'-and by touching objects, she can of course revert their momentum and halt them but I wonder if-'

Izuku was roused from his thoughts when a steaming bowl was placed before him. Pro Heroine Velocity would have to wait for more analysis on her Quirk, it was now time to eat.

Inko smiled fondly at her son as he muttered his thanks and began shovelling food inside his mouth, too used to his behaviour to mind it. Instead she started to eat herself, though with far more delicacy.

"Going somewhere today, Izuku, honey?" She asked in between bites.

He glanced at her and nodded eagerly, green locks bouncing.

"Yeah. I've gotta go grab a copy of Thunderspike's new autobiography from the library and maybe take a look at a couple of quirk development books while I'm there. It might help out with my own," he replied.

Though he'd already scoured through the pages of most of them over the years - desperately seeking some hint there could be such a power lying dormant within him, a sign that he wasn't truly Quirkless - it was possible he'd missed something vital that might help him gain control over One For All.

"Well that's fine, but we're running low on a few things. Would you mind buying some supplies while you're out?" His mother requested.

He finished his meal quickly, grabbing his bag and slinging it over his shoulder.

"Sure thing, mom. Just text me what you need and I'll get it on my way back - love you," he said, hugging her quickly before dashing off.

Inko watched him go and sighed to herself in mild exasperation. Her boy was certainly growing up fast but he was still the same as he'd ever been.

Maybe she'd have another bowl.

The library had proved a failure once again. Though there was plenty of information on Quirk development in children, none of it was useful to someone who'd been given a Quirk in his teens. It wasn't a surprise but disappointment niggled at him. At least he'd gotten his book; Lightning Fast.

The streets were full of people now, each making their way through the day just like he was. A few of the more interesting mutant-types caught his eye and he had to force himself to not stare and analyse their possible Quirks and effects. It was just all so fascinating!

Instead Izuku shook his head in an attempt to control himself, opening his phone to check the text from his mother again. Her list was mainly a request for groceries and other household products, just enough for the pair of them to live on for the next few days until she could go shopping later on.

It didn't look like anything he needed to go out of his way to get, at least. He knew there was a small grocery store nearby he could get most, if not all, of it from and then hurry home to catch the rerun of old Hero fights he'd been meaning to watch.

It wasn't a long trip and as he entered the shop he could see the proprietor sleepily standing behind a counter, magazine less-than-discreetly tucked away to read in between customers.

He stood aside, the door held open to allow a young mother and her daughter to exit and she gave him a thankful smile as she pulled her child along. It didn't seem like anyone else was in the shop at the moment, but then it was Sunday afternoon.

Muttering to himself, he paced up and down as he looked for what he needed. Where to start? Right, some apples. Okay, now what?

Broccoli, check. That was another one down. And there was the cabbage too, right next to it. It seemed firm and green, great. What else was on the list? Ah yes, cucumber.

'Hmm. This one is cheaper but closer to the sell-by date. We might not be eating it soon, so maybe it would be better to get the fresher one instead? But then- eh?'

"Best give me the money, old man, I won't ask you twice!" A voice shouted angrily.

His head shot up. There was no one else around except for - over by the counter! A tall, pale man dressed in a white pinstriped suit stood, his fist planted against the wooden top. In one hand held a small, dark baton that he waved menacingly. The cashier, an elderly gentleman, cowered behind it as the thug berated him.

Izuku's eyes narrowed as watched the pair. A robbery at such a tiny store on a Sunday afternoon. What was the point of that? Villains… they were so confusing to him. What was wrong with just getting a normal job?

The robber turned away from the cashier as the older man dutifully began putting the contents of the cash register into a bag and scanned the store.

Izuku ducked down, hoping his green hair would blend in amongst all the vegetables. For a brief moment he imagined himself stepping in, laying the fiend low with a single blow from One For All and taking his first step towards becoming Number One.

It was a fleeting dream, he knew, as much as standing by and doing nothing grated at him. Unlicensed Quirk usage would get him in seriously hot water and it was likely there was no real danger here. Surely a Hero would appear any moment and begin dispensing justice to the villain.

It just wouldn't be him doing it.

All he had to do was sneak away and hopefully get to see the action from a safe distance. Maybe it'd be a Hero he knew. Perhaps even All Might!

"Heheh, what've we got here?" A voice chuckled nastily, freezing him in place. "A little boy trying to run away? Maybe hoping to alert the police? Or a Hero?"

Izuku looked up to see the villain smirking at him, pale eyes gleaming with malice.

"You'll make for good insurance in case any do-gooders come running," the robber sneered, reaching out for him with one hand while holding the baton threateningly in the other. "Best come quietly, boy, else things'll get ugly."

Shit. He hadn't been stealthy enough. Maybe it was the bright orange shirt he was wearing.

And now he was going to be held hostage, just like before with the Sludge Villain! And All Might probably wouldn't be here to save him this time, and he'd surely be forced to help the villain escape and forever tarnish his reputation as a would-be Hero.

But thinking of his mentor fuelled his determination. He was the holder of One For All now, a Hero in the making! There was no way he could let himself be restrained by some two-bit thief. His classmates would never let him live it down. Especially Kacchan, who would probably laugh himself sick or something.

Kacchan... what would his childhood friend do if it were him in this situation? Probably immediately leap forward and blow the guy's face off with his Quirk while screaming "DIIIIIIIIIE!" No, this required more subtle and tactful methods.

'But how do I defend myself without getting into trouble for it? There's got to be a way. Do I just run for it? Or… maybe I don't need to...'

It was possible he didn't even have to fight his way out after all. A flash of power to show he wasn't an easy mark and the villain would probably run away, right? If he looked like a threat, the man might escape to seek safer prey elsewhere. If he was robbing a place like this then there was no way the guy had any real strength.

Glaring up at his would-be captor, Izuku focused hard. The power of One For All flared, red lines rising across his right arm as he readied his fists.

The villain froze in surprise. Perfect. Faced with a potential threat instead of a hapless victim, surely the man would think twice. It might be enough to delay him until help could arrive.

"I don't think so. M-maybe it's you who should come quietly," Izuku demanded, emboldened by the fear on the villain's face. "I'm a Hero, after all!"

"Heheh. I see, got a backbone after all, huh? Guess I misjudged ya, didn't think ya were anything but a weakling. Alright then… have it your way, boy!" The robber exclaimed, taking a step backwards.

Izuku's heart began to beat even faster. Was the villain preparing to run? Maybe the bluff had worked! At the first sign of resistance the robber had folded like a house of cards. He was a genius.

A sharp pain erupted in his back as something struck him. His eyes widened in shock at the sudden injury but he had no time to figure out what had hit him, more attacks were coming his way.

"We coulda done this the easy way, ya know? But ya wanted to play the Hero!" The villain's voice echoed behind him as turned.

There stood the villain, but now he was a dark black colour, both in skin and in suit, his form almost shadowy in appearance.

'More than one of them? I never saw him!' He thought, readying his arms to face off this new threat. 'Was he just hidden, or maybe some kind of clone Quirk?'

More blows came from behind as the pale villain joined in, and Izuku was being pummelled on both sides. His bluff had failed completely - the villain had chosen fight over flight and he had no way of protecting himself.

"Bet you're wishin' you'd just shut up and come along now, heheh. Name's Crowd. Know why?" The pale villain asked.

Izuku might have answered had he not just received a nasty whack to the gut that knocked him to the ground and left him gasping for air. The villain seemed unbothered by his silence though.

"Might be 'cause there's three of us, Crowd," another voice answered.

Grey hands reached out and grasped Izuku by the arms, holding the teen in place as the pair alternated their attacks on him.

"Right you are, Crowd," the dark Crowd agreed, delivering another strike to Izuku's cheek.

Izuku grunted, pain wracking his body. His soul writhed at the injustice of being forced to stand still and take a beating like he was a kid in the playground again, but how could he free himself?

He was trapped - even if he used One For All, the store would be damaged, his bones would break and his position at UA could even come under threat. There was no winning this one. He'd well and truly fucked it all up. Hopefully once he was unconscious they'd leave him be. Maybe he wouldn't suffer any permanent damage.

But mercifully, the attacks soon stopped. Dark Crowd laughed at the bruises and blood spattered across his face and dripping from his nose.

"Had enough? Heheh, you sure took a beatin' there. Think you'll come quietly now though. Old man, where's that fuckin' money?!" Pale Crowd demanded, turning to the cashier.

Only to find the elderly man had run away while the villain had been beating Izuku. Instead someone else had entered the store.

"Sorry fellas, it's closing time," was the only answer he got.

Izuku's vision was blurry, but he stiffly raised his head to stare at this newcomer. Long white ears and longer white hair contrasted against her tanned skin. Fierce red eyes blazed with hunger for battle as she stared down her opponents.

His heart soared - though he'd never seen her in person before, he'd recognise the Rabbit Heroine Mirko anywhere. He made sure to catch every bit of news on her almost as religiously as he did for All Might.

'But why is she here? This isn't her usual patch at all,' Izuku thought as the woman stalked forward. 'She's usually found in Hiroshima.'

"Oh great," muttered one of the Crowds. "You fuckin' held us up, boy. Now we gotta deal with this bitch as well as you."

"Yeah, nice going," Grey Crowd said, punching him viciously across the face again as punishment.

"Let the kid go," Mirko demanded. "And turn yourselves in. It'll be easier on you."

"Yeah? I've a better idea; how about you get on your knees and blow me and maybe we won't choke him to death," Pale Crowd replied, a vulgar grin on his face.

The grey arms holding him in place shifted, a hand beginning to wrap around his throat and squeeze.

"Me too, while you're at it," said Dark Crowd. "Hell, I'm sure you could please all three of us at once, bunny girl."

The trio laughed in unison as Izuku struggled weakly. His eyes never left the hero, mesmerised by the snarl that arose on her face.

"I'm glad you said that," she spoke icily. "It makes my job so much easier."

There was a rush of air.

It had to have been Mirko, but he'd blinked and missed it so he had no way of being sure. All he did know for certain was that he was no longer being strangled and Grey Crowd was now lodged face-first inside a box of watermelons.

The other two looked blankly at their fallen comrade and then whirled on white-haired Heroine, surging rage clear on their faces.

"You fucking bitch, you'll regret that!" Pale Crowd howled, rushing her as the other one pulled his clone free.

Mirko weaved and dodged the haphazard swipes with effortless grace. Toned legs scythed through the air, her metal-shod heel smashing into his sternum and sending him skidding across the floor.

"There's three of us and one of you," growled Grey Crowd, spitting out a chunk of watermelon. "Don't seem like good odds."

"Oh, I know. It really isn't fair," Mirko agreed. "If only there were more of you small fry, I might actually have fun."

The trio lunged in unison, arms outstretched to grapple her into submission. Strong thighs clenched as Mirko leaped, narrowly missing the ceiling as she sailed over their heads and landed in front of Izuku.

She spared him a glance but quickly returned to watching her foes as they smashed into each other, unprepared for the sudden jump.

"You doin' okay, kid?" She asked. "Looked like a nasty hit there."

Izuku gazed up at her, feeling like a boneless mess. Fear and awe and frustration and shock and hope all bubbled away inside him and it seemed like there wasn't an inch of him that didn't cry out in pain.

But despite it all he knew he was safe.

"Better now you're here, Miss Mirko," he mumbled through bloodied lips, barely audible in his dazed state.

Her long ears picked up the words easily.

"Cute," she snorted. "Well, you're conscious at least, that's good enough for now."

The Crowds had picked themselves up, glaring at her.

"Maybe we should just run," Dark Crowd said to his brothers. "There might be more Heroes on the way."

"No. We fight," Pale Crowd commanded. "She can't hold out forever. We'll take her down and show her what she gets for messing with us."

"Oh, if I had a yen for every villain who said that. Come on then," Mirko replied, standing her ground. "I'm waiting."

Once more they charged her but now they were cautious. No longer heedlessly delivering their attacks wild and uncoordinated, each Crowd now struck in succession and unleashed a barrage of blows onto the brown-skinned Heroine.

She weathered the storm as though it was rain upon rock. A savage smile pulled at her lips, revealing her sharp white teeth as she deflected each hit, sometimes ducking under uppercuts and sidestepping baton-thrusts.

From his heap on the floor below Izuku watched the four as they battled, utterly enraptured by her fluid, graceful form evading their increasingly enraged strikes. He'd seen Mirko battle on a screen many times, but in person… it was breathtaking.

The strain of all their fruitless attacks grew too much and mid-swing the grey Crowd halted, falling to his knees and then suddenly vanishing into grey fog, leaving the pale and dark Crowds to stare angrily at Mirko, breathing hard.

"Oops. Now there's only two of you," Mirko laughed.

"Now can we leave?" Dark Crowd demanded.

Pale Crowd didn't answer. Instead he rushed forward yet again. Mirko readied herself to strike him down, but it hadn't been her he was aiming at.

It was Izuku.

Hurtling past the Rabbit Heroine, he pounced at the teen on the ground, fist cocked back in an insensate frenzy and baton at the ready. The green-haired boy watched the man bear down on him, his eyes wide with surprise.

"Oh no you don't!" Mirko roared, grabbing the villain by the ankle. "Your fight's with me!"

The tip of his baton barely brushed against Izuku's nose as the man was hauled back. He struggled, turning to free himself.

"Crowd! Help me!" He demanded of his clone.

The Dark Crowd nodded, stepping forth to aid his progenitor, but it was too late.

Mirko was straddling his chest, her face marred by unadulterated fury, and began to lay into Pale Crowd with her fists. Each punch made the man shudder in agony as the rabbit-eared woman wailed away on him unabating.

'Holy shit, she might just kill him!'

Izuku saw how the dark Crowd too froze in place, sinking to his knees and disappearing into black smoke, but Mirko didn't notice it and didn't stop her assault.

"Miss Mirko. Mirko! He's unconscious!" He shouted. "Stop!"

Her head shot up, glaring at Izuku with bloodlust before she realised who he was. He'd seen the same stare many times from Kacchan's red eyes but never from the Hero. It was bloodchilling but he couldn't bring himself to be afraid of her in spite of it.

Then she looked down at the man she had been punching and saw the scarlet fluid that now coated her white gloves. Rage no longer driving her, Mirko let his torso go and he dropped to the floor, limp and battered.

"Uh, yeah. I was just… making sure," she said uneasily. "Could have been playing possum."

"R-right…" Izuku agreed, eyeing her a little warily. "Um. Thank you. F-for saving me."

"It's nothing. Just my job, don't sweat it. You're still alright, right?" She muttered, facing creasing in frustration, sneering down at the defeated villain underneath her.

"Fuck, shouldn't go overboard, they'll have my ass for sure this time," she murmured, disappointed by her berserk moment.

"I- I'm fine. And - he was going to attack me. He did attack me. You did the right thing. If anyone asks, I'll tell them it was my fault," Izuku declared. "You don't deserve to be punished because of me, Miss Mirko."

There was no way he could let such an important Hero suffer because he'd been too stupid to keep his mouth shut. The thought made him want to cry, even more than the pain, but he barely held it in.

Mirko sighed, hauling herself off of the unconscious body.

"That's sweet and all, kid, but it doesn't work that way," she muttered. "A Hero's gotta be heroic, no matter what. Ah, whatever, it'll probably just be a fine or some other bullshit anyway - don't worry about me."

She walked over to him, and now with the heat of battle no longer upon them, Izuku could finally see for real just how pretty the rabbit-eared heroine was up close. Her long eyelashes fluttered gently as she looked him over critically, formerly-blazing red eyes now merely fierce as they analysed his wounds.

'It's Mirko! Here! Looking after me!' He squealed internally, the reality of the situation settling in. 'First All Might, and now this? Maybe all those years of bullying and physical attacks were actually worth it.'

Good things did come to those who waited, it seemed.

"Well, I'm not a doctor but I'd say you'll live... probably, ahaha... just how old are you anyway, kid?" Mirko asked him, carefully gripping his chin with two fingers while she inspected a rapidly-forming bruise.

It was an unexpectedly tender gesture from the woman who'd been beating a villain into unconsciousness seconds prior. Not to mention extremely dangerous to his young heart, which felt like it was beating at superspeed.

"I-I'm, uh, f-fifteen, Miss Mirko."

She frowned, leaving him be with a final brush of her hand over his green locks. A wave of longing washed over him as she moved away, but he shook it aside. A brief click of disgust escaped her, biting her lip softly.

"Fifteen, huh. What a piece of shit," she directed her scorn at the fallen foe. "Just a teen in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"I-it wasn't that bad. After all, I want to be a Hero myself. This is just, I dunno, additional training, right?" Izuku said. "I barely feel it anyway."

That was a lie, but he had to at least try to look cool in front of her.

This revelation surprised Mirko, who regarded him thoughtfully.

"Hmm. Guess you're attending a Hero school then?" She asked rhetorically.

"Um, yes, I am. I just started at UA High, actually," Izuku admitted.

Mirko's nose twitched.

"That so? Lucky you then. Not all of us get to go to such fancy places. Good thing you never used your Quirk here, they don't take kindly to that from prospective Heroes," she muttered.

Izuku stared at her, remembering how he'd once read she'd been expelled from her school for unauthorised Quirk usage and fighting. She knew the dangers of flaunting the rules well indeed and was one of the few very high-ranking Pro Heroes who hadn't gone to UA or Shiketsu for their Hero school. Maybe her record had been the reason why.

Each blow he'd suffered hurt, but nothing would have been more painful than losing his spot at UA, the goal he'd sought for so long.

Mirko turned away and fished out a communicator from somewhere but Izuku suddenly found himself too distracted to pay attention to what she was saying, instead staring intently at the incredible sight in front of him.

Namely, Mirko's backside.

Was that tail a part of her costume? Or was it real, like her ears? It was a hot topic of debate amongst certain fans and indeed Izuku had contemplated the idea privately himself a few times. No one seemed to know and she'd never said.

He couldn't even tell up close. For a moment, he was certain it had twitched but maybe it was just his eyes playing tricks on him. The desire to reach out and touch it was almost overwhelming.

The sound of a throat clearing caught his attention, and his head whipped up to see Mirko had turned and was looking at him in amusement.

"I know, I do have one hell of an ass," she boasted. "But I'm afraid I can't hang around to let you ogle it all day, I've got other places to be."

He flushed a deep red.

"Nononono, I was-! It's your tail, I swear, I just wondered-" Izuku refuted, utterly embarrassed.

Mirko laughed, unbothered.

"Alright kid. Well, you'll have to go on wondering about that, y'know?" She winked. "I hate to just dip, but I'm gonna go drop this guy off - plus some cops will be coming to look at the place and get a statement from you as well, I expect. Maybe get you to a doc, I think you kinda need one."

He watched her begin to haul Crowd onto her shoulder and prepare to leave. No, no, she couldn't leave yet!

He almost reached out for her, but held himself in check, remembering his first meeting with All Might. There was no need to get grabby.

"Um, wait, Miss Mirko. I-if you don't mind, er, could I trouble you for an autograph? I-I know you've already done a lot for me, but, well, I'm such a huge fan…" He asked, trailing off as Mirko fixed him with a flat stare.

Her lips pursed but she nodded once.

"I suppose, if you make it quick. What's your name, kid?" She asked and he beamed.

"Midoriya. Izuku Midoriya," he responded, pulling a pen and pad from his thankfully-intact backpack, and proffering them to the Heroine.

"To Midoriya, huh? Here ya go, hold onto that now, hey? I don't give those out often," Mirko said, scratching her name into the paper.

"I'll treasure it," he swore solemnly as he beheld the autograph.

Despite the urgency she'd professed, Mirko had still taken the time to draw a tiny rabbit next to their names. It was nothing more than a rough doodle but nonetheless now one of the most precious things he owned.

"See ya, Midoriya," she waved one hand, the other holding onto a man significantly larger than her with the ease of a professional. "Maybe if you make it and become a Pro like me we'll meet again."

He fervently hoped so.

Izuku watched her bounce away, admiring the muscle that rippled across her caramel skin. And then he realised he was now alone in a ruined shop, still in significant pain, he'd probably miss the show he'd wanted to watch, he had to talk to the police and worst of all - his mother and his school had to be told he'd been involved in a villain attack.

And he didn't even have the groceries he was supposed to get to appease her with.

'That's twice now villains have attacked me in such a short time. And somehow each one resulted in the best days of my life,' He thought to himself.

But such was the life of a Hero, he mused. Danger and excitement was what he'd signed up for, after all. Still, he had to admit he was kind of hoping it'd be a bit more of a smooth ride from here on out.

What were the chances that he'd get caught up in another villain attack soon, anyway? Probably zero.