Izuku suddenly opened his eyes, momentarily forgetting who he was. As the student recollected his identity and purpose, he glanced around to see a very bright room around him, complete with nurse beds and a short old short lady typing away at a computer.
The old lady then approached Izuku and gave him a lollipop, "Here. For you, Midoriya."
"Thanks", Izuku picked up the candy. "You're Recovery Girl, right?"
"Indeed", the nurse smiled. She then picked up her cane and hit Izuku on the head.
"Wha-!"
"That's for being reckless during your training!", the nurse chided. "Your body has already sustained damages back at the entrance exam, hitting that zero-point robot! Don't think I didn't know about that!"
"W-well, sorry for that!", Izuku apologized, the nurse shaking her head.
"Midoriya, there are people out there who care about you", Recovery Girl explained. "If you don't want to scare them, take proper care of yourself. The last thing we want for you is to have permanent injuries!"
"...I understand", the green hero agreed, the nurse nodding in approval. She then went back to her chair and typed away, changing to another question, "If I remember correctly, All Might has told me that you've lost an arm back at the battle exam earlier", the nurse said. "If that's the case, then why do you still have both arms?"
"Well, it's because one of my classmates can restore limbs", Izuku answered, the nurse suddenly stopping.
"...Giorno, was it?", Recovery Girl asked, the student momentarily surprised. "He asked me permission to help heal the other participants back at the Entrance Exam, so I allowed him. I didn't think his Quirk would extend to recovering limbs completely, though."
"Well, it's not exactly a quirk", the student responded. "Giorno calls it a stand."
"A stand...", the nurse mused. "I wonder if he comes from some place where they give abilities a different terminology. He doesn't look like he's from around here, after all."
The short lady then got out of her chair and gave Izuku a nurse pass. "Here you go, Midoriya. You are now free to return to your class. They should still be in Ground Beta."
"Thanks, Recovery Girl! I appreciate your care!", Izuku bowed at the nurse.
"You're welcome, Midoriya", the old lady responded. "Just take better care of yourself next time. And about Giorno, I'll notify Nezu about the revelation, especially since healing abilities like his are rare these days."
Midoriya then left the nurse room and ran back to his class, wanting to regroup with All Might and his classmates.
"Do you think Midoriya will be okay?", asked Koda nervously at the class. Everyone was now waiting at back at the building with the screen, Bakugo looking particularly doubtful.
"From what I've seen about Recovery Girl, Midoriya will be in good hands, kero", Tsuyu responded, the rest of the class nodding in agreement. Despite there being only one nurse in the school, Recovery Girl was a remarkable nurse whose healing quirk was unmatched.
"Still, I don't know how I would be if lost an arm", Kirishima noted. "Losing an arm usually means that your hero career is over."
"I've heard of many heroes retire from losing one of their limbs before", Momo mused. "It was mostly predominant back in the day, back when Quirks were still new."
"Then doesn't that mean that Izuku's future as a hero is already over before it even began?", asked Sero.
The class then saw Izuku arrive, looking sorry for worrying everyone. What surprised everyone was the still had both arms.
"Deku, are you okay?", Uraraka ran up to the green bean worriedly (too close, in his opinion). Bakugo slightly flinched at the mention of that name.
"I-I'm fine, really", Izuku answered. "I'm sorry for saying that I would be fine. I didn't mean to worry everyone like this, honest."
"Geez, Midoriya, you sure are a madman", Kirishima chuckled. "Be more careful next time!"
"I know, I know", the green bean said awkwardly. Recovery Girl was right, there really were people worrying about him, more than he realized.
"Why do you still have your arm?", Todoroki spoke up. "Recovery Girl's abilities don't extend to that limit". Despite the cold student's question being so terse, the class had to ask the same thing.
"Well, Giorno can restore destroyed limbs", Deku pointed at the Italian. "He told me so a few days ago, before we entered U.A for the first time."
Suddenly, a good portion of the class gathered around Giorno, now interested in his abilities. Midoriya could only watch as the class asked him endless questions.
"Well, at least I get to be alone now", Izuku noted to himself, his thought now going out the window once seeing Kacchan approach him.
"Deku...", the blonde began. "...Get out if you don't want any more pain. I'm going to be the number one hero, and no one else will."
"...I-If you're not worried about my wellbeing, t-then don't bother speaking", Izuku looked away, earning a raised eyebrow from his once-friend.
"You...", the blonde spoke before distancing from him, leaving Deku to himself once more.
Meanwhile, the class continued asking questions until Giorno raised his hand, getting everyone to stop talking out of curiosity.
"I am not in the mood to answer useless questions", Giorno spoke up, beginning to move away from everyone else. "I can indeed restore limbs, but that doesn't matter now."
"But your ability is so useful!", Momo explained. "There hasn't been any case of healing quirks being that powerful!"
"That's no reason to suddenly lose interest about Izuku", the Italian retorted before turning his back.
"We were just curious about your quirk", Jiro retorted. "You don't have to be so uptight about it". Eventually the class dissipated and went to their own issues. Giorno was going to correct the girl about Gold Experience being a stand, but he decided not to once All Might arrived.
"All right, zygotes!", the hero began, getting the class' attention. "After discussing the situation with Mr. Aizawa, we have decided to continue the training!"
"Are you sure that's a good idea, kero?", asked the frog girl in worry.
"It's just a matter of not destroying the building!", the hero continued. "This should already be obvious, but heroes should try to cause as less casualties as possible, whether it be bystanders or property! Young Bakugo and Midoriya's actions should be proof of that!"
The class then muttered among themselves, Momo raising her hand.
"Yes, Young Yaoyorozu?", asked All Might.
"Do I still need to identify the first fight?", asked the creation hero.
"Go ahead, Young Yaoyorozu!", the hero raised a thumbs up.
"Well, In that case", the raven-haired girl began. "As you said, the worst thing in this fight was both Katsuki and Midoriya destroying property, which caused damage to one of the participants. Uraraka also didn't help much at first, as she couldn't do anything on her own without her partner's help. With that in mind, if I were to identify the MVP of this fight, then it would be Tenya. He was the only one who acted the most efficient and accurately within this situation."
"I...", began the engine wearer before bowing repeatedly. "I appreciate the praise, Yaoyorozu!"
"Excellent deduction, Young Yaoyorozu!", All Might praised, the rest of the class clapping lightly. After a while, the buff hero continued, "Now onto the second round! This time it's Young Todoroki and Shoji against Young Ojiro and Hagakure! Everyone, to your positions!"
Eventually, Ojiro's team was inside a new room within the destroyed building (recently fixed by Cementos), while Todoroki and his partner were outside.
"Second round begin!", said All Might, both Deku and Bakugo's team looking at the screen this time.
"What should the plan be, Todoroki?", asked Shoji, studying the old building. Shoto simply walked into the building and began spreading ice within the floor, eventually covering the building in ice within an instant. The villain team couldn't do a single thing.
Todoroki didn't say anything, he simply walked inside. The only thing Shoji did was follow him awkwardly. Eventually, their team managed to capture the weapon and win, landing the heroes with another victory.
The class, meanwhile, could only stare in shock. What took Izuku his entire arm and a miracle to win against the villain team only took Todoroki a few seconds. The ice user was truly a force to be reckoned with.
"Todoroki sure is powerful", noted Kirishima, the rest of the class agreeing with him.
"I would say that he didn't cooperate with his partner, but now I don't see a need to", Momo noted. "Todoroki only needed himself to win this round, making him the MVP of this fight."
"Well, yes, that is true...", All Might noted, remembering that Shoto was Endeavor's son. Independence really ran in the Todoroki bloodline, huh?
"Well, on to the next round, then!", the buff hero stated, the next teams preparing for the next round.
The villain team, meanwhile, could not move at all. They were still encased in ice.
"Geez, we didn't stand a chance!", Toru said, shivering from the notable lack of clothing and cold atmosphere.
"Seems so", noted Ojiro.
Eventually, after several rounds, the battle event descended to the last round, with Giorno and Mina being the heroes, and Sato and Koda being the villains.
"So, what's the plan?", asked the pink girl, both her and the Italian outside the building.
"...You're not gonna tease me like usual?", asked Giorno.
"Hey man, I'm a hero in training at the end of the day", the pink girl said. "I only tease people for fun. I'm not always going to bother you."
"I see", the Italian mused. So she wasn't annoying at all times, okay.
"Unless you want me to", she added with a smirk.
"No thanks", the gangster retorted quickly, earning a snicker from the girl. After touching the building wall, the Italian spoke up, "Alright, give me information on your and the opposing team's quirks."
"You don't know?", asked Mina. "It should be in the classroom poster back at our homeroom."
"I didn't get to read that", Giorno responded. "I was busy asking Aizawa something back then."
"Oh, okay", the pink girl said. She then spoke up, "Well, I can create acid from anywhere within my body, and I can control its properties."
"I see...", Giorno mused.
"Sato's quirk allows him to power up if he eats sugar, I think", the acidic girl continued. "And Koda can talk to animals and give them orders. So adorable!"
"Then that renders my animal-creating abilities useless...", the Italian mused.
"You can do what now?", asked Mina.
"Don't worry about it", Giorno answered. He then turned to face his partner and said, "Alright, I think I have a plan."
"What do you think the other team is going to do?", asked Koda at his partner, who was chomping on several sugar cubes. They were now monitoring their fake weapon, this team being the last villain team for today.
"I don't think they can do much", Sato responded. "Mina's quirk might be dangerous, but she'll probably hold back so we'll be fine."
"Oh okay", said Koda with a sigh of relief, now trying to find any nearby bugs to give them orders. "It's more or less Giorno I'm worried about."
"Well, yeah, but he's a healing buddy at most", Sato countered. "He might be strong, but I'm stronger!"
Suddenly, a large vine shot into the room, completely trapping both Koda and the sugar user.
"Wha-?"
Before the animal caller could say anything, a hole was burst open into the room, revealing both Giorno and the grinning acidic user starting at them. Both were atop another vine of similar type.
"If two you don't mind, we'll be taking the weapon now", Mina said, jumping into the room.
"Sato, break the vines!", Koda said at his partner.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you", Giorno raised his hand. "Any damage done unto the vines is done unto you. Resistance is useless."
The villain's team could only watch as Mina happily skipped towards the weapon and touched it, earning both her and Giorno their victory.
"And this round goes to Team E!", All Might said into the communication device. "Congratulations, both of you! Now, everyone, get back to the recording room! This marks the end of our training exam!"
Upon hearing those words, both Giorno and Mina got atop the vines from were they stood from. The vines that captured both Koda and Sato slowly melted until they became nothing more than acid.
"Huh?", asked Koda. "What's this?"
"I can convert anything abiotic into a living organism", Giorno explained. He then pointed at Mina and continued, "I used her acid as material for vines, thus giving me both platforming material and a capturing device.
"You could say my name, you know", the acidic girl crossed her arms.
"Oh, sure", Giorno said. "What's your name again?"
"WHA-", Mina sputtered before laughing. "Geez, you take advantage of a girl without even knowing her name?"
"Please don't phrase it that way", the Italian stated.
"Ashido", the girl said her name, seemingly ignoring her partner's request. "Mina Ashido. Be sure to remember that!"
"Trust me, I won't forget", stated the gangster.
"Wait a moment", Koda interjected, getting the hero team's attention. "How come you have both an organism-creating Quirk and a regenerative one? And what about that other strength-enhancing Quirk you showed yesterday?"
Giorno realized that his classmates didn't know about his abilities. In hindsight, it made sense that people saw him weirdly. In this reality, people at most would only have two Quirks as one, but never more than that. It was obvious why they were curious about him.
"...I'll explain later when we get back to class", Giorno answered, him jumping off the vine he was in. Mina, despite having the same questions, simply followed after him in silence. Eventually, both Sato and the animal caller followed as well.
Spinner was doing the usual work, simply walking about as the police officer he was. He was still trying to decipher Jotaro's words, who didn't show up at work today. Was he finally teaching at that brainwashing school of U.A?
Just when life began being a little more entertaining for him, as well. Dammit.
"There's no way people would actually listen to me", Spinner said to himself, doubting his voice as a person in need. He really didn't want to live as a cockroach anymore, that was for sure. He just wasn't confident in himself to make a difference.
Suddenly, he saw blood splatter at a passing alley. Turning to face the source, he saw a blonde girl happily feasting on a dead corpse of a teen.
"...What?", the lizard simply stood there in shock. The girl simply cocked her head to face him in disinterest.
"Oh, a police officer...", the girl said to herself. She stood up and simply said, "...you didn't see anything", before leaving, jumping above a fence with an impressive height.
Spinner stood there for a moment before tipping his hat down and turning to leave, deciding to leave that body to rot by itself. There was no way in hell he wanted to get caught with a dead corpse.
"...What was I talking about again?" asked the officer to himself.
The class was once again at their homeroom, listening to what Aizawa had to say about today's training. After giving both Bakugo and Izuku a small warning about their behavior, he decided to let the class finally leave, the school nearing its end for today.
"Everyone", Giorno stated, getting the class' attention. "There are a few things I need to clarify about my ability."
Aizawa momentarily raised an eyebrow at the gangster before dismissing it, allowing the class to stay a little longer.
"First off, I am what you guys would consider 'Quirkless'", the Italian began, earning a series of wide eyes from the audience. Bakugo was the one most visibly shocked.
"Quirkless...?", asked Momo in bewilderment.
"You're lying!", said Mineta. "You wouldn't have all those powerful Quirks if you were Quirkless!"
"That's my second point", the Italian continued. "My abilities are not Quirks. What I have is named a stand."
There was silence once more from the class, followed by some small muttering before Kirishima asked, "So what's a stand?"
"It's basically a spirit that gives you an ability", Giorno said. "Mine is named Gold Experience, and it allows me to convert anything abiotic into a living thing. This can go as far as replacing entire limbs."
"So that's why Izuku has both arms", Sero noted.
"Here, I'll even show you", the Italian added, materializing his golden apparition in front of him.
"Aww, it looks so adorable!", Toru approached the stand touch it. Surprisingly, the invisible girl was able to make contact with it.
I'll have to tell Dr. Kujo about this, Giorno mused at the revelation. He then spoke up, "In fact, there should be someone else who has something similar to a stand. Fumikage, I believe."
"That would be me", stood up the bird-like student.
"You should have something called 'Dark Shadow', right?", asked the Italian.
"Indeed", the dark student answered, summoning a bird-like creature from his back. "It's part of my Quirk, Dark Shadow."
The students could only awe as they noted how similar both abilities were, Bakugo eventually turning away and exiting the room. Giorno noticed it, but paid no attention to it. Izuku's certainly did, though, following after him shortly after.
"There he is!"
Izuku eventually found Bakugo outside the school, already set to leaving. Before any of that could happen, the green mop called out, "Kacchan!"
"...Stay away from me, Deku", said the blond in a spiteful tone, not bothering to look back.
"Kacchan, you're misunderstanding everything!", Deku stated. "You were never a rat to me, and I never thought of you as weak!"
"Then why did you hide you Quirk, huh!?", the blond turned to face Izuku, trying to hold back tears. "And don't get the wrong idea, I'm not crying because if you! As if I'll ever do that!"
"Kacchan...", trailed off the green bean.
"And stop calling me 'Kacchan', you piece of shit!", the explosive teen continued. "You, that half-and-half bastard, and even the golden freak have managed to do better than me! Even big-tits said that my actions earlier were stupid! How am I supposed to compete like this, against people with better quirks!?"
"It's not all about quirks, Kacchan", Izuku said, slightly flinching at Bakugo's hateful stare at the word. "Theres always room for improvement, especially if its you doing so!"
"And you're the last person I want to hear talking about quirks!", the blond retorted. "Hiding your quirk like a pussy this entire time, pretending to be weak behind my back... Don't think I'll believe you in anything!"
Deku didn't think of what he said next. His friend stated a lie, and the only thing he thought at that moment was correcting him.
"The quirk's not even mine!"
"...What?"
Too late to take the words back now.
"What time is it?"
The scarf-wearer sat at a park bench, using a long stick to draw out a circle. He then placed the stick in the middle standing up and read its shadow.
It wasn't entirely accurate, but it was the only way he could tell the time without the use of a watch. He remember his mother teaching him this trick while playing, back when he was a kid.
The emerald user could still hear his younger self's laughter ring across his mind.
"Seven thirty...", mused the red-haired adult.
Suddenly, a portal opened up in front of the emerald user, revealing a black fog appearing from inside.
"You..."
"I've come in behalf of Tomura", the fog began explaining. "The reason I've come here is to make you reconsider your choice. We still have a spot open for you."
"I don't have to reconsider anything", stood up the scarf wearer.
"We've also noticed that you don't have anywhere to go", continued speaking the fog. "We can provide you a home, somewhere to be."
"I'll pass", responded the red-haired man. "I don't want to be responsible for a city's destruction."
"We merely plan reforming this society as it should be", the black mist answered. "Do not confuse it with meaningless genocide."
"I've said what I said", stated the emerald user. "If that's the only thing you want to say, then leave me out of this."
"...So be it", finished the fog before turning around and spawning a portal in front of him. He disappeared into the wormhole and left the scarf-wearer on his own.
He still doesn't exactly know where he is, other than knowing that he's somewhere called Musutafu. It sounded like he was in Japan, but at the same time doesn't sound familiar at all. He didn't recall knowing such place existed, especially somewhere where almost everyone had powers. They weren't stands, but rather 'quirks'.
Just what was the meaning of this?
Whatever the case, he knew something bad was approaching, something that everyone else was unaware of. He didn't know where he was, but the least he could do was defend this city. Perhaps something new would pop up then.
Stand users attracted other stand users, after all.
Author's Note: Chapter 9 done! This story sure is exploding in terms of popularity, and I have no other people to thank other than you guys! I'll now take my time to answer everyone's comments and questions:
• TheDilettante: Don't worry, I now have GER's ability understood, and it only took me 9 chapters to do so! I appreciate the comment, though!
Speaking of, the question about which GER ability to use is still in the air! Thanks to everyone who has voted so far! If you don't know what the choices are, here's a recap:
Choice A (accidental ability I made): Giorno needs to be attacked to activate GER's nullification effect.
Choice B (canon ability): Giorno can activate GER's effect whenever he pleases.
A good amount of people have chosen A as their answer so far, yet those who chose B also raise a good point! Keep the votes coming!
• Statess: Theres also a good amount of people who want to combine both choices A and B (which in truth is still B). If you're one of those people, then I'll consider your choice as B!
Also, you're allowed to change choices. Just something I should add.
Also also, it has been stated that All Might's wounds were damaged beyond repair, thus the reason why he still looks the same and still has a little crater.
At least he gets to use his OFA form for a little longer.
• Wintas: Don't worry, we'll get to see Passione in the future! Truth be told, even I'm excited to write about that!
• Empourer: Well give Kak his cherry, just you wait.
Rero rero
• BooplkanThePrimarch: DIO's reappearance has nothing to do with the portals. I've always headcannoned that DIO's children would gain some vampiric power in the future.
Whether DIO's presence in Giorno's consciousness means that he's alive again or is simply the Italian's abilities in a conscious is still up in the air...
• wizzy5682: I actually have established who the one behind the portals is in two of my other fanfics (And they're not a stand user). I could reveal who they are here too, but they won't have an influence in this story, which is why I haven't stated their name in the first place.
If you guys want to hear their name anyways, then don't forget to comment so.
Still, thanks for the suggestion, wizzy!
• Unique Name: I don't plan making ships in this fic, since they're not entirely what I'm focusing on. Your ideas are definitely something worth considering, though!
• TeraBaapBSDK: You bring up a good point about Giorno's name, I haven't actually thought about that. I still have reasons to refer to him as 'GioGio' rather than 'JoJo', though, most notably the nickname's popularity and uniqueness. Also, 'JoJo' would more likely be used to refer to Jotaro and Joseph, and even then they still are referred by their first names rather than 'JoJo' (especially since they've heard DIO give that nickname to Jonathan).
Also, about the beginning being a little lackluster, even I admit that it's not exactly the best. It was the only thing I could have thought of at the time, so I do apologize for that.
Thanks for the feedback, though!
One last thing. People really want not just Diego to appear in this story, but even Yoshikage. I have to say, these are excellent ideas to implement! I'll think of a way to include them both in this story, so look forward to that!
Thanks to everyone who has read up to this point and has provided support, I appreciate every single person who has liked it! (And married people, too). If you have any feedback, questions, and/or theories you want share, then leave it in the comments! Thanks everyone as always and until the next entry, I'll see everyone later!