Chapter 1: First Meeting
Izuku Midoriya was rattled. So far his day has been nothing but traumatic. The boy had been attacked by a sludge villain, saved by his idol All Might, caused said hero to drop the bottle containing the villain, had been told by All Might that being a hero without a quirk is nearly impossible and survived a second attack of the sludge villain on his friend-turned-bully Katsuki Bakugou. Izuku's mind was busy trying to comprehend the day he had experienced. All Might's words still echoed in his mind. He said something about being pathetic. Izuku thought frowning. He didn't even think about All Might telling him off for trying to be a hero without a quirk. Why would All Might say that he is pathetic? He is the Symbol of Peace! The green haired boy was still debating and muttering what All Might had meant when his idol had saved him and Bakugou. He was so deep in thought that he wasn't aware where he was going and promptly walked into a person who just walked around a corner.
"Whoa there." The stranger said. "Watch where you're going young one." He was a strange appearance. The stranger was tall and had short hair that teetered on the edge between blond and brown with a tint of a colour Izuku couldn't really make out. However, Izuku sensed an air of youth around the guy which confused him. What? He is as tall as many of the adults yet he doesn't seem like one. "Erm..." Izuku stuttered intimidated by the strangers height. "I'm actually 14." He said pointing at himself muttering. "I'm not that young." The strangers expression grew apologetic. "Oh, sorry. I'm still not used to the average height here." He said rubbing the back of his head good-naturedly. Izuku looked at him puzzled. "I apologize, I am not from around here." The stranger clarified.
Saido had been enjoying himself. It was a nice and warm day and he had been walking through the streets of Musutafu city distracted by the seemingly tranquil feeling of safety the Musutafu citizens put on display. They act as if nothing could ever be a real threat to them. He thought as he watched the citizens bustling about their everyday lives. It sure must be nice to feel that carefree. I wonder what the cause for the good mood is. Many parents could be seen buying school equipment for and sometimes with their children. School… Right. It starts soon, doesn't it? Saido made a mental note to check his calendar for the exact date when he got to his apartment. I really hope this was the right decision.
Being as destracted as he was it wasn't a big surprise that Saido walked into another person while thinking about his future school life. "Whoa there." He exclaimed. "Watch where you're going young one." The person he had collided with was a green haired boy who was considerably smaller than Saido. "Erm..." He stuttered. "I'm actually 14." Whoops. Saido was embarrased while scolding himself for walking around absent-mindedly. I really need to learn that I can't assume a person's age by their height. He decided that an apology was in order. "Oh, sorry. I'm still not used to the average height here." When the boy looked at him with confusion Saido decided he would need to further explain his mistake. "I apologize, I am not from around here." He clarified hoping this would lift the confusion of the teen in front of him.
"You are new here?" Izuku inquired. He was curious who this tall person was. "Yeah" Saido answered. "I've recently moved here to be able to attend U.A." "Whoa!" Izuku exclaimed his mood lightened. "That's so cool. So you want to become a hero?" Saido nodded. What a positive reaction. It's refreshing not to be regarded with suspicion and tension. "My name is Saido and yes I want to become a hero." Izuku was surpised. "You know…" He began carefully. "It's interesting to meet a person who states their ambition to become a hero so calmely and matter-of-factly. It's refreshing from all that hyping up many of my classmates do." He said thinking about the person the sludge villain had attacked after escaping All Mights bottle. "Anyways, my name is Midoriya Izuku. Nice to meet you Saido." Upon hearing this Saido's face turned into a frown and Izuku was instantly back to being intimidated. Oh, crap. Did I say something to offend him? "So is Izuku or Midoriya your family name?" Saido asked trying to remember that part of the Japanese culture. "I still mix all this up." The green haired teen relaxed at the embarassmend of the other. "It's all right. Midoriya is my family name. My name is Izuku." Saido then proceeded to ask Izuku whether he would be willing to show him around the city for a bit so the foreigner could get a sense of where what was. Izuku was still a little non-plussed. First All Might and the villain with Kat-chan and now a foreigner asks me to show him around? Just how weird will this day become? At least he is polite and doesn't insult me all the time. Maybe he's really nice. The All Might fanboy agreed nontheless and the two of them started walking.
While they walked Izuku had a look of deep thought and broke the akward silence that had been building between them. "Are you an exchange student for the second or third year? " Saido shook his head with a small smile. "Looks like it's not only your height that's decieving. I'm looking for an entry to the first year." Izuku looked at the taller teen and blurted. "That would probably make you younger than your height would suggest to a Japanese person." When Saido nodded and confirmed that he was indeed nearly 15 years old (only 5 weeks were left before his birthday) Izuku was hyped. "How cool! I hope we see each other at the entrance exam." Saido perked and looked at Izuku. "The entrance exam? Do you know anything about it?" Saido wondered. "I couldn't find any informations about it." Izuku shook his head and told the other teen that he had no idea what the exam would be about either. The two of them - walking to no certain goal - kept conversing about U.A. and heros with Izuku fanboying over all the things All Might had done in the past.
When the two boys reached a part of the shopping district in which many stores offered different types of support items for heros Izuku decided to finally ask. "You told me you weren't from around here. So, where are you from Saido?" Saido answered after a short pause. "I'm from the European Union." He told Izuku. "But I've never really stayed at one place for too long, so I hope this will change with U.A.." It would be nice to have some consistency in my life. He thought. "Speaking of which, if you want to attend U.A. you probably have either a recommendation…" Saido tensed. "or a quirk." Izuku finished his sentence. He was really curious about his new acquaintance's quirk. "I do have a quirk." The European began to Izuku's delight. "It's …" He trailed off and looked like he was deep in thought. "You could say it's an energy-type and - What are you doing there?" While the teen had begun to tell about his quirk Izuku had unpocketed a notebook and begun to scribble something down. "Don't mind me. I'm just noting what you say. I try to gain knowledge about as many quirks as possible. Please continue." Saido realized what Izuku was doing and used the chance to turn the conversation away from his quirk. "Wow that's a pretty smart move. You try to compare new quirks you encounter to known quirks to make hypothesises about the quirk user, right?" "Exactly" Midoryia nodded happy that someone got him. "Well, at least that's part of why I'm doing this. So you're a energy type." Saido affirmed that. "I can conjure energy to use it in defensive or offensive means. It's pretty limitless as to what I can form it into." I won't tell him the whole truth. As nice as he is, I just can't. "Wow!" Izuku exclaimed while noting down - unknown to Saido - that he suspected that the European wasn't telling him the whole truth since he had sensed the reluctance of the other teen. "I'm pretty sure I've heard of European heroes with similar quirks." "Perhaps…" Saido said while looking around and a little dejected.
"Tell you what. I've got something to buy from that store other there. I think a hero costume for school is in order. Do you want something too? Since you've been so nice to me, I want to pay it back." Saido told the other boy. Izuku politely declined since his mother told him not to worry about a hero costume because she would make him one if he was accepted at U.A.. He want's to spend this much money even though I've done nothing but simply been nice to him, plus we could let one be tailored by U.A. if we get accepted. Izuku wondered at the generosity the European exhibited for reasons unknown to him. The taller boy went to the store and spoke to the lady on the counter. Izuku observed how the woman blanched after something his new friend said and went with him deeper into the store. What was that reaction? Is he known to this chain?
"Well, well, well, look what we've found here. Looking at the stuff you'll never wear Deku?" A sneering voice suddenly interrupted the young boys thoughts. Oh no. "What do you want?" He asked suspicous of the newcomer's intentions since they knew his 'nickname'. "We wanted to look what our quirk- and useless 'friend' was doing. Do you still want to attend U.A.? Face the reality! You're quirkless. How could you ever become a hero?" The bullies were some of Izukus former classmates, but he recognized that Kat-chan luckily was not among them. "Actually, I…" Izuku wanted to explain that he was waiting for Saido but the bully immediately interrupted him. "You've got some balls to show up here." Sneered the leader. "This is our - no my - turf! I shop here. I'm their most V.I.P. customer ever! Get lost, useless!" The bully's voice was a nearly regal drawl and a sign of the massive ego he sported. Izuku then quickly identified him as the one kid who is the son of some semi-rich person who is never remembered by their name or personality but the money they seem to throw away daily. "Thank you for you visit, Mister Saido. Please come visit us again. We are available to your needs 24/7!" The lady from the counter said bowing him out. Saido was embarassed. "Please no need to get so over the top. Thank you for your services!" He called out leaving for his new friend with a suitcase in his hands.
"What's up Izuku?" He asked oblivious to the current situation. "Wait is it okay if I call you by your first name?" He asked concerned about the friendship he had felt bud between him and the green-and-raven haired boy. The person spoken to was overjoyed to get some back-up. "Saido! Do you have everything you need?" The European nodded. "Yeah let's go. I need to get home. I'm starving!" Suddenly a yell surprised both of them. "Oi! Who do you think you are? I'm the MVP at that store! This is my turf you damn leek." Izuku's former classmate was enraged that someone seemingly more influencial than him had shopped in his turf and had intended for the last part to be insulting, but to his surprise Saido smiled. "Well you've got a point I am a little lanky." "You think I'm funny?" The rowdy was pissed. He brutally shoved Izuku out the way and planted himelf firmly in front of his new victim not caring that said victim was taller than him. "Listen here. You better start running now because I'm not gonna hold back on someone who questions my supremity!" Saido was quiet. The tall boy looked down to the rowdy's face and then to Izuku who seemed to be hurt.
"No" The European said quietly. "What? Who do you think you are, leek?" The bully added to irk his opponent. He was pent on bullying this newbie into cowering. "Listen here, if you don't run now you'll end up like Deku over there! A victim to everybody in town who wants someone to bully." He drawled. "Is that true, Izuku?" Saido asked and readied himself for a confrontation. His tall and slim form began to bulge ever so slightely. "Ye - Yes it is. I've been bullied for not having a quirk ever since kindergarten." Izuku confessed abashedly while the bully gloated. "See, leek?" Now Saido was seriously irked. "Why would anyone do that?" He questioned but before the rowdies could answer him something happened. Saido growled and a green light manifested around him. After that everything happened so fast Midoryia had to focus really hard to see what happened. The tall boy shot beams of green energy at the bullies in quick succession and demolished the rowdies till they were nothing but a whimpering heap on the street. Izuku couldn't believe it. "Wow that was awesome Saido! They are okay, arent they?" Saido breathed heavily but not because he had overexerted himself but because he was still very pissed. He calmed himself and faced Izuku with an incredulous look on his face. "You are seriously concerend about the bullies who hurt you? Don't worry I only incapacitated them. This leek has some tricks up his sleeve."
A short while after - the two friends were on the way back to their homes - Izuku was still talking to Saido. "That was so impressive Saido! So that's your quirk?" He asked. "Yes it is and before you ask: Yes, that green light was my energy." The European explained and suddenly decided that Izuku was worthy of seeing his quirk more closely. "I can manipulate it, for example like this." Suddenly, he held his hand on Izuku's eye-level and green sphere appeared above his hand quickly changing shape from the sphere to other forms and even embracing the whole of Saido's hand at one point. Izuku was fascinated and quickly jotted some more notes into his book. Saido chuckled. "I can't help but notice. You're book must be really full if the entry about me is in about the last sixth of it. So, is there an entry about yourself?" Izuku suddenly stopped. "No. You heard me earlier when you seeked confirmation of that guys words. I have no quirk." He said quietly but then added with an air of defiance. "But I strive to be a hero anyways!" To his surpise Saido didn't reprimand him for being delusional but simply looked at Izuku with something like - admiration? Izuku was confused. "You certainly have it in you to make your point and inspire others. You even managed to become friends with a total stranger - me - over a day. It might be impossible for you to fight those top notch villains, but I believe you." Saido earnestly said.
"Saido's words deeply touched me." Izuku narrated. "However, what was more was that he did not seem like he was joking or anything. He meant those words. What I didn't know was that he wouldn't be the only one to tell me I could be a hero that day. All Might later chose me as his successor and I agreed to his American Dream plan to make me a useable vessel for his quirk: One For All. I didn't meet Saido again for the next months since I was working out non-stop and could only send him a message for his birthday. We would indeed meet again when the time came for the entrance exam at the best hero acadamy so far: U.A.!"
Author's Note:
Hi guys. I'm already back. I had this chapter almost ready when I posted the story yesterday. However, I only have a draft for the second and third chapters so it will take more time until I upload those.
Back to this chapter: I had difficulties trying to make the forming of the friendship between Saido and Izuku seem natural. If you have any ideas on how I could do it better, please write it in a PM or review about my story.
I was delighted to see that my story already got two favs and one follow. Thank you two - it means a lot to me! I would be happy to hear your thoughts on this chapter or theories on the upcoming plot (I will try to stay with the main plot of original show as much as possible, but there will be sub-plots and changes.). I hope you found this chapter and will find the upcoming chapters entertaining and say goodbye till I post the second chapter.