Hey everyone, so this chapter doesn't have anything related to fighting or another training that Izuku needs to participate in for his Quirk since that one's already done. This chapter is like a character development-ish type to know the OC that I put in. Or something that has Captain America/Bucky vibes.
Anyway, enjoy!
AIR FORCE HERO
Chapter 9: Quirk Naming and Hanging Out
Inside an overstuffed laboratory that belongs to no other than Sunuzu Kayama, she is observing a recorded video of Izuku using his Quirk against the robots. She looked fascinated at the scene as she wanted to know how his Quirk works. But she decided to tell her that, right now.
"Incredible," Sunuzu said, almost half-awake and her tone not being tired as usual. "You're able to use your Quirk against the robots, and using the prototype gloves that you're using." She said in amazement. "How did you not break down with your arms getting injured while using it."
"Well, I was given a short training and some advice from All Might, and –"
"Wait!" she stopped Izuku from explaining. "All Might? As in the All Might?" he nodded. "The former Symbol of Peace trained you how to use your Quirk?"
"Yeah." He responded.
"Wow! You really are lucky." She sounded surprised, but it wasn't too energetic.
"Yeah, I know." The green-haired boy replied in a bit of being embarrassment. "He trained and gave me some advice on how can I use my Quirk without injuring my hands. Turns out it really worked."
"Looks like you're able to use your Air Force without breaking down arms after all." Sunuzu pondered.
"Wait, Air Force?" Izuku questioned the unofficial Quirk name from Sunuzu.
"Oh yeah, you're Quirk is called Air Force. Since you charged up your arms with kinetic to shoot pressurized air bolts from your hands, then it's called Air Force." Sunuzu explained. "Besides, it kinda does have a nice ring to it."
After arriving at the base to get all rested for their rest, Izuku was immediately called by Sunuzu about a diagnostic test for his Quirk. He thought that going to the nurse's office will patch him up, but he wondered why going to Sunuzu's laboratory is necessary for him to get healed from the recent activity he just finished. That was until the sleepy scientist explained that it was to test how he used his Quirk, and it's considered mandatory for anyone who completed their first activity in the Hero Course.
"So, what kind of diagnostic test I'll be doing with my Air Force Quirk?" Izuku pondered, why the reason he was in her lab in the first place.
"Oh, yeah. About that. Since I've already watched how you performed with your Air Force during the activity, I just need to know how is your Quirk activated without the gloves." She said and continued by adding a theory. "Since you trained by All Might to just let the kinetic energy flow in your body in order for you to emit an air bolt, maybe it might work without the gloves on, and so I can build a newer one and instead of using the prototype you're using."
"Oh, I see." Izuku understands what he needs to do. "But when do I start?"
"You can start when you're ready." She gestured her hand to the computers. "The monitor will just show me a scan on how will your Quirk activate."
"Okay. Well, here goes nothing." Izuku said as he activated his Air Force. As green sparks of energy began to build up around his arms through his hands, the latter just concentrated on letting his Quirk activate without harming himself.
"Okay, good. Just keep doing that for about five minutes." Sunuzu instructed, watching the green-haired boy activating his Quirk in a demonstration.
So far, nothing happened in the next one minute inactivating it. However, the monitor began to show signs of a higher level that could only mean that it's getting worse. Sunuzu noticed the red bars going higher, meaning that there is a drawback in using his Quirk despite it's only been a minute had passed.
Izuku stopped activating his Air Force, with the health rate in the monitor being back to normal and him lifting his hands in pain. He started to hiss at the great pain that he is receiving from using Air Force.
"Oh… That's not good." Sunuzu said.
"Why? How bad is it?" Izuku asked.
Sunuzu observed the results in the monitor. "Well, it says here in the results that you're Quirk was activated properly and very well, and doesn't have to see any signs of bruises or broken ligaments nor tendons for the past one minute and twenty seconds." She stated. "However, you can only build up the kinetic energy surrounding your body, but it'll cost your arms to ache and your nervous system to react to the pain, immediately shutting it down."
Izuku was shocked to hear the drawbacks of his Quirk. He thought that it was just a simple swelling on his hands that got him to stop using his Quirk, but he never knew that if he goes beyond the limit from a minute, it'll cause him to shut off his Quirk immediately before it gets worse. But at least he knows how to activate his Quirk since that's what matters most.
"So, what do I do to prevent this from happening to me?" He asked the sleepy scientist, as she had an answer.
"Well… my only suggestion is to wear those gloves of yours more during training or missions, but you can wear them to whatever fits your style." She answered. "Just remember that you can't go beyond the one-minute limit, or you'll be getting a lot of arm cramps more often."
"Got it," Izuku said, fully understanding now how his Air Force Quirk works.
The green-haired boy with the only Air Force Quirk (who's been trying to say it like it's a normal word than a hard thing to say) was walking his way at the train station as he already grabbed his backpack back at the gym lockers and ready to get back home to his apartment and rest.
Today, was a tough day for him and it all took him was breaking his own sweat and not backing out giving up. Sure, it was all more tiring than it was, but everyone knows the saying: No pain, no gain. Besides, he is already part of the Hero Course because of the Quirk that he gained in an accident that was supposed to kill him.
Besides, this might change his career in a better way. Instead of becoming a pilot, he can become the one thing that he ever dreamed of since he was a kid: A hero. A hero just like All Might. He had a Quirk almost similar to his, and now he can be like his idol.
But there was one thing that came into his head. Something that needed to be answered.
"Can Pro Hero Agents still be Heroes?" Izuku asked himself the biggest question yet. "I mean since the KMA kills Nomus and hunts Omega-level Villains… can they also be like Pro Heroes?" he added more to his question.
A question that cannot be answered in an instant.
Izuku always wanted to know if they can be like them. If a military agent who's undergoing a course into becoming heroes, can even be a hero just like in the stories were told? Can they be like many Pro Heroes around them? Star and Stripe is an example, but she's more on dealing with huge threats, like dealing with Tomura Shigaraki all by her own with her New Order Quirk, only to sacrifice her own life to stop him temporarily.
Izuku, for once, would do anything to be a hero. He would even sacrifice his own life to save many lives since that's what heroes really do since the beginning of Quirked superheroes around the globe. But knowing a soldier, he can say that there are some… complications about that part. He knows that being a soldier doesn't just mean by serving your country.
It was following direct orders.
And there's a reason why his question if Agents can also be Heroes, was left unanswered.
The boy already reached the train station and noticed that not a single train had arrived at the stop he is waiting at. Instead, he decided to seat down and pass the time by using his phone, to check the latest news of the recent Villain attacks that are stopped by the Heroes.
"Guess watching some news will pass the time." Izuku thought to himself. "I'll just watch Breaking Bad when I get back." He went to YouTube and tapped a live news video that was posted five hours ago.
"… In relating news, these past few weeks have been weird, yet unexpected and interesting news that is left with questions that can't be answered. There were reports on multiple Nomu attacks being set in different locations all around Japan, and it was all due to some sort of explosive device that caused this event to start. Luckily, the Pro Hero Agents of the Kentotate Military Alliance had responded in action as always to deal with their Nomu threats and Omega Villain captures. In other news, a mysterious vigilante wearing a dark black, red and white costume has been lurking behind the shadows? Or is it just some random cosplayer dressed for Halloween in the middle of…"
It was the same thing as always: News reports about the KMA. Nothing wrong with that. Izuku imagined what's it like to be seen on TV, even if he doesn't want to be on one since his dream of becoming a hero was now just the beginning. He wouldn't have time for that at all. But knowing the KMA, they would never stop by for a quick scoop by the media.
"Hey, Midoriya? Is that you?" A familiar voice was heard, which got the attention of the green-haired boy.
"Kennedy? What are you doing here?" he asked. "Weren't you supposed to be with the others to, you know, celebrate something that they planned?"
"Oh? That?" the street-smart archer, wearing his civilian attire consisting of a black jacket with an inner blue shirt, khakis, and sneakers, chuckled at his question. "Not at all, Midoriya. I don't really like hanging out with groups more often, especially if they're classmates of mine or ours since you're one of us now."
"I see. Guess we're both the same, huh?" he let out a small smile of embarrassment.
"No wonder we met here all a sudden, then." He joked. "Anyway, the rest weren't the only ones who got out and celebrate. There were a few people too in the Hero Course that they joined with and decided to pull off a big celebration that they ended their whole one-year academics." Floyd let out a small, satisfied chuckle. "They've been telling me to come by, and I decided not to. I got other things to do, too."
"And what would that be, if that's fine if you want to say." Izuku wondered.
"Well, it's just playing video games or basically practicing my archery as always," Floyd answered. "Right now, I wanted to go to this new pizzeria that they opened somewhere in Iwata City. I was wondering if you want to come with, me and maybe hang out? You know, to create a new first meeting, unlike last time." He offered.
This was a chance that Izuku had: Making friends. He already got a bit close with Setsuna, despite her teasing side, but he would try to mingle with the others, especially if it's the same person that saved his life the other time when the Nomu tried to kill him.
"Sure, why not?" Izuku said, accepting his offer. "I actually have an apartment at Iwata City."
"Neat. I knew you would say no to an offer." Floyd smiled at his new friend. "By the way, since we basically know each other, you can just call me Floyd. Kennedy was my dad's name."
Later, the green-haired boy and the street-smart archer are now inside the pizzeria that was in its grand opening. There were many dishes that are served inside, like pizza and pasta mixed with a few Japanese recipes. And the soda that they usually have is just Coke. And the interior design looked more like a normal restaurant for all ages, and not something too romantic like Olive Garden.
Izuku listened to while eating a slice of pizza as Floyd started to say his story. "And so that's how I saved Buroku from his hand getting stuck in the toilet. He was just actually holding something and just couldn't let it go." He said with an amusing smile because of the memory. "Turns out that the one thing that he dropped in there was actually nothing."
"So… he was actually holding toilet water?" Izuku wondered, trying his best not to laugh at this kind of embarrassing memory.
"Yeah, but he did say that he dropped a coin in there, which he wanted to use on for some soda." The archer stated. "Turns out that it's in his pockets. The guy just couldn't feel his own legs."
Izuku chuckled, not too loud nor too boisterous, but just a normal laugh. "Wow, I actually feel sorry for him. Really, I do." He said as he sipped his soda.
"Yeah, but I'm just glad that he got over it. He really wanted to make it as a comedy act one day if he ever sees a guy working in Hollywood." Floyd smirk. "But get this, you should've seen this student called Akasei who ran so fast, she slipped on a wet floor sign!" he chuckled.
"W-Wait, why did she do that?" the green-haired boy asked, being concerned.
"Well… she was late for class, so she had to act quick enough or it's another twenty laps around the landing bay," Floyd explained. "Besides… can't really blame the speedy gal for being too tardy."
"How is she still in school again?"
"Her Quirk, and being a recommended student," Floyd answered. "Just like Setsuna, every student gets a free pass in entering since they're recommended, students. Talk about being lucky if you ask me." He continued eating his order, which is a bowl of macaroni meatballs.
"Don't mind me asking but how did you get into the KMA?" Izuku asked the archer. "I mean, someone like you should've been a recommended student with a rare Quirk, which you have."
"Heh, well it's not that special, to say the least, but it's something that I can rely on sometimes." Floyd smiled. "You see, I got into the KMA with Alex, since we both kinda met when we entered, and we just basically passed the entrance exam."
"Oh, it must have been nice if the two of you met each other." Izuku thought.
"Yeah, but not really, I really hang out with that much since he kept on pulling pranks," Floyd muttered with a cold tone. "Anyway, now that we got to know each other really well now, let's talk about something else instead."
"Oh, what would that be?" Izuku asked.
"Well, if it's not too much." He started. "Is there a reason why you wanted to be a Pro Hero Agent in the first place?"
Izuku's eyes widened. He knew that something like this would happen. At first, Kurodai would ask him if he would want to be a Pro Hero Agent, but instead, that prediction never happened ever since he participated in the Physical Exam. But now, he didn't know that this would happen now.
The green-haired boy spoke and this is what he said. "Uh… why don't you go first. I insist."
"Alright, but since you asked nicely, I'll start," Floyd said as he began to start. "But before you know, it's going to be a little bit sad to say the least."
Izuku heard what he said, and looked like he wanted to ask, but since he's going to tell his reason why he wanted to be a Pro Hero Agent, he just listened through.
"You see, I was born in Boston. There were a few Pro Heroes that are protecting the city I live in like the Heroes they are ever since. My family isn't really Pro Heroes, but they do have Quirks that are useful for their jobs, except for my mom who's actually Quirkless." That part hit Izuku hard since he used to be Quirkless too. "So, when I gained my Quirk, there was something I always wanted to become with it: A Pro Hero Agent. Sure, I did well in a Hero Program back in high school, but I wanted to try something more with… experience. So I decided to be the first person in my family to be an Agent, while my other siblings just set out their lives as Pro Heroes. Bet they'll be gushing with capes around their backs." He joked, and it made Izuku chuckle lightly.
Then his smile shifted to a frown. "Although, some of the people in the city and a few of my relatives think that I won't make it out alive as a soldier since I'll just die like a human shield or be a simple practice dummy. So instead of studying in the states, I decided to study here in Japan, where I believe that I can mold myself into something that might prove to those people that I can be what I wanted to be, and not some fancy bullseye with no training." Then his smile shifted back. "Now look at me, five years after studying in the same base, I'm now the man that I wanted to be."
"I… never knew that people would put you down that much," Izuku said sadly. He wanted to say that he was in the same place as he was when he was Quirkless, but decided to be against it. "How did you handle it?"
"Well, it's like what my mom said: Words can hurt, but a shield of determination and pride won't cause it won't pierce your dreams like it's nothing." He proudly said. "So, now that I said mine, let's hear yours."
Now it was his turn. Izuku couldn't tell him to tell him another since it won't be fair at all. He did have a dream where he wanted to be like his family friend, since that was what inspired him to be part of the KMA in the first place. So, the Air Force user took a deep breath, and say his story.
"Well, it all started when All Might be my inspiration as the reason why I wanted to be a Pro Hero Agent without a Quirk…" he started. "Until I just had it awakened all the sudden." He said, not wanting to tell the truth about how he got it in the first place.
"Wow, so All Might's your inspiration? That's actually a good motivation if you ask me." Floyd told him.
"Yeah, it really is." He smiled, getting back to his story. "But it wasn't just All Might that gave me my hopes in becoming a Hero. It was actually a family friend of mine. He's part, and studied, at the KMA too and became a well-known Air Force pilot. His name is Yukan."
This somehow got Floyd's attention.
"You see, Yukan was an old friend that my parents knew when they first met, but actually, he was my dad's close friend. When I start to notice him, Yukan asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up. The same answer I had always was being a Hero, just like All Might. He even knew that I don't have a Quirk, so he told me that I can be a Hero, Quirk or no Quirk, in any shape as long as the one thing that I shouldn't change, is my good heart. Yukan was the inspiration that I wanted to be a Hero since he survived in many missions as a military pilot."
Then he solemnly glanced to the left and frowned. "Until one day, he went on an accident that cost him his life." Floyd's expression was shocked, as he felt sorry for his new friend. "I knew that crying won't bring him back, or even asking All Might to find him for me if I ever asked him. But if there's one thing that I wanted to do, is to be in the same shoes as him, and be like him. I don't want to be like Yukan… but I wanted to be a Hero since he gave me the motivation to be one." He looked at his hand. "Now that I got a Quirk, the only thing I asked myself is… will I be able to do this? Will be able to pursue the dream I wanted? Right now," he lowered his hand, "I don't have an answer for that yet…" his tone shifted to sadness.
Basically, it was true. Izuku still doesn't know if he still can keep this up. He knows that being in the military doesn't have jokes in it, but he does only know one thing and that focused on his new life: Is this the dream that he wanted? Did all of this become worth it because he got a Quirk in an accident that was supposed to kill him?
So far, there was nothing. No answer yet to fill out that kind of question.
Floyd acted out as he said this, with a serious look. "To me, Izuku. I think you really have what it takes." He said not even a lying tone that came in the sentence of his mouth. Izuku looked at him with full attention. "I mean, do I have to remind you that you were able to beat all those training bots, and fought Setsuna in an activity, that you did so well on? Yeah, you did that, because you were able to do it." He stated. "Trust me when I say this, you do have what it takes to be a perfect hero, but a good man."
Izuku listened very well, and all he could do is smile at the Boston archer's inspiring words. He never knew that someone will tell him that he can do it and if his new path was different. What matters most is that he was able to pull off this since day 1 of having his Quirk.
Izuku said, smiling back. "Thanks, Kenned – I mean, Floyd." He corrected me but still thanked me.
The Boston archer chuckled back and said back. "Oh yeah, one more thing. Here's something that I wanted to give you since you passed the whole entrance exam, or whatever Kurodai put you in to get in the Hero Course." He grabbed something in his pocket as he pulled it out. What Izuku saw right before his eyes is a round-shaped, golden medallion with a shield drawing on it.
"What's this?" he pointed.
"This is a Medal of Bravery that I earned when I was a kid in camp, back in the summer," Floyd explained. "Sure, I may sound like an old man for doing this, but I want you to have it. In case we have to part ways, or… anything else that involves me not being around, this medal will show you as a reminder on how we started as friends." He handed it to him. "Now, I want you to have it since you and I are like close friends now. Or best friends. Whatever your pick is."
Izuku was hesitant to take it, but Floyd noticed. "Come on, take it. I insist. Besides, you don't really know when we have to part ways. I might be transferred to a different division. And that includes you."
"Alright." Izuku grabbed it and felt the cold gold of the medal on his hands. "It's so cold. How long you have this?"
Floyd just chuckled as he lifted his glass-filled beer. "Do our first, and normal meeting."
Izuku lifted his glass of soda, and the two tapped their glasses together.
It was a nice night for the young, green-haired boy.
NABORU CITY
Elsewhere, in a seemingly large city in the Shizuoka Prefecture, a small KMA outpost was located by the far side of the city, which actually is a remote area with almost nothing that is related to the city's buildings. Inside the outpost's watch station, there are two technicians observing the screens of the monitor which is connected with a satellite that allowed them to see the whole city of Naboru.
"Hey, are still sure that the satellite outside won't be hacked or anything?" the first technician asked. "I mean, who knows, we won't be able to report the entire KMA about the situation. Especially giving its coordinates to a base."
"Relax, the satellites won't be hacked. They're built to be advanced by the KMA scientist to keep it safe." The second technician beside reassured until he shifted a worried look. "Although, I'll be worried about the computers themselves. They weren't built to be advanced in protecting a virus attack."
"Well, we're in an outpost, so we don't have to be worried about it that long." The first one reassured. "I hope."
Outside, several KMA troops were scouting the outpost with their assault rifles being held. There were more guards on the ground, but only one guarding the outpost's watch station. While the guards are busy doing their jobs, unknown to them that there was a bald intruder with the appearance of a teenager's body, wearing a white and black jacket, hiding by the military trucks that are parked.
The intruder peeked his head and saw a guard coming by his way. Quickly, he hid back and prepared to go for a sneak attack, as he grabbed two knives, one was a kitchen knife and the other was just a normal that thugs used. He waited as the guard already passed by, and made his move by sneaking behind him.
The guard was then grabbed by the intruder, as his mouth was covered in order to not say anything, and was immediately killed when his throat was slit by the intruder's knife. As the guard fell to the ground and wasn't heard around the outpost.
The intruder looked at the dead body and stared at it, as he got closer and closer as he wheezed behind his mask. His wheezing sounded so satisfying, as he used his hand to grab some blood left in the knife, and smudged it over a nearby chair. The chair, combined with blood, somehow transformed into the exact same version of the guard, as it grabbed his original's weapon. The masked intruder pointed to the watch station, and the copy nodded. He walked his way to the top and encountered the guard guarding the place.
The latter noticed him and asked. "Is there something I can help you with?" Then, he was met with a stab on the head, killing him in an instant. Then, after the coast is clear, the masked intruder barged the door open, and immediately killed the technicians before they had the chance to call for backup.
After grabbing their blood with both of his hands and smudging them on the chairs that the technicians used to sit and a small coffee table transforming them into copies, he grabbed a hard drive in his pockets and placed in the computer, causing the mainframe to be attacked with a malware that disrupted every intel that was stored inside.
The stabber took a deep breath and wheezed some air right after he told his copies. "Go and tell the other soldiers to evacuate. Tell them that this place is Villain activity-free." He spoke in a raspy, European accent.
As the copies listened, they head to spread the news to the other soldiers that didn't know about what the stabber did. He watched from the windows and saw the other soldiers starting to board in the trucks and prepared to leave the outpost. The copies gave a thumbs up, to which the stabber responded by calling someone on the phone.
"It is done." The stabber said to his phone, talking to the caller. "The KMA outpost is now rid of them."
"Good work, Blood Cobra. I know I would count on you." The caller responded in amusement.
"And what of the outpost?" he asked.
"Burn everything. Make sure that there isn't a single trace in that watch station."
"Will do." He ended the call.
With that, the stabber Blood Cobra left the outpost along with the copies that he created, as the watch station burned, and followed by the entire outpost itself, leaving it to ashes soon.
I'm gonna be blunt here. I'm planning to make Izuku and Floyd be like brother-in-arms or something like that, to make Izuku have also a character development of his own aside from being a Hero and the part where his family friend got him the motivation to be who he is. Anyway, please leave a review, and I'll see you in the next chapter!
PS: Should I make this into a M rated story now, or later on?