"AHHG."
Monday after classes, one Izuku Midoriya could be found currently being crushed by a stone statue, as tall as him, which he had attempted to throw over his shoulder.
"Not bad, for a first attempt." Master Akisame commented as Izuku managed to free himself from under the stone statue. "If you had followed through, you may have pulled it off."
"I was focusing too much on the centre of gravity that I hesitated." Izuku responded as he picked up the statue, struggling a bit due to how heavy it was, and set it up for another attempt.
"Oh? You're already aware of the centre of gravity and how it affects balance?"
"Yes, Master. I've been doing a bit of research in my spare time. I was looking up jujitsu, which lead me to throwing, which led me to balance and the centre of gravity. I even took notes."
"I see… And do you have these notes?"
Izuku nodded and pulled out a notebook, the words "Martial arts Research and Analysis #1" written on the front, and handed it to the jujitsu master. "Hmm, these notes are rather good. It doesn't seem like it's the first time you've done something like this. "He commented as he flipped through the book.
"I've been analysing heroes since I was four. I'm used to taking notes. I haven't done much since I've started here, though. I've always been too tired."
"May I see an example of your hero analysis?"
Izuku hesitated for a moment. Up until now anyone who saw his hero analysis either didn't care or called it creepy. But this was Master Akisame; one of the first persons to ever believe in him. He wasn't like the rest of them.
I hope.
Steeling himself, he pulled out his most recent 'Hero Analysis for the Future' book. It was labelled number 13 and burnt from being exploded. Akisame eye's narrowed as he saw the damaged book. "Work of your tormentors, I take it." He said as he took the book and started to flip through it.
"Kacchan was just having…"
"A bad day? Even if that was true it does not excuse the destruction of property." The master didn't even look up as he made his point.
"I-I mean, his quirk is really hard to control and-" Izuku was halfway through the excuse he had heard so many times from his teachers but was cut off by his master.
"Are you saying that this damage was done by his quirk?" Izuku nodded. "I see…You are aware that would make him a villain, right? And last I checked lack of control is very rarely accepted as an excuse for public quirk use once a person becomes a teenager."
"I-I….What? Kacchan isn't a villain. He-" "According to the law, he is." Akisame once again cut off the young martial artist. "A villain, by definition of the law, is a being that uses their quirk in the commission of a crime. And last I checked." He snapped the book shut and looked the middle school student dead in the eye, before handing back both books, which Izuku accepted and put up. "Destruction of property is still a crime." The burgeoning martial artist opened his mouth to defend his childhood friend, only to be cut off once again. "As is Assault and battery. "
Izuku flinched. He couldn't help it. He hadn't said a word on Bakugo's treatment of him, yet his jujitsu master had known. But how?
"How did you know?"
"Think about it and take a guess."
He sighed, and followed the instructions.
When did he figure it out? When he was looking at my analysis? Was it something about the analysis? He took out his hero analysis book and started to flip through the pages, looking for something out of place.
"You're overthinking it." His master said after a minute.
It took a moment to realise what he meant, but when he did he felt like faceplaming. There was something out of place with the book. It was burnt.
Izuku closed the book and took a closer look at the front cover. While the dip in the koi pond washed off most of the ash and soot, the outline of Bakugo's palm could still be seen, if faintly.
But how did he link this to him attacking me…?
After a moment it clicked.
"My scars…"
"Are rather reminiscent of the scorched outline of the palm on the front and back cover of your book. Yes. From that, I hypostasised that the person who gave you those scars and the person who destroyed your property was one and the same." A small smirk appeared on his face for a moment. "It also helps that you confirmed it for me."
It took a second for Izuku to realise what he meant, then he groaned. While his master's guess was correct, he didn't know that for sure until he asked him how he knew. The question had served as confirmation.
"Now, enough talking. Try again, and this time, follow through."
"Yes, master. " Glad to put the topic behind him, Izuku put his book back. He then got in position and grabbed the gi top that the statue was dressed in. Remembering what he had done last time, being considerate of the statue's centre of gravity, he threw. Remembering to follow through he manages to get the heavy statue over his shoulder and slammed it to the ground.
"I…I did it." Izuku hadn't actually thought he could get the solid mass of stone over his shoulder. It was heavy and unyielding. But he managed it.
"Good job." Master Akisame praised, before smiling. "Now do it again, one hundred times, for each shoulder.
Of course, it wouldn't be that easy. "Yes, Master." He said with a sigh, as he picked up the statue for his second throw.
"And while you throw, we will be covering forces." The jujitsu master pulled out a physics book from his sleeves.
Izuku shivered. His all day tutorial session yesterday had been just as intense as his physical training and left Izuku with the worst headache he ever had. He also learnt more in one day than he had with one month of normal schooling.
That didn't stop the fact that his head still hurt from the session.
"Can we wait until after this?"
Akisame shook his head. "You don't have that much time here, so we have to make the most use of what time we have. You knew that it was going to be hard. If we had more time, we may be able to separate the training with your lessons."
Izuku knew what he was saying, but he still didn't want to tell his mother what was happening to him. He sighed and nodded. "So, forces?"
"You mean it's a head butt?"
"Correct." The Chinese Kenpō master affirmed. "It allows you to also get in close to an opponent and trap them. "
"But wait; in a fight wouldn't it be better to move away from your opponent than towards them?"
"Not necessarily. The problem with moving backwards is that your opponent can move forwards. This would not only cause you to be on the back foot since you are already retreating, but it also gives your opponent more control of the pace of the battle. Moving forwards, on the other hand, can allow you to cut off your opponent's options. "
"Can you show me?" Izuku had pulled out his martial arts notebook.
"Of course, of course." He said with a smile, before turning to Miu, who was currently sparing with Kenichi. "Miu-san, come here for a moment."
"That's not going to happen, Master Kensei. I'll help you" Kenichi interrupted, standing in front of the Kenpō master and taking a loose fight stance.
With a sigh, Kensei shrugged, before taking his own fighting stance. "If you insist."
After a second Kenichi snapped a kick towards the short master, only for him to step forward, catch the kick and ram his head into Kenichi's side, knocking the air out of him and sending him flying into the nearby wall.
"Oww…."
"Master. Don't you think that was a bit…Harsh? Especially for a simple demonstration." Izuku asked, as he drew up a simple diagram of the move and made some notes.
"It's his own fault. Now-"
"One hundred times on both sides?" Izuku put up his book and stretched for a moment, before starting to repeat the movements as Kenichi recovered and went back to sparing with Miu.
"Well, yes. And while you do that, we'll be covering biology."
Izuku supressed a groan. "Master, can I get a small break from the lessons? My head still hurts from all the physics."
"Well…Maybe. If you tell me something."
"Go on."
"You haven't said much about your school life. I'm curious; is there a lovely lady in your life?"
Izuku would probably have blushed at the question, but the way it was phrased actually got a small laugh out of him. "No. No one at my school would be interested in a quirkless Deku like me. The closest thing to romance I've had was a series of anonymous love letters that ended up being…not good."
"What happened?"
"It was just after the start of my first year at middle school. I got a letter from a secret admirer. It was about what you'd expect, saying that she had a crush on me from elementary, and had a location for a meeting. She never showed up. The next day I got another letter, saying that she lost her nerve, but wanted to try again. I gave it another shot and nothing. The next day I got one more letter. I remember thinking it was different from the others, but now I couldn't say why. But I still went to this new meeting. It was a mistake. There was no secret admirer, just a gaggle of bullies. I'd rather not talk about what they did, but it cost me a uniform and I had to cut my hair. It took a bit of work to hide it from my mom."
"Were you okay?"
"Yea. It was painless. Just really humiliating. I should have been suspicious the moment I got a love letter." Izuku chose to focus on his practice and forced down the tears that threated to spill from his eyes.
Therefore he did not notice when the short master walked up to him and only noticed when he rested a hand on his shoulder, which caused him to stop his practice and look at the master.
"It's not your fault."
"I-I…What?"
"What happens to you at your school, not just that but in general; It is not your fault. Nothing that you've done is the cause of your classmates' actions. They are just horrible children. You do not deserve what happens to you."
"But, I… I don't- I mean the teachers never did anything to stop it. They even encouraged it in some cases. Doesn't that mean it was my fault?"
"No. It just means your teachers are horrible too. Quite frankly they are the main cause of your issues. Children are usually unruly and mean. It is the teacher's responsibility to guide the students away from that mentality. They are supposed to help protect children, not encourage their torment. Your teachers have failed you. "
How many times had Izuku been blamed for other's actions? The best response the teen could come up with was 'often'. No matter what kind of torment he would be put under he would be told that it was his fault. He was the instigator. And that he should complain about getting punished for being the instigator because the punishments could be so much worse than just a detention.
For the longest time, Izuku couldn't help but wonder if it was true, if it really was his fault. After all if everyone you know says that something is your fault, even if you know it's not true, it's hard not to agree with them.
So having master Kensei confirm that, yes, he was not the one at fault was vindicating. He couldn't help the tears that started to flow. He stopped just short of breaking down and quickly gathered himself, drying his tears. "Thank you, Master."
"You are welcome. And don't worry. I'm sure you'll find someone for you."
"You think so?"
"Why not? Look at Kenichi."
Izuku did just that, glancing at Kenichi who was still sparing with Miu. He wasn't so blind as to not see that the two were very much heads over heels in love for each other. He and always been told that no one would love someone who was quirkless. It was something that Izuku had been convinced of until he meet Kenichi.
"And look at me. I know I might not look like much, but I am married with three kids."
That comment actually threw Izuku for a loop. "Really?"
"Why the sound of surprise?" Izuku opened his mouth to respond, only to have the master cut him off. "It was a rhetorical question Izuku. The point is that being quirkless doesn't mean you won't be able to find love. Kenichi, the Elder and myself are all examples of that. Now, get back to practice."
"Yes, master." Izuku went on the practice, with a smile on his face.
"It's Apachai's turn now." The massive Tai man, who was actually wearing a yellow tank top in conjunction with his red shorts, said. He was also wearing two punching pads, one on each hand.
"I'm just punching these? And no lessons?"
"Yep. "
That sounds nice, and Master Apachai seems harmless right now. With a shrug, Izuku started to punch. In comparison to the other sessions, he had today this was the most relaxing. Just punch, punch. Left, right, left, right, right, left. It was wonderful to give his mind a rest.
And then….
"Now you dodge." Was all the warning Izuku got before the Muay Thai master swiped his right pad at him. The pad grazed him, but did no damage.
"I didn't even see that."
Apachai looked surprised for a moment, before responding with a smile "If that happens, watch the opponent's shoulder and try to guess the speed."
"Okay, Master." Izuku then resumed punching.
"It seems Apachai has gotten very good at holding back. " Izuku heard Akisame comment.
"Defiantly. Izuku should probably be thanking Kenichi for helping to teach him that particular skill." Responded Kensei, with a chuckle.
"Uhh, masters. What is that supposed to mean?" Izuku took a glance at the masters as he asked that question.
"Now dodge!" Apachai chose that moment to both teach Izuku why it was a bad idea to take his eyes off his opponent and answer his question at once, by slamming Izuku with a knee to the side. He put too much force into the knee, however, sending Izuku flying into a nearby tree.
"Well…It seems that Apachai hasn't completely mastered holding back." Akisame said as he walked up to check on Izuku, who started to groan.
"Okay…I think I get what you meant master." Izuku groaned as he slowly picked himself up.
"If he's able to pick himself up then Apachai has gotten very good at pulling his hits." Sakaki said from his point on the roof of the dojo, drinking from his flask.
Apachai ran up to the youngest disciple, with a distressed look on his face. "Izuuukuuuu. I'm Soooo sorry."
"It's okay master. Let's get back to it."
The Tai's expression changed from distressed to confused. "Really?"
"Yes, master. " Izuku walked back to the point they were practising, with a smiling Apachai behind him.
"What I'm going to teach you will be best used against people trained for sports fights as well as against untrained people with good reflexes." Izuku was standing in front of the Karate master, taking notes. "Having good reflexes is important, but untrained reflexes can be abused. This move abuses the human reflex to protect the face. Look!" Suddenly, Sakaki punched at the youngest disciple's face.
Izuku raised his hands to protect himself from the punch, which turned out to not be necessary as the master stopped his punch an inch away from his face.
"See? In general a person's first response it to protect their face. However, unless they are trained, they wouldn't know to expect a punch to the stomach at the same time."
Izuku looked down to see that Sakaki's other fist was an inch away from his stomach.
"I see…" Izuku took some quick notes, before putting up his book. "So, one hundred punches with left hand on top and another hundred with my right?"
"Yes. And you'll be punching the pole." Sakaki jabbed his thumb and one of the poles that had been wrapped with rope.
Izuku nodded and got in front of the training pole, and started to punch.
"And as for your lesson…"
"Wait really? You'll be covering one of my lessons?"
"What's that supposed to mean!?"
Izuku flinched at the harsh tone. "N-nothing master. What will you be teaching me?"
["We'll be covering English"]
Of all the things he expected his master to do, speaking in English was not one of them. "You're fluent in English?"
"Why so shocked?" A grin spread across the karate master's face. " Don't worry, when I'm done with you [You will be just as fluent as I am]."
With a hint of dread, Izuku nodded and continue to punch, Sakaki starting to drill him on English, in English. After a while, the master posed a question.
["What are you going to do to your bullies after learning this?"]
Izuku took a moment to decode the question. "Uhh. I don't get it. What do you mean?"
["I mean, are you going to take what you learn here to teach your bullies a lesson?"]
Another moment to mentally translate the English to Japanese had Izuku shaking his head. "Not only is that not heroic, I might just get expelled. I'm not going to ruin my future just to fight them."
["But aren't they still giving you a hard time?"]
"They've been trying, but their words don't really affect me anymore. I've just stopped registering it. I think it's cause I'm tired through most of the school day. And as for physically hitting me, all that running I've been doing has helped a lot. None of them can catch me. "
["Bah. If you ask me, you should deck the next one that tries to attack you. The rest of the bullies would leave you alone very quickly if you show them you aren't a target."]
"Isn't attacking someone like that assault?"
["Not if they attack first. As long as you use 'appropriate force' and don't use a quirk then it's self-defence. "]
"What qualifies as 'appropriate force'?"
["It depends on the situation. In most cases as long as the person isn't disfigured, dead, crippled or facing a long term hospital stay when you are done then you should be fine, especially since you're quirkless."]
Izuku bristled slightly after his mental translation. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Sakaki didn't acknowledge the slightly hurt tone of his disciple as he responded. ["A lot of laws are written with quirks in minds, causing a lot of legal grey areas in regards to quirkless people and actions. In the case of self-defence the person defending themselves is actually given the benefit of the doubt if they don't use their quirk, and only get in trouble when it can be defiantly proven to be assault. And most cops don't look so far. After all, who could get assaulted by someone not using a quirk? Especially if they're quirkless?"]
"Uhh, master, you lost me. Can you repeat that again?" The karate master did as asked. "Really? Huh, I guess in that case it pays to be quirkless."
["You know, when I was younger sometimes I wished I was quirkless. You wouldn't believe how much trouble with the cops I could have avoided if I didn't have my quirk."]
"You're the master with a quirk?" Izuku couldn't help his flurry of questions, as he pulled out his analysis book and a pen and flipped to a new page. "What'sitsname? What'sitdo?Anyweakne-"
"QUIET!" Izuku's word vomit was promptly cut by the yell of his master. ["Ask your questions one at a time, brat. But in order, It's called Brewery, I can turn water into alcohol. As for weaknesses… none that I can think of."]
"Really?" The youngest disciple hands were a blur as he took notes. "Whatkindofalcohol?Canyouchose?Doyouhavearange?Doesit-"
"WHAT DID I SAY?!" After Izuku had been once again cut off, the master glanced away from him, scratching his cheek. "Shit, brat. You're the first person to be so interested in my quirk. "
"I-I just think that quirks are cool."
"Alright brat, since you're so interested I'll tell you what I know. By default my quirk makes pure ethanol, I actually help to keep Kensei's and Akisame's medical ethanol stores topped off. But if there is something that can be fermented in the water, you get a type of alcohol that is dependent on what is in the water. "
"You mean like, if there are grapes in the water then you get wine?"
"Yep, but my favourite is beer. Look." He said as he took out his flask, drank it dry, turned it upside down, fiddled with it for a moment and then popped the bottom off. Inside appeared to be a brown green paste.
"What is it?"
"A combination of barley and hops. This flask was a gift from Akisame, I can put what I want to ferment into this little compartment, and put water into the flask proper. It allows the water to seep into the ingredients, without allowing the ingredients to get into the flask proper."
"So it works like a sieve? Oh, wait, question. How does your quirk activate?"
"Contact and time. If I'm in contact with the water, either directly or indirectly, for about 30 minutes then –boom- alcohol. Also, just for the record, I don't know exactly how much water I can turn at a time, but I know there is some kind of upper limit and if I pass it nothing happens to the water. I can swim in the ocean without turning it to whiskey. [Alright, enough rest. Let's get back to it. ]"
Izuku chuckled at that mental image as he finished taking his notes, before quickly putting his book back and when back to punching the post. "Yes, master."
"It's…my…turn." The only female master said as she handed Izuku what he assumed was a practice sword.
Shigure Kōsaka was a mystery. She barely spoke. In fact, other than the few times he saw her training or the handful of times he saw her training Kenichi, she was almost invisible.
Other than the few times Izuku had seen her staring at him while he trained.
He couldn't make heads or tails of the weapon's master.
"We start…with….sword usage." She said as she pulled the apparently real tanto!? out of its sheath.
Izuku stared at the sword in his hand for a second before pulling it apart to show that-yes- his master had given him a real sword.
"Uhh, master." Izuku slowly re-sheath the sword. "Shouldn't I be starting with a wooden sword?"
"Really?" She tilted her head slightly.
"I mean…Wouldn't it make more sense? In case I mess up, it would limit the amount of damage I do by mistake."
She didn't seem to respond to that statement.
How can I convince her? What do I know about her? Nothing much. She's probably the person here I know the least about. The only thing I know about her for sure is that she's very good with weapons.
You know Izuku considered with a glance to the sword on her back I've never actually seen her without that sword. That's not saying much, since I've seen her so little, but maybe…
"Also, if I had a wooden practice sword I would be able to take it everywhere without the need for a license. After all, in the end, it would just be a stick."
It seems those were the magic words, as her eyes seemed to sparkle before she suddenly appeared next to Master Akisame, who had been preparing for Izuku's next set of lessons (Japanese), and started to whisper into his ear.
I am never going to get used to the masters' speed.
After a moment, something happened that caused Izuku to shiver in terror. A now familiar terror that usually preceded some insane new training. Akisame laughed.
"Oh, yes. I can certainly do that. It shouldn't even take long. Izuku, we'll be skipping your Japanese for today. Start practising with Shigure, I'll be right back." He then disappeared into the dojo, leaving Shigure with Izuku.
"Ahh, can we at least keep the swords in their sheaths for now?"
The weapon's master nodded. "Now, copy my stance. When holding a sword, face your opponent so that your side is facing them. Put your unused hand on your side, hold your sword in a straight line and hide your body behind it. And no matter what don't expose your neck, because if you get hit there it's game over."
As Shigure spoke she also fell into the described stance. Izuku did his best to mirror her, standing in front of her and mimicking her stance.
"Good. Now, can you attack me?"
Izuku didn't think he could lay a finger on this woman. That didn't mean he wasn't going to try. After a moment he tried to swipe at her front leg, only to have Shigure deflect the blow and quickly counter with a strike to the neck that she stopped short.
"You're…dead." She took a step back and slipped into her stance again. "Again."
The training continued for forty-five minutes and was brought to a close when Akisame remerged from the dojo, in his hand was a wooden short sword. "I'm finished with your request, Shigure. How was training?"
He felt the need to ask for a simple reason. There was a small smile on the female master's face. "It was…good. He…wants to … learn" she said before pointing to Izuku, who was currently sitting on the ground taking notes at an impressive speed. He looked worse for wear, expected after his sparing session, his ability to takes notes showed that he was okay.
"Izuku." The disciple in question looked up to the philosophical master, who presented him with the wooden tanto, handle first. "I believe this is the wooden sword you requested."
"Thank you master." He put up his book and took the bokken, only to nearly fumble it due to unexpected weight. It was much heavier than the real sword that he had been sparring with up to now.
Of course it's weighted. That must be what he was laughing about.
"It's getting late, masters. I think I'm going home for today. But before that, there was something I wanted to ask my senpaies."
"Okay, but before you go, there's something I wanted to ask." At Izuku's nod, Akisame continued. "Your hero note books, there are twelve others, correct?"
"Yes master, but I started them really young. Anything before number six isn't that great."
"Can you bring them to the dojo tomorrow?"
"Uhh, why? I mean I can do it, but I don't want to carry them all at once."
"Because your analysis is very, very good and talent like that should be nurtured. A small amount of polish and you could be as good as any professional analysis, maybe even become a professional yourself. I want to see all your past analyses, so I can understand how best to help you. And you don't need to bring them all at once."
Izuku was caught off guard by the sudden praise of his hobby, a hobby that most called creepy. "You-You really think so?"
"Of course, I can think of several people and groups that would pay a lot of money to get their hand on your book. Not all of them scrupulous. "
"That…doesn't sound right master. Who would be interested in my creepy hobby?"
"Shit kid, you can't be serious." Interjected Sakaki, as he lay to the roof of the dojo drinking from his flask. "If it's as good as Akisame says it is, and he's not one for unearned praise, the better question is who wouldn't be interested in it."
"Thank you, Sakaki. Now, Izuku, when you analyse heroes you note everything about the hero in question that you can, including strengths and weaknesses, correct?" Izuku nodded "Now, to answer your question, ask yourself who would be interested in the strength and weaknesses of a hero."
"You mean besides the hero themselves? So that they could improve." His jujitsu master nodded.
The strength and weaknesses of a hero. Who would be interested in the strengths of a hero? Who would want to know the weaknesses of a hero?
"Think about it this way. In a fight why would you want to know your opponent's weakness.?"
"So you can use it against them," Izuku answered immediately. "But I still don't get it, who would want to fight a hero. I mean other than a villain. But that still…wait."
"Give the brat a prize. He's figured it out."
"Sakaki." The master in question 'tched' and went back to his drink. Akisame then continued to address the disciple. "If a villain were to acquire your notes and had an issue with one of the heroes in said notes, their job has suddenly become much easier since they now know the best way to target said hero. "
Izuku was stunned. "My notebooks are….dangerous?"
"In the wrong hands, certainly. There is a reason they say that' knowledge is power', and power in the wrong hands is always dangerous."
"Should I get rid of them?" It would hurt to do so, they had been a part of his life for ten years, but Izuku was willing to do it if it meant that his work would not harm heroes.
"No. At least not yet. That is the other reason I want you to bring them here. I want to teach you some cryptography so that you'll be able to rewrite and encode your notes. From there it would be up to you to decide what you would want to do with your original books. If you think it would be best to destroy them then that's fine. If not then you can keep them here. I will help you to secure them."
"I-I…I'm sorry that's just a little overwhelming. Thank you for telling me." He then took out his burnt analysis book and handed it to his master, who took it.
"You are welcome. And don't worry about it; I will protect your hard work."
That actually did comfort Izuku. He gave his master a small, respectful bow, and went looking for his two senpais. It took him longer than he would have liked to but he eventually found them, sharing what looked to be a very tender moment behind the living quarters.
Izuku was kind of impressed that Kenichi was brave enough to do anything with Miu when the elder anywhere in the same country as her. He would just leave them alone, but he wanted to talk to them before he left.
Time to break it up without embarrassing them…too much.
Izuku went back around the corner and took a few steps before turning around and speaking as loudly as he could without actually shouting.
"I wonder where Kenichi-senpai and Miu-senpai are. I really need to talk to them. Could they be behind the living quarters? Let me just-"
"Izuku!" Kenichi popped from behind the living quarters, looking a bit flush. "Wher-where-what-I mean, what's up?"
Without batting an eye the youngest disciple spoke. "I wanted to ask you something. All the masters have been showing me techniques and I was wondering if you could show me something."
Kenichi's when from surprised to thoughtful in a heartbeat, and after a few more it shifted again to confident. "Actually, yes, I do have something in mind. It's the first thing I've ever learnt in fact."
"You mean that stepping method Miu-senpai taught you to fight Daimonji?"
"That's the one. I can show it to you now, it shouldn't take too long."
Izuku hesitated for a moment, before nodding.
Kenichi nodded and walked out to have some space, before facing Izuku and taking a fighting stance. "Now attack me."
The youngest disciple nodded, before suddenly lashing out with a punch, only to have his senpai seemly disappear from in front of him.
"Over here."
Izuku looked to the left, only to see a fist stopped millimetres away from his face. He was then suddenly flicked on the nose, causing him to flinch backwards and rub the affected appendage.
"Ow. Was that really necessary?"
"Not really." He took a few steps back, and then repeated the moves without a partner, first stepping forwards with his toes pointing towards each other and then pivoting outward. "The key is the movement of the feet. After taking the step forward, the forward foot then acts as a hinge, since when you put all of your weight on it that leaves the back foot free to move."
Izuku already had his book out and was taking notes and making a quick set of 2 drawings, showing both parts of the stepping method. "But why did it look like you disappeared?"
" Because of the weight distribution, you can wait until the last moment to move your upper body ."
"I get it. Let me try." Izuku said as he finished his notes, put up his book and took his stance.
"Just take it slow. And don't worry if it takes some time to-" Kenichi's then went silent as he saw what Izuku was doing.
Miu peeked her head out from her hiding place on the roof of the living quarters to see Kenichi crouching, knees to his chest, doodling in the dirt with a depressed air around him.
"Kenichi!" Miu jumped down and rushed to his side. "Are you okay?"
"Oh, yea, perfectly fine. Just watching the wonder disciple." Kenichi responded while pointing to Izuku.
Miu looked up to see the youngest disciple going through the stepping method. He wasn't perfect, shaking slightly with each step, be he managed to complete the movements.
"Go figure, it took me a week of walking to school using the stepping method to perfect it, and he's already on his way with just some coaching."
"He's also doing the whole thing without falling. It took you a while to do that, huh Kenichi?" This observation only strengthened the depressive air around the strongest disciple.
As Miu attempted to cheer up her boyfriend, Izuku noticed her at Kenichi's side. He stopped his brief practice and walked up to the two. He was about to talk to Miu when he noticed the state that Kenichi was in. "Kenichi-senpai, are you okay?"
Kenichi quickly snapped out of his mood. "Yes, I'm fine. You said you wanted to talk to Miu, right?"
"Huh? Me?" Miu looked caught off guard at that.
"Yes, Senpai. I wanted to ask if you could teach me how to jump."
"Ehhh?"
"I've seen how high you jump when you spar. Is that something I can learn, or is it your quirk?"
"It's not, but….I don't think I can help. I'm too busy."
"What if I cover some of your chores on the days you teach me?"
"…What chores?"
"Up to you."
"…. Deal."
"Thank you senpai. I really have to go now, though. It's getting really late. See you guys tomorrow." Izuku then ran out of the dojo and made his way home.
"Teach I'm going to the bathroom."
"Not only is there only five minutes left for school, but you would be the fifth person to be out using the bathroom. So I'm sure that you can-" He cut himself off as he looked up to see that Bakugo, who had made the proclamation of intent, had already been moving out of the classroom. "-Go ahead and use the bathroom. After all, there are only five minutes left in class, you won't miss anything."
Spineless. Bakugo stepped out of the classroom and closed the door. Out of the classroom, a student was waiting, who started flowing the explosive teen as he walked by.
"Bakugo, you ready?"
"Who do you think you're talking to you damned extra? I should be asking you that."
"Yea, everything is set up. We're also getting help from some of the other classes."
"Really? What did the damn nerd do to have people lining up to help kick his ass?"
"Some of them just want to help put the unevolved neanderthal in his place, but from what I've been hearing he's been getting in some peoples' way."
"Explain."
"Like last week someone from the class next door was…encouraging some of our underclassmen to part with their wealth. Then he steps in, insults the guy enough to piss him off then run away while the guy chased him down."
"And he didn't catch him."
"Has anyone even come close since he started to carry that wooden sword around with him?"
It had been six weeks since Deku had taken to carrying the aforementioned wooden sword around with him. And as much as Bakugo was loth to admit it, the extra was right. The nerd was just too fast. Just thinking about the fact that the nerd could outrun him caused his hands to start to crackle with mini-explosions.
"Whoa, whoa Bakugo calm down. I get it. Deku is so annoying I can't wait to kick his teeth in either. Always either sleeping or taking notes in that book of his. The worst part is he always has the answer, no matter the topic. I know I'm not the only one who thinks so. A few people in class try to help him remember his place, but it has not been working. You remember the thing with the chair three weeks ago?"
How could he not?
Bakugo had been glancing back at Deku for the last fifteen minutes. He was told that something Interesting might happen and he was bored in class, as they were covering a topic that he understood very well. After a few more moments, the nerd got up. And when that happened the extra behind him dropped something into his chair. Thumbtacks.
Boring, but whatever.
He waited for Deku's reaction when he sat back down, but when he did, nothing. He didn't even flinch. Bakugo was disappointed with the lack of reaction and he could tell that he wasn't the only one. The perpetrator of the 'prank' was visibly annoyed, so he decided to try again.
When a new teacher came and everyone got up to greet her the extra behind the nerd pulled his seat from behind him. Bakugo's expectation once again was thwarted as when Izuku moved to sit back down he did not fall. He just stayed there, sitting on nothing. Everyone in the class was just looking at the nerd, who was scribbling in his damned book.
The worst part is that he stayed like that for the rest of the school day.
"So, since gentle encouragement isn't working. We have to take it upon ourselves to correct Midoriya's recent attitude with a more firm hand."
Bakugo just grunted in response, before taking a turn into the bathroom.
After doing his business he exited and made his way back to the class, extra on his heels.
"You sure this is going to work?"
"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN, EXTRA?! Of course, it's going to work. We have enough people to block the doorway so he can't run, and the biggest extra in class is going to help grab him. And if he does get past us we also have people blocking the exit to the school."
"Good. I can't wait to get my payback."
"What did the nerd do to you?"
The extra following him paled slightly. "N-nothing I just want to beat him up."
He's lying. Without a moment of hesitation, Bakugo grabbed the extra by the front of his shirt and slammed him into a nearby wall. "Talk."
"I-I don't…" Bakugo held his other hand up and ignited a few explosions. "Okay, OKAY! He knocked me out."
"Keep talking."
"It was out of school. Me and my friend were just hanging out when we saw him. He was walking and doing something weird with his arms. So we decided to say hi. We went up to him but he just ignored us, one of my friends got annoyed and took a swing at him, but he just dodged. Then a cop came up to us. At first, I thought we were screwed, so we tried to play it off like we were friends. But Midoriya told him that we were attacking him."
"How are you not in jail?"
"We told the cop he's quirkless. After that, he was really kind to us and pointed out an alley that had no cameras. He even reminded us to take out the trash when we were done."
"Okay, so you got Deku alone then he kicked your ass?"
"I…guess? I don't really remember. We did take him into the alley, I had him against a wall. Then next thing I know I'm waking up hours later, with both of my friends still out cold. I got grounded for a week for coming home so late."
"Anything else?"
"Not really. Other than the fact that the last thing I remember was Midoriya being angry."
Deku? Angry? No way in hell. Bakugo couldn't even remember a time where his stress reliever was angry. He let the extra go and continued to make his way to class, the extra following.
If someone had said that they got knocked out by Deku two months ago he would have laughed in his face. But now it was just another sign that Deku has forgotten his place in the world.
It's time to remind him
When he got back to the classroom door, with less than a minute left, the rest of the extras were already in place; five for each of the two doors.
No way the damn nerd is getting past them.
The bell then rang, and the teacher was the first out, using the front door. He took a moment and looked at the group of students. He then locked eyes with Bakugo, gave him a small nod and left, the students parting ways for him.
Teacher's approval. Nice, but not necessary.
Then the bottom door opened with the nerd of the hour behind it. That damn bokken held in a holster along his lower back. Bakugo expected him to shake in fear or cower and beg since he couldn't run. But he only sighed.
"Kacchan can you please move?"
Did this nerd not realise what was happening? "Not until I teach you where you belong."
Deku was about to say something when a hand grabbed his shoulder. It was rock-face.
"Can you please let me go?" There was an edge to his voice.
"Oh, you don't know how long I've been waiting for this, you quirkless know it all."
Deku then looked back at Bakugo, and then his face started to change. His jaw clenched, his eyes sharpened and his breathing became audible.
Deku was angry.
What the hell?
Bakugo grinned and splayed his hands out, before causing some explosions. "Oh, you think you can fight me? Then come."
Deku didn't move, his expression didn't change. His right hand just grabbed the hand on his shoulder.
Then he moved.
Bakugo didn't even realise what happening until it was done. One moment they were getting ready to deal with Deku and the next rock-face slammed into him and two other extras courtesy of being tossed over the shoulder by Deku, who then slammed the classroom door.
"Get off of me-WHAT ARE YOU EXTRAS WAITING FOR?! GET HIM!" Bakugo yelled as he pushed the large extra off of him. The group of extras at the front door followed his instructions and ran into the room.
Bakugo picked himself up and expected to hear either sound of fighting or the extras catching the nerd. What he didn't expect to hear was…
"HE'S NOT HERE!"
"WHAT?!" Bakugo opened the door and walked into the classroom to see that the extra was right. The nerd wasn't in the room.
"HOW!? WHERE DID HE GO?!" He then grabbed the nearest extra and slammed her into the wall. "WELL?! ANSWER ME!"
"Let her go you damn b-" The dissenter suddenly lost his voice when Bakugo glared at him
"Thought so." He then turned his attention to the extra in his hand. "Well?"
The extra pointed at a window. "He jumped out the window."
"What? We're on the third story."
The rest of the class that were there were all in agreement with the extra he was asking. One extra thought it would be funny to say. "I guess he'd rather kill himself than deal with you."
"Who said that?!" No one responded. "Cowards." Bakugo let the extra go and went to the window, looking out of it half expecting to see the nerd splatted across the floor. He was surprising relieved when he did not. But that left the question.
"Where the hell is the nerd?"
As if responding to his question, the nerd appeared from the right side of the building, running at full tilt. After a few seconds, a few other extras came from the side of the building, revealing that they were trying, and failing, to chase him down.
"What?"
"Remember what I said about him getting in people's way." It was the extra that followed him to the bathroom. "That is usually the result."
"That doesn't matter." Another extra said. "He's still going to get stopped by the blockade."
But Bakugo had a feeling that it wasn't going to be that easy. Mostly because he was running, not towards the entrance, but an unremarkable section of wall. He half expected him to climb over the wall, but he didn't.
He jumped over it.
Useless Deku just jumped clean over an eight-foot-tall wall without breaking a sweat.
The extras that were watching through the window started with their chatter.
"What the fuck?" "He can jump so high" "Maybe he should join track and field."
"Wow. Are we sure he's quirkless?"
"Wouldn't he say something if his quirk came in?"
"Yes, I'm sure he'd tell the people who want him to kill himself all of his deepest secrets." The sarcasm was thick with that extra's statement.
"That dojo he's going to must be crazy. I think I might t-Gah. Bakugo-san? Wh-w-what's wrong."
The explosive teen had his latest victim against the wall. "Explain, and you better not leave anything out."
"About what? The dojo? Yea-yea sure. I saw Midoriya with a really good looking blond and a brown-haired, average looking guy." Bakugo growled at the description, remembering the high schooler that got in his way when he was teaching Deku. "So I got curious and followed them. They went to a dojo called Ryōzanpaku. I tried to go in but I couldn't open the door."
"You know where this place is?" The extra nodded. "Show me."
Today was a rest day for Izuku Midoriya, physically at least. He had just finished a mock test of the CAPUS and was waiting for Master Akisame to mark his mock test latest attempt when his mind went back to earlier in the day. Oh, Kacchan. He sighed.
"What's got you down Izuku? Is it the test?" Master Kensei sat down next to him.
"No, it's just Kacchan."
"What did he do this time?"
"He gathered a few of the other students to try and catch me."
"Honestly Izuku, how can you still defend him?"
"…I got angry at him."
"That sounds like an appropriate reaction to the situation. Now did you get angry because of what he was doing to you? Or did you have to pretend that he was doing it to someone else?"
Izuku didn't respond and looked away from the master. Who sighed.
"It's okay. Baby steps. You know that his actions were wrong and you responded correctly. Soon enough you'll be responding because it's happening to you."
Izuku remained silent.
Over the couple of months that Izuku had become a member of Ryōzanpaku the masters had learnt a bit about him. One of the things that the masters had made a concerted effort to change what the issues related to his self-worth. Ten years of constant abuse had left their mark on the teen.
His constant praising of his primary abuser had also rubbed every member of Ryōzanpaku the wrong way. And no matter how hard they tried they couldn't get Izuku to see what Bakugo was doing was wrong.
At least, until…
"What if it wasn't you?"
"What do you mean, Master Akisame?"
After a moment of silence, the jujitsu master spoke again. "Let's go through a quick thought experiment. Close your eyes."
"Okay." He did as instructed.
"Now I want you to picture someone. Anyone. Male, female, young, old, fat, skinny, just picture a random person."
Izuku did as instructed and came up with a tall, teenage female with black hair.
"Do you have that image in your mind's eye?" Izuku nodded. "And what's their quirk?"
"Uhhh…" Before Izuku could come up with a random quirk his master interjected. "The answer is none."
"O-okay…" It was funny how one aspect of a person changed so much. Before that instruction, he was imagining this random person with a normal, happy life, not his.
"Keep that image for a moment. Now, think about everything Bakugo Katsuki has done for you. Everything you can remember. "
Izuku flinched at that instruction, but he couldn't help but follow it. He couldn't help but remember every attack, every insult, every time Bakugo treated him as less than dirt.
"Now, Instead of you, I want you to picture the random person in your place."
For a moment he followed the instructions. It was a moment too long. He had barely gotten past the few months before he joined Ryōzanpaku before he opened his eyes. "It's not the same thing."
"And why not?"
"Because I'm…"
"Quirkless? Is that what you're going to say?" Izuku didn't respond. "So you would be okay with Kenichi being treated how Bakugo treats you?" Izuku shook his head. "Or me?"
That got a chuckle out of Izuku. "Sorry master, but it's kind of hard picturing you in that situation."
Master Akisame looked at him, face devoid of expression. "I wasn't always this strong."
"Your logic is flawed, Izuku. Because if it was okay to treat you how he does because you are quirkless, then you would also approve that treatment for little under 1.5 billion people. 25 million of which live in Japan."
"That number sounds high Master. Until I came here I had never met another quirkless person."
"That's because most quirkless people hide their status to avoid discrimination. But even if you were correct and that number was high. I know for a fact that you would attempt to intervene if someone was treating another person like Bakugo treats you. " Izuku said nothing, but mentally conceded the point.
"So, why is it not okay when it's someone else, but okay when it's you?" Izuku couldn't answer. "The answer is that it's not. It's not okay."
When Izuku remained quiet Akisame sighed. "Can you at least promise me that when Bakugo or whoever else tries to assault you again, that you try and picture them doing it to someone else?"
After a few moments of silence, Izuku nodded.
Izuku sighed again. "I guess it's just that I see that he's going to be a strong pro-hero. I just want him to live up to what he could be."
"And is he doing so now? If you were to look at it completely objectively, could you honestly tell me that as he is now he would be a good hero? And I'm not talking about all the flash and pomp. Do you think he would be good at helping people? Or that he would even want to?"
Izuku remained silent. He knew what the answer was, but he didn't want to say it. So he got up and moved to set up his canvas stand.
Akisame had not only taken note of his analytical skills, which he was helping to cultivate, but also his artistic talent. While flipping through his hero note book he noticed all the sketches. What Izuku learned that day was that his Jujitsu master was not just a martial artist and philosopher, but also an artist as well. He had taken it upon himself to teach Izuku about other methods of artistic expression, which the youngest disciple had taken to like a duck to water.
Izuku found it relaxing, and after the day he had, he could use some relaxation.
After setting up the stand and canvas he started to paint, taking inspiration from his two senpais who were sparring at the moment.
As he painted he looked back at the two months he had spent as a member of the dojo. Kenichi had been right; the masters had constantly ramped up his training every time it felt that he was getting used to it. Calling the training hard would be the understatement of the century, but it had already been showing returns. He felt stronger and faster. More than that, he felt better than he ever had. Not only physically, but he also felt less anxious.
The best part of it was that he had people who wanted to help him. The masters of Ryōzanpaku were the first adults to support him so completely. The only other person that came close was his own mother. And then there were his two Senpais. Kenichi was like the big brother that he never had, always taking time to help him in any way he could, from words or encouragement to help him learn something new. Miu had also supported him. She was great full for the help he had been giving her and in turn taught him a few things as well, including how to cook as he wanted to help her prepare the meals. They were some of the best people he'd meet.
Even if they pulled no punches when he was sparing with either of them.
Bruising aside, Ryōzanpaku had quickly become a place he felt safe and welcome. It had become a second home.
"You're not allowed to go back to that dojo."
And his day had been going so well too.
"What? Why?"
It had been a few days since Bakugo's failed efforts to catch him, and he had been curiously silent. Izuku had thought that he finally gave up. He also completed another mock exam for the CAPUS and felt that he had done well, but he did not get his results immediately. It was a bit weird, as usually, Akisame would just mark it the same time, but this time he said that the papers would be marked later. He didn't think too much about it, since he still had trained the same day. Shigure had put him through the wringer teaching him how to use a kusarigama, and he forgot about the slight inconsistence.
After his training, he ran home as usual, but when he got home his mother had said that they needed to talk, then she just opened by saying that he couldn't go back.
"I am well aware of just how horrible the people there treat you. I'm half tempted to sue them."
"What are you talking about? They've treated me better than any other adult I've ever talked to, except you and the Bakugos"
"…Does this include your teachers?"
"Yes, why?"
"Then we will be talking about your teachers after this. But that does not change anything. The way they treat you is probably illegal."
"Sorry for repeating myself, but what exactly are you talking about?"
His mother then pulled out her phone and went to her galleries, showing Izuku several pictures. Pictures of him. His training. Dozens of pictures that all captured the worst aspects of his training. From the angle they were at he assumed that they were taken from just over the walls of the dojo. Out of context, they looked really bad, especially moments like his master using a whip to keep him going when he ran.
"I'm fairly sure some of these 'training' methods could be classified as torture. You are not going back there, and that is final!"
Even though his mother has shouted he wasn't paying attention. When he saw the pictures he was trying to figure out who had taken them and given them to his mother. It actually didn't take much thought, as there was only one person who wanted him to give up and knew his mother.
"Did Kacchan give you those pictures?"
Inko's face shifted from angry determination to confusion. "How did-"
"There is only one person who knows you and has been trying to tear me down. He's just gotten worse since I've started running away from him."
"What?"
If Katsuki thought that Izuku would keep protecting him after he tried to rip the martial artist away from the only people that have ever tried to help him, then he was in for a nasty surprise.
"Bakugo Katsuki has done nothing but bully me for the past ten years. Only because I have been going to the dojo I've gotten fast enough to run away from him. "
"W-what? No that's not right, he only wants to protect you."
"PROTECT!?" Izuku had never thought he would be angry at his mother, but the idea that she believe that Katsuki was trying to protect him did the trick. "YOU THINK HE'S PROTECTING ME?!"
To say that Inko was surprised was like saying the ocean was big; true but widely understating the sentiment. She could never even remember a time that he had been angry before. "Y-Yes. He said that he was concerned. That you've been sleeping in class and you've stopped paying attention. He said that he was worried about you and found out about your dojo. He just wanted to protect you, don't be ang-"
"THIS IS WHAT HIS PROTECTION IS WORTH!" Izuku then ripped his shirt and undershirt off and one swift motion, reveal his scarred torso. "HE DID THIS!"
After a moment of silence, Inko spoke "Aren't those scars from when you two were younger? He couldn't control his quirk then, it's unfair to hold it against him."
"What? NO, IT'S NOT JUST FROM WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER! THIS ONE ON MY SHOULDER IS 2 MONTHS OLD! LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THE HAND PRINT!"
"… Wouldn't the old scars just stretch?"
Izuku was ready to should again until he realised something that took the wind out of his sails. "You're looking for reasons to trust him. Why are you looking for reasons to trust him?"
An uncomfortable silence fell between them that lasted for what felt like hours until she responded. "I agree with him. He thinks that you're going to get hurt if stay there and I agree with him. I think you're just upset with him for telling me what was going on. But you will get over it and realise that we both just want you to be safe."
"So, you trust him, over me?" Izuku was trying not to cry when he asked that question.
Inko's eyes couldn't meet with her son's, as she kept them to the ground. But she eventually whispered, "I'm sorry."
I wish you could hear how he talks to me mom, and then you really would be.
After a moment, that thought gave him a brain wave. He pulled out his phone and started to go through it, rubbing the tears out of his eyes. "Alright, then mom. Can you do me a favour?"
Inko was shocked by his sudden change in attitude. "What favour."
"Until I get off the phone, can you not make a sound?" When she nodded he then found Katsuki's number and rang it, pressing the speaker button. After a few moments, the explosive teen answered.
"Sup, nerd." He could almost hear the cocky smile in his voice.
"I half expected you not to answer."
"Normally I wouldn't waste my time with you, you useless Deku." Inko's eyes widened "But I have a feeling I know what this is about."
"So I just talked with my mother, and your name came up."
"And now you can't go to that fancy dojo of yours"
"She did, in fact, say I couldn't go back. Was that you're plan?"
"Of course. I was just soooo worried." Inko brightened, clearly missing the sarcasm.
"She said that you said that. Now, what's the real reason?"
"Like you can't tell, Deku."
"Spell it out for me. After all, I am a Deku."
"Okay then, you useless peace of shit. You've been getting too uppity, you forgot that you don't deserve anything. You are nothing but gunk under my shoe, but that dojo's been teaching you otherwise. We couldn't have that."
"So you got my mother involved." He looked over to his aforementioned mother, who currently had her hand over her mouth to cover the sounds of her weeping.
"And it was really easy too. After taking some pictures of your training I just had to show it to Aunty Inko and spin a story about being worried for you and she did the rest. "
"You don't get to call her that! Not after what you've said and done to me."
"Oh, and what are you going to do about it?"
"I could just tell her the instructions you keep giving me and got the entire class to repeat."
"Now listen here, you little shit. If you dare tell her that I'll kill you."
"What are you so worried about? At school, you repeat it at least twice a day."
"Because everyone knows that you're useless. All you're going to be good for is mooching off her. She'd be so much better off if you just listen to me and kill yourself already!" Izuku glanced over to his mother, who had taken to biting her finger to keep silent. She seemed more angry than hurt, but she had also not stopped crying.
"If you think so, why not tell her that yourself?" There was quiet on the other end of the line. "Thought so. Now let me tell you something. I'm not going to listen to her."
"What? You can't do that. You always listen to Au-" "What did I just say about calling her Aunty! And I don't care. The people of Ryōzanpaku are the first people to welcome me. They help me improve. I'm wanted there. So no, I'm not going to listen to my mother." As he spoke he looked directly at his mother, showing that his words were meant for her. His focus then went back to the call. "The only way you're going to get me to stop going is to kill me. So there are your options Bakugo, either step up and kill me or leave me alone." On that last word, Izuku hung up.
The martial artist did not glance at his mother as he went to his room, replaced the torn remnants of his shirt and packed a few change of clothes, including a set of school clothes. It was Friday, so there was a half-day of school tomorrow.
After packing the clothes he needed, and ensuring that his bokken was on his back, he walked to the door. He had hoped to avoid his mother, but that was wishful thinking as she ran in front of him spewing apology after apology.
He just walked around her. She tried to reach out and grab him, but she only got her hand on his bokken, pulling it out of its sheath as Izuku kept walking. After it cleared the sheath it dropped out of her hand and fell to the floor. She tried to pick it up but could not budge it due to its weight.
Izuku just turned around, bent down, picked it up and re-sheathed it. Unbothered by its weight. He then looked at his mother. "I need to cool down. I'll be back two days from now. Sunday afternoon. We'll talk then." He then turned around and went to the door and opened it.
"I'm sorry. I love you."
Izuku hesitated for a moment. "I know. I love you too." He then left, closing the door behind him
IM DONE!
As of Tuesday, I have completed my major project and am just waiting to graduate from my bachelors in computer science.
I Haven't mentioned it here, but the reason I've not been posting on this is because of my university major project, which I just finished.
The first thing I started to work on was this chapter. Between this and my shield hero fic I have so many ideas I want to work with. For anyone who reads that, expect an update within the next two weeks.
Tell me what you think of The Bakugo perspective. Is it OOC? What did I miss? Review and help me improve.
Grammar question for everyone, what is the plural of Sempai? Explain your answer.