Chapter 12
Disclaimer: I do not own My Hero Academia, or anything related to it. All properties belong to their respectful owners.
Chapter beta'd by: Kylekatarn77
A.N: The true conclusion to part 1 of the story, I can't wait to hear your thoughts on its direction. There will also be several subtle and not subtle changes, let me know your thoughts on them. My final words to those who read my A.N.'s is this, clarification on three points.
First, I don't hate Mineta or any of the characters. I may dislike him more than others, but not hate, every character makes a story, his part in mine is just smaller and used as foreshadowing. Secondly, Izuku is not Stain, just like he's not All Might. Yes, he was inspired by and wants to help make a society of better Heroes, but the methods are different. As pointed out by a great review if he followed Stain's ideology to the T half the class wouldn't make the cut.
Tenya being the first example, Izuku has taken the view and made it his own to increase the potential of his classmates. He thinks everyone can be a Hero, but not a great one. For him its about the spirit or intention of a Hero behind the goal. Lastly, I know there will be things people don't like or think weren't done perfect, but that's why it's fanfic.
This is my interpretation of how I think events or characters would act given the situations that changed around them. All that said I think this is a subtle but very heavy chapter of what's to come. Enjoy it and I hope to hear all your thoughts.
Regardless of his conflict over the passing grade he received, Izuku was excited for the training camp to come. When he had told Rumi of his test and subsequent fight against All Might, she was intrigued. She had asked him over text what it was like to fight his mentor and idol. At the time he was feeling cheeky and had responded that it felt like fighting her but less impactful.
After he texted her, he finally allowed himself to turn red at the thought of their final spar and almost-kiss. His chest ached every time the thought of her crossed his mind. At first, he had tried to ignore them, but that had instead only made him hyper-focused on them. Mostly he felt regret at his inaction; regardless of what would come from any consequences involved, he wanted answers.
Every thought about Rumi and his feelings for her demanded an answer, but he was conflicted over the images they conjured. Ever since their spar he hadn't stopped wondering what her lips would feel like; would they be soft and concede to his own, or would they be rough and mesh with force? Those thoughts wandered into what she would be like as a kisser, would her rough Hero persona carry over and she would be dominate, or would he see a softer side of her that fell to his desires?
The deeper he allowed himself to imagine, the more those thoughts plagued him. He had grown to accept that he had an appreciation for her muscles, how could he not after he'd had such pristine views of them? Izuku did want to know what they felt like beneath his hands. Would they tense at his touch or relax into the softer whims of her femininity? Her hips had looked like a supple area to firmly rest his hands and he wondered how well they would fit.
The line he drew, and where his thoughts normally crashed his brain, was when he wondered what he hadn't seen. Due to the one shower incident he had a firm image of her burned into his mind, but he had wondered what lay just beneath. He knew her breasts were large, but his mind would fill in the thought by asking how much he could hold in his hand. When he reached that point, he normally turned almost tomato red, and felt utter shame at his thoughts.
His desires and thoughts were normal for a young growing boy his age, he knew that. However, it didn't stop him from thinking the thoughts wrong or impure. He questioned how they would make him look like to his classmates. Would they think he was as bad as Mineta, or was it okay because he didn't act on it or outwardly display the behavior?
That led him to realize that despite the rather revealing nature of some of their costumes, and the closeness to the rest of his class, he didn't have the same thoughts. The only person that brought about such thoughts or caused any reaction to him physically was Rumi. He had the occasional look at the others when he couldn't stop himself or it was right in front of him, but he didn't feel any quickness to his chest like he did for Rumi.
Izuku let out the breath he was holding as he rested on his bed and waited for the time to move forward a bit more. Aizawa had given the class a list of things they would need for the training camp. They each needed at least one or two items, as such Hagakure had suggested they go as a class to the mall and hang out. A time had been agreed upon for the weekend before they headed out, and Izuku was waiting for a bit before he left to meet them.
When the time to leave came Izuku tossed a quick goodbye over his shoulder to Inko, and she wished him well. He was still surprised at the attention he received each time he went out, but eventually he had gotten used to it and accepted it. Over a month had passed, but he was still recognized from the sports festival. Izuku had changed his mindset from being embarrassed by the attention, to viewing it as future training to be a Hero.
If he ever wanted to truly be on or above All Might's level as his successor, then popularity and fame weren't things he could run from. What surprised him most was how quickly he had adapted to it. All kinds of people approached him, from children to adults. Each asked or said something different, but the nervousness and pressure that used to be there had vanished.
From a distance he could see the rest of his class, bar a student or two meeting in the central plaza. The initial plan was to meet up just after lunch around one o'clock, but Mina suggested they arrive early at noon and have a class lunch. After a small discussion and debate, it was agreed to be a clever idea.
"Hey guys, hope I'm not late." Izuku threw in a quick greeting as he said his hellos. They quickly greeted him back as everyone broke into conversation. He noticed Bakugo with Kirishima as he made his way over to them.
"That should only leave Aoyama and Uraraka, and then everyone should be here." Hagakure exclaimed in joy. She had been the one most looking forward to the trip aside from perhaps Mina and Momo. Izuku bumped fists with Katsuki and Kirishima, both had smiles on their faces.
He was still bitter about how the test went, and the weight of All Might's words hung over him. That didn't stop him from analyzing and trying to reshape his dream around the words that had been given to him. There was a thought he had that bothered him, for all his intelligence, Izuku only thought of the current future.
What did he want after he was a Hero? Izuku was so focused on the close future that he hadn't thought of the distant future. He didn't think All Might was unhappy, but from an outside perspective Izuku felt he couldn't live the same way. Yes, he wanted to be a Hero, but did he still want to be a Hero like All Might?
As a fanboy, he had only seen All Might as this great and unreachable goal to always look up at and admire. Recently with his shifted views and new outlook, Izuku saw him as his mentor and guide towards being a better Hero. On the outside though when he looked objectively his beliefs weren't the same.
All Might had once told him during one of their private meetings about his own goals and drive. The true meaning of the Symbol of Peace and the pillar it represented; truthfully, it frightened Izuku. How could Japan- no, how could the world, place so much weight and belief in one person?
He thought deeply on those implications. All Might was near his end, only he and a few other people knew the truth, but it almost brought Izuku to his knees. How long did they have before he could no longer carry out his duties- a year, a month, a week? He knew that time was finite to be sure, but it had never felt so immediate.
What would the world have done if All Might had died against All For One? In the more immediate future, how would the world function when All Might could no longer carry on? Would the world ever know the truths he knew? What would All Might even tell them?
He had so many questions with so few answers. Izuku did know that he and All Might were very different people. Not right this second, but someday Izuku wanted family, children and a wife to love with all his heart. His mother told him so little about his father, and he never truly knew what had happened to the man.
Inko always told him that his father was overseas and working hard to provide them stability. Izuku never fully believed her though, even if that was the truth, he felt it wasn't right. Whether they had a lot of money or not didn't matter, for Izuku would rather have just known his father. He would never tell them, but All Might and Aizawa had in their own ways filled that gap, even Katsuki's father when they were children.
Never had he thought so deeply on it before, but Izuku knew he wanted a family, a big one. The reality of those thoughts brought him back to his goal of being a Hero. He wanted to save people, but why? Was it because he had wanted a Hero to save him from his own problems when he was a child, or did it run deeper?
"Gosh Aoyama, I told you it's not like that!" The sudden shout drew his attention away from his thoughts and towards Yuga and Ochaco. They were the last to arrive and were deep in a conversation. He noticed whatever they discussed had made Ochaco blush a deep red while Yuga seemed to have his normal glint of energy around him.
"You need not lie to yourself mademoiselle. Speak only the truth from your heart and soar free like a bird. Nothing would make you sparkle more I'm sure." Izuku watched as he struck a pose with his hand by his eyes as they finally joined up with the rest of the class. As Mina was most familiar with the mall area, she gave them options on food.
Once they all agreed on pizza the group took off towards the restaurant, Izuku stayed in the middle of the group. He had always gotten along well with everyone, but with his increased confidence it made conversation with the others easy. Izuku fit into each group with ease as he could share or relate to each person on at least some level.
The restaurant came into view and the group was seated into a large party table in the back. A small conversation began over who liked what and how hungry each of them were. After a small debate, it was agreed ten pizzas should be enough to feed them all with extra leftover. While the pizzas cooked, they talked about what they thought would happen at the training camp.
Aizawa had explained to them that it was a special course to increase their abilities but had otherwise told them very little else about it. Tenya gestured wildly as he debated the large need for secrecy. Momo said that with the increased Villain presence it made sense to keep the information exposure to as few people as possible.
"I wonder what we are supposed to learn though, I got some new moves I wanted to test. Should help me be more efficient as I crush you all beneath me." Katsuki spoke out as the others had some humor in their eyes. It was subtle from his mannerisms to tone, but Bakugo was also warming up to the class, and they to him in turn.
Izuku chuckled as conversation continued to flow and the food arrived. He hadn't felt so light or carefree in a long time. Aside from Katsuki, growing up he had no friends. After Bakugo had pulled away, Izuku had no one. Spending time with all his new friends was unlike any other experience he'd had before.
"I'll be right back guys." With the food mostly complete and conversation winding down Izuku excused himself to the restroom.
"I don't want to seem like a gossiper, but what's up with Midoriya? He's been like a totally new person since the work study." Denki said as conversation heated up in whispers.
"No kidding, did you see how he used his Quirk during the race for the first class back? He was crazy fast, and that weird mist like thing. I know he said he made a huge breakthrough, but isn't that to fast?" Debate began to spread amongst them as Kirishima made his comment.
"What about that confidence? He was always so meek, and he stuttered. Izu used to struggle with calling me Tsu, but now it's no problem for him." Asui said her own thought.
"I'm telling you; he had some master student bonding time and she ruined him. Did you see his costume and the moon? Miruko marked him. What about him calling her Rumi too?" Mineta's more perverted comment was ignored in favor of his good points.
"I can see what you mean, I don't think it's just the teacher he had though. Fighting the Hero Killer must have surely had an effect as, well right?" Momo turned her question towards Shoto and Tenya. They looked at one another before Shoto shrugged his shoulders and went first.
"He already had those new moves from what I was able to gather. They weren't as developed as now, but he had already started using them. The confidence was there too, he took control of the situation and his charisma was hard to ignore. Midoriya is like another person now when he enters combat." Shoto gave his thought.
"Todoroki is right, but I think it's not as much of a change as you are making it out to be. Midoriya has always been very smart, strong, and confident. His charisma has also never been in question, I don't think it's ever come up before, but both myself and Uraraka were in his test site for the entrance exam to U.A.
"When everyone else ran from the Zero pointer, Midoriya didn't hesitate for a moment and jumped right in to save Uraraka. I had been so focused on the test and comparing us, but despite the situation I still saw it. Anytime Midoriya stops thinking and acts on pure instinct, there is this drive and fire in his eyes that pulls you in and can't be ignored.
"These traits have always been there, but I believe they were buried under the surface of his nervousness. Now that he has had a teacher in the form of Miruko that was devoted to his training, from what he told me they are surfacing. By having his confidence boosted, Midoriya is finally showing us who he really is." Tenya's thoughts and words left them speechless.
They each thought on what he said and how true it may have been. Conversation again started, but it was low and full of theories as they discussed Midoriya. Before any deeper thoughts could be made though, Katsuki turned his head and scoffed. In the pit of his stomach he felt guilt over the fact he had been a cause of Izuku's quiet and nervous tendencies. The noise also alerted the others that Izuku was on his way back.
Izuku walked up to the table and noticed it was rather quiet, and the others were all looking at him. He tilted his head slightly with a questioning look on his face. After a quick glance across at all of them, he had a light chuckle before he rubbed at the back of his head.
"Did I miss something while I was out?" Once he asked his question, their chatter quickly broke back out and cheer was evident in each of their words. Conversation switched around several topics before it landed back on their Quirks and abilities.
"You really do have clever ideas, Midori. Not only from the race training, but also the Quirk study sessions. I've been thinking of my Quirk really broadly, there is probably a bunch of cool stuff I can do that I just never tried." Mina waved her arms around in excitement as they discussed several ways to use their abilities. Lunch had carried on for around an hour before the group made its way out into the center of the mall.
They agreed to split up and all get the various supplies they each needed and then meet back up at the center in two hours' time. Izuku watched the rest of his class disperse and found interest in the separate ways they went. Despite seeming to be at odds both Uraraka and Aoyama left in the same direction having a conversation. Katsuki was also being trailed by Kirishima and Kaminari.
"Hey, you're that kid who busted himself up and won the U.A. sports festival right? Man, that was so cool, can I get your autograph?" Izuku went to respond with the calmness he had practiced before an arm was strung over his shoulder. The individual was a lot more forward then others had been, but he also had a strange uneasiness about him.
"I can't believe we get to meet again like this, almost makes me wonder about things like fate. Though from your perspective, I suppose we haven't met since the attack on the USJ, have we?" Instantly those words put Izuku into an on-edge state, before he could move though a hand had wrapped around his neck. Every finger but one was touching him, and he turned to the person seeing their face.
"Tomura Shigaraki, what are you doing here?" Izuku wanted to ask more, but the hand on his neck slightly tightened. He grinned at Izuku in utter madness, but he could also see a glint of anger and confusion in his eyes.
"Just act natural, no need to draw any attention this way. Calm down and breath, I only want to talk to you. That's all, don't make a fuss though." The one finger not touching his neck briefly wiggled as if in warning from Shigaraki.
"The instant all five of my fingers make contact, you'll crumble from the neck. In about one minute you would be nothing more than dust." Izuku calmed his breathing as best he could, but his heart still thundered in his chest.
"If you did something like that with so many people around, a Hero would definitely catch you in no time." Izuku tried to look brave as he turned to Tomura in challenge, but he had a maniacal grin in place.
"Without a doubt but look around. All these people around us, anyone of them could use their Quirk at any time. They smile and laugh while all gathering, it's only safe because the laws and rules of society assume, they have morals.
"Everyone is convinced that nothing is wrong, and no one would attack at a moment's notice. Before I'm caught how many people do you think I could kill? 20… no, maybe closer to 30?" His words completely stopped Izuku in his place as his heartbeat ferociously increased, but he calmed his breath. Once he did, he steadied himself and returned the question with one of his own.
"What do you want to talk about?" The evil grin on Shigaraki's face was disheartening to Izuku as he was forced to follow his flow.
"That was the right choice. Since we've got this free time why don't we have a sit for our chat?" Izuku was pulled along to a planter box with a built-in cement base to sit on. They were still in the middle of the mall, but he noticed that the area around them was slightly sparse of people in comparison.
"A lot of things piss me off, but the biggest one right now is that damn Hero Killer." Tomura said.
"He's not with your League of Villains'?" Izuku asked.
"I never said anything like that, but that's what the news says. Pisses me off, that's the problem. Everyone's talking about the Hero Killer, it's like my attack on U.A. at the USJ and the Nomus' from Hosu don't matter. He took all that attention, and no one is looking at me.
"Why, aren't we doing the same thing? All he did was just destroy what he didn't like right? How is that any different from what I'm doing? Tell me Midoriya, what do you think the difference between us is?" Izuku coughed slightly at the increased pressure on his neck before he thought about how to best answer that question.
"What's the difference? I can't understand or agree with you and who you are. For the Hero Killer I don't agree with his methods, but I do understand his beliefs. In a twist of irony almost, for both myself and the Hero Killer, it all started with All Might for us.
"When I encountered him, at the very least he wasn't destroying just because he wanted to. He didn't give up at the drop of a hat with the first inconvenience like you did. Despite what he did being wrong he was living up to his ideals and what they meant to him." He turned to see Shigaraki's red eyes open and wide.
Regardless of the situation, or perhaps because of it, he noted that Rumi's eyes were a far more appealing and almost warm red. Shigaraki's were instead a cold and lifeless crimson red that almost seemed like blood.
"Ahhhhhh, I feel like a weight has been lifted from my chest. The dots have finally connected. Why I hate all of you so much. Everything's all because of All Might." The wide and empty smile that stretched across Tomura's cracked lips made Izuku shiver.
"With everything said I ended up in the same place anyways, but it's so much clearer. Why was I worrying so much? All these people laugh and smile without a care, and it's all because All Might laughs and smiles without a care." Izuku struggled slightly to breath as he felt like his windpipe was being crushed.
"It's all because All Might smiles and acts like there isn't a person in the world he can't save. I'm so glad we had this talk Midoriya, it's great, I don't have to do anything differently. Whoops now, don't struggle, or do you want to die?" The pressure on Izuku's neck increased greatly, before it was suddenly gone, and he gasped down air.
"Time for me to leave. If you try to follow, I'll get angry. The next time we meet will be when I've decided to kill you." Izuku rubbed his throat and gathered air without abandon as he called out.
"Wait Shigaraki! What is All For One after?" He took deep breaths as he tried to analyze the situation. Tomura had stopped only a few feet in front of him and had his back turned. No one was near him, and his guard was down.
'Just think calmly, he said he needed all five fingers to be in contact for his Quirk to work. Think, what's the best thing to do in this situation, I can't allow him to get away! I can't act rashly, but as long as he doesn't touch anything it should be fine right?' Izuku took a deep breath and felt One For All activating quietly.
"Who knows? That geezer always speaks in riddles." With Tomura's attention fully off Izuku, he shot straight at him using 15% Full Cowl. It hurt and ached slightly, but he couldn't waste the chance before him. Izuku shot out several tendrils of Blackwhip that wrapped around Shigaraki and practically mummified him.
From the moment he had seen the previous user of Blackwhip use it in his vision, he knew they looked different. When Izuku used it, the ability looked almost like a mist or gas, but the other users had seemed stickier almost like glue. With that thought running through his head, he tried to make the tendrils as thick and dense as possible.
He paid the most attention to the one wrapped just below Shigaraki's waist that had his hands crushed against his thighs. Izuku wouldn't let him touch anyone or anything, and as he fell to his knees bound, his hands laid flat against his legs. If he wanted to escape at all he would have to sacrifice his legs.
As Izuku left his face open so he could breathe, insults and curses came out in quick fashion as people around them looked on in terror. He was slightly disheartened to see they were looking at him in fear, but he also understood. Whether it would be considered self-defense or not later, in these people's eyes Izuku was the one breaking the law.
"Call the police! I have apprehended a Villain and need immediate assistance from the closest Heroes. This is the highest priority!" Izuku would have used his own phone to call All Might himself given the situation, but he was far too focused on keeping Tomura locked down.
The situation quickly escalated and then resolved itself as the entire mall was shut down and then evacuated. Shigaraki had quickly been placed inside an iron maiden with Quirk suppressors wrapped around him. Izuku was escorted to the police station where the situation was quickly explained. He had been transferred directly over to Tsukauchi, once he heard Izuku's name.
All Might's friend was quick to tell him he should feel proud, and that given the circumstances he wasn't in any trouble for his Quirk usage. A breath of relief came out of Izuku as he quickly after told the detective everything he knew. Once he confirmed they were in a safe room and couldn't be overheard he even went into detail about what he had learned of All For One.
When their discussion ended Izuku was let out and briefly ran into All Might. They had exchanged few words, and he was overly worried, but All Might had pulled his head to his chest while telling him how proud he was. Stunned slightly by the moment he hugged All Might back and a few tears leaked out as he told his mentor how scarred he'd been.
Shortly after he was led to his mother. Despite the crazy pace of the situation, Izuku still had the presence of mind to ask to be allowed to call her. He had told her that he was all right, but that he had to answer some questions regarding the situation he had been involved in. She had been understandably distraught, but also understanding, after all she finally had her Izuku back in her own words.
A few tears still leaked from her eyes, and he noticed slightly red marks around them, but her smile was wide. He calmly walked over to her and wrapped her in a hug as she emitted a slight sob and crushed him to her.
"My baby boy, you're going to give me a heart attack. I know I said I would try to worry less, but you aren't making this easy on me." Izuku had a small sobbing laugh of his own as he repeated All Might's own action and used his hand to hold her head tight to him.
"I know, but I'm okay I promise. The situation was serious, and I had to act, but I'm fine. I love you mom, and I did promise to make you worry less. This should be a good start, right? I'm not hurt, and I caught a Villain, even if he was caught off guard." Izuku mumbled the last bit to himself, still on edge from the event.
He quickly took his mother's hand and they went to the police car waiting to take them home. Izuku had put a dent in the Villain's plans, but deep down something nagged at him that said it was only just the beginning.
"This is definitely a very good situation we have found ourselves in All Might. But we also don't know how All For One will react to this. We'll hopefully come to learn more as we interrogate Shigaraki, but we still don't know his exact connection to the League. He could very well start making moves again, so we need to be prepared." Tsukauchi said.
"I agree, for the moment it's a wait and see situation, but we are on the edge of change, I can feel it. This time for sure, I will stop him!" All Might briefly puffed up to emphasize his point. The detective agreed with him and took off his hat to hold to his chest.
"Let's properly arrest him this time and make sure he stays locked away." The two traded a few more words before they went their own way.
That night, news had quickly spread of the arrest of the supposed leader of the League of Villains'. One theory quickly popped up and spread like a wildfire, however. No one knew from where or how the idea had come up, but by the next morning everyone believed Shigaraki was a figurehead and the real threat was still yet to be seen.
Deep in the darkness, where none dared to step, a slow but methodical beeping of machines was heard. Only one sound disturbed the beeping, a slight chattering noise from various screens. The quiet atmosphere was broken as slight steps were heard approaching and a chair squeaked as it turned. Sitting in the chair was a man horribly disfigured, who was attached to all the beeping machines.
"Are you sure this is alright master? He was your star creation, right?" The bespectacled figure asked of the man sitting calmly. He huffed slightly as a rough breath came to him.
"It truly is a shame that Hyper Regeneration wasn't any use after my wounds had already healed. Time is ever our friend though doctor. But, is Tomura worthy? I had intended to give him everything, he was born twisted enough to be the next Me after all.
"Lately though I believe I may have been wrong. Some things still escape even me it would seem. Truly it would have been the ultimate shock to finally break All Might, then again perhaps there can only be one true ultimate evil. Shigaraki's growth has been quite slow and disappointing recently, the wasted potential from the Hero Killer was unacceptable.
"All these new recruits as well are simply waiting on our doorstep to be used properly. So much potential wasted, it might just be time for me to step back out. We cannot act with our full force yet- we still need the right Quirk, but the League might not be wasted just yet. An era of change is coming, and I know just the way to shake the public's belief in their precious Heroes."
A.N: Hope the chapter was good and everything to come is tugging at the back of your mind. As is evident, things are picking up and changing. For the reviewer worried about Izuku and his struggles, he was only reflecting on his growth, because he was distraught of the difference in speed of why he was growing. Now that his reasons and goals are being set he will no longer have that problem.
Everything is about him realizing the kind of Hero he wants to be, just like the original manga. Now that he's on the path he wants as of this chapter and those to come you will see him agonize and stress far less over his power. Also, if you enjoy my work and feel like supporting me please check out my Ko-fi under the same name holliswriting.
