Chapter 03: What It Takes to Be a Hero
"I-is it possible for a quirkless person like me to become a hero?" Asked Midoriya.
All Might stopped when he heard that question.
Vandom looked at him, this was always a sensitive subject for him.
"I'm a normal kid without any powers, could i ever hope to be someone like you?" Asked Midoirya as tears fell down his face.
All Might looked back at him.
Midoriya was on the verge of tears with Vandom comforting him.
"With no quirk?" Asked All Might, as though he was intrigued by what he heard.
Suddenly All Might gasped, as though something had hurt him and was groaning like he was in pain.
Smoke began to appear on his body.
"Oh no, not now dammit, not here!" Yelled All Might in a whisper as to avoid both Midoriya and Vandom hearing him.
"People think i don't have a chance, that not having any powers, that i'm a weakling, my classmates like to make fun of me." Said Midoriya as he rubbed his hand with his thumb.
"But you know what, that just means i can prove them wrong." Said Midoriya.
"There's no reason you can't be a hero with a Quirk, Midoriya." Said Vandom.
"Why i knew someone back in america called Chris Davidson and he had no powers and he's on the verge of becoming a great hero." Said Vandom as she recalled meeting him a long time ago when she was living in america.
Midoriya looked at Vandom and smiled in gratitude.
"Still i want to help people with a fearless smile and keep people safe." Said Midoriya.
"And be the hero that everyone looks up to in the world, like you All Might." Said Midoriya.
They looked up but instead of All Might, they saw...
A very skinny man with sharp, angular features and long limbs, his neck long and his eyebrows absent.
They looked in shock as they had no idea what was going on, where's All Might and who was the skeleton?
Eventually Midoriya screamed at the top of his lungs.
Meanwhile
Bakugo and his friends were walking home with Bakugo still pissed (a/n: no surprise there) with his argument with Vandom.
He's always hated that girl, ever since she showed up he was unable to bully Midoriya without her for backup and she's one of the few people who showed no fear of him which makes him pissed off even more.
"Man, Vandom really layed it on you today." Said one of the friends.
"Yeah, hey that reminds me, didn't you used to be friends with Midoriya when you were kids, you were being a little harsh then usual." Said the other friend, trying to be careful with his words as Bakugo was still pissed.
Bakugo crushed the can with his fist.
"Well it's his own fault for getting in my way." Said Bakugo with false calm as he kicked a can on the ground away.
"You shouldn't waste your time on the guy, he's not really much threat to you anyway, and plus with Vandom it's gonna be next to impossible to humiliate him without getting bruises from her as well." Said the other friend as he knew to well that Vandom was not be taken lightly, especially with powers of her own.
Bakugo stopped and thought back to when the conversation first started, to where it was announced that Midoriya and Vandom would apply for U.A.
"Someone's gotta teach him how the world really works." Said Bakugo as he used his Explosion to destroy the can he was holding.
"I hate it when he talks heroes." Said Bakugo as he threw the can away.
The two friends laughed at each other.
"Hey i got an idea, let's go to the arcade, that'll take your mind off all this." Said the first friend.
"Fine." Mumbled Bakugo.
"Or we can sneak into the bar at the station, pick up some ladies." Said the other friend with his finger shaped like an O.
"Now that's a good idea." Said the other friend.
"Idiots, if we get caught there's no way U.A. will let me in." Said Bakugo in anger as he was not about to jeopardize his chances.
Suddenly the two friends were scared and shocked.
"Hey, what's that?" Asked the two friends in fright.
Bakugo looked behind him and saw a humanoid figure with his body made out of wood.
"Let's see if your little fire is a match for my wood!" Yelled the humanoid figure while he laughed as Bakugo widened his eyes.
Meanwhile
Midroiya was still screaming at what they saw.
"I-Wait, who are you?" Asked Midoriya.
"What happened, you deflated?" Asked Midoriya.
He looked around in a panic to see if All Might was still around.
"Where'd All Might go?" Asked Midoriya.
Vandom looked around too.
"I didn't see or hear him leave." Replied Vandom.
Midroiya looked back at the skeletal figure.
"Y-your not him, your a fake, an imposter." Said Midoriya as he was trying to make sense of what happened.
The skeletal figure gave a scoff.
"I assure you, that i am All-" Said the skeletal figure as blood started to come out his mouth.
This caused both Midoriya and Vandom to scream at the same time.
"Impossible!" Yelled Midoriya.
"How is that even possible?!" Yelled Vandom in demand as All Might was always shown in his muscular form.
"You know fat guys that suck up their guts at the pool to make themselves look buff?" Asked All Might.
"That's what i'm like." Replied All Might like it was a simple matter.
Vandom let out a sweat drop.
How can he pass that off like it's a normal thing, seriously does nothing phase him? Asked Vandom in her mind.
"This can't be real!" Yelled Midoriya as tears flooded though his face as though his childhood dream was in shambles.
"N-no, i have to be dreaming." Said Midoriya as he was still in denial.
"All Might, the giant of a man who saves everyone." Said Midoriya.
"He defeats all obstacles, and wins the day with a fearless smile." Said Midoriya.
All Might sighed at this.
"There's plenty of fear behind that smile." Said All Might.
He then saw down on a rail bar behind him.
"I'm counting on the both of you to keep your mouths shut." Said All Might.
Vandom glared at him.
That's someway to treat your fans. Thought Vandom in her head.
"Don't go talking about this online, or telling your friends." Said All Might.
They were both in confusion until All Might lifted up his shirt and they both gasped in shock when they saw a large scar that covers most of the left side of his chest.
"Pretty gross, right?" Asked All Might sarcastically.
"I've got this in a big fight, five years ago." Said All Might.
"My respiratory system was destroyed and i lost my whole stomach, surgeries have pretty much worn me out and it can't be fixed." Said All Might.
"Right now i can only do hero work for about three hours a day, rest of the time this is what i look like." Said All Might.
Midoriya gasped at this.
"No way." Said Midoriya in disbelief.
"Five years ago?" Asked Vandom, as she recalled on that was when Adam and his friends first discovered the Omnitrix five years ago that summer and started their own adventures for a couple of years before her old and new friends did.
"Was that when you were fighting Toxic Chainsaw?" Asked Midoriya as he recalled seeing that on the news.
All Might pulled his shirt down.
"Wow, you really know your stuff." Said All Might with a impressive tone in his voice.
"But no, the punk may have landed hit, but that's not what got me this injury." Replied All Might.
"Most of the world has never even heard of this villain or even this fight to be honest." Said All Might.
"I did everything i could to keep it under wraps." Said All Might as he looked away for a bit before looking back.
"I'm supposed to be smiling, right?" Asked All Might.
"I'm the symbol of peace, people everywhere have to think i'm never afraid." Said All Might.
He looked at his hand.
"But honestly, this smile is used to hide the fear inside." Said All Might as he clenched his fist.
"It's just a brave face i put on when the pressure is high." Said All Might.
"This job isn't easy." Said All Might as he glared at Midoriya and Vandom, one of who stepped back when they were seen.
"Pro Heroes are always having to risk their lives, some villains just can't be beaten without powers, so no i don't think you can be a hero without a quirk." Said All Might.
Midoriya gasped at this.
"Hey pal, i'll have you know i have a friend in America who's becoming a great hero and he doesn't even have powers, that says something!" Yelled Vandom in anger.
One of his greatest fans is asking advice and all he gives is telling to give up on his dreams just because he has no power and automatically assumes he's weak?, some hero he is! Yelled Vandom in her head in anger.
All Might ignored her and focused only on Midoriya.
"I see." Said Midoriya on the verge of tears.
All Might stood up.
"If you wanna help people, there are plenty of other ways to do it." Said All Might.
"You can become a police officer, you'd get crap because most heroes capture the villains but it's a fine profession." Said All Might as he began to walk away.
"Your just gonna walk away?!" Yelled Vandom.
All Might ignored her and went to door on the roof.
He stopped before he entered.
"It's not bad to have dream young man, just make sure your dream are obtainable, realistic, understand?" Asked All Might.
He soon entered through the door and left.
Vandom growled at this.
"What a jerk, what kind of hero says, 'give up on your dream', i guess all those hero stories about him are exaggerated." Said Vandom as she placed her hands on her hips.
When she didn't hear a response she turned back and saw Midoriya crying with his face full of tears.
She gave off a sad look before going over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry Midoriya, it's dosne't matter what he said, your gonna prove him and everyone else wrong, i can guarantee it." Said Vandom with a smile.
Midoriya smiled at this.
"Thanks, Will." Said Midoriya.
Will blushed, as she learned that in japan, calling someone by the first name is a sign of deep trust.
Suddenly they heard an explosion from the area they were in before dragged away by All Might.
"A villain, i wonder which hero will show!" Yelled Midoriya.
But then he remembered about All Might saying villains can't be beaten without powers and stopped.
He began to walk slowly as Will gave him a sad look.
All Might was running as fast as he can to get to the location.
The Area was:
The Tatooin Shopping Mall.
Vines grew out of everyone and smashing windows and causing fire everywhere.
People were running out as fast as they can.
A group of heroes, one of who was with Mt. Lady earlier today arrived.
The same wood villain that Bakugo and his friends saw was the one causing all of this.
And Bakugo was trapped within his vines.
"He's taken someone hostage!" Yelled one of the heroes.
The hero who was called Death Arms bashed his wrist together.
"How dare you prey on a child?!" Yelled Death Arms as he ran towards the villain and jumped up before landing and sent a punch to the villain's gut.
However this did not phase the villain as he merely smirked and wrapped the wood around his body on Death Arms's... arm.
"What the hell is this?" Asked Death Arms as he struggled to get free.
The villain landed a punch onto Death Arms and knocking him back to a cadged door.
Other heroes ran towards him.
"You okay, Death Arms?" Asked one of the heroes.
"Heads up!" Yelled another one of the heroes.
Both heroes barley had anytime to dodge as the villain swung his arm at them.
The wood villain merely chuckled at this.
"You better learn to stay back or i'll snap all of you in half like twigs." Said wood villain.
He noticed Bakugo trying to get free and clenched his fist to keep a tighter hold on him, which made Bakugo scream in pain.
"You picked the wrong guy to mess with!" Yelled Bakugo as he stilled struggled to get free.
"I'm gonna send you back to whatever forest you ever came from!" Yelled Bakugo.
He tried to use his explosion to get free but they were ineffective on the wood villain.
"Let me go!" Yelled Bakugo.
He let out a much bigger explosion that made everyone cover their eyes.
When the smoke cleared, they saw that the wood villain took no damage at all.
"You've got so much power little boy, such a shame you wanted to be a weakling hero, with both your attitude and power, you would have been a great villain." Said the wood villain.
Bakugo refused to listen and continued trying to get free.
The crowed from outside the mall was getting anxious on what was happening.
"Look!" Yelled a female citizen as she pointed towards a location.
They all look to see Mt. Lady running her way towards them.
"The new heroe, Mt. Lady will stop him!" Yelled the same female.
Mt. Lady was forced to stopped as she gasped.
"My only weakness." Said Mt. Lady as she was trapped between the buildings.
"I need a two lane road just to make my way over there." Said Mt. Lady.
Meanwhile inside the building, two of Bakugo's friends weren't caught by the wood villain was surrounded by fire until wood came around them and pulled them over to another location.
Luckily for them, it wasn't the wood villain, it was Kamui Woods, he was carrying them and others away from the building while running at top speed.
"Fire and wood don't exactly mix well together in this situation, i'll have to let someone else deal with this guy!" Yelled Kamui Woods.
Backdrift was using water to put out the fire.
"Don't look at me, my hands are full as it is!" Yelled Backdrift.
The heroes are left to wonder at what to do as the wood villain began to tighten his grip around Bakugo, making him groan in pain.
He raised his arm and tried to attack the heroes.
"Incoming!" Yelled one hero as both he and Death Arms both barley dodged out of the way in time as the hand came crashing down on them.
"It's no use, none of us have the right Quirk to stop him!" Yelled Death Arms.
"Well just have to do damage control until someone with the right Quirk comes by!" Yelled another hero.
Windows began to smash open and making the fire spread out even further.
"There is still plenty of people to save!" Yelled Backdrift as he continued to try and put them out.
"Don't worry, i bet every hero in the city's coming!" Yelled Kamui Woods as he contiued using his powers to help people get across.
Death Arms clenched his fists, feeling powerless to do anything to help that kid.
Meanwhile outside of the crowed, All Might finally made it but was gasping for breath, having to run all this way here.
Shit i spent all that time worrying about my time limit and lecturing that kid, i didn't even noticed a villain around this are, i'm pathetic. Thought All Might as he clenched his fist to his chest.
Meanwhile
Midoriya and Will were walking thorough the city as Midroiya was looking at his burned notebook about the heroes he learned over the years.
Despite Will's many comforts, Midoriya still felt sad and depressed about what All Might said earlier.
Even All Might said it, a hero needs a quirk. Thought Midoriya as he wiped his tears through his arms.
Will tried to put another comforting hand on his should but that did very little to make him feel better.
Suddenly the heard explosion near them and looked up to see what it is.
That's strange, is the fight from earlier still going on? Thought Midoriya in confusion.
Despite his head telling him to stop, Midoriya still went over to the crowed to see what was going on with Will behind him.
He overheard that the villain has taken a kid hostage and that All Might hasn't shown up yet.
It's my fault, if i hadn't wasted his time, he would have transformed by now and defeated the monster, just like he did the with the sludge villain. Thought Midoriya as he was standing in shock.
He held his mouth with his hands as he gasps in shock as he saw that is was Bakugo who was taken hostage.
Without even thinking he rushed past the crowed and into the disaster and leaving Will behind.
"MIDORIYA!" Yelled Will as she tried to stop him but it was too late and she could barley get through without these people in her way.
All Might and the other heroes gasped in shock as Midroiya ran towards Bakugo.
The heroes tried to call him back but he wouldn't listen.
"It looks like i have a new plaything!" Yelled the wood villain as he tried to smash Midoriya.
But Midoriya remembered all the things he wrote down for his journals over the years and used them.
"Take this!" Yelled Midoriya as he threw his backpack to the villain's face.
The bag opened and came out where his notebooks which blinded the villain for a moment and Midoriya continued running towards Bakugo.
"Katchan!" Yelled Midroiya as he ran to where Bakugo was and tried to free from the branches surrounding his body with what little strength he had.
"What the hell, why are you here?!" Yelled Bakugo as Midoriya was still trying to get him free.
"I don't know, my body, it's moving on it's own!" Yelled Midroiya as he was scared as hell.
Midoriya let out a weak smile as tears flooded his eyes.
"Katchan, i just couldn't stand there and not do anything!" Yelled Midoriya.
All Might was able to hear this and gasped in shock.
"Get the hell off me!" Yelled Bakugo as he looked up at the wood villain.
I've got to do something no matter the risk! Yelled All Might as he transformed into muscled form.
"THAT'S IT YOU LITTLE BRAT, I AM DONE PLAYING WITH YOU!" Yelled the wood villain as he raised his entire arm to strike Midoriya down.
"Save the boy, that thing will ll kill him!" Yelled Death Arms as the others heroes ran to save him.
The villain struck the ground and smoke began to appear.
When the smoke cleared, Midoriya raised his hands to his head to defend himself.
"I really am pathetic." Said a familiar voice.
Midoriya opened his eyes and gasped in shock to see All Might in his muscled form, holding the villain's arm to prevent it from hitting them.
"All Might, but your-" Said Midoriya.
"I told that great things can make a great champion!" Yelled All Might as he struggled to hold on.
"But i see now that i wasn't living to my own ideals!" Yelled All Might as he snapped the branches surrounding them, which even impressed Midoriya.
He grabbed to where Bakugo's prison is while spouting blood from his mouth.
"Pros are always risking their lives, that's the true test of a hero!" Yelled All Might as he raised his fist.
"Damn you, All Might!" Yelled the wood villain as he raised another arm to try and stop him.
"DETROIT SMASH!" Yelled All Might as he threw a massive punch which practically destroyed the villain and left him in pieces as did it before with the sludge villain.
A massive whirlwind was all around everyone as All Might did this punch which made Mt. Lady crouch down and protect the people just below her as did the heroes with civilians with them and it even put out the fires.
All Might was gasping for breath as smoke came from his hand.
Everyone was practically stiff as a board as they looked with awe and were speechless at what just happened.
Rain started to pour down onto everyone.
Death Arms was gaping at this.
He is freaking amazing, no wonder he's number 1, well in Japan anyway. Thought Death Arms.
Even Will was speechless at what she saw, she's seen many powerful things but this was among the top 5.
All Might wiped the blood off his mouth before anyone noticed it.
Soon everyone began to cheer for All Might for just getting rid of the villain.
All Might stumbled for a bit before raising his arm which made the crowd cheer even louder.
He looked down and saw Midoriya passed out.
Soon after All Might was dealing with the press while the police was dealing with the remains of the wood villain as well as the sludge villain from ealier.
Will noticed Bakugo getting praise for being in danger but keeping his cool while Midoriya on the other was getting chewed out by Kamui Woods and Death Arms for running into danger like that.
This made Will roll her eyes.
The whole point of a hero is to help people but you what's the point of saving people if you get into the trouble for it?, i'm starting to think a hero isn't worth a career. Thought Will as she equally annoyed with Mt. Lady who tried to steal the spotlight for this, Will doesn't really like Mt. Lady, it's doesn't take an Empathy Quirk to know that she's only doing this hero work for fortune and fame.
She also noticed that Bakugo was glaring angerly at Midoriya, as though he hated him for trying to save him.
His former friend practically risked his life to save him and doesn't even say thanks?, some friend he is. Thought Will.
Soon it was sunset and the events that happened are appearing on the news.
Midoriya and Will were walking back towards their homes while Midroiya was thinking of All Might and how he wanted to apologize.
"Deku!" Yelled out Bakugo's voice from behind them.
They looked behind to see Bakugo running towards them.
"Katchan?" Asked Midoriya in confusion as to what he could have wanted.
Bakugo stopped to take a breath.
"Listen i would never ask a weakling like you to help me!" Yelled Bakugo as his body was shaking with anger.
"Don't think you can look down on me, got that!" Yelled Bakugo.
"I was fine by myself!" Yelled Bakugo.
"Your just a quirkless failure who won't even cut it as a rent-a-cop, you didn't help me!" Yelled Bakugo.
Will growled as her body was covered with electricity again.
"Are. You. Kidding. Me?!" Yelled Will which even freaked Midoriya out.
Will walked towards Bakugo until their faces next to each other.
"You seemed to do a fine job of playing hostage and making it harder the villains to approach you!" Yelled Will.
Bakugo was growling in anger.
"At least Midoriya tried to help, why he would help an ungrateful bastard like you, i'll never know, and you don't even give him a thanks for even an effort, if anyone here's a failure, it's you Baka!" Yelled Will.
The two let out a hate glare between each other that sparks came out of their eyes.
"I don't him anything!" Yelled Bakugo as he turned around and stomped his way back home.
Will growled as she glared at him.
"I hate him." Said Will as she eventually calmed down.
Still Katchan was right about one thing, i did nothing today that was of any help but at least i tried. Thought Midoriya as he laid his head down.
Guess now i should get back to giving up on my dreams. Thought Midoriya.
Will catches up Midoroya as the duo went back to walking.
"I Am Here!" Yelled All Might as he appeared right in front of them.
This causes Midoriya to scream.
"Do you always make a habit of doing that?" Asked Will in annoyance.
"All Might, what are you doing here?" Asked Midoriya.
Will looked around.
"How did you get rid of those reporters?" Asked Will, since All Might was always seen with the media.
All Might let out a laugh.
"I stand for justice not soundbites." Said All Might.
Will gave a non believing look.
"Because i am All Might-" Said All Might as he suddenly turned back into his skeletal form and coughed up blood.
Midoriya screamed once again.
"Still not used to that." Muttered Will.
All Might coughed and wiped away the blood off his mouth.
"Young Man, i came to thank, and also to discuss your question from earlier." Said All Might.
Both Midoriya and Will looked in confusion about what All Might meant.
"If you hadn't told me about your life, if you hadn't have run into the fight, i would have been a worthless bystander watching from the crowed, so thanks." Said All Might.
"Oh no, i just couldn't do anything without trying something to help, it was dumb i know, for a quirkless someone like me." Said Midoriya in sadness.
"I'm not done, you told me you didn't have a power, so when i saw this timid quirkless boy try to save a life, it inspired me to act too." Said All Might.
Midoriya gasped and looked at All Might.
"There are stories about every hero, how they became great, most have one thing in common." Said All Might.
"Their bodies move before they even had a chance to, almost on their own." Said All Might as he remembered what Midoriya said to Bakugo when attempting rescue him.
The cherry blossoms began falling from a tree next to them as Midoriya started crying.
Will put a hand on his shoulder to try and calm him down and with a smile.
Compared to their last conversation, this was what Midoriya needed to hear.
"And today, that's what happened to you." Said All Might.
Midoriya leaned down to the ground while sobbing with Will right beside him.
A/N: Man this one took longer then i thought, next up Michiru's story next, as you probably guessed it will rotate between the two character every chapter until they officially meet in U.A. also if you want to know of Will's backstory, i will be putting that in the next chapter of but that's the only spoiler you'll ever get me in this,