The first bell rang for the start of the school day as Izuku entered his homeroom. Greeted with a sea of faces ranging from apathetic to outright hostile, he was already regretting telling his mother not to call in sick for him. Even worse, he found several classes and subjects entirely boring. Certain topics had become trivial for him to learn since his Quirk manifested – math, physics, chemistry, anything based in the hard sciences really. At least he had the comforting presence of the mechadendrite with him. It was thin enough to be wrapped unobtrusively around his waist like a belt, hidden by his slightly-too-large uniform.
He ignored the rest of his classmates as he hurried towards his desk, especially the glowering blonde boy who was staring daggers at him. It wasn't like he was really friends with any of them anyway, and Izuku was just glad that they were due to graduate elementary school in less than two years. Junior high would be a fresh start; hopefully there wouldn't be anyone to poison the well for him, and he'd have at least one friendly face in his cousin, Setsuna. Izuku had been slated to attend Aldera Junior High, but it hadn't taken much persuasion for his mother to agree to send him to Maigito Middle School instead.
The entire class halfheartedly greeted their homeroom teacher after the second bell rang. Izuku tried to pay attention for the homeroom period and his morning classes, but couldn't resist scribbling down various thoughts and ideas his notebook. Lunch was spent in his homeroom, looking up the latest hero news on his phone using his Quirk. The afternoon classes weren't much better. Izuku did try hard in his English and Japanese language classes, where he dutifully put his notebook aside and actually focused on the lesson.
The end of the day finally arrived and he quickly started packing up his things in order to leave as soon as possible.
A hand slammed into the surface of his desk, sending small sparks scattering across his stationary. "Deku, you worthless extra," Bakugo growled, "Think you're better than me? Not paying attention in class, acting all high and mighty just because you're good at a few subjects. You better cut that out, because I'm going to be at the top of the class rankings!"
Izuku glared at his fuming classmate. Setsuna and Bakugo had met exactly one time, and afterwards she'd all but beaten into him that the explosive blonde was not his friend. Izuku hadn't wanted to believe it, but his opinion had shifted when he realized Bakugo seemed to take any attempt Izuku made to improve himself like a personal attack. He simply had no patience for his former friend anymore, not when Bakugo took every opportunity to waste his already limited time and to disrupt his work.
"L – leave me alone, Bakugo," Izuku growled, mentally cursing his stutter. There was no denying that he still found the blonde quite intimidating. "I don't have time to – "
That was obviously the wrong thing to say. Bakugo leaned forward, hands popping threateningly. "You'll never be a hero, Deku, not with your lame-ass Quirk. You'll never beat me. I'm gonna be the Number One hero, understand? I'll crush all the pathetic extras like you that stand in my way."
Truth be told, becoming a hero had been slowly slipping down Izuku's list of priorities ever since his Quirk manifested. Most of his time was now spent learning and acquiring knowledge so that he could decipher the deluge of technical designs which poured forth from some hidden place within his subconscious. Izuku wanted to help people, sure, and he was still very much a hero fanboy, but becoming a Pro Hero suddenly just didn't seem as important. Saving people with a smile was for people with flashy Quirks like Setsuna and larger-than-life heroes like All Might, not the quiet, introverted Midoriya Izuku.
"Pay attention to me when I'm talking to you!" Bakugo roared. None of the many students left in the classroom even batted an eyelid at his display of anger. Bakugo's eyes landed on Izuku's notebook, which he triumphantly snatched up with one hand. "The fuck is this, Deku?" he spat, leafing quickly through the pages. "You drawing your own shitty support gear now? Doesn't matter, I'll burn it just like I burned your other fucking books!"
A small explosion erupted from Bakugo's hand, reducing Izuku's notebook to a charred, ruined mess.
Losing that particular notebook wasn't any great loss for Izuku; he'd long since learnt not to bring anything to school that he was unwilling to lose. No, the brief anger that surged through his veins was just an instinctual reaction to the sheer spitefulness of his former friend. It took every iota of his self-control not to lash out at Bakugo's triumphant face, instead pushing past him to escape into the corridor.
He'd left the school behind entirely by the time he managed to regain his composure. Izuku took a few minutes to sit down outside the train station, closing his eyes and sinking into the depths of his Quirk. A dizzying array of broadcasting networks, incoming connections and open ports filled his mind's eye, and it was all he could do not to lose himself completely. Instead, Izuku connected to the station's open WIFI network, taking a few moments to browse the internet for the latest hero news.
It was incredibly soothing, this invisible melody of electromagnetic fields and radio waves.
His phone beeped a reminder, and Izuku reluctantly disconnected. He had places to be, and he didn't want to get a migraine from overusing his Quirk. The trip to Dr Tsubasa's office took half an hour; his clinic was located in an upscale district of Musutafu, sandwiched between the opulent offices of two wealthy companies.
"Ah, good afternoon, Izuku-san!" Dr Tsubasa boomed. "Or should I say, Assistant Midoriya! Welcome, welcome back to my humble clinic!"
"Thanks for allowing me to work with you, sensei," Izuku bowed, barely holding in his excitement. "Where do I get started? What can I do to help? I can use my Quirk to check – "
"All in good time, my boy, all in good time!" the Quirk specialist interrupted genially. "First, the safety briefing! Assistant Midoriya, are you familiar with Quirk suppressants?".
Izuku shook his head. "No, sensei. I know that Quirk-suppressing cuffs are used to restrain villains, but that's about it."
"Well, it is not uncommon for me to work with patients with dangerous or otherwise uncontrollable Meta Abilities," Dr Tsubasa explained. "Some form of Quirk suppressant is almost always required until they can learn to control their powers. As my assistant, there is a chance you'll have to deal with these types of individuals as well, although I will be personally handling the dangerous cases. You shall be working primarily with my younger, more benign patients, whom I believe will find it easier to open up with someone of your age. But I digress! Now then, where did I put that briefing…"
Dr Tsubasa gave a brief introduction on the various types of Quirk suppressing devices that were commonly used in the medical industry. The majority were made of some kind of osmium alloy, the precise composition of which was a closely guarded secret. There were also various types of drugs and medication that could be used to temporarily halt the expression of a person's Quirk Factor, preventing the use of their Quirk by inhibiting the source of their powers.
"I believe that about covers the most pertinent information. Assistant Midoriya, do you have any questions for me?"
"Why do you sometimes use the term Meta Ability, sensei? That's the same as a Quirk, right?" Izuku asked. He'd been wondering that for quite some time now.
A slight shadow passed over Dr Tsubasa's face. "Ah yes, 'Meta Ability' is indeed an older term for Quirks. From before your time, young man!" the doctor laughed forcefully. "Merely a slip of the tongue for an old doctor such as myself. Think nothing of it!"
The atmosphere started to become strangely awkward, Dr Tsubasa eyeing Izuku in a way that was rather unnerving. A knock on the door thankfully broke the tension, a nurse leading Izuku to where he could change out of his school uniform into the attire provided. The shirt was tailored for people with wings and other similar Mutation Quirks, which Izuku greatly appreciated. He was led back into Dr Tsubasa's consultation room, where the two went through another briefing until the nurse ushered in someone who almost made Izuku start hyperventilating.
"I – it's the Killer Whale Hero: Gang Orca!" he breathed.
"Good afternoon, Kugo-san," Dr Tsubasa called. "You are here for your yearly checkup, correct?"
Gang Orca was seriously intimidating with his Mutant-type Quirk. His towering frame was clad in a high-collared white suit with matching black cape, corded muscle visible even through the expensive fabric. Izuku was transfixed by his eyes most of all, each sunken deep into his face with odd, concentric rings surrounding a small red pupil. Up close, it was easy to understand why the general public thought he was scary.
"Indeed, sensei," the Pro Hero rumbled. "My thanks once again." Izuku flinched when those terrifying eyes focused directly on him, yet Gang Orca's voice was soft and gentle when he spoke. "Hello there, little one. My name is Sakamata Kugo, better known as the Killer Whale Hero: Gang Orca. I understand my appearance is unsettling, and I'm sorry if I've frightened you."
Izuku tried to speak, but couldn't get his mouth to open. A bizarre mix of fanboyish excitement and creeping terror fogged his brain, until he felt Dr Tsubasa place an encouraging hand on his shoulder. "I'm M – Midoriya Izuku," he managed to squeak, dropping into a low bow.
Thankfully Dr Tsubasa took over from there. "Assistant Midoriya is still learning his way around the clinic. I do hope his presence with me today is acceptable for you, Kugo-san."
Gang Orca remained utterly expressionless as he nodded. "I do not mind. But please do not hesitate to excuse yourself if my presence becomes overwhelming, Midoriya-kun," he addressed Izuku once again. The hero's soft tone was a sharp contrast to his menacing appearance; he was obviously making a tremendous effort to connect with the nine-year-old boy.
"T – thank you, Sakamata-san," Izuku bowed again, suddenly not feeling quite so intimidated.
Dr Tsubasa proceeded to perform a standardized examination of the Pro Hero, starting with simple BMI and blood pressure measurements all the way to a comprehensive blood test. Izuku's role in this was limited to little more than a glorified scribe, using his Quirk to quickly note down measurements on Dr Tsubasa's computer, but he didn't mind. The Quirk specialist eventually had to leave the room to complete Gang Orca's blood work, which left Izuku alone with the Pro Hero.
The Killer Whale Hero had removed his shirt and jacket during the examination, leaving his upper body bare. It was fascinating, the way Gang Orca's Mutant Quirk had changed his physique, but Izuku didn't want to look like he was staring. He silently wondered how many of the tests Dr Tsubasa had performed were actually useful, especially those like the BMI which were calibrated for the standard human form.
"You have questions for me," the Pro Hero stated.
Izuku obviously hadn't been as discreet as he thought. He swallowed, trying to make sure that he phrased his words in a way that didn't offend the hero. "P – please forgive me, Sakamata-san," he bowed quickly, "I just – um, I – "
"You are curious about my Quirk," Gang Orca finished. "What would you like to know, Midoriya-kun?"
"I just – I've never seen someone with a Mutant Quirk up close before," Izuku said shyly. "It's so cool!"
Gang Orca did not exactly have any eyebrows, but it wasn't hard to imagine him raising them. "Thank you, little one," he said slowly. "Sad to say, individuals with prominent Mutation-type Quirks are not always treated well in today's society. Even Pro Heroes such as myself occasionally face prejudice, or worse."
Izuku lowered his gaze, feeling rather guilty. "I'm sorry," he apologized, barely holding back tears. "My reaction earlier was unacceptable, Sakamata-san. I – "
"I'm not blaming you, Midoriya-kun," the Killer Whale Hero told him kindly. "It is simple fact that my appearance is unsettling, and you are not at fault for your instinctual reactions. I have had to train myself not to show facial expressions in everyday life, given that even my smile is frightening. It is useful for intimidation during hero work, at least."
The guilt in Izuku's chest was joined by a heavy mix of sadness and pity. "C – can you show me, please?" he asked bravely. "I promise I won't be scared."
The Pro Hero considered him carefully as Izuku did his best to appear confident and unafraid. "Very well then, if it will make you feel better. Brace yourself, little one."
Gang Orca smiled.
It was the hungry grin of a predator, of a voracious leviathan lurking just out of sight in the murky depths below. A ravenous maw lined with razor-sharp teeth, surging out of the darkness to swallow him whole. Izuku couldn't prevent a small squeak of fear from escaping his lips, but he had enough courage to stand his ground until the Pro Hero finally stopped smiling.
"Well done, Midoriya-kun," Gang Orca sounded faintly impressed. "My grin is usually enough to send even grown men fleeing – "
The hero was interrupted by the sound of his phone ringing. Gang Orca immediately pulled it from his pocket, only to not-quite sigh when he saw the identity of the caller. "Excuse me, Midoriya-kun." he said stoically, before accepting the call. "Good afternoon, Selkie. What can I do for you today?"
A loud, distorted, but still recognizable voice came from the phone. "Orca! Have you gone through that information packet? Remember, the operation's scheduled for next Thursday!"
"It's t – the Sea Rescue Hero: Selkie! He specializes in maritime patrol and rescue missions!" Izuku muttered to himself. He blushed when Gang Orca snorted softly and nodded in his direction, quietly amused at his outburst. Or at least, Izuku thought the hero was amused. It was a bit hard to tell, really.
"Hey, what's up with that voice, Orca? Who's the kid?" Selkie must have overheard him as well somehow, even over the phone. Did his Quirk grant him some sort of enhanced hearing?
"I have indeed reviewed the information you sent," Gang Orca rumbled. "However, I am currently undergoing a medical checkup in a non-secure location. As such, any discussion of sensitive matters will have to wait until I have returned to my agency. As for the child, Midoriya-kun has been deftly assisting the good doctor in his examinations."
"Huh, bit young for a nurse or an assistant ain't he?" Selkie commented. "Kids these days are so precocious! Put him on the phone, Orca, I love meeting new fans!"
Izuku normally would've jumped at the chance to meet another Pro Hero, but he was frankly feeling rather overwhelmed. "That might not be appropriate," the Killer Whale Hero said sternly, apparently perceptive enough to pick up on Izuku's discomfort.
"Aww, c'mon! Please?" Selkie asked in a bizarre, cutesy voice, as though he was imitating the mannerisms of a schoolgirl. "I promise to be on my very best behavior, Orca-senpai!"
"Your little performances are artless and unaffecting. I shall not be moved."
"Oi! I'll have you know that I'm the most adorable Pro Hero around! What the heck do you know about cuteness anyway, Orca? You're the most macho cetacean on the Hero Billboard Chart!"
"I am the only cetacean on the Japanese Hero Billboard Chart."
Izuku recoiled as Gang Orca's face suddenly contorted into a horrifying grimace, eyes distended open and toothy maw agape. The hero held up his phone and snapped a picture to send to his counterpart. "Is this kawaii enough for you, little kouhai?" Gang Orca asked in the same affected, cutesy tone that Selkie had used. If anything, the voice was even more appalling coming from the Killer Whale Hero.
There was a yelp and a distinct thud. From the sounds of it, Selkie had dropped his phone before picking it up again, and he was not happy. "Dammit Orca, that expression is horrifying!" shouted the Sea Rescue Hero. "You nearly gave me a heart attack! Delete it! Delete that picture right now and don't you ever do that again!"
Gang Orca just looked incredibly smug at forcing such a reaction from his colleague.
- BREAK -
The majority of Dr Tsubasa's clients were not as famous as Gang Orca, and Izuku did not get to meet any other Pro Heroes in his months of working at the clinic. He did graduate from being little more than a glorified clerk though; he was now a glorified babysitter instead. Dr Tsubasa tended to ask him to look after younger patients while the doctor himself went about more important business.
Yanagi Reiko was a silver-haired girl who was actually the same age as him. Her Quirk, Poltergeist, was apparently very troublesome, and her parents had left her to be supervised at the clinic for the afternoon. The two ten-year-olds sat silently in the 'Beachside' room at the clinic, named because of the painted walls depicting a sunny beach. It was filled with miscellaneous furniture and items, everything from children's books to an aquarium housing several bored-looking fish. Some of the smaller objects would levitate and get tossed around the room every once in a while, which had to have been caused by Yanagi's Quirk considering the circumstances.
"Um," Izuku began, trying to break the awkward atmosphere. "I'm Midoriya Izuku – oh, but you already know that. Right. Uh, my Quirk's called T – Technopathy, what's yours? I know it's called Poltergeist, but I don't know what it does."
Yanagi fixed him with a weary, impassive gaze. "I am host to a mischievous presence, whom I have christened Emily," she said tonelessly. "My erstwhile sibling is playful and disobedient; as the elder I am obligated to curb her more pernicious impulses."
"Wait, your Quirk is alive? No wait, it's sentient! Wow, that's so cool! I've read about sentient Quirks before of course, but I've never met one in person before. Hello, Emily-san!" Izuku said excitedly, waving energetically at thin air. "Can you hear me? Do you understand what I'm saying? I've got so many questions – "
A squeaky rubber hippo bounced off Izuku's head before he could really get going.
"I do believe she likes you," Yanagi told him with the slightest hint of amusement. "Otherwise, Emily would surely have pelted you with far more than just a single object." The silver-haired girl leaned forward, seated primly upon her chair like a queen atop her throne. "Emily is fascinated by that metal tendril attached to your back, Midoriya, and I must admit to some curiosity myself. What exactly is its function?"
"Oh, that's my mechadendrite! I designed and built it myself," Izuku said proudly. "It's really helpful when I repair things. There's a whole assortment of tools incorporated into it, look!"
Attuned to the mechadendrite as he was, Izuku could actually sense the unseen pressure that methodically explored the mechanical tendril. Emily seemed to enjoy prodding at the interface nodes in particular, which Izuku found kind of ticklish. True to Yanagi's warning however, the poking soon started to become rather annoying.
"Emily is an energetic, exuberant soul who loathes the anonymity enforced by her intangible nature," Yanagi told him, the brief emotion she'd displayed earlier completely gone. "She is unable to cope with boredom, and the tedium of daily life in particular often drives her to start seeking attention from others in the immediate area."
Izuku winced at one particularly hard jab in the small of his back, his ears picking up the sound of soft, childish giggling. Yanagi scolded her Quirk and dryly apologized for her actions, which he accepted with good grace. Humming thoughtfully, Izuku scanned the mess of assorted furniture until his eyes landed on one of the many knickknacks which littered the room.
A child-sized kabuki mask.
"Emily-san gets bored easily and doesn't like to be ignored, right?" Izuku asked, mentally translating Yanagi's verbose explanation from earlier. "Maybe she'll be less, uh, energetic if she always has something around for her to play with." He picked up the kabuki mask, feeling a bit silly as he held it up to the air. "Here, Emily-san. Now everyone will always know that you're around!"
The mask floated out of his hands, accompanied by a faint, indistinct thanks. It danced across the room, coming to a halt in front of Yanagi in the manner of a small child seeking approval from an older sibling. "She likes it," the silver-haired girl announced. "Thank you for the idea, Midoriya. Hopefully this can help calm her more mischievous urges."
Izuku beamed. He was happy to have helped in some way, no matter how small or insignificant.
- BREAK -
Toga Himiko was a vivacious, talkative young girl a year ahead of Izuku, who visited the clinic every few months escorted by her parents. She always wore a tamper-proof Quirk suppression bracelet, so naturally Izuku assumed that she had a dangerous and/or hard to control Quirk.
Her parents almost never let her out of their sight, but today they'd insisted on meeting with Dr Tsubasa alone, without her present for whatever reason. And so she'd been banished to the Beachside room, with Izuku directed to keep an eye on her by her formidable mother. Toga seemed quite happy to get away from them, and Izuku could sympathize. He understood all too well what it was like to have overprotective parents.
Both of them were sitting on small, child-sized chairs, with Toga mostly content to flick through her phone while Izuku tried not to make too much of a fool of himself around her. She seemed to delight in making him blush, giggling loudly whenever she managed to make him turn red. Which was quite often, given that she had a talent for catching him off guard by asking him incredibly embarrassing questions. It was either that or she'd get overly excited over the most inane little things, in the capricious manner of a young child.
"Do you like cats?" Toga asked suddenly. "I like cats! They're my favorite animal!" She pushed her phone in front of Izuku, where a kitten yawned over and over again in a video put on repeat. "They're just so cute, aren't they?"
Toga herself was rather catlike, in fact. The way she moved with sure-footed grace, her slitted pupils and elongated canines. Although she did tend to hold her hands up to her cheeks when she smiled. At first Izuku had thought it was just a cutesy girlish habit, but he was starting to think she wanted to hide her long canines whenever she opened her mouth.
This was just one of several discrepancies which made Izuku a tiny bit wary around her. Despite being the picture of an innocent young schoolgirl, there were hints that her sunny demeanor was a façade hiding something darker underneath. There was a brittleness to her, a desperate enthusiasm that felt unnatural and strained. Izuku had no idea what was wrong, but was more than willing to tolerate her mania If there was the slightest chance he could help her.
"You're cute when you do that, you know," Toga teased. Her yellow eyes stared unblinkingly at Izuku, who blushed yet again under her gaze.
"W – when I do what, Toga-san?" Izuku stammered. He really hoped that he hadn't been muttering earlier.
"When you're all deep in thought and stuff," the blonde girl giggled, resting her chin on the back of her right hand. "Like that old 19th-century statue they teach us about in art class." She shifted closer to Izuku, smirking as he grew even redder. "So, Le Penseur," she whispered into his ear, "What were you thinking about?"
There was no way Izuku would ever tell her what had actually been going through his mind. He cast about for something to say, but her closeness kept intruding into his thoughts. Toga's sly grin just grew wider, canines peeking out from the corners of her mouth, until he blurted out possibly the worse thing which he could've said. "What's your Quirk?"
Izuku winced internally as Toga's mood instantly soured. "Well, it's kinda embarrassing," she said reluctantly. "I don't really like to talk about it, Midoriya-kun. My Quirk isn't useful anyway, and both my parents think it's horrible. They say it's like a villain's Quirk, you know."
Izuku thought back to Gang Orca and his fearsome appearance. "No Quirk is bad on its own," he said firmly. "It doesn't matter what your Quirk does, even if it makes you look scary or villainous. It's what you do with it that's important."
"It's nice for you to say that," Toga patted Izuku's hand, giving him a sad, tired little smile. "But my Quirk really is terrible. It, well – " she trailed off, eyes unfocused. "It makes me want to do bad things," Toga admitted quietly. She began to get more agitated, glaring angrily at the door as though she was trying to set it on fire. "No, my parents say it's bad," she snarled, "But my Quirk is a part of me, and I'm not a bad person! I hate this! All the doctor's visits, the awful medicine, all the stupid rules and – and – "
The eleven-year-old girl deflated, turning away from Izuku to hide her face in her hands. "I'm sorry, Midoriya," she whispered. "I know these thoughts are wicked and wrong. All these bad feelings, caused by my disgusting Quirk. My parents are right, it should be locked away forever so I won't be able to hurt anyone."
Izuku really wanted to help, but what the heck was he supposed to do in a situation like this? He settled for awkwardly patting Toga's back while he racked his brain for something comforting to say. "I – my Quirk gives me these feelings as well," he said quietly. "I don't like to talk about it either, because nobody seems to understand. Not even my mom and Dr Tsubasa. Everyone just says it's bad." Izuku took a deep breath, trying his hardest to look as serious and as grown-up as possible. "Toga-san, w – we can talk about our Quirks together, if you'd like," he said hesitantly.
For a second, Izuku thought the blonde girl would actually open up to him. But instead of opening her mouth to speak, Toga just gave him another strained smile, lips pressed tightly together so that her teeth remained hidden. Izuku put on a brave face, but in his heart he couldn't deny that it hurt to be rejected.
"Thanks, Midoriya-kun, but I don't think my parents would approve," Toga said finally. "You're really nice though, I like that." She perked up suddenly, as though a switch had been flipped. "Hey, which elementary school are you in? You're in fifth grade, right? I'm in sixth! Junior high is so close, but I just can't decide where I want to go! Have you got any ideas? I asked all my friends, but everyone suggested different middle schools!"
And just like that, the mania returned. Toga transformed right back into a bubbly schoolgirl, and this time Izuku was unable to see past her mask to the troubled eleven-year-old underneath.
- BREAK -
"I must apologize, Izuku-san," Dr Tsubasa bowed lightly. "To put it politely, the Toga family is a rather difficult case. I hope your experience with Himiko-san was not as unpleasant as her parents led me to believe it would be."
"Toga-san was fine!" said Izuku indignantly. "She definitely has her problems, but it's not like she started stabbing me or something!"
"Indeed. Alas, I do believe the poor girl will be facing more trouble in the future." The Quirk specialist obviously did not want to elaborate, but Izuku fixed him with a hard glare until he eventually relented.
"Her parents wanted me to start her on a course of long-term Quirk suppressants." The disgust in Dr Tsubasa's voice made it clear just how much he disapproved, even if outwardly he remained somewhat calm and professional. "Not only is it impossible to learn long-term control under the influence of such medication, but there is a very real chance that this method could cause Himiko-san actual harm. Meddling with an individual's Quirk Factor inevitably requires tampering with the associated biological processes, and such treatments are only safe to use for adults. I could perhaps be persuaded to attempt the regimen for a late adolescent, in the very worst of cases."
Izuku frowned. "C – can we do anything to help her?" he asked hesitantly.
"Sadly, Quirk discrimination is not uncommon even in today's more enlightened society," Dr Tsubasa said gravely. "Her parents are well within their rights to seek help for what they declare is a Quirk that poses a danger to the public. There is little I can do as a doctor; I have already overstepped my boundaries as a medical professional by sharing what I have with you."
"I rejected their proposal, of course," Dr Tsubasa added, "And explained the dangers of the drug regimen. Sadly, I suspect this will simply drive them to seek an alternative physician." The doctor sighed, lifting his glasses to rub tiredly at his eyes. "It is always a pity to see such an interesting Quirk – to see a troubled individual like her be shunned by society because of a problematic Quirk."
Even after meeting Gang Orca and hearing about his problems, it still came as a bit of a shock to Izuku that something like this could happen.
"It may surprise you, Izuku-san, but even the greatest Quirks have their drawbacks," Dr Tsubasa said gently, completely misunderstanding the reason for his silence. "There is always some form of backlash. The human body is fragile, after all, and simply cannot withstand the mighty powers which mankind now wields as a matter of course."
"Take your friend, for example," the doctor began, in what Izuku recognized as his 'lecturing' voice. "The one with the explosive Quirk. You mentioned that his body naturally produces nitroglycerine, yes?"
"Yes sensei," Izuku replied in confusion, "But I don't know – "
"Is he also aggressive and belligerent? Perhaps with a tendency to speak loudly, to rush in head-first and to seek out confrontations?"
"H – how do you know that? I've only mentioned his Quirk once – "
"When used medicinally, diluted nitroglycerine lowers an individual's blood pressure and slows down their heart rate," the doctor explained. "Given your information, it is likely that your friend's body has had to adapt to produce elevated levels of adrenaline. Perhaps even constantly, in order to prevent cardiac arrest, yet adrenaline would of course also significantly heighten his aggression." Dr Tsubasa steepled his hands, peering at Izuku through his thick glasses. "The point, Izuku-san, is that Quirks are inherently powerful but unstable. Indeed, Meta Abilities are only going to grow stronger as each generation passes, which is why control is so important. Strength alone can only get an individual so far before their body becomes unable to handle the power of their Quirk."
There was silence for a long moment as Izuku processed all of this information. "Is that why the law so strict on the use of Quirks in public?" he asked eventually.
Dr Tsubasa guffawed. "Our draconian Quirk laws have their origins in a different ethical dilemma, one that has always been deliberately ignored." The doctor stood up, starting to pace around the room. "In short, present society is built on the assertion that all individuals are equal. That all Quirks have the same level of power, the same potential for destruction if unleashed upon civilization. Preposterous, of course; the Pro Hero system is built upon the backs of those with the most powerful Quirks. Tell me, Izuku-san, do you think you or I could cause as much damage as All Might or Endeavour should they decide to go on a rampage?"
"Of course not," Izuku said automatically. "They're the top Pro Heroes in all of Japan, and they'd never do that!"
"And thus the government's entire premise is built upon a fallacy. It is simple fact that some Quirks are more destructive than others, yet any law specifically targeting individuals with powerful Quirks would be discrimination. A blanket ban on Quirk use is thus the only solution, an impartial declaration that everyone is the same in regards to the potential damage they could cause using their Quirk."
"But Quirk discrimination still exists," Izuku almost wailed.
"Precisely," Dr Tsubasa stated, a strange, almost fanatical gleam in his eyes. "Our Quirk laws are a masterpiece of injustice. Quirks themselves are already little more than a genetic lottery, and society does absolutely nothing to fix this inherent inequity." The old doctor looked sharply at Izuku, perhaps finally realizing that the ten-year-old was absolutely exhausted. "I believe that is enough discussion for now. Please head home and rest, Izuku-san. After all, we cannot help others if we are unable to help ourselves."
- END -
A/N: I'm quite confident in my knowledge of the plot and characters of BNHA, so any discrepancies are likely intentional. I think the only(?) real error I've made so far is in the birthplaces of Izuku and Setsuna; that was originally going to be a plot point but I decided to drop it when I struggled with the second chapter.
Bakugo plays little to no part in what I have planned, which is why I basically defaulted to their canon relationship. In this case it's more that he looks down on Izuku for having what he perceives as a weak Quirk, and gets angry when Izuku refuses to fall in line like the rest of his peer group. Setsuna's influence also means that Izuku has a much lower tolerance for Bakugo's bullying. I'm open to suggestions on what you'd like to see with Bakugo, otherwise he won't be appearing much in the story.
I've obviously changed Yanagi's Quirk so that it's sentient. A bit like Dark Shadow, although there are significant differences. I think it's fitting when her Quirk is named Poltergeist.
Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed the chapter.