My Hero Academia: The Tainted Dream
A villain Deku story by: Ryuketsu1022
Chapter 1: A Discouraging Day
4/2/2020
Deku is a normal junior high schooler, one of the few "normal" ones left. The only person in his class born without a quirk. Despite this setback, he still aspired to become a hero one day, but even a heart of gold can be tarnished by malice.
…
"As Third years it's about time you students start taking your futures more seriously." The instructor's voice quickly silenced the rowdy classroom, bringing the entire room to a dead stillness.
This was it, the final year of junior high. I wonder how some of my classmates will end up. Looking around the room I saw so many smiling faces, it was obvious what their first choices were, the Hero Course. However, I could tell that a great deal of their hope had been misplaced, with such weak powers they'd be lucky to be picked up by even the least acclaimed hero academies.
"Like I need any more time do decide." One student boldly rose from his seat, bringing his hand down upon the table with a loud thump. "Like any of these wannabees can go where I'm going! Don't make me laugh, but go ahead, shoot for the stars! It'll make it so much more satisfying when I pound you back into the dirt where you belong!" his sparked outrage throughout the room, but despite the groups growing anger, they couldn't deny he was the best among them.
"Katsuki Bakugo! Take your seat!" the teacher demanded.
With a triumphant smirk he sat down, kicking his feet up on his desk. "Just kick back and relax while I take my place at the top. I passed every mock test, the written tests were absolute jokes, if anyone's getting into UA it's gonna be all me baby." Bakugo beamed with a radiant confidence that I couldn't help but be inspired by.
"Midoria, it says here that you're also applying to UA, is this true, or is this some sort of prank? I won't allow insolent jokes run rampant in my class." the teacher sighed.
Bakugo's prideful smile quickly soured into a rageful stare, it was like gazing into the face of death itself.
"Um, uh, I-I," my body began to tremble, an all-consuming dread washed over me. What was I supposed to do? One after another, each of my classmates turned to me. The tension began to boil over, and without hesitation, I blurted out, "T-they removed t-the requirement for a p-power this year." My voiced trembled like a baby deer trying to stand, "I was thinking I c-could be the first person without a quirk to apply." My eyes fell as an uproar of laughter filled the room.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Bakugo said with a laugh that pierced through the chuckles of my colleagues like a knife. "You're even more hopeless you quirkless reject! Why would they want a worthless twerp like you when they can have me?" his palms began to crackle with sparks as the malice in his eyes burned brighter.
My chest began to tighten as tears ran down my face, "I just… always wanted to be a hero, if I really tried, I know I can do it! Even without a quirk." I confidently said, casting my wish out into the open for all to know.
Bakugo's next words made the very air around me chill me to the bone, tearing my dream asunder. Masked by the cackling hyenas I called classmates, he said so plainly, so remorselessly, a single phrase,
"The only way you'd ever become a hero if you prayed to God you'd have a quirk in your next life, and take a swan dive off the roof of the building!" his barbaric laughter made his words all the more damning.
What if he was right? What if there's no hope I'd ever become a hero? I mean, c'mon, most of these students wouldn't even get into a D-list hero school, and I'm trying to get into the most prestigious academy in all of Japan. What's even the point? All these thoughts dominated my mind as my head hit the desk in shame.
"Quiet down class! Eyes forward. The lesson begins now." The teachers bellowing voice quickly silenced the guffawing crowd. "Glad that's over," I thought to myself as I pulled a worn notebook out of my bag and hiding it behind my schoolbooks. My dread dimmed a little as I flipped through my hero notes, page after page of extensive details on all my favorite heroes. Until finally, I got to my favorite page, a drawing of my very own hero suit.
Gazing at the big ears and gigantic smile scribbled into my book, I remembered why I never gave up on my dream. It was because of a single man, a living legend All Might! The worlds most beloved hero, the symbol of peace. Single handedly he dropped crime rates across the world by 50%, as if his very existence discourages even the slightest desire for misdeeds.
Ever since I was a child I wanted to be just like him, in spite of the doctor telling me I'd never acquire a quirk, his smile was all I needed to know that I can do it, that I can prove all the naysayers wrong. I began to smile ear to ear, If All Might can stop the dastardliest villains with a bright smile, why can't I hold a false grin through one measly class?
Suddenly, a shiver ran down my spine as out of the corner of my eye, I saw the same devilish grin that tormented me mere moments ago. It was Bakugo, barely able to contain his chuckling as he witnessed my distraught expression. My clammy hands tried desperately to cover up the pages from his unrelenting gaze, hoping he didn't see what lies on the page, but it was too late, he's seen all that was necessary for what he was plotting after class.
…
The room was empty and the air was still as the sun gently kissed the earth, all our classmates have already left to return to their homes, but I refused to leave without a certain object Bakugo had dangling from his grip, just out of reach. My notebook.
"Aww isn't this cute? Defenseless Izuku having big dreams. Too bad they'll never come true." His mocking laughter echoed through the vacant room.
"I-I'll prove you wrong Kaachan, just you wait till the acceptance exam!" I tried desperately to sound bold and brave, but he could see right through my façade.
"Here's the thing about that," with one deceive twitch of his palms, the notebook burst into flames, "I'm supposed to be the only star rising from this pathetic school, the one who'll rise through the ranks of UA's most skilled students and become the most popular hero of all time and I won't let you bring me down with your pointless attempt to get in." I fell to the ground in an instant. My mind went blank as my notebook went sailing out the window, directly into the koi pond.
"The only worth your dream has is fish food." I felt the color drain from my face as Bakugo gave me a mocking pat on the back as he confidently strolled out of the room, leaving me as isolated as I've ever been.
Why? Why does someone like him get to have so much power just given to him? He's been terrorizing me for years, always distancing me from my peers. People like him don't deserve to call themselves heroes. All I ever wanted to do was be his friend, was that too much to ask?
I trudged to the window, seeing the notebook I've spent hours filling, withering away as the koi danced around it, giving it about as much thought as my human classmates. With the weight of my crushing defeat looming over me, I began the slow and painful walk home.
"Just one foot in front of the other Deku, it's the easiest thing you'll do all day," I said out loud as I departed the hollow halls of the school. Kaachan's cruel words still ringing in my head.
I decided to take one last look at the pond before I left, I honestly don't know why. The once proud book was a tattered mess. I reached for it sluggishly but hesitated, surely what wasn't burnt to ashes by Kaachan was soaked beyond saving. What was the point anymore? Perhaps he was right all along. Despite these thoughts, I fished the drenching book out of the pool and felt it soggily droop in my hands. Just as streams of water leaked from the pages onto the concrete, I began to sob.
"It's just not fair! I've worked harder than anyone else here and I'm still just as worthless as ever!" boiling over with anger, my grip tightened. These crumpled pages in my hands are just lumps of pulp to me now, just as worthless as I am. With a decisive throw, I chucked the ragged mess over the wall.
"No one, not a single damn person cares about me. They don't realize how much their words hurt." My gaze peered upwards to a nearby building, and for a moment, my chaotic thoughts were peaceful. "Maybe Kaachan's right, maybe I should just jump and get it over with. What do I have to lose?" a soft smile of comfort grew on my face, perhaps death is the only release from this living hell.
Suddenly I heard a soft, unmistakable voice quietly beg me not to do it, it was the serene and comforting voice of my mother. my sobs bellowed into streams of tears; in that moment she was all I could think about. I was all she had left after dad disappeared. How could I scold my classmates about cruelty if I was planning on doing something so horrid to her? I aggressively shook my head; I can't let these toxic thoughts persist any longer. No more distractions, its time I go home.
…
"Welcome home Izuku! How was your day at school?" My mother's cheerful voice eased the burden of this horrid day off my shoulders.
"Oh, it was nothing new, the usual." I desperately tried to hide my grim demeanor from her, the last thing I wanted was to worry her.
"I know what you're doing Izuku, I can read you like a book." She looked me dead in the eyes, her delightful voice quickly turned in one more serious then a heart attack, I couldn't help but be a little startled by her sudden shift of tone.
"Well, um, its Kaachan again," I quietly muttered, anxiously trying not to make eye contact.
"Ugh, that Bakugo kid really is no good, I don't know why you keep trying with him. That boy is nothing but trouble." Her scolding was completely justified. For years I've been praising Kaachan for his strength, his resolve, his tenacity, all things I aspired to be. However, no matter how hard I tried, he always hated me.
"Anyway, I know exactly what'll cheer you up, Ill fry up some pork, boil some rice…" before she could finish, I leapt with excitement.
"Katsudon!" I barked with delight. She knew exactly how to turn a no-good day like this into a fun filled evening. All it took to get the ball rolling was a helping of my favorite food. I was bouncing with joy, the suffering of my school day nothing more then an afterthought.
"These vegetables aren't going to dice themselves Hun, come give me a hand." Her sweet voice only made my happiness grow more. her embrace was my greatest comfort, my only solace from the devils that surrounded me in the classroom. This is my sanctuary, the one place I truly feel accepted.
As a single mother, she worked day in and day out, all for my benefit. I was her pride and joy, I adore her. This small apartment was our wonderland, the tribulations of the day would fade into nothingness as we chipped each other's worries away. Sometimes we'd play board games or watch old news reports of All Might's heroic feats; it was never a dull day with her.
"Oh no! I left the. hm… something in the car! Ill be right back." She quickly dashed out the door, and like we were on a sitcom, the pork caught fire. I let out a light chuckle as I took the pan off the burner and the flames gently dissipated.
"Every time." I whispered to myself. Almost like fate, every single time she cooked Katsudon for me, something would end up wrong, but that's why I loved it so much, it always had a different taste.
"Three. Two. One." like clockwork, she burst through the front door.
"Oh, not again! I'm sorry Izuku, I just can't seem to get it right." Her worried sighs quickly switched to hearty laughter, "Ugh, what am I saying?"
"The same thing you do every time, mom. Don't worry, you know I'll still love it." I replied.
"Anyway, while I was grocery shopping and I saw this on the wall and knew you just had to have it." She rolled out a massive banner adorned with the distinctive red, white and blue of the one person I admired as much as her.
"An All Might Poster!" I was squealing like a schoolgirl. The image was iconic, and all too familiar to a fanboy like me, his bold silver age costume was always a fan favorite. The detailing was magnificent, precise down to the last hair. I can only image how much she spent on it.
"I really wanted to save this for your birthday, but I couldn't help mysel-" Tears of joy poured from my eyes as I hugged her so tightly even All Might himself couldn't break my grip.
"T-thank you Momma, I love you so much," I couldn't hold back my tears any longer. All the torment I suffered, all the agony of this wretched day, has been destroyed in a way only she can do. All Might may be the man who inspires me, but she is my true hero.