AN: One quick thing before I get into this chapter. I want to make it clear that I've already chosen all of the various 'confidants' that Izuku will get in the story and what 'Personas' he'll get from each. That being said, some of the confidants didn't have anything I thought would be good/viable so there are a couple confidants where the Persona is one from a different Arcana but I thought could still work (given they can change which one they're tied to from game to game) and even some original Personas that fit the confidant/arcana. Secondly, I haven't decided who will get OFA so tell me WHO you want to get it and WHY. I'll read the reviews and work to have top choices for you all next chapter.

A Fool's Bonds

Chapter 2

-Bakugo-

Strutting into homeroom, Bakugo looked around smugly at all the various extras hastily moving out of his way. They knew their places and what the pecking order was unlike that damned nerd. Speaking of, the nerd wasn't anywhere in sight, his desk showing no signs that Deku had even arrived for the day. "Alright class, take your seats." The bored homeroom teacher called out, the extras all scrambling for their seats while Bakugo took his time, knowing damn well the teacher wouldn't say shit. Once he was kicked back, the teacher started calling roll, only getting a couple names in before there was a sharp knock at the door, a glance showing a tired looking hobo motherfucker standing outside. "Hey, get out of here!" the teacher scowled "This is a school, not a homeless shelter!"

"…My name is Shota Aizawa, I'm a pro hero." The tired looking hobo pulled out an authentic hero ID as the teacher paled and Bakugo had to repress an amused snort "I'm here to talk to you about one of your students." The now cowed homeroom teacher quickly followed the Pro Hero out into the hall while the class burst into a flurry of whispers.

"Think he's here to let you into UA early?" one of the extras, a fat fucker with wings, asked Bakugo eagerly while Fingers nodded along.

"Wouldn't be surprised." Bakugo smirked, feeling his confidence growing. That was put on hold though when he saw their teacher growing paler and paler, looking ready to throw up before nodding to the pro who departed.

"A-anyway." The shaken man picked up his clipboard to resume roll, noticeably skipping over Deku's name.

"Sir, you never called Midoriya." A brown nosing extra called out, adjusting a pair of glasses arrogantly.

"…That was what that Pro Hero was here about." The still queasy looking teacher set down his board, "Yesterday on his way home, Izuku Midoriya was the victim of a villain attack." The class went dead silent as even Bakugo was caught off guard "He survived, thanks to that Hero himself actually, but he's been pulled from our academy to be home schooled for now. Mr. Aizawa came to inform the school of the decision for the family as well as to assure us that the villain in question was caught so there's no need to worry for anyone else walking home to run into that same villain."

"Then…why do you look so green?" Fingers asked confused, the dumb extra not smart enough to figure out that the hero probably gave some details.

"The villain in question had a transformation quirk that turned his body to sludge which not only made him nearly impervious to harm, but allowed him to force his viscous form into the bodies of others to wear them like flesh suits for escape. He's apparently killed over twenty people this way." Now most of the extras were just as green as their teacher.

-Aizawa-

Running a hand down his face, Shota entered his favorite coffee shop, the place a personal safe haven from the usual frustrations and idiocies he had to deal with in his day to day life. "Hey Igor." He nodded to the owner, the man nodding back happily, "If a green haired kid shows up here send them to my table in the back would ya?"

"A green haired kid?" one of the baristas, Margaret, asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Mind out of the gutter." He rolled his eyes at the most mischievous of the various employees Igor kept around, "I saved him while I was on the job yesterday and told him to come here so I could check on him."

"Of course, Shota." Igor nodded, "I presume you'll be having the usual?" Shota nodded at that and went back to his corner booth, giving the café cat Morgana a pet on the head as he went. He'd barely been sitting down for five minutes before he heard the door open and Igor's usual words for customers he didn't recognize "Welcome to the Velvet Room!"

"H-h-h-hello." The stuttering voice was one he recognized "I-I'm supposed to m-meet a Mr. Aizawa h-here?"

"He's in the back." Margaret directed Midoriya to where Shota was sitting and sipping at his coffee.

"Y-you wanted me to come see you sir?" the kid looked both nervous as all hell while also struggling not to fanboy as he spoke.

"Yes." He nodded for the kid to sit down "I wanted to check on you after the attack yesterday and ask a few questions that were bothering me. Order something to drink, this might take a bit." Letting the kid speak with Margaret, Shota took the chance to organize his thoughts. "To start with, how are you feeling now that the hospital released you?" he knew the kid was physically fine thanks to the power of quirks and modern medicine, but he wanted to be sure.

"I f-feel great sir." Midoriya assured him, "M-mom was more worried than I was honestly." He grimaced "I…didn't expect her to suddenly pull me from Aldera but she's taking me to an agency next week to get tested and see where I'd need to focus on for home school. I think she's hoping I can skip some grades."

"Glad your health is good." Shota nodded, ignoring the mental voice of Hizashi and Nemuri calling him a softy. "Now, I have a couple questions about your quirk. You stated that it wasn't a flame quirk but a transformation one. Transform into what?"

"Do I need to talk about this?" the kid's voice turned soft and meek as he seemed to shrink in on himself, clutching at his cup of hot coffee, "I know I don't have a real quirk."

"I'll be the judge of that." Shota was used to people having low self esteem from their peers judging their quirk, having helped several Hero students who'd transitions over from General Education and had such hang ups, "So tell me how it works."

"…It's tied to the twenty-two arcana from tarot cards." Midoriya relented, "I'm number Zero, The Fool and I have a transformation that's tied to that form. Added to that when I make a bond with someone who embodied one of the other arcana, I gain a new form inspired by that. As that 'relationship' grows closer with them the form gets stronger and easier to use, all of them draining me at various speeds."

"So, the power of friendship." Shota suppressed his annoyance at the fact that if his kid even ended up in his class at UA, he'd have to shelve his 'if you're here to make friends then leave' bit. "So how many forms do you have?"

"I-including my Fool form…three." Midoriya admitted, "Look, can we not talk about this? I know I don't really have a real quirk, that I just take power from other people. I was just scared and desperate yesterday, I won't do it again."

"Midoriya, your quirk isn't stealing power from others." Shota hated having to play the therapist, but he knew this kid needed to get his head straight. After seeing that fucking school though it wasn't a surprise the kid's mental state was shit. "From what it sounds like, your quirk lets you take what you learn from your bonds and grow. I don't know much about tarot's, but each is supposed to represent something different yes?"

"Y-yes sir." Midoriya nodded, "They're supposed to represent the journey and growth of the Fool. The Fool is the zero, limitless potential. Each of the base twenty Arcana represent a different lesson they need to learn to grow. And then at the end is number twenty-one, The World."

"You see kid?" Shota did his best attempt at a smile, but it likely just looked as tired as he felt "It's your personal growth as you learn from others. I saw your application to UA," he'd looked into the kid's record the night before "and I promise. If you put in the work, then you can be a Hero." The kid looked ready to cry, eyes shining as he looked at Shota in a way nobody else had before.

"N-nobody's ever told me that." Midoriya sniffled, taking a sip from his drink, not noticing the cacophony of alarm bells going off in Shota's head at that simple sentence.

"Now kid, tell me what Arcana you have." Shota pulled out his phone, wanting to look up what each meant as they were mentioned.

"Well, as I said I'm Number Zero, the Fool." Midoriya spoke, watching as Shota typed it away into his phone.

"The Fool upright embodies beginnings, innocence, spontaneity, and a free spirit." Shota read out "Reversed embodies holding back, recklessness, and risk-taking. So, these have multiple meanings?"

"Yes, I think it's supposed to be two sides of a coin for each embodiment." Midoriya admitted "That form I've had since the moment my quirk awakened. The second one I have is number twenty, Judgement."

"So, these don't need to go in numerical order?" Shota noted that down as he pulled up this Arcana "Judgement upright embodies judgement, rebirth, inner calling, and absolution. When reversed it embodies self-doubt, inner critic, and ignoring the call."

"It's my mother." Midoriya shrunk in on himself more. As he spoke, Aizawa considered what he saw of the woman yesterday, Izuku's words of her hoping he could skip grades, which would interfere if one was trying to join a Hero course. What this 'Judgement' tarot card could represent. Midoriya wanted to be a hero, and his mother probably didn't want him to be one. She, even if unintentionally was feeding Midoriya's self-doubt, urging him to ignore the call.

"And the final arcana?" Shota pressed, having a guess who it would be.

"Number Seven, The Chariot." Midoriya nodded as it got typed in as well.

"The Chariot upright embodies control, willpower, success, action, and determination. Reversed embodies self-discipline, opposition, and lack of direction." Shota read out the arcana description "I'm guessing this one is your father?"

"My…my childhood friend Kacchan." Midoriya shifted awkwardly, "My father's…never been around enough for me to gain an arcana from him."

"Was this…'Kacchan', the one who told you that you didn't have a real quirk?" Shota was used to reading between the lines of teenagers' words and the wince from the boy showed he hit the nail on the head. "Like I said before, you can be a Hero. And more than that, I expect to see you at the UA entrance exam." The kid looked at him wide eyed, "Follow me out back, I want to get a bit more information on your quirk." Nodding, Midoriya followed him, Shota tossing some money to Igor to pay for their drinks as they walked out behind the coffee shop. "Alright, do one of your transformations."

Midoriya nodded nervously but took a deep breath, willing to obey Shota's orders "Number Zero," Midoriya's voice had a bit of an echo as he spoke, eyes snapping open to reveal shining golden pupils "The Fool!" cerulean flames enveloped the boy, passing across his body, expanding s his form changed before fading away to reveal a young man in armor and carrying a blade, animals imprinted upon the armor itself "Momotaro!"

AN: I know I didn't show what the other persona's he already has are but that's intentional. Personas won't get shown until he transforms into them for the first time. Gotta save some fun reveals after all. But yes, the Fool Persona here is 'Momotaro'. If you don't know the story I'd recommend watching 'Overly Sarcastic Productions' video on the story.