Deku is an Edel Raid from Elemental Gelade. Toshinori is Here!

Edel Raid Deku

Toshinori's body was aching like no tomorrow. He couldn't complain, though. He had to work hard if he was to become a Hero without a quirk.

He hadn't told anyone about his dream. To become not just a Hero, but something more. He wanted to be what made crying children calm down, what made people safe just by having seen him. He wanted to be a symbol.

Which meant almost tearing his body apart to make it stronger. Which led to him limping on his way home from the gym.

Toshinori stretched his arms out, humming at the satisfying burn in his muscles. It was a good workout today. Every time his muscles ached and his tendons bent, it let him know that he was getting closer to his goal.

He was contemplating what to have for dinner when he was sent flying off his feet. Landing on the ground, he grimaced at the surge of pain through his body. The feeling of another body on top of his had him open his eyes. They almost bugged out at the sight of the girl lying on his chest.

She was about his age, maybe. Her long green hair was wrapped in a long ribbon that covered her forehead. Wide green eyes stared into his own, and at this range he could see the freckles on her cheeks. Her hair was disheveled, and he could see the ribbon starting to loosen.

She squeaked and flung herself off of him. Pushing himself upright, he watched as she scrambled back to her feet. She watched him warily, slowly backing away.

Anything else he might have said faded at the look in her eyes. Instead, all he could say was, "Are you alright?"

The girl trembled, glancing behind her. Toshinori followed her gaze to an alleyway. Where she had come from, maybe?

"I-I'm sorry…" She whispered. "B-But-"

"HEY! THERE SHE IS!"

"GET BACK HERE!"

Her entire body locked up. The look in her eyes was more pronounced than ever, and Toshinori finally recognised it for what it was.

Fear.

Pushing himself to his feet, Toshinori's body moved faster than his brain and grabbed her by the wrist. "Come on!"

She yelped as he dragged her down another alleyway.

"OI! GET BACK HERE!"

"DAMN IT!"

Toshinori cursed in his head as he pulled the girl around a corner. What was he doing? He didn't know this girl. He didn't know why she was being chased. But...he did know that it didn't matter. Because he saw that fear in her eyes. He saw someone that needed help.

How could he be a Hero if he couldn't help one person right in front of him?

"P-Please, stop!" The girl cried as they turned another corner. "Y-You don't need to get involved!"

"They're chasing you, right?" Toshinori yelled, running around another corner. "They don't sound like the sort you want to be caught by!"

"E-Even so, I don't want to get anyone else caught up in all this!"

"What if I want to get involved?"

"W-Why!?" She tugged on his hand, but he didn't let it slow him down. "Why are you butting in? This isn't any of your business!"

And to that, Toshinori looked over his shoulder and grinned. "Meddling where it's none of their business is what Heroes do!"

He saw her stunned face. Her ribbon finally came free, sending her hair flowing behind her. Her beauty was so apparent in that moment that his eyes didn't even notice what the ribbon had been covering on her forehead.

Shaking his head, Toshinori focused on where he was going. Turning another corner, Toshinori stumbled to a halt.

A dead end.

"Damn it!" Toshinori grit his teeth, turning around and backing up, the girl's hand still in his. He could feel her trembling, which increased as their pursuers finally caught up to them.

"Finally," One said, panting lightly. He had dark blue hair and a real nasty look on his face. "You sure gave us the runaround.

A second one stepped forward. He had long white hair and an equally pleasant expression. "Now then, kid, give us the weapon and we might let this go."

"Weapon?" Toshinori's brows furrowed. A whimper from the girl gave him clarity. And then rage. "Weapon!? She's just a girl!"

The blue haired one scoffed. "Girl or not, she's still a weapon. A very valuable one, at that. Our boss paid a pretty penny for that girl."

"Paid!?" Every word they spoke made Toshinori angrier. "Just what do you think this girl is? She's not some item to be purchased or claimed! She's just a human girl!"

She gasped.

The white haired one sighed, shaking his head. "Hey, kid, take a look at her forehead, will you?"

Toshinori narrowed his eyes. He kept his gaze on the two.

The blue haired man scoffed. "You think we need to distract you to take her? You couldn't stop us regardless. Just look, and maybe we don't kill you over this."

Toshinori felt the need to spit in disgust, but held it in. His eyes moved to the girl.

Terrified green eyes looked back at him. It was like she had given up all hope. His eyes stayed on hers for a moment, before making himself look up.

Sitting in her forehead was a green gem. It didn't look like it was glued on, rather it was part of her skin. It looked more beautiful than any diamond or gemstone he had ever seen in his life.

"You see that rock? That shows that she has a rare kind of quirk," the white haired man said. "It's quite an interesting quirk, because it's not entirely unique."

"There have been several records of such quirks," the blue haired man said, his voice gruff. "Gems in various places on the body."

"Is that what your boss wants? The gem?" Toshinori said, glaring at them.

"It's not the gem, you fool," the blue haired man said. "It's what it represents."

"Edel Raid," the other said, "that's what the quirk has been called. It's also what we call the users. Edel Raids possess incredible power, but they can't use any of it themselves. It's a useless quirk, in that regard. But, that power can be harnessed by others."

"We called her a weapon, because that's literally what her quirk makes her. A sword can't swing itself, a gun doesn't pull it's own trigger."

"Edel Raids...what pitiful creatures they are," the white haired man said. "They're utterly useless by themselves. They need a user to make them useful. Otherwise, they're completely powerless."

Toshinori gripped the girl's hand. Despite the vileness of the words, they settled something within Toshinori. He felt a connection with the girl start to form. He knew what it was like, to be powerless. To be looked down on for being born the way you were.

Despite having a quirk, all it did was make her be hunted by scum like this. Unable to defend herself. To make people want to use her.

It made him sick.

"Now, are you going to hand her over? Or are we going to have to get violent?"

In the face of it all, Toshinori turned to the girl. She looked terrified, and really, what else was there to say to that face?

"Don't worry," he said, and grinned with all the confidence he could muster, "I am here."

Her eyes widened, her lips parting.

Looking back to them, Toshinori let go of her hand, pushing her behind him. "Even if I were to hand her over, I doubt you guys would just let me go after telling me all that."

The white haired man gave him a sickening grin. A long blade jutted out of the skin on his wrist. "Smart kid."

"Not smart enough," the other snarked, taking a hammer from his pocket. With a quick tightening of his grip, the hammer grew larger than him. He ran forward and, before Toshinori could react, slammed the head of the hammer into his chest.

Toshinori flew off his feet, colliding with the wall behind him. Faintly, he could hear the girl shriek.

How pathetic. He tried to reassure her, but he was all talk in the end.

"Now, Edel Raid, are you going to come peacefully, or do I have to start removing limbs?" Toshinori saw the white haired man lick his blade. "You don't need your legs to use your quirk."

The girl took a step back, then another, until she was against the wall next to him. She slid down, her whole body trembling.

"Looks like she lost the use of her legs, anyway," the blue haired man said, shouldering his hammer.

"I-I'm-"

"I'm...sorry…" Toshinori coughed. The girl turned to him, tears running down her face. "I-I tried to act all cool, said I was a hero. But I guess all the physical training in the world can't," he coughed again, and the girl's face fell further. "I guess it can't make up for being quirkless, after all."

The white haired man cackled. "You're quirkless? That's hilarious! You're even lower than an Edel Raid!"

"I guess...I can't save anyone…" Toshinori whispered. He looked down. He blinked when the girl placed her hands on his. "H-Huh?" He looked back to her face.

A small smile was on her face, and she shook her head. "Th-Thank you, for trying. But…" She took a deep breath. "This...is the least I can do, after risking your life for me…" She closed her eyes and clasped their hands together, fingers entwined.

A green whirlwind of energy swirled into life around them.

"What the-!?"

On a helpless but pretty night… Soothing and comforting… And prospering on the eyelids...

Toshinori flinched. Was...Was she...chanting in his head?

"Damn it! Stop that!" The white haired man screeched. "If she reacts-!"

Surrounded by the lively and bright fields of heaven…

Toshinori gasped. He was now on his feet, but that wasn't what he was focused on. Instead he was gaping at the large gauntlets on his hands. They looked as if they were made of emeralds. The gauntlet went down to his elbows, where they extended in points, making him look like he had blunt spikes on his elbows. The rest of his arms were surrounded by a blue, ribbon looking substance, swirling around his biceps, but not touching.

"This…"

"This is my quirk," he heard her say, and for a moment it felt as if she was touching his shoulders. "This is our React."

"React…"

"DAMN IT!" The white haired man yelled, stomping his foot. "This is terrible! Do you know what you've done!? If an Edel Raid reacts with someone, they can never react with anyone else! The boss is going to kill us!"

"Calm down," the blue haired man said, but his face was tight. "We just have to kill him and their bond will break. Then anyone can react with her."

The white haired man calmed down. "Oh, yeah, that's right." He leapt forward, arm blade brandished and a wild gleam in his eyes. "DIE!"

"Punch."

"Huh?"

"Punch the air!"

Toshinori was quick to obey. Throwing his fist as hard as he could, he watched, awed, as the air rippled towards the man. The pressure from his punch sent the man flying into the opposite wall, his head slamming against the brick.

"Crap!" The blue haired man grit his teeth. He raised his hammer and squeezed, causing it to grow until it eclipsed the buildings around them. He swung it with a battle cry.

"Catch it."

This time Toshinori didn't hesitate. With a single hand he stopped the gigantic hammer head in place. He didn't even feel the impact. "Holy crap!"

"My gauntlets grant incredible physical ability. In all aspects."

Taking the hint, Toshinori ran forwards. Somehow he didn't trip over from the sheer speed he moved at, and in an instant he was behind the blue haired man. He didn't give the man a chance to gasp before conking him on the head. He crumpled to the floor like wet tissue paper.

Toshinori gaped at his hands. Flexing his fingers. The gauntlets felt like a natural part of his body.

They began to glow, and then he was holding the girl in his arms. Her eyes were closed.

Toshinori's heart dropped. "H-Hey, are you okay?"

The girl yawned, her eyes opening. She smiled a sleepy smile. "I'm," she yawned again, "I'm fine. Reacting makes me sleepy…" she trailed off into another yawn.

Toshinori sighed in relief. "Thank goodness. He thought back on what the crooks were saying before. "But...was it really okay? To react with me? Because…"

She shook her head. "D-Don't worry. I wanted to protect you, like you were…"

Toshinori's head hung. "But I couldn't protect you at all."

"But you tried," she said, and he looked back up, "and that's more than anyone else has done in a long time."

Toshinori's heart stung at the thought.

"B-Besides," she blushed and looked away, "i-if it's you then...I don't mind…"

It was his turn to blush. Clearing his throat, he said, "Um...w-what's your name, by the way?"

She blinked, and for some reason started laughing. "I-I'm sorry," she said, seeing his confusion, "I-I'm not laughing at you. It's just...you helped me, and you didn't even know my name."

Toshinori coughed. "W-Well, a Hero-"

"Protects everyone no matter what, right?" She smiled at his surprise. "I-I know. I-I wanted to be a Hero too, once. But…" she sighed. "I guess it was never meant to be…Oh!" She jumped, and Toshinori nearly dropped her. "I-I just thought!"

"Wh-What?"

"We both want to be Heroes, right? Well, w-what if we became a Hero duo!" She smiled, any trace of exhaustion gone.

"A duo!?"

"Yes! I can't fight by myself, and you-"

Toshinori winced, ready for The Words.

"-are a natural fit for my abilities!"

Toshinori blinked. "Huh?"

"Well, it's amazing that you were able to utilise so much of my power from the get-go! You must be like, some kind of genius or something!" She grinned. Vaguely, Toshinori noted how different she was now, all of a sudden. So...bubbly. "You can even pretend I'm your quirk, or something!"

He thought about it. Frankly, today had been a bit of a wake up call. He'd trained his body so much, but it had been all for nothing. As soon as he got into a dangerous situation, someone with a quirk had taken him out so easily. It wasn't even an enhancement quirk or anything! This could be exactly the chance he needed to reach his dreams.

But…

"I...I don't think I can agree with that."

She froze. "H-Huh? B-But why?"

"I don't want to be one of those people who just uses you as a weapon. And I refuse to treat you like you're not a human being."

Her eyes widened, but then turned ever so soft. "And that," she whispered, "is exactly why I make the offer." She reached up and held her hand to his face. "Honestly, this might be me being selfish, but...I want to help people. I don't want to be used as a weapon or seen as some kind of artifact, or trophy, or even a victim. I was born with these powers, and I never thought I could have a choice in how they were used. So, if someone like you were to wield me...I think that would make me really happy."

She sighed and lowered her hand. "But, I also don't want to be like those people, either. If you really don't want to team up with me...then that's okay. That's your choice" She smiled again. "But...can I still call you my friend?"

Toshinori swallowed. He was pretty sure his face was burning off.

"So, I'll ask you again...partners? Or friends?"

Toshinori knew that his decision was already made.

"How about both?"

And she smiled.

"That would be wonderful."

Extra Scene

The two smiled at each other, relishing in the beginning of a new friendsh-

"YOU DAMN BRATS!"

They gasped and looked up to see the white haired man charging at them, blood trailing down his face.

"SCREW THE BOSS! I'LL KILL YOU BOTH! I BET THAT ROCK WILL FETCH A SMALL FORT-GAH!"

"HAH!"

They gaped as the man was drop kicked into the ground. A white cape billowed as a black-and-white clad figure landed next to the defeated villain. The Hero turned around, a big grin on her face.

"That was a pretty touching moment there, kids. But maybe don't get so lost in each other's eyes next time, eh?"

Now Toshinori knew that his face was on fire.

"Now," the Hero said, moving over to the blue haired man, who had started to stir. She grabbed him by the hair and lifted his head up, staring into his slowly focusing eyes. "How about you tell me a bit about what's going on here?"

The man glared.

"Okay, well," she bonked him on the head, knocking him back out, "I'm sure the police can get you to talk." Walking back over to the two teens, her grin softened. "So, what's going on here, then?"

And that was how...uh...

"Oh, yeah, my name's Midoriya Izumi!"

"Er, Yagi Toshinori!"

...how Yagi Toshinori and Midoriya Izumi met Shimura Nana. And the start of their journey to become heroes.