Blank Canvas: Convictions

by jokeraddict0

Part 2 of Blank Canvas! Izuku and Hitoshi have done it. A Quirkless and a Villain have faced every challenge and set back and have successfully fought their way into the Hero Course. Now all that was left was to become Heroes and make a better world. If the world lets them that is. Will their convictions hold out? Only time will tell!. (Tuesday updates, Tododeku, mxm)

12. Weather The Storm

The rest of the weekend was calm for the most part. As soon as his friends had left, Izuku was pulled into a hug by his mom. Now that they were alone, she felt free to express her distress from the second meeting she had attended the day before. Her son returned the hug and they stood there holding each other for a moment before retreating to the living room to sit on the couch.

Cuddling close together much like they had after the Sports Festival, Inko filled Izuku in on what had happened as the TV ran in the background. Not in excruciating detail but enough so that he was in the know of how the meeting had turned out. When she told him of watching the recording, Izuku didn't like the fact that his mother had to see all that had happened but he also wasn't surprised that Nezu had shown it. With that kind of evidence there was no way Bakugou would have been able to worm his way out of his consequences.

Even though the viewing of the recording was useful in regards to addressing Bakugou's bullying problem, Izuku still hated that his mother had to see it. Had to witness just how messed up their relationship had become. From childhood friends to aggressor and victim. Had to be shown the harsh treatment the Quirkless boy had grown up with outside of their home. The insults, the anger, and of course the violence.

But what the younger greenette especially didn't like about his mom watching the video was that now she knew of the suicide baiting. When she had brought that up, the two Midoriyas both became emotional messes. Tearful concern from the mother met with equally tearful assurances from the son that he never ever considered following through. That he would never be able to do that leaving his mother behind. He could never do that to her. Nor could he do such a thing to himself. Giving up on his dream, his life, because someone else told him to. He was too stubborn for that.

His mother hugged him tight as if fearing that if she let go, he would disappear or something. The son hugged her back doing his best to let her know he wasn't going anywhere. They stayed like that for a while just holding each other until they were able to accept what had been said, remember it but let the topic rest. But it wasn't the only touchy subject they talked about as he had to do his best to talk her down from going after All Might.

Inko reluctantly agreed to not turn her motherly wrath towards the Number One Hero. She hadn't been as upset with the man before when she had first been told by Izuku that All Might himself thought a Quirkless Hero was an impossibility. At the time she had been in agreement after all. As well as grateful the man had saved her son from a Villain. But her feelings towards the Symbol of Peace were different now.

All Might had been Izuku's Hero. His inspiration for becoming one himself. It didn't matter to the Quirkless boy that he would never be on the same level of power as the Hero with limitless strength. That wasn't what he looked up to in the Number One Hero. No, it was his drive to help in any way that he could. Whether that be fighting the most intimidating Villains or saving as many lives as he could.

However, the Hero's rejection on top of Izuku being told to kill himself compounded even further with being attacked by a Villain all on the same day could have been enough to make him want to end his life. Thankfully Izuku was stubborn and had a strong will to live. To continue existing in this world that had been rejecting him since his Quirk never developed. Where his potential wasn't seen until he had been accepted into his dream school and finally had teachers, Pro Heroes, who actually cared.

Despite what All Might had said, her son still held him to a certain esteem. It was All Might after all. The Hero that saved people with his signature hope inspiring smiling. A quality Izuku still aspired to emulate no matter what ranking of Hero he would become. The man's words still stung whenever he was reminded of them but the Quirkless boy chose to use them as motivation to prove the Number One Hero wrong. And with him winning the Sports Festival over all, he hoped that he had succeeded.

The two Midoriyas were able to move past the subject of All Might and his careless crushing of the Quirkless boy's dream. But much like the baiting words, neither would pretend they never happened. Especially the latter. Inko hated that the boy she had considered a nephew at one time had said such a thing to her baby. How could someone who wanted to be a Hero tell another who had the same goal to kill himself in hopes of getting a Quirk in his next life. After having talked about it with Izuku, it made her realize that she too didn't know Katsuki any more and resolved to no longer refer to the boy by his first name.

Bakugou was no nephew of hers.

Inko would still stay friends with Mitsuki and Masaru though she may keep her distance for a while until the figurative dust settled. She hadn't really thought the way Mitsuki had raised Bakugou was anything bad as their children grew up. The blonde mother hadn't been abusive or anything to her thinking. Just more stronghanded with a characteristic tendency to be…fiery with her words. But Mitsuki had realized that maybe her parenting had influenced her son and Inko knew her apology had been sincere. Having her willingly decide to go into therapy herself should help. Maybe even inspire her son to take his own therapy seriously. One could hope.

Bakugou had reacted to his punishments as the Quirkless boy had predicted. Explosively with his ever-present anger but still reluctantly accepting them to stay in UA. Though it did surprise Izuku to learn his ex-childhood friend had done and said all that to him with some warped intention of protecting him. The greenette wasn't sure how he had come to the conclusion of beating the Hero out of him was the best method. Obviously, it wasn't a very Heroic thing to do.

But now he had been served his consequences. Or at least the start of them. The majority Izuku had already known but Nezu had added one he didn't. Forbidding Bakugou from calling him 'Deku'. The greenette understood why as it was a nickname meant as an insult. But he had been called that by the explosive teen since they were four. It would be a hard habit to break and Izuku doubted it would ever completely go away. Guess he'll have to wait and see.

The rehabilitation of the blonde would take time. It had taken a decade for him to grow into the misguided bully he was today. Hopefully though it wouldn't take as long to rectify his behavior and the way he thinks of the world. Teach him to curb his anger and help him realize he wasn't the center of the universe anymore. Wasn't the sun with all the extra planets orbiting his egotistical radiance. Rather he was a mere speck of light amongst the billions of other stars floating around in space. Neither above or below anyone else. Equal.

Bakugou now knew his punishments but that wasn't all he learned. He knew Izuku had been Hiro. Observing his training incognito in disguise and under an assumed name. He also knew that the greenette was Nezu's personal student and that the Heroes acknowledged the value of his 'stalker notebooks'. As well as that Aizawa and Yamada had helped Hitoshi and him train for the Sports Festival.

Though above all of the things the explosive teen now knew, the most life changing and definitely aggravating for the blonde was that Izuku was going to be a Hero. Despite all of Bakugou's efforts to try and convince him to not follow his dreams, he would anyway and so would Hitoshi. Together they were going to be part of 1-A and become official Hero Course students in spite of the world saying they couldn't.

Thankfully because of Bakugou's suspension, they wouldn't have to interact with the blonde for two weeks. A reprieve to give them a window of time to acclimate into their new class and get to know their new classmates. Though he realized he did know a fair amount of them already. What with being friends with Kirishima, Ochako, Iida, Tsuyu, and of course Shouto. Then there were the potential friends Kouda, Tokoyami, Yaoyorozu, and Jirou who he had met and talked to during the festival. There were a few others he had interacted with too such as Kaminari, Ashido, and Ojiro.

Huh, that's over half the class. Go figure.

The realization of that was funny to him. Sure, he had already met with all of 1-A before while observing their training and helping during the USJ attack. But the hidden greenette had been an observer. A guest to their lessons meant to mostly watch. Yet Izuku had befriended quite a number of students in 1-A before even being transferred to the class. Having exponentially more close connections to his future classmates than he had with his previous ones in 1-H.

In that class he had really only been close to Mei as they were mostly ignored by the others. They hadn't necessarily been mean or anything to the pinkette and him. Merely seeing them as the crazy baby lady and her weird muttering friend. Mostly leaving the two friends to themselves and their strange antics. The worst they had done had been the judgmental words that were spat at him after the Award Ceremony. Ones that Mei had been quick to defend against which Izuku had appreciated but had felt it was futile.

People would believe what they wanted to believe. About the world and themselves. Of Heroes and Villains. Quirked and Quirkless. There wasn't much one could do to change that as one single person. Yes, change can start with one person but it takes numbers for it to be effective. Much like with those who thought he could be a Hero.

At first it had just been Izuku. A Quirkless boy with a dream. His mother didn't believe but his father thought he could at least try. No one at school thought it was possible. Not his peers nor the teachers. Bakugou definitely didn't. Not even All Might believed.

But Chizome did.

It had taken a decade of being considered a hapless Quirkless daydreamer to meet the man who was the first to truly believe in him. A peculiar twist of fate of an aspiring Hero being pushed to follow his dream by a Villain known for attacking false Heroes. A man who had an ideal vision of a Hero and in fact saw that vision in him. Quirkless little him.

After his total of one person believing in his seemingly impossible goal became two, the numbers of believers in his dream only grew from there. Mei had accepted his aspirations with ease and even helped him brainstorm ways to achieve them. Hitoshi shared his goals while having experienced the similar shunning of his ambitions because of his Quirk status. But despite that they had worked together to get into the Hero Course. His other friends knew and supported his dream. Never once judging him for his lack of Quirk. Even the teachers, the Heroes, believed and offered him every manner of assistance they could to aid him in reaching his goal.

But much like how Mei had been one voice against many in that prep room, the bubble of different that was UA was but one facing a menagerie of needles threatening to pop it. The whole world was so much bigger than a single school. Filled with people who wrote Izuku off as soon as they learned of his Quirk status. Like the people in the crowd who had booed him.

Standing on that podium with the gold medal around his neck while the masses protested a Quirkless winner had been devastating. But he didn't let it show as he had feared yet expected as much having heard similar jeers before. Which was why he had asked Yamada to announce his Quirk status when he either lost or won over all. Rip off that bandage and air out the wound. Get the judgment over and done with rather than let it fester.

The negativity he had expected, long used to it after so many years. However, the continued support from the Heroes had been a surprise. Pleasant yet unexpected but very much appreciated. The offers of training in various forms. Saving him from being attacked by his bully. Actually caring about his schooling as well as his safety. Wanting justice for the mistreatment he had experienced growing up. Starting with a certain explosive blonde and eventually his past schools despite Izuku thinking it wasn't necessary. The past was the past and there was nothing they could do to change it.

But they were going to anyway even though he thought it would ultimately be in vain. UA may be different with how they viewed the Quirkless but again UA was just one school. The world outside of its protective barrier was vast and full of people who judge others by their Quirk status. Label one person a Hero, another a Villain, and yet another 'useless' all because of the power they were born with or, for Izuku, without. It was treatment he was so used to that he wasn't sure what going after his past schools would do.

Then again, this was UA. A school just so different from his past ones. Filled with teachers who actually cared about their students no matter their Quirk or what course they were in. A fact he knew from personal experience with the support of Aizawa, Nezu, Yamada, Shuuzenji, and the other teachers of UA. It gave him a glimmer of hope that perhaps one school would be enough to take down another. Though he still doubted it would have any major impact on society. But much like Bakugou potentially not calling him Deku anymore, Izuku would just have to wait and see. There was no use pondering 'what if's when he had no power over the possible outcome. As the saying goes, only time would tell.

Well time had been busy telling tales that weekend. Yesterday especially. Hitoshi and Izuku were offered the transfers they had hoped for. The mess that was Izuku's relationship with Bakugou was revealed. As well as the significantly less than stellar education the ex-childhood friends had received from up. Prompting the Heroes to look into and take down his past schools. Then of course Bakugou had been confronted with his misdeeds and dealt his consequences.

Now apparently it was time to address the populous though Izuku still didn't think it would help much. But the principal had said he would and the greenette knew he was a mammal of…well, principle. Later that same Monday, Nezu held a press conference in regards of him being a Quirkless student in UA as promised. The principal defended the school's acceptance of him as there was no rule to bar someone without a Quirk to apply to UA. Or to participate in the Sports Festival with everyone else. He also cited the rule that allowed Support students to use their own Support Items so as to avoid questions on that.

The reporters questioned what would happen now that the two top students were not in the Hero Course. The chimera revealed the decision to transfer them to the Hero Course as it was the school's desire to train them and the students' desire to do so. When questioned as to why they were allowing a Quirkless person to be in the Hero Course at all, Nezu sidestepped the offhanded jab by informing them that both had desired to be a Hero when applying to UA, but one had failed the test and the other did not try for the Hero Practical at all.

The chimera explained vaguely of Hitoshi's predicament of having a Quirk that did not fit the current parameters of the Hero Practical. Not going into details of the brainwasher's Quirk or the exam itself. But letting slip they were working on improving the entrance exam to be more differentiated. Finally. Then the mammal explained how Izuku hadn't taken the Hero Practical at all. Citing his own argument points he had brought up during their meeting on Sunday.

It warmed Izuku's heart that his mentor agreed and even used his own words to defend his personal student. Showing the principal's faith in him and his dream. There were still some protests from the crowd as to why Izuku was in the Hero Course. Questions how a Quirkless person could ever be a Hero with no Quirk to defend themselves. Again, Nezu brought up Izuku's own points about how Quirks were merely tools a Hero uses in the field and how as a Quirkless person, the greenette was simply evening the playing field by making his own. Even disclosed his goal to make Quirk Replicating Support Items.

There were murmurs amongst the reporters about the concept of Quirk Replication. It's possibilities and applications. Wonderings as to who the Quirkless boy had taken inspiration from for the Support Items he had used during the festival. Concessions, some reluctantly given, that the use of Support Items in lieu of a Quirk had been effective. Especially in this case as the Quirkless boy armed with Support Items had won first place over all others in the televised Sports Festival. A bittersweet acknowledgment but a better one that Izuku had expected.

Though to be honest, Izuku wondered why him being enrolled was any of their business or their call for him to be transferred to the Hero Course. It was his life, not theirs. What gives them the right to say he could be a Hero or not? The only person who got to decide that was himself. That and, well, Nezu as he was the principal of UA. Which he had and come tomorrow Hitoshi and Izuku would be officially part of the Hero Course.

There wasn't much the greenette could do about those who still judged him but he already knew that. There was only so much one press conference could do to persuade the people to accept him for who he was. The first Quirkless student in the Hero Course of the prestigious UA. Following his dream to become the first Quirkless Hero. A goal that he was one step closer to achieving with the help of his friends, family, and mentors.

The Midoriyas spent the rest of the day together. Stepping out briefly to go to the store for their needed groceries to restock the void left after having four teenagers in one place for multiple meals. After that, they both camped out on the couch. Inko with a book and Izuku with his Quirk Replication notebook. He wanted to get a head start on planning out his ideas for remaking and improving his Support Items. There was one week before the internships and he needed to use his time as efficiently as possible in order to be ready for whatever was in store.

...

In a worn down and graffitied building, Torino Sorahiko, aka retired Pro Hero Gran Torino, sat at his kitchen table snacking on fresh taiyaki straight from the microwave while checking the news. He was reading an article of UA's supposed new 'charity case'. A Quirkless boy with a bright smile sporting the first-place gold medal. The article leaned more on the biased side questioning how a Quirkless child could win the Sports Festival and then be in the Hero Course.

That part of the article he didn't agree with. He had known plenty of Quirkless people in his day and they had been able to do everything a Quirked person could just fine. He had even met young Toshinori before he had been given One For All. Perhaps lacking strength being a bean pole of a boy but with some training his strength grew. Then adding One For All into the mix just multiplied that strength by ten. Or rather eight as Toshinori was the eighth holder of the inherited Quirk.

But One For All wasn't what made Toshinori a Hero. Rather it was his heart and aspersions to help people and be the Symbol of Peace. Which One For All did help with for sure but that wasn't all that made up All Might. It was his smile and assuring words. His willingness to help everyone no matter how big or small the problem was.

So no, Sorahiko did not agree with the article on that. The boy had shown the strength to fight as well as the drive to help people as he had during the first event of the festival. This young Midoriya Izuku would make a fine Hero if he was so inclined. But there was one thing of interest to the retired Hero.

Quirk Replicating Support Items, huh?

Sorahiko pulled up the archived footage of the festival and studied the gear the boy had made. Trying to figure out whose Quirks he had replicated. Most of them the old man couldn't figure out like the shield or smoke bomb. Though he could guess some of them had been inspired by other students. Like the various electric Support Items by that blonde the greenette had gone up against and won. And the tape gun thing that was similar to the black-haired teen that had gone up against the youngest son of Endeavor. Having lost completely but had still been able to show some skill with his Quirk. But there was one Support Item Sorahiko had particular interest in.

The shoes.

The way the boy was jumping around reminder Sorahiko of his own Quirk, Jet. Though with some modifications such as the skating. His Quirk allowed him to push jets of air though his feet giving him increased speed and kicking power. He could also use it to fly short distances quickly which led to his fighting style of bouncing from surface to surface to keep his enemy confused. But he had never managed to skate. Or fly too high. The amount of air he could shoot through his feet all depended on his breathing. Pushing him to do breathing exercises to strengthen his lungs and increase the amount of air he breathed in.

Despite the differences, the similarities were obvious. To him at least, but he could be wrong though he didn't think so. Either way it was impressive. The tech as well as the kid's potential knowledge of the elderly Hero if he actually had replicated his Quirk. He was retired after all and the media coverage wasn't as…extensive as it was today. The boy must have done serious research to learn about him.

Because of this as well as his impressive feat of winning the UA Sports Festival without a Quirk, Sorahiko kind of wanted to meet this kid. The Quirkless boy who reminded him of Toshinori. With the origins of being Quirkless, the bright smile, and most of all the desire to be a Hero.

The kid would make a fine Hero one day despite those who thought the idea of a Quirkless Hero as absurd in this Quirked day and age. But Heroes come in many forms and the desire to help was the most important part of being one which the kid had in spades. As evident by him putting the safety of others over a high placement earlier on in the festival. Already acting the Hero before even being accepted into the Hero Course. Warming his old taiyaki fueled heart that one of the young people cared about the people more than a ranking as was focused on too much nowadays.

So yeah, he wanted to meet this kid.

...

Come Tuesday morning, Izuku woke up to rain. The kind of weather that was usually associated to feelings of gloom and doom. But the typical pathetic fallacy did not match his actual mood. For he was feeling the opposite of sadness and in fact actually felt a buzz of excitement under his skin as he laid in his bed. Because today was going to be his first official day in the Hero Course.

It still almost didn't seem real and probably wouldn't hit him until he was actually in the classroom. That or training. Maybe not even until he finally wore his Hero costume for the first time. Or rather, Hero uniform as the term 'costume' leaned more towards Chizome's thoughts of modern-day Heroes serving more as a 'role in a play'. But anyway, whenever it was, it would eventually register to his brain that he had done it. For now, though, the fact that he was now a student in the prestigious UA Hero Course was still sinking in.

After a few minutes of lying in his bed listening to the rain, Izuku got up and started to get ready for the day. He got dressed in his uniform sporting his signature disaster of a tie and packed his backpack with an additional fresh notebook to start off in his new class. The son shared a pleasant breakfast with his mother and once they were finished, he filled a thermos with coffee before putting it into his backpack. Once he was ready to go, Inko wished him good luck with an encouraging kiss to the forehead before he headed out the door with an umbrella in hand.

The rain fell at a steady pace as he made his way to school. Thankfully it wasn't too heavy and wasn't paired with a strong wind. Sideways rain was the worst. The weather also gave him a sort of anonymity with the cover of his umbrella and the fact that everyone was more concerned with getting to their destination as soon as possible. The reprieve from getting recognized as UA's 'charity case' was nice though he knew it wouldn't last forever. But for now, he would enjoy it.

It didn't take him long to get to the station. Once he was inside, he shook out and closed his umbrella before tapping his student commuter pass and walking to the platform to wait for his train. As he stood there blending into the morning crowd as he did every day, a perk of being 'plain looking', Izuku reminisced on the long weekend. One that had been well warranted after the long Saturday that was the Sports Festival. A day that had been even longer for Izuku what with his meeting with Chizome.

Shouto-kun too since he had to deal with his father's 'training'.

When Shouto had shown up at his apartment hurt, Izuku had found himself feeling less guilty about sending the Hero Killer after Endeavor. Something had to be done about the Todoroki situation though he wasn't sure what else he himself could do other than giving his request to Stain. He wished he could do more but felt his hands were tied without Shouto's permission. It wasn't his place and he didn't want to break his friend's trust by airing out all of Endeavor's dirty laundry. At least not directly. But by proxy of Chizome gave him some sense of doing something to help Shouto.

Hopefully the man would be able to dig up some kind of evidence against the sad excuse of a father. He had to have some version of connections as a Villain since his information on the Heroes he targets had to come from somewhere. He had hope that Chizome would collect some proof enough to at the very least find a way to get the children of the Number Two Hero away from him. Out from under his influence.

At least Shouto-kun knows he can always come to us. Knows he has a safe place to go if he needs to.

Thankfully, his friend had a break from the man the whole weekend. Had been able to experience a sleepover for the first time. Playing games, watching movies, sleeping in a blanket fort, cuddling…that last one brought a blush and a fond smile to his freckled face. Anyway, Shouto had left the Midoriya apartment with new memories and experiences. Ones they could hopefully repeat and add to in the future.

It had certainly been an eventful weekend. Saturday had been the long and exhausting Sports Festival. Sunday the delightful yet stressful meeting with Nezu and then the start of the sleepover. Then Monday the end of it, sadly, but had the press conference where Nezu had defended his right to be in UA's Hero Course. But that wasn't all as Monday had also brought two other interesting developments while he and his mom had been spending time together.

First, someone, who had way too much time on their hands, had made a transcript of Hitoshi's and his final match and had posted it online. With the arena being so big and the stadium even more so, the crowd hadn't been able to hear what they had been saying to each other. However, through lip reading, that someone had been able to figure out what they had said to each other and revealed to the world all the jokes they had traded.

The reaction was mixed same as the public's reaction to Izuku winning the festival. Some thought it was clever to use jokes to fight. Like the Smile Hero Ms. Joke who praising them for their 'pun'derful word play as she too used humor in her work with the help of her Quirk, Outburst. However, others thought that they hadn't taken the match seriously. But they had no idea how wrong they were about that.

The release of the transcripts of their final fight were followed by ones for their other matches. At least the ones you could see their mouths moving. Like Hitoshi's fights against Shiozaki and Tokoyami. Or Izuku during the Cavalry Battle. But not so much the ones they couldn't. Such as Izuku's fights against, well, everyone before Hitoshi due to his mask as well as the smoke bomb he had used against Ashido. Or Hitoshi's fight against Bakugou due to the sheer amount of smoke from his explosions.

There were still transcripts of what you could see of those fights. As much as the different camera angles and obscuring effects allowed. But the records of partial, and one-sided in Izuku's case, battle banter were not a popular as the full fight dialogues. Something Izuku was thankful for primarily because of his fight with Shouto. The greenette had talked about some touchy subjects to break down the walls of his stubborn friend. All in hopes of getting him to use his fire which he did eventually.

But he would hate for his friend to out himself unintentionally and only because some rando on the internet decided to put their fight under a magnifying glass. There were still snippets they did manage to catch but none were too damning other than revealing Shouto didn't really care for his old man. Which some found surprising as his father was a Hero like he was trying to be. While others surmised that he may be a more hands-off kind of parent leaving his child more independent and possibly not forming a close bond with his son because of that.

Oh, how wrong they were because Endeavor was a lot more hands on than they could imagine. The harsh training and even his attempts at hand picking his DNA through a Quirk marriage. But none of the bits of that were transcribed revealed those facts of his life as Izuku had mentioned them under his mask. However, the people on the internet did pick up on their, uh, 'fight' within their fight. When Shouto had questioned if Izuku was actually his friend or not. But they assumed whatever tiff they had been having was resolved since the greenette had cupped the other's face at the end of their match. Igniting whispers of if it was a fight between friends or a quarrel between…more than friends.

They could speculate all they wanted because even Izuku didn't know the answer to that.

But again, that fight among Izuku's others where he wore his mask were not as viewed or discussed as much. People favoring to dissect the complete conversations as there was more to analyze and pick apart. Which made Izuku worry about Hitoshi and the possible reveal of his Quirk. There were theories for sure but the closest they got to guessing was that it had a verbal component. However, with Hitoshi mixing up how exactly he took control left inconsistencies in most theories leaving his Quirk thankfully mostly unknown.

All in all, it was strange for the public to be picking apart their banter when no one had cared to know before.

The second interesting thing was that the report on the recording of Stain calling for help for Ingenium had been taken down. By order of the Hero Commission was Izuku's guess. Not surprising since it showed a Hero in a poor light while putting a Villain in a better one. But, as the saying goes, the 'internet is forever' and as soon as it had been posted that first time, no matter how many times it was taken down it would resurface somewhere else for people to find.

This too received a mixed reaction. Many held the belief that the recording proved nothing. That Stain was simply a Villain who had attempted to attack one Hero and then immediately had gone after another. That the call for an ambulance using the emergency app was all for the attention. While others protested that he had done it to save the Hero and started to question why he had targeted Native in the first place. Speculating that there must be some reason as the man had specifically said that Ingenium hadn't been a target.

Izuku wondered that too. Asking himself why Native had been singled out. Knowing that there had to be some kind of corruption for the man to become one of the Hero Killer's marks. Because Chizome was a man of reasons. While the greenette didn't approve of the man's methods, he knew that the Villain did not attack another without reason. Whatever it was, it was not something a Hero should do.

Those that started to question as to why Native was targeted also wondered why the Hero had waited to report the attack. Why he hadn't just called it in rather than going to report it in person. But that question never received an answer as the Hero hadn't been seen publicly since the incident. Most likely due to the Hero Commission's orders though whether to protect the man's life or his reputation was unclear.

Punctual as always, the train arrived breaking him out of his thoughts and Izuku went with the crowd as they boarded then departed same as every morning. As someone normally described as plain looking, mostly people dismissed him unless he got in their way. Which was very rare since he had learned long ago to not be in anyone's way as much as possible. From avoiding bullies and discriminating teachers and all that. So typically, the commute to school was uneventful and quiet.

But this time, it was different.

"Hey," a male voice whispered from behind him. "Hey you. You're Midoriya, right? The winner of the Sports Festival?"

Izuku was startled by the unexpected recognition and looked up from his phone to see a man in a black business suit, short dark hair, and the smallest of eyes. Around him, other commuters looked up from their devices at him to see if it was true.

"Congratulations on placing first," the man said, just as quietly with a wink and a thumbs up. "You really fought hard out there. Great job!"

More people turned to look at the greenette who suddenly found himself surrounded by watchers of the Sports Festival. Thankfully many that were close to him were supportive, giving their own well wishes amongst other comments of how he was shorter than they had thought.

Why do people keep focusing on my height?

He was being showered with kind words by strangers and it was kind of overwhelming. This was way more attention than he was used to on his morning commute. Izuku appreciated their praise though. It made him feel appreciated and acknowledged for his efforts. That is until…

"It's definitely quite a feat," one train goer commented. "Especially since he's Quirkless and all."

The people around him continued talking as if nothing was wrong but internally Izuku froze.

"Yeah, not bad for a Quirkless kid," another added.

Why?

"I know, right?" yet another said. "Who'd have thought someone Quirkless could beat all those powerful Quirks?"

Why did it always come to that?

It was praise but with a Quirkist after taste.

Izuku had gotten used to being in UA. Surrounded by people who couldn't care less that he was Quirkless. Who didn't even bring it up once he told them his Quirk status. Because it didn't define him. It wasn't all that he was. To them, he was Izuku, his own person, and that being Quirkless was just another part of him. Same as the color of his hair, his freckles, or his name. Not the defining feature of his person.

But this was not UA. This was a public train full of regular civilians. Many who share the societal concept that the Quirkless weren't meant to amount to much. That those born without a Quirk were the last remains of a lesser evolved version of humans. Slowly being weeded out of the gene pool as the world evolved into a higher form. To them, people like Izuku had their potential determined by two simple toe joints.

Him winning the Sports Festival was challenging those communal beliefs. Showing that he was more than that one extra joint in his pinkie toe. Many took the change in stride as these people were. Easily accepting that he had done what he did. Had accomplished such a feat despite being a 'Quirkless kid'. Sort of the middle ground of support. Not ideal but it wasn't so bad compared to other opinions of him.

As expected, not all that now recognized him were as supportive. Green eyes couldn't help but notice a few people had moved away from him in the tightly packed train. While others whispered amongst themselves sending glares and judgmental looks his way. Ones the Quirkless boy pointedly ignored and instead nervously gave his thanks to those who congratulated him.

After Nezu's press conference to defend his right to be in the Sports Festival and offered a transfer to the Hero Course, Izuku found himself labeled UA's charity case. Not everyone thought that but a fair amount of the media did. Giving a Quirkless boy a spot in the Hero Course, a prized position that many people thought was wasted on him. However, Nezu had made certain to inform them that the rules and policies of UA were clear and stated that Izuku, as well as anyone else who was Quirkless, had the right to attend UA regardless of the course.

And so, the public had no choice but to begrudgingly accept there was nothing they could say or do to change the Hero school's mind in regards to his admittance. Left to their whisperings and negative views of him and those like him. The Quirkless and the 'weak'. Ones they considered to be the lesser of society.

This of course wasn't the first time people have thought about him like that. His whole childhood was painted with being written off by others. The students, the teachers, Bakugou. Even his own mother hadn't believed he could do it because he was Quirkless. But he had shown her wrong and she even apologized to him. Finally giving him her full support and surpassing his dad's 'you can at least try' sentiments. Which Izuku still appreciated as it hadn't been a 'no' but also wasn't the 'yes' he had been looking for. The one he had finally found from a Villain of all people. His life was weird like that.

Anyway, Izuku figured the public's judgment would be something he'd have to get used to. As the first Quirkless Hero Course student and as the future first Quirkless Hero. His whole student and future professional career would be under scrutiny as he was making history. The greenette didn't really care for media attention but being the first Quirkless winner of the Sports Festival meant that he was already in the public focus. His aim to be a Hero even more so.

Let them think that way. That I can't do it just because I don't have a Quirk. I'll show them. No, we'll show them. Hitoshi-kun and I are in the Hero Course now. A 'Villain' and a Quirkless. Together we will show everyone we have what it takes.

The rest of the train ride was spent with him being surrounded by people quietly discussing the Sports Festival. On the train displays appeared the Train SPORTs NEWs every now and then with a report of the 'Highlight Of The Week' featuring a picture of Izuku himself on the first place podium. Each time the train stopped and new people boarded while others left or when the report would display again, more people recognized him with positive, semi-positive, and negative reactions alike.

All and all, the trip to school that morning was exhausting.

Since it was raining, Izuku didn't bother waiting for his friends at their usual spot. Instead, he headed straight inside to meet them by the shoe lockers. Upon entering, he shook out his umbrella and worked on closing it being mindful of his bandaged right hand. He went to go place it in the 1-H umbrella stand on instinct but stopped himself.

Oh, right. As of today, I'm no longer in 1-H, he thought as he walked over and placed his umbrella in the 1-A stand instead with only momentary hesitation.

The thought made him feel a bit sad. Of course, he was excited to officially start as a student in Class 1-A of the Hero Course. That he knew all along that if he managed to get high enough in the Sports Festival and was offered a transfer that his placement in 1-H would be temporary. But it was still sad. Izuku wouldn't be in the same homeroom as Mei anymore.

But I'll be in the same homeroom as Hitoshi-kun now.

That brought a smile to the greenette's face. He would finally be in the same class as Hitoshi. As well as Shouto. Plus, his other friends Kirishima, Ochako, Iida, and Tsuyu. And possible new friends Kouda, Tokoyami, Yaoyorozu, and Jirou. Not to mention Dark Shadow.

Being sentient, could Dark Shadow be considered a sort of honorary student of 1-A?

Anyway, Izuku would miss his class time with Mei, but they would still see each other at school. At lunch and in the Support studio. As Maijima had pointed out, he still would need to go there to work on his Support Items. Especially since his arsenal was now…greatly diminished because of Bakugou. But, Izuku decided to view this set back as a chance to improve his gear now that he had experience using them.

With the trickle of the rain, the students of UA also trickled into the school. The student entrance was full of people putting umbrellas away or taking off rain gear. Izuku spied Iida from across the room sporting a yellow green rain poncho and black rain boots. He wondered how his friend was fairing. With his brother getting attacked by the Hero Killer despite not being a target. Something that now everyone knew along with that Stain himself was the one to signal for help.

Chizome's efforts had both hurt and helped the Hero. Hadn't wanted to hurt Ingenium and felt compelled to help him to relieve his regretful action. A fact that was made public and could never be erased no matter how much the Hero Commission wanted it to disappear. The public now questioned if Stain actually had reasons behind his actions and wasn't just some Villain simply out for blood. That the man was different from the crafted media image.

They have no idea just how guilty Chizome-san felt about what he had done.

But Izuku did. He had seen it in the man's masked eyes when he had told the greenette himself. The memory made Izuku feel both happy in a way that the man had felt the need to tell him himself as well as guilty that he had such a close bond with the Villain that had attacked his friend's brother. Had met and talked with the Hero Killer four times and had done nothing to report him. Had even shared familial gestures of hair ruffles and hugs.

What would Iida-kun think of me if he ever found out?

He hoped it would never happen. That his secret would never be revealed of him consorting with a Villain and doing nothing. The recording on his phone practically burned in his pocket. The rational part of his brain knew he should delete it. Get rid of the evidence of their meeting. But the other part, the one that held Chizome's words most dear, couldn't let that evidence go.

If Izuku deleted the recording, there would be nothing to show that they had been anything special. All that would be left would be his memories. The only other evidence he had ever had was that note the man had left requesting their second meeting. A slip of paper Izuku had thrown away long ago lost in the Japanese trash system never to be seen again. Burned away in some incinerator into oblivion.

The recording was a tangible, albeit it in ones and zeroes, proof of their bond. Preserved what they had become to each other. What exactly that was he didn't know. No longer strangers but also not friends. Obviously not family as they shared no blood, but their bond felt more familial than anything else. Like…a close family friend or an unofficial uncle type figure.

Chizome-oji-san…

The thought of ever calling the man known as the Hero Killer by that honorific made him chuckled, breaking him out of his reflecting session. The greenette physically shook his head to further shake himself out of those thoughts. There was no use dwelling on 'what if's like that and instead focused on changing into his indoor shoes. As he closed his shoe locker, Izuku found himself being tackled by a certain excitable pinkette.

"Gooood morning, Hero-kun!" Mei chirped loudly right in his ear.

Why does she keep doing that? he thought as he playfully shoved her face away.

The greenette turned around and hugged his friend properly before letting go and saying, "Good morning to you too, Mei-chan."

"So, you ready to become a real Hero today?" Mei asked as she changed into her own indoor shoes.

"I think so," Izuku replied with a sheepish smile and a shrug. "Still hasn't quite sunk in yet though. Finally being in the course I always wanted to be in, you know?"

"Not really," the pinkette answered bluntly as usual. "I felt right at home right off the bat in the Support Course."

That was true. The second Mei had entered the studio she had immediately started to work on her babies. Now, Izuku hadn't been there himself as he had been observing 1-A's Battle Training. But Mei had gushed over it with her standard amount of enthusiasm for him to get a very clear picture of it. That and hearing Maijima grumble about it from time to time. Izuku wished his former homeroom teacher good luck dealing with her without him. He would do his best to help in the studio though.

Maybe I should give him a gift basket for his efforts?

It was the least he could do and wouldn't be the first teacher he gives a present to. A thought for the future. For now, Izuku shook his head fondly as Mei delved into a ramble about one of her latest babies as they moved out of the way to wait for Hitoshi. They stood off to the side near the 1-C shoe lockers until their friend arrived. Which wasn't very long as Izuku spotted his gravity defying fluff of purple walking through the doors.

As soon as there was a break in the crowd the greenette waved to the other whose purple eyes found him and gave an acknowledging nod. Satisfied that his friend knew where they were, he turned back to Mei and they chatted about her favorite subject. Which was Support obviously. Though specifically they chatted about their battle plan to tackle rebuilding his babies.

Once Hitoshi had made his way over, they started off down the halls. Mei for 1-H and Hitoshi and Izuku for the teachers' room to meet Aizawa. The walk was filled with the usual chatter of Mei and Izuku with Hitoshi adding his own comments now and then. It didn't take long until they reached the point they would have to part ways.

"Well then," Mei said with a strained smile that didn't quite reach her cross haired yellow eyes where rare tears started to well. "Guess this is it."

She's going to miss being in the same class too.

"It'll be okay, Mei-chan" Izuku said, wrapping his friend in a comforting hug "We'll still have studio time together. And lunch."

"I know," Mei replied with a wet chuckle into his shoulder. "It's just…no one else gets my genius in that class. And I'll…I'll miss you, Izuku."

"Me too, Mei-chan," he said with the typical Midoriya waterworks. "Me too."

They stood there for a moment hugging with Hitoshi standing beside them. Other students walked around them giving strange looks at the group. But they paid them no mind. The three Freakateers, a nickname Izuku found himself begrudgingly accepting after the sleepover, were used to such looks and wouldn't start letting them bother them now.

"I hate to break this up," Hitoshi finally spoke up, giving a pat to each of their shoulders. "But we both know we shouldn't keep Aizawa-sensei waiting. Who knows what that guy will cook up in punishment for being late on our first day?"

A shiver ran down the greenette's spine at the thought. Yup, we got to get going. With one last squeeze, Izuku let Mei go and gave her a reassuring smile. Once released, the pinkette made a swing to pull Hitoshi into a hug as well. An attempt that the taller teen expertly dodged.

"Ah, come on, Hitoshi," Mei jeered back with a grin. "You know I give the best hugs."

"Not a chance, Mei," Hitoshi sneered playfully as he laced in his Quirk. "I'm not getting ensnared into one of your death hugs."

The pinkette gave an offended gasp in response and obviously had the intention of a hug attack. Except she had responded and instead her body went lax and her yellow eyes turned white. Under his control, the brainwasher ordered Mei to go to class and his puppet dutifully followed his instructions. Purple eyes watched her for a time while the greenette beside him worked on convincing him to let her go.

Once she was a fair distance away, Hitoshi did release her much to Izuku's relief. After she regained her bearings, Mei turned around and stuck her tongue out at the purple haired teen before waving goodbye to Izuku and walking away. The two freshly new Hero Course students both shook their heads fondly before turning around and heading to their destination.

...

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Notes extension: post/653456616192163840/part-2-chapter-12-weather-the-storm