Chapter Seven
Izuku ran down the still clean beach – something he saw as a symbol of his dedication – towards Hatsume. A week had passed since the Exam, and now he had to tell her the news. He passed. He got in. He was going to be on U.A's Hero course. All of his work, his sweat, his pain, his suffering had meant something.
"Hatsume!" he called out as he approached her. The girl stopped looking out over the ocean and turned to look at Izuku, a smile appearing on her face.
"Midoriya!" she called back. "I'm going to guess you got in, judging by how happy you seem."
"I did. What about you?" Izuku asked when he got closer and stopped running. Hatsume's smile grew wider.
"You bet I did! Now I can make even more babies! Bigger and better than ever!" she declared, lifting her arms to the sky.
"And I'll be able to prove the world wrong about Quirkless people," Izuku contributed, reaching out and grabbing at the setting sun. "I can do it Hatsume. With you by my side, I can finally –"
"Mei," she interrupted.
"Uh?"
"We've known each other for ten months now. I think it's time we called each other by our first names, Izuku." Izuku stopped there. It was the first time since he was four, that anyone but his mother had called him by his first name. And then he knew. The excitable girl before him saw him not just as a means to an end or another pebble on the road, but as a friend. A real friend. And when he put his arms around her in a hug, letting tears fall from his eyes, he realized he had forgotten how good that felt.
"Yes. Yes you're right, Mei," he said through joyful tears as Mei overcame her shock and returned the embrace.
And two weeks later they were back at U.A, not as hopefuls but as students. Izuku was rushing through the halls looking for Class 1-B. This was easier said than done because the school was huge, and while the piece of paper in his hands told him which class he was in it didn't come with a map.
'I don't want to be late,' he thought. 'I can't be late on the first day.' He finally found his class, hopefully on time, he wasn't sure. The door was overly large presumably for students with Quirks that increase their size. Izuku was nervous but he swallowed his nerves, opened the door, and stepped forward into his future. It seemed he was the last one in and the other students had been there awhile as they were all talking to each other. Non of them noticed him, save for a single student who strolled over and introduced himself.
"Hello there little green one," he said with a toothy grin. The boy was dark skinned with shoulder length black hair, and brown eyes. He also stood a good head and shoulders above everyone else which made Izuku a touch nervous. This must have shown because the boy seemed to try and act reassuring. "Do not worry, I mean you no harm, for we are all training to be Heroes here! Tell me, are you to be a member of Class 1-B?" This made Izuku straighten up and give a proper response.
"Yes, yes I am. My name is Midoriya Izuku, and I was worried that this was the wrong place. Really they could have—AGH!" He got cut off as the boy suddenly hugged him, his strong arms gripping tight.
"Ha, ha, ha! Yes this place can be confusing but now you are here! And together as friends we shall become great Heroes!" he declared. Izuku meanwhile was squirming to get out of his grip.
"Let go, let go, let go!"
"Takahashi, what did I just tell you about hugging people without warning?" asked a new voice. This one belonged to a girl with long orange hair and teal eyes. She walked over with an exasperated look on her face, like a girl trying to control a rowdy younger sibling.
"Sorry Itsuka," Takahashi said as he released Izuku. "And sorry to you as well. I can get overly friendly at times. I merely got excited at the thought of ALL the adventures we will have together on the path to being Heroes!" he declared, spreading his muscular arms.
"Well I have to ask you to get to your seats first, before you have any adventures," said a voice from the door. Izuku turned around and saw–
"Vlad King!" he said excitedly, eyes full of sparkles. "Are you going to be our homeroom teacher this year? It's an honour to meet you, and I'm grateful for this opportunity to learn from–5 "
"Calm down boy," Vlad interrupted. "Take your seat, and you can go all fan boy later," he said. A couple of the other students chuckled and Izuku started blushing. They all got to their seats with Izuku being in the furthest row back from the teachers desk and right by the window, before the teacher himself stood behind the desk.
He cut a strong figure as he stood with his hands on his desk, his red eyes gazing over the students. His short, spiky grey hair stood out against the chalk board. His red V-cut costume showed his muscular body build, all of which came together to create the image of a powerful hero worthy of teaching at a school as prestiges as U.A. He began to address the students.
"Anyway, as the fan boy said I am Vlad King, Pro-Hero and your homeroom teacher for this year. Here at U.A teachers afford more teaching liberty, and there is no orientation like in others schools. Now since you'll be working together for the next three years, lets start by introducing yourselves. We will go in numerical order, and when we reach you please state your name and Quirk."
That was the point where Izuku got nervous. He knew it would happen sooner or later, he knew that the class would learn he was Quirkless but how would they react? Would they mock him and say he shouldn't be here? Would one of them be like Bakugou? Did Vlad King already know the truth? Did he resent having to teach a Quirkless student?
'No, don't think like that,' he thought to himself. 'I passed the practical exam. I proved that I belong here. And if anyone disagrees, to hell with them.' Satisfied with this reasoning he took out a notebook – titled 'Hero Analysis For The Future 13.2' – and started noting down the other students' Quirks as they introduced themselves. First to go was the boy who hugged Izuku.
"Greetings friends. My name is Takahashi Adio and my Quirk is called 'Forge'. It allows me to manipulate magnetic metals and heat them to melting point. Come to me if you want something made from metal, as I also plan to spend some time in the support course workshops," he said before sitting back in his seat. As he sat down, the second student got up.
"My name is Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu, and yes I know it's weird that my given name is the same as my family name, don't bring it up please," he said. He had long grey hair, thick pale eyelashes that surrounded his eyes, looking like some kind of fungus and no apparent eyebrows. "My Quirk allows me to turn my body into steel, increasing both my attack and defence. It's called 'Steel'. Feel free to call me Tetsu," he finished. He gave a thumbs up and big smile, showing a set of razor sharp teeth.
Next was the orange haired girl from earlier. "I am Kendo Itsuka, pleased to meet you. My Quirk is called 'Big Fist' and it allows me to increase the size and strength of both my hands." And that was how it went. Nineteen students, nineteen introductions, and nineteen Quirks until finally it was Izuku's turn. When his number – Number 20 – was called he swallowed his nerves, stood up and began.
"My name i-is Midoriya I-Izuku, and I–" He froze. A moment passed with the teacher and his classmates watching expectantly. He breathed in, and– "And I'm Quirkless," he said. The students around him were visibly surprised by this and started whispering. But Izuku brought their attention back to him as he continued. "I didn't get in here with a-a gifted power I d-didn't earn like everyone else, I had t-to use only my skill to get here. And now I'm in, so to h-hell if you think I sh-shouldn't be here." And with that he sat back down in his seat and tried to calm himself, ignoring the shocked stares heading his way.
'Oh my god, did I just say that?' he thought. 'I did, I really did tell them they could go to hell. Oh god, why did I do that? Vlad King's going to expel me, I can't believe–'
"And now we've got that out the way," Vlad said interrupting his train of thought, "we will now head down to the sports field for a physical evaluation."
"Sensei, do you mean like the ones we took in Junior High?" asked Kendo has she raised her hand.
"Yes, but with one alteration," Vlad answered. "I'll tell you more when we get there. Now get to the changing rooms, put these on–" He pulled out a bag storing a set of U.A P.E uniforms and tossed it at Kendo. "–and be on the field in 15 minutes. Each uniform has your name and number on it. I'll meet you there." With that he left the classroom while the students sorted through their uniforms.
Izuku was just relieved he hadn't been called out… yet.
15 minutes later, Class 1-B was on the field in their P.E uniforms.
"Right then," Vlad King began. "Now that you're here allow me to explain what we're doing. Like I said this will be a physical evaluation, with a difference. You will be using your Quirks." That got all the students excited. All except Izuku. To him this would be just like the evaluations back in junior high, only now that Quirk use was permitted the difference in ability between him and the other students would be really obvious.
'They're going to mock me after this,' he thought. 'They're going to insult me, say that I can't keep up and I shouldn't be here. Well I'll show them!'
That was what he thought. But then he came stone last. Was he surprised? No. He was just disappointed in himself. But he couldn't just sit on his butt moping. He had to keep working, keep fighting to catch up with the others. Go Beyond, Plus Ultra! That's what Present Mic said, and that's what he had to do!
"Right you are, Midoriya!" said Vlad King, making Izuku realize he had been mumbling again. "That's what all of you have to do! Your results today? They're just the beginning. But if you don't work hard, they might be your end."
"What do you mean, 'our end'?" asked a blonde haired girl with horse legs and a pair of horns. "We passed the exam, so I thought we were in?"
"You passed the entrance exams, but that doesn't mean you're heroes. While you're here, you will be expected to grow, to go beyond. Those who can't or won't improve themselves don't last long here. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, Sensei," replied the students in unison.
"Louder!" Vlad King ordered.
"Yes, Sensei!"
"Louder! Plus Ultra!"
"Yes, Sensei! Plus Ultra!" the class roared, raising their fists to the sky!
"That's what I'm talking about!"
While this was happening, no-one noticed All Might stood behind a nearby wall watching it transpire. He particularly was focused on his desired successor. He hadn't given up on him. He wanted one more attempt.
After they had finished, the students were sent on their way and allowed to go home. Izuku waited by the entrance for Mei to show up, and found himself joined by Takahashi and Kendo.
"Greetings, Midoriya," said Takahashi. "Are you waiting for someone?"
"Yeah, a friend from the Support Department."
"What's their name?" asked Kendo.
Before Izuku could answer however, a voice popped in saying, "Hatsume Mei, at your service!" making them turn to look at the smiling pink5- haired girl. "Who're these Izuku? Are they your classmates?"
"Yeah. Let me introduce you," Izuku said. "Mei, this is Takahashi Adio and Kendo Itsuka. Guys, this is Hatsume Mei. She made the equipment I used to pass the practical Exam." Kendo and Mei shook hands as Izuku introduced them.
"Hello Hatsume. Nice to meet–" Kendo was interrupted as Takahashi – ignoring what he had been told earlier about personal space – wrapped the inventor into a hug.
"Hello Izuku's inventor friend. It is lovely to meet you," he said, as Mei squirmed in his grip and Izuku waved his hands franticly.
"T-t-t-Takahashi, st-stop! You can't just h-h-hug people l-like that!" Takahashi apologized as he put Mei down. She wasn't upset by this, instead looking up at him, eyes sparkling.
"You're really strong!" she stated. "What's your Quirk? I need to know so I can make perfect babies for you!" And that statement got Takahashi gaping like a dead fish while Kendo and Izuku turned a bright shade of red.
"Inventions!" Izuku interjected, arms waving like a windmill. "Sh-she means in-inventions!"
"O-oh." Takahashi cleared his throat and fingered his collar slightly. "Well, I-I'd be happy to tell you about my Quirk as we walk to the train station." And so, three budding heroes and one possibly unhinged support student, walked to the train station, discussing their Quirks, and Izuku…
Izuku felt happier then he had been in years. It was nice having real friends again.
