dream. They continued their session, participating in intense workouts, stretches, and working to refine Izuku's technique and strategy. It was these moments that Izuku enjoyed the most, simply training and improving himself alongside the man who had shaped his entire life.
By the time it was midday, the training session had finally ended and Izuku was on his way back to his house. "What else am I gonna do today?" Izuku pondered aloud as he strode down the sidewalk at a relaxed pace. He still had a few days remaining before the first day of school, and he wanted to do something with his time besides training. Maybe he could text Ochako? They DID go on a date the other day, maybe he could take her on a second one? Izuku wasn't exactly fond of the idea of asking her out through a text of all things, but it was the only option he had. Izuku pulled out his phone and opened up his contacts so that he could message Ochako.
"Hey, I'm all finished with training, what are you up to?" He asked.
"Not much really, just hanging around the house until school starts. I'm gonna move to a new apartment that's closer to the school tomorrow. I've finished packing and I'm kind of excited and scared at the same time." Ochako replied a few moments later. Izuku had arrived at his house by the time he was able to read her message.
"That's cool. Do you need any help with the move? I could head up there if you do." Izuku messaged.
"I don't know. You're like two hours away and that's by bullet train." Ochako replied, her contemplative tone being expressed through her words.
"It's no problem, I have nothing better to do." Izuku responded truthfully. Besides training, his days were pretty empty now that school was out. He didn't really have that many close friends. It wasn't that he was antisocial or even introverted for that matter, he just hadn't had the time. Between the downright suicidal training regimen that Bang kept him to and the schoolwork and studying, Izuku didn't have much time left in the day to socialize with his peers.
"Are you sure? It's a little bit of a trek." Ochako asked, unsure herself of whether it was worth it or not. She was very keen on the idea of seeing Izuku again though, and maybe she could even introduce him to her parents earlier than expected.
"Yeah it's no big deal. Maybe we could even go on another date." Izuku asked with an almost mischievous smile adorning his face. This was incredibly forward, even for him. Bang had really taken him under his wing when it came to being a male role model. Izuku didn't really have a father. Well he did, but he never saw him, so the man might as well have not existed at all to Izuku. In turn, anything his own father would have taught and done for Izuku, Bang did in his stead. This included interacting with the opposite sex and in general upholding a respectable demeanor and attitude. Neither of the two were ladies men by any means, but Izuku had learned to be direct when he wanted something.
Seeing Izuku's message, Ochako squeaked and almost dropped her phone. She had thought about going on another date with Izuku, and the prospect even excited her, but she had no idea it would be this soon. Not that she was complaining.
"Sounds like fun. Can you be here by like nine tomorrow?" Ochako asked, sending Izuku a link to her address so that Izuku could follow online directions to find his way there.
"Sure thing!" Izuku happily responded.
Izuku scratched his chin in thought. If he wanted to be in Kansai before nine in the morning, then he would have to be on the train well before seven. It wouldn't impact his sleep schedule since Izuku was habitually an early riser, but he would have to skip out on his training session with Bang tomorrow if he wanted to go see Ochako. He'd have to give his master a call. He dialed Bang's number, knowing full well that the old man was still in the dojo. It rang several times before finally being answered.
"Izuku, did you forget something here?" Bang inquired. Izuku could tell that his master was raising an eyebrow at him, even through the phone.
"No, I just called to tell you I won't be able to train with you tomorrow." Izuku responded, a smirk making itself present on his face as he thought about his plans with Ochako.
"Oh? Are you off chasing girls again Izuku?" Bang asked teasingly. He knew Izuku wasn't the type to do that, but it was hilarious when Izuku got flustered.
"Yes and no. Remember Uraraka from the other day? She got accepted too and she needs help moving closer to the school, so I figured I'd lend her a hand." Izuku informed, his smile only intensifying as his plans with the girl were directly mentioned.
"I see." Bang responded. "Have fun then, I'll see you the day after that."
"Will do. Thank you master Bang." Izuku said, ending the call. He then informed his mother about his plans for the following day, receiving happy tears in response. Inko was thrilled at the prospect of her son going on another date with that cute girl he mentioned. They ate dinner and Izuku promptly turned in from the night. Even in his current state, Bang's lessons never failed to tire him out.
Morning came soon enough, Izuku's alarm signifying the start of a new day as the boy practically sprung out of his bed. He walked in high spirits directly towards the bathroom, grabbing a quick shower before starting his day. As he washed himself, he thought again of the day ahead. He would be helping her move, but he also was planning on taking her out on a date, so maybe he should dress up a little? The martial artist outfit he always wore suited him though. Besides, wherever they went, it wouldn't be anywhere fancy enough to where he couldn't dress as he pleased.
Izuku left the shower and dressed as he had initially planned, donning his white gi pants and his black shirt and shoes before heading towards the kitchen for some breakfast and then leaving the house. Izuku walked excitedly towards the train station, reminding himself that he would have to take a different train if he wanted to get to the Kansai region in a timely manner.
He boarded the train and took a window seat for himself, watching the landscape zip by as the train moved at incredible speeds. It really was impressive how far technology had come; a trip across the country would only take about two hours of his time. As his surroundings continued to fly past him, he pondered what it was that he lacked. Was it experience? Power? Discipline? Technique? He wanted more than anything to improve himself in any way he could. The thought that there were enemies out there that were far more powerful than him both haunted Izuku and motivated him. What if he faced these opponents one day, and the world needed him to be strong enough, but he wasn't? How many lives would be lost to his negligence and weakness? Izuku promptly banished these traitorous thoughts. They were far too dark and complex for him to ponder right now, today was going to be a great day after all. Besides, there were other heroes out there, capable men and women who worked as forces of good will and compassion throughout the world. To think that such a weight should rest on his shoulders alone was impractical.
Izuku was still lost in thought when the train finally reached its destination, its gradual but sudden halt summoning Izuku away from his inner turmoil. He rose from his seat and made for the door. Izuku strode through the streets amiably, excited to see Ochako again and happy that he was going to be helping out a friend. He continued to follow the directions on his phone until he arrived in front of an almost run down looking apartment complex. It wasn't at all what he had expected, but Izuku wasn't going to judge. He climbed the stairs until he reached the floor Ochako was on and quickly found the apartment number after that. He knocked twice and stepped back, waiting patiently. He didn't have to wait long before a large man opened the door and looked at him inquisitively. This man resembled Ochako, but he thought he had gotten the wrong apartment until the bubbly brunette bounced forward and embraced him in a hug. This caused the man who Izuku could only assume to be her father to release an amused chuckle at his daughter's antics.
"Hi." Izuku mirthfully said, returning the embrace. "Excited to see me, are we?" He slyly asked, raising an amused eyebrow at his friend. In turn, Ochako turned beet red and scrambled away from him. Izuku would have to get himself out of the habit of pushing her buttons, but it was too fun to give up anytime soon. He then turned to her father and bowed politely, introducing himself in the process.
"Hello, my name is Izuku Midoriya. It's a pleasure to meet you sir. I'm here to help your daughter move."
"Oh so you're the boy my daughter won't stop talking about. It's nice to meet ya kid. I really appreciate what you did for my Ochako during the exam, and also what you're doin' now helpin' her out with the move." The large man stated. This caused Ochako to visibly pout, embarrassment clear on her face as she lightly glared at her father for doing that to her in front of her new friend. Speaking of Izuku, he was wearing that same outfit he always did, perhaps it was his favorite? Either way, she wasn't going to complain. He looked good in it due to how the shirt he wore did absolutely nothing to hide his physique. She shuddered at the thought of other hormonal teenage girls besides herself seeing him in such attire. She would have to pack a stick to beat them off with.
"It's my pleasure. And she's been talking about me, has she? All good I hope?" Izuku responded, shooting Ochako a warm smile that only worked to intensify her blush.
"Yup, though I'd like to form my own opinion myself." Mr. Uraraka stated. "Why don't you come in, we've got a lot of work to do."
"Sure thing." Izuku responded. The next several hours until lunch consisted of transferring furniture and Ochako's personal belongings into a moving van that her father would drive to her apartment. While he and her father were transferring a rather bulky dresser into the car, the father decided to strike up a conversation.
"So I hear you took my baby girl out on a date." Mr. Uraraka said. His tone wasn't menacing, that of an overprotective father who was ready to beat up his daughter's boyfriend, but rather a cautious one.
"Yeah, it was great. I took her out to lunch after the exam was over. We went to Bang's dojo after that." Izuku answered, a dreamy smile on his face as he recollected the events of their first date. Mr. Uraraka smiled approvingly at the young man, he could already tell that this kid had nothing but good intentions with his daughter.
"I almost forgot you're training under Silver Fang. What's it like?" He inquired.
"It's incredible. He's such an amazing teacher and hero, he's like a father to me." Izuku responded proudly.
"Wow, that's about as good a role model as anyone could ask for. I remember the type of hero that that man was. What he stood for. I see that I have nothing to worry about with you and my daughter." Mr. Uraraka said, placing an approving and proud hand on Izuku's shoulder after they placed the dresser in the moving van, causing the young man to return his smile.
"Of course, thank you for your approval. I will do my best to live upto your expectations." Izuku proclaimed, excitement sparkling in his eyes. Naturally, Ochako had witnessed this entire exchange from the window, and was now squealing silently. She heard an amused chortle behind her and turned quickly to see her mother standing with one hand on her hip and one covering her mouth. The woman recovered and gave her daughter a knowing look.
"You really got it bad, don't ya?" She asked coyly.
"Maybe . . " Ochako answered in a hushed and embarrassed tone.
"Nothin wrong with that sweetie. He seems like a real good guy. Plus, we'll have somebody to look out for you when we can't." Her mother told her lovingly.
"I'm not a little girl anymore, you know that right?" Ochako asked, grinning at her mother's affection.
"I know honey, but it never hurts to have help. Even when you don't need it." She said. The privacy of their conversation was abruptly compromised as Izuku and Mr. Uraraka came through the door, both of them laughing at something Izuku had said. Her father noticed that everyone was present and decided to speak up.
"Alright, I think that that's everything. I'll go up and do a final check, so why don't you kids grab somethin' to eat and then catch the bullet train back." Mr. Uraraka recommended.
Mrs. Uraraka had prepared some rice, fish, and assorted vegetables for lunch, and the group happily dug in once Mr. Uraraka returned from his final check. During the meal, Mrs. Uraraka struck up a conversation.
"So Midoriya, any big plans between now and when school starts?" She asked.
"Not really. All I've really done for the past few years is study and train, so I guess that's what I'll keep doing." He responded.
"Really now? What sort of training do you do?" She inquired, raising an eyebrow at the boy's dull schedule, a boring existence even by her standards.
"I practice martial arts, sharpen my body, and spar with my master. That's what I do most days." Izuku said.
"You spar with Silver Fang? That's impressive." She complimented, causing the young man to blush slightly at her praise, a faint pink hue that disappeared as quickly as it came.
"It's not a very even match up, though in our last session he took me seriously. I don't think I need to tell you how badly I lost." Izuku jokingly lamented, huffing half heartedly at the memory of the beat down his master delivered to him the day prior.
"And you're still in one piece? Sheesh." Mr. Uraraka responded, joining the conversation for the first time.
"Somehow, yeah. He must have struck me about thirty times before I even knew what happened, kicking me into the opposite wall. That's more impressive than it sounds, it's a big dojo." Izuku recollected.
"I'm sure." Mr. Uraraka responded, trailing off contemplatively. "Say, what's your quirk? Ochako never mentioned it to us when she talked about you." This caused said girl to flush and elbow her father in the side. Surely his quirk must be some sort of super strength or body enhancement type, right?
"I'm quirkless." Izuku stated simply. "Bang is too. The martial arts style is just that powerful I guess."
"Wow." Was all either of the Urarakas could say in response, completely caught off guard by how powerful these two quirkless individuals were. It just defied logic. "Then how are you two so powerful?"
"Quirkless people have more forgiving physical limits than others do, or at least that's what Bang told me. It's making sense so far, I don't feel like I'm close to being as strong as I can get, so I'm gonna keep going until I get there. The stronger I am, the more people I can save." Izuku exclaimed resolutely. Mr. Uraraka stood up from his seat and offered the young man before him a hand.
"Well then. That was quite enlightening. Don't want you two to miss your train though, so take care of yourselves, ya hear?" He instructed rather than asked them, receiving a firm nod from both teenagers. The duo left the house and were descending the stairs when izuku spoke up.
"I think they took that pretty well, what do you think?" He inquired, still amused by her parents shocked expressions.
"They're understanding people." She told him, smiling warmly at the thought of her parents, though she was sad that she wouldn't be able to see them as much as she used to after this move.
"They are, I like them." Izuku stated, returning her warm smile. This emboldened Ochako to take his hand, an action that left Izuku in a pleasantly surprised state, blushing lightly at her initiative. He responded by coiling his fingers tightly around hers, smiling even brighter than before.
They arrived at the station and boarded the train, keeping their hands intertwined the entire time, causing them to receive some amused glances from other passengers. They chatted amiably about various topics, school, the uniforms, how excited they were to learn to be heroes, and even their minor hobbies. Ochako learned that Izuku was a bit of a closet hero fanatic. The knowledge that he was secretly a big dork underneath that steel exterior of his made her like him even more. Izuku learned about how her favorite hero was the rescue hero Thirteen, segueing into a lengthy discussion about all the cool things he had done and the people he had saved during his hero work. The more they talked, the more obvious it was to them how well they got along together, something that only worked to enhance their respective affections for each other.
Before they knew it, they arrived at the station closest to Izuku's house, Izuku offering to walk her to her apartment, an offer that she gladly accepted. As it turns out, Ochako's apartment wasn't at all that far from Izuku's, so they could walk home together on a regular basis after school. They continued to chat until they arrived at the establishment. Izuku even went as far as to accompany her right to the doorway, something that amused the brunette to no end.
"I'm sorry to say, but I'm beat. I'll have plenty of unpacking to do today, so our second date will have to wait. Hopefully this can tide you over though." Ochako said with a flourish in her voice, which confused Izuku until he felt her press a kiss to his cheek, causing him to blush and even stammer for a brief moment.
"I'll see you at school." She said as she skipped into her apartment, closing the door behind her before Izuku could return the favor. That was the first time she had seen him get legitimately flustered. She would have to see more of that, perhaps as payback for all the times he had teased her, or maybe just because she liked it.
Meanwhile, Izuku was striding down the stairs of the apartment complex, still rubbing his cheek. "She really caught me off guard there, oh well. Can't be helped. Man, I can't wait for school." Izuku said, reaching the bottom floor of the apartment and beginning his journey home.
