Chapter 5. Hell yeah. Anyway, I wanna ask you guys something. Shoji. Big, six-armed mofo. I'mma give him a love interest. I'm just debating who. My main three choices are as follows: Yui, Yaoyorozu, or maybe Pony. But Yui and Yaoyorozu are my top two. I know who I'm having Kirishima and Tetsutetsu get with. (Not one another). But Shoji is up in the air. Just wanted to know your thoughts. Answer or don't, don't particularly care, I'm gonna figure something out. Just figured I could give you guys a bit of input.
Anyway, onto Reviews
wolves567: First off, thanks for the compliment, second, thank you yet again for giving me an idea. I'm glad I used it.
Wade Stormbow: With me, you must learn to expect everything and nothing all at the same time. Anyway, the way I've done this gives me a bit more freedom in relationships, platonic, romantic, and otherwise. And now to your question. The HSPC will come into play in a major way later in the story, particularly in concern with the Internships, as well as after the Hero Killer incident. But anyway, thank you. I hope I can keep this kind of chapter coming.
AtlasWrighte: He's not gonna be a male Mercy, sorry. But he will use some weapons. Maybe.
GumbalDia: Amusing, certainly. Certainly cruel as well.
SteampunkDragon987: Thanks for all that. I do try.
Luciendar: Addressing his Halo, it is a part of him, physically. It is a part of his anatomy, and as for physic connections...we'll that's for later. So, the thing about his stamina is that he's flying, which is comparable to a run in terms of cardiovascular strain, and combine that with fighting giant metal robots that entire time? It's gonna wear him down a bit, but I do agree I did undersell his stamina a bit. As for the wings, the way he uses them will not exactly be the way Archangel does. His wings are tough, but not like X-Men Archangel Metal Wings strong. They can take direct hits. Not like, tank a Detriot Smash, but like, an Ojiro Tail blow they could tank. And yes, Mei will try to give him a wing-related support item. As for his leadership qualities...you'll just have to wait to see how Ibara reacts.
"Why the actual fuck are we doing shit this hard this early?" Bakugo grumbles as he looks at a math worksheet that even I'm having a tiny bit of trouble with.
"Bruh...I'm gonna fail this damn class..." I hear a boy with yellow hair with a black street in it whose name I think is Kaminari groans as he stares at the worksheet.
"It's not that bad! If you merely study and apply yourself, you will be fine!" Iida says, standing up and doing a chopping motion as he looks around
"But I hate studying!" The pink girl, whose name is Mina as I learned from Kirishima, cries, as she buries her face in her hands
"Bahahaha! Are you sure you should even be in this class?" A voice that I have grown to hate over the past 36 hours laughs. It belongs to one Nieto Monoma, who I have the displeasure of sitting in front of.
"Monoma shut the fu-"
"Quiet down, all of you." Aizawa cuts me off as he walks into the room, followed by Vlad King.
I, wisely, shut up as Monoma glares into the back of my skull. If looks could kill.
"Now, today...you will have your first test of the year.'
"A test? It's the second day!"
"Not a literal test, Kaminari. More of a training session." Kan says, calming Kaminari's fear at Aizawa's statement.
"Oh...okay." Kaminari sighs, sounding thankful.
"It's your first hero training class. I expect all of you to give it your all." Aizawa says, then clambers into a sleeping bag that seemingly just appeared next to him.
"Uhhh...are we just gonna ignore how that sleeping bag just seems to be with him at all times?" I hear someone, I think probably Kirishima, whisper
"It seems to be in some kind of pocket dimension at all times...his quirk maybe?" I hear Yaoyorozu muse, and Bakugo scoffs
"Nah. He's Eraserhead. His quirk is Erasure, idiots." Bakugo snaps, and everyone is silent
"Uhh...how did you know that?" Vlad King asks
"I got into a fight with him one time," Bakugo replies, and everyone stares at him, bug-eyed
"That's a lie. It has to be!" Monoma growls, and I sigh
"Actually, it's not. I was there. Bakugo got his ass kicked, but it did happen." I explain, and everyone turns to look at Aizawa.
"I knew you two seemed familiar. It was a coffee shop, correct?" Aizawa mutters, and Bakugo nods
"Yep. You bumped into me, made me spill my coffee, and I took that a bit too personally. I tried to fight you, you tied me up in capture tape, bought me another coffee, then left." Bakugo explains, and Aizawa gives a grumbling chuckle
"You're still a goddamn fireball of a kid. Anyway, your training session with be the last class today. The extra period that you have. Anyway, that's all we have. You can go to lunch now." Aizawa says, then practically vanishes into his sleeping bag.
"Well shit, I don't need to be told twice," I mutter, standing up and grabbing my bag.
Lunchroom
"So you fought Eraserhead over a coffee? Why?" Kirishima asks Bakugo as I try not to crack a smile
"I was tired, and I wanted my fucking coffee, Shitty Hair," Bakugo growls
"That's not a manly reason, Baku-bro!" Tetsutetsu says, and Bakugo just glares at the grey-hair boy
"Shut the fuck up, Shitty Hair number 2!" Bakugo snaps
"Will you stop insulting people, Explodey?" Jiro groans, shaking her head
"I thought it was 'Blondie'," I note, and Jiro shrugs
"Why not both, Broccoli?" She asks, and I narrow my eyes at the punk-rocker girl
"Hmph. Duly noted. Anyway, Shoji, I have a question." I say, looking at the giant of a human, who stares back at me
"Yes?"
"Why the mask? Do you just like it, or..."
"Ahh...I'm sorry, but that information is a bit personal. I wish not to inform you of its purpose right now." He says, and I shrug
"It's chill. Just wondering." I reply
"Hmmmm." Yui Kodai, a girl of few words, fewer emotions, and yet someone can convey everything she's thinking with hums, sighs, and perfectly timed eyebrow raises seems to agree as she takes a bit of her ramen.
"Midoriya...I have a question..." Tokage asks, and I look over at my fellow green-head, who's leaning over the table, right in my face. Close enough that if I moved my head any, I would certainly hit her
"Whatcha got?" I ask
"Have you dated anyone before?"
"Why do you need to know that?"
"I'm curious. It seems that, at least so far, I'm the only one! So, yes or no?"
"Nope. Neither has Bakugo, in case you're wondering." I say, completely straight-faced
"Ohh? So, you're a virgin!"
"Tokage!" Shiozaki snaps, smacking the green-haired girl in the back of the head with a vine.
"What? It's a genuine question!"
"You need not ask so personal and inappropriate, especially not at lunch, when people are eating!"
"If you think about, what I'm talking about does involve ea-"
"And that's enough of that conversation." Kendo snaps, cutting off Tokage, who merely gives a Chesire smile and holds up her hands
"Come on, Kendo! It's just a conversation!"
"One I don't want or need to hear," Kendo says
"Uh...why would Midoriya being a virgin involve eating?" Yaoyorozu asks, thoroughly confused and blushing like a maniac.
"...I'mma tell her." Tokage smirks.
"NO! PROTECT THE INNOCENT!" Jiro shouts, and everyone moves at once. Kendo claps her hand over the lizard-like girl's mouth, Shiozaki wraps her in vines, and Shoji just lifts his tray so that it doesn't get hit. I smack Bakugo upside the head as Bakugo punches me in the gut, and Kirishima and Tetsutetsu just jump out of their seats, as Yaoyorozu just looks so confused, with Jiro covering her ears
"Uh...what was that all about?" Yaoyorozu asks as I set my head down on the table.
"You had to hit me in the gut, Bakugo?" I groan, looking at my childhood friend
"You chose the head, dipshit." He replies as he rubs the back of his head
"You've been smacked by your mom enough times that your head is like a fucking brick," I snap as I straighten, cracking my back and stretching my abs at the same time.
"Fuck off."
"Right back at you, buddy," I reply as I dig into my Katsudon, spacing off as I stare down at the table, thoughts running through my mind like wildfire. The first Hero training course is today. I wonder who our teacher is. Is it going to combat? Is it going to be tough? Is it just gonna be a syllabus look-over? Are we getting our costumes? Am I going to be able to put up a good showing?
"Midoriya? Are you okay?" A voice cuts through my thoughts, and I look up to see Shiozaki giving me a slightly concerned look.
"Yeah. Just thinking." I answer, poking yet again at my food.
"That's dangerous sometimes." She notes, and I chuckle as I set my chopsticks down, looking around at the bustling cafeteria, which is practically packed full of students, laughing and smiling.
"This job we're striving for is dangerous, Shiozaki...I may not know a lot, but I know enough to realize that. This job isn't all paparazzi, adoring fans, and easy villains. Villains kill others. Brutally. And many of them won't care. And no matter how much we want it to change, the dead stay dead. They don't get another chance, another life. That life is dead. lying in an alley, blood pooled around them. I would be surprised if any pro hero doesn't get nightmares. This job...it breaks people." I mutter that last part, having probably gotten my point across more than I needed.
"But...it's a noble profession! Heroes save thousands!" Shiozaki say, shocked
"Yeah. They do. But people still die. That's the reality." I reply
"That's a very negative worldview," Yaoyorozu notes as everyone turns to look at me, and I let out a small bitter chuckle
"When you know what I know, you would have a pretty negative view too."
"Meaning what? You're not a hero, you don't know anything more than us!" Kirishima notes, and everyone, save Bakugo, just silently nods, looking at me.
"...Yeah. You're right that I'm not a hero. And I don't know any more than any of you. But if you think about it...it adds up. Just saying," I reply, setting my chopsticks aside for a moment, steepling my fingers
"How does it add up?" Shoji asks, and I shrug
"I mean, come on. They have to fight villains, sometimes for their lives, most if not every day. That can wear down on you, mentally and physically. Frankly, I think there should be a lot of mental health screenings. There have been accounts of heroes snapping on others over little things. Not to mention, if they take hits to the head a lot, CTE is a real thing. Brain damage, physical damage, constant high-stress levels, long hours, little sleep, constant media scrutiny, among other things. There's a reason not everyone is a hero, and it's not just because of a quirk." I explain, and Bakugo cuts in
"He's not wrong. There are stories of heroes just collapsing on the job because their bodies just failed them. Happened to Iron Skull one time. The dude fought a villain, then just passed out in front of dozens of reporters. Was in the hospital for a week due to the sheer amount of injuries and lack of sleep." He says, and Shiozaki speaks up
"So...you're basically saying that being a hero is hard?" Shiozaki asks
"I mean, yeah. But it's not just hard physically, it's a mental thing too. That's all." I shrug, picking my chopsticks up again.
"But...we're all here, right? We'll be fine. We're all mentally well enough." Setsuna says, and I choose not to respond.
"How do Heroes stay sane?"
"Ah...most of them don't, Midori. If a hero is complete of the right mind, they're either ignoring their world in front of them, or they're drugged out of their mind. No hero is entirely mentally stable. The shitstorm we call the world is at the forefront of our minds at all times. We have to protect everyone we can, and if we don't...we might as well have killed them ourselves because we failed them."
"That...seems a bit harsh."
"The world is a harsh place, cuz. Best you learn that."
Later that afternoon
"Alright, this is the last period..." I mutter as Midnight saunters out of class as the bell rings, and most of us put our books away in our bags and look at the door expectantly.
"I...AM HERE!" A familiar voice cuts through the room as the door flies open, revealing a 7-foot tall blond man, a heroic pose obvious as he slides into the room.
"All Might!" Bakugo smirks as everyone's jaw drops, save mine. I just stare at the blond giant, wondering how the hell that man got a teaching job.
"Indeed, it is I! I am going to be your Heroics 101 teacher this year! The rumors you may have heard are completely true!" All Might proclaims, a wide smile on his face. But...it almost seems strained. Painful.
"Today will be your first such class. And, to truly test your abilities...it will be a combat exercise!" All Might says, and I see an all-too-familiar feral grin spread across Bakugo's face.
"Combat, you say? I don't think throwing us into that right away is such a good idea, All-Might sensei!" Iida says, using his arm as a familiar chopper. For some reason.
"I think it's an excellent fucking idea, four-eyes!" Bakugo growls in response, and everyone just stares at the blond, who is focused on All-Might.
"Ah...well, thank you, young Bakugo! But anyway, to answer your question, young Iida, I feel it's going to be a good gauge of your quirk control, as well as how powerful it can be!" All Might exclaims, and Iida nods after a few seconds of silence
"Thank you for the explanation, All-Might sensei!" Iida says, bowing his head.
"No problem, young Iida. Now...this was always my favorite part of being a student here...your costumes!" All Might grins, pressing a button. Much to my surprise, 40 metallic cases pop out of the wall, labeled 1-40, naturally.
"In each of these cases is a costume that correlates with your number, and that costume is based on the designs that you submitted with your quirk forms in combination with your applications. I hope you like them! After you have changed, come and meet me at Ground Beta! SEE YA THERE!" All Might crows, taking off out the door, almost too fast for my eyes to follow.
"...Well, shit, let's get to it, fuckers!" Bakugo shouts, getting up from his seat, and making his way to the cases, grabbing his number, and then mine, 36 and 37, respectively, and tosses me my case, which I catch with a single hand, letting the momentum swing my arm a bit as I secure the case by the handle.
"Language, Bakugo." Shiozaki says as she rises from her seat, followed quickly by everyone else. Walking towards the door, not far behind Bakugo, I step out into the hall, carrying the case by itś handle over my shoulder as I make my way towards the locker room.
¨You ready to get your ass kicked, nerd?" Bakugo asks, and I sigh
"We need to work on your bloodlust," I reply as I open the door to the locker room, stepping inside the decent-sized room lined with metallic lockers.
"That's not an answer, bitch." Bakugo says as I turn the combination dial on my locker, then pop it open.
"Well then no. Because I'm not going to get my ass kicked." I reply, undoing my tie and pulling off my jacket, and beginning to undo my shirt.
"Oh, fuck off. You know damn well you're not gonna win with if we go head-to-head." Bakugo snaps as he pulls off his jacket.
"You would. Doesn't mean I couldn't beat you another way. Just saying." I shrug as I pop my case open, and look inside. Taking out a note that was on the top, I begin to read it.
Hello! My name is Tensai Hatsume, and I'm your hero costume designer and approver! Now, I look over your design specifications, and I'm so glad that you took the time to write your sizes, measurements, and specifications for your support items. Makes my life so much easier. Anyway, I'm going to address some minor changes I made to the designs. I left the core costume the same, everything from the jacket to the pants, all specifically tailored to you and your quirk. The goggles I left the same as well. The gloves I modified slightly, along with the headphones, and the armor you requested. For the gloves, I chose a titanium-vanadium alloy, making my life easier, while making the knuckles lighter than steel ones would be. The headphones I also made tougher, and I did manage to keep the Bluetooth and 2-way radio implements in them. And, yes, they are noise-canceling. I'm not a monster. The armored bracers for your forearms I'm quite proud of. They're made from carbon fiber as a base with a ceramic-plate overlay, and those are covered in a thin layer of KM2 Kevlar. More than enough to stop knives, and some pistol-caliber firearms. I wouldn't go around testing it, but ya know. I'm not your dad. They should offer enough flexibility to flex your forearms and calves, while still being tough.
Anyway, I wish you luck, kiddo! I hope you become a hero!
P.S. I have a daughter in the support course. Mei Hatsumei. You'll probably meet her soon enough.
Shaking my head a bit, I reach into the case and pull out the first item. A black and green short-sleeved compression shirt with slight padding on the lower back. Slipping it on, I pull out the next set of items.
My arm bracers, just a nice solid black color. They look like normal, if not very thick, arm sleeves. I can see, however, military-grade plastic buckles and tightening straps on the underside of the bracers. Sliding them on, I'm surprised at their weight. They're a bit lighter than I expected, in all honesty. Clicking the straps shut, I tighten them down with the straps, not tight enough to cut off circulation, but enough to make sure they won't slide off.
Grabbing the gloves, I pull them, and flex my hands a few times, making sure they can move. They're more or just like the ones I used in the entrance exam, so it'll be fine.
As I pull off my shoes and school pants, I grab the next items, my leg bracers. More or less like the ones on my arms, just larger. I put them on in the same way, then grab my pants, which are just black cargo pants, nice and simple. I then grab my costume shoes. The same shade of red as my high-tops, I slide on the steel-toed combat boots, lacing them up with ease and speed.
Looking into the case, I grab the final item of actual clothing. A dark brown leather bomber jacket. Sliding the jacket on, I pull my hands through the soft, fluffy sleeves, flexing my hands again. It fits perfectly, allowing just enough room to move freely without being super loose.
Grabbing the two final items, I look at the goggles. Exactly like the ones from the entrance exam. The headphones look like ones that someone at an airport would wear. Which makes sense. Examining the headphones, I spot a subtle set of buttons on the backside of the headphones. I spot a power button, what looks like some kind of toggle switch, and volume buttons. Pressing the power button, I'm pleasantly surprised to see them turn on. Opening my phone, I open my settings, and after a bit of searching, find a Bluetooth device called 'Midoriya Protective Headphones, by Tensai Hatsume'. Subtlety. Connecting to the device, I hear a slight, low jingle that moves from right to left as the headphones connected.
After a few seconds, I decide to test a few things out. Moving the toggle switch, any sound that was making its way through the headphone ceased instantly. It was completely quiet, almost unnervingly so. Turning off the noise-canceling function, I turn off the headphones entirely and set them around my neck. Standing up, I twist my upper body, cracking my back, then crack my neck, before tossing the rest of my stuff in the locker, and heading out of the room.
Stepping out in the nice weather, I look around for anyone else outside. Shrugging, I begin to make my way to Ground Beta, which is where I had my entrance exam if I remember correctly. As I get closer, I spot All Might pacing around in front of the area, and when he spots me, his eyes brighten, and his smile grows wide
"Hello, young Midoriya! I like the costume...but it does remind me of Hawk's costume! Is that on purpose?" He asks, and I raise an eyebrow
"That's for you to decide, and me to know, all due respect," I reply, and the man lets out a chuckle
"I suppose that's fair enough!" He says, and I nod
"So, do you have an actual plan, or are you just going to do this by the seat of your pants?" I ask, and the giant man sputters for a second, before clearing his throat.
"I have a plan!"
"I'm sure you do."
"I do! Anyway, I have a question for you. On your entrance exam, you put down something interesting for your reason for being a hero. You said 'I'm Here, I can do something, why not?' It's a unique answer, certainly. If I may ask, why did you put that down?" All Might asks, and I glance at him.
"...I said it in the answer. I'm here, alive, breathing. I have a quirk that could help potentially save others, protect others, defeat those who wish harm upon others. It's as simple as that, All Might. I don't have a reason not to, so why shouldn't I?"
"But you could get hurt or killed doing this job. Doesn't that scare you?"
"I'm scared of death, yes. But that's the risk we take every day, is it not? We always risk dropping dead from something, no matter who we are, or what we've done. Such is the way of the world." I reply
"I suppose...but still. You're merely doing this because you can?"
"...I'm doing this, All Might, because if I don't, I feel I won't have done much to help the world. I was gifted with an incredibly powerful quirk, more than most could ever hope for. I can, and I will fight back against whatever is thrown my way. Even if dead men stay dead, if villains stay villains, if heroes stay heroes, I'll do whatever I can to make the world even a bit better. Even if it means fighting someone who many consider a hero for whatever reason that may be. If I have to fight God himself, I will fight back. Some men die with a whimper, others with a bang. I'm gonna go out with a smile, knowing I did everything I could to make the world better. Doesn't matter where I die, whether that be on the field of battle, having just beaten a villain, or in a hospital bed, surrounded by those I love. That's why, All Might. That's why I'm here."
"Huh...well, I hope you can stick to that."
"Believe me. Me too."
And that's the end. Sorry not sorry for the cliffhanger. Next chapter will be the Battle Trial. First time writing actual combat for this fandom. I'm usually good at writing combat, so hopefully, this goes well! DMJ, out!