Somehow, despite the odds Midoriya had eventually drifted off into a somewhat fitful sleep, tossing and turning as dreams Visions of Todoroki, the holders, Iida and as ever the first demon invaded his dreams.
Each dream left him with nothing but a horrible sense of dread. He had a feeling that was the Outsider's fault with his vague warnings. Still, he'd gotten through the night and the sun was washing into his room as he began to get ready, picking up his phone.
'01:20? Mom must of let me sleep in to recover.' He thought as he tapped the screen, opening it up and notcing he had a few unread messages. 'I hope Iida's ok…'
Surprisingly though, the first message wasn't from any of his regular friends but from Todoroki.
Unknown number:
Unknown Number: Midoriya, it's Shoto Todoroki. I'd like to request access to the group text. I believe I need to start trying to interact with others more, as part of my first step to moving on. – Yesterday, 09:00pm
With a small smile, the marked boy quickly added the heterochromatic teen to the group chat, trying not laugh at him using formal language almost worse than Iida. However as that thought crossed his mind his smile quickly died down again, and he quickly scrolled through his contacts.
Iida:
You: Hey, I just wanted sure you'te ok? I'm here if you need me. – Just now
After a few moments passed without reply he sighed and put his phone away. Iida normally responded faster than anyone but he probably needed some time to himself right now, so he might not even have his phone on him.
A ding alerted him to yet another new message which he opened up and his mouth did then split into a wide grin as he read the content.
Unknown number:
Unknown number: Hey kid! Bet you didn't expect to here from me for a while, it's Aki. Got this number from you're principal if you were wondering. Just wanted to say I'm back with my family now, on the road to recovery and all. We watched the sports festival yesterday. I was rooting for you! Nice going getting as far as you did.
Unknown number: Sent
Unknown number: I also think my kids got a new favorite pro!
The picture was of a little girl who shared some of Aki's phsycial traits, throwing out a black belt like it was her own Far Reach. It was adorable.
The rest of his texts were just the girls checking he was ok after he broke his foot, and Mina sending him a random picture of a puppy along with her get well message.
He put his phone into his pocket and began to stretch, about to go get breakfast (lunch?) when suddenly…
"IZUKU!? Are you up?!" His mother's frantic voice called out and he blinked a moment before quickly opening the door and walking out into the living room, mark glowing just in case.
"Yeah I'm here, what's the- Oh…detective Tsukauchi?" The magic teen blinked in surprise as he took in the man, who seemed…perturbed to put it lightly. "What's-"
"Midoriya. I need you to look me in the eye and tell me you were telling the truth." Tsukauchi demanded, standing up and walking closer to the boy. At his befuddles expression the man sighed. "Please… I need to know… Is everything you've told me the abosolute truth?!"
"O-ok! I was telling the truth. I AM telling the truth!" He said, meeting the detectives eye. He didn't flinch down from the scrutinzning stare, even if it did set him on edge. Eventually the man let out a sigh, collapsing back onto the couch and massaging his temples. "Tsukauchi? What exactly is this about?"
He knew it was likely something to do with the abbey investigation but he had no idea what had prompted this. Aki was safe and with his family, the overseers should be easy to take down with the amount of DNA evidence proving Haruki was there in that room. The blood that had coated would surely-
"We couldn't find the room you mentioned."
Wait…WHAT?!
"Uh… but… that room wasn't hidden or anything! It was out in the open on the third floor, it should have been super easy to find." Midoriya exclaimed, as he stood up.
"Yeah, we found the hallway but… It was pristine. There were no bloodstains of any kind, even when we used luminol and there were no doors at all to be found, no matter how much we looked for one." He said, and Midoriya wanted to batter his head against the wall. 'HOW?! Was it-' "It wasn't a quirk either. We checked over every overseer and most were quirkless. The ones that weren't didn't have any type that could do this.
"What the…."
Silence hung in the room after that, no one quite sure what to say. Inko difgeted in her seat, nervous about the consequences of this, Tsukauchi looked frustrated and confused and Midoriya was just angry.
"On the… well I won't call it the bright side but the siver lining. I can at least get this case thrown out due to a lack of suffient evidence any which way." The detective said with a sigh as he stood up, grabbing his coat. "You won't be punished, but neither will they be dealt with."
"Dammit… Wait… how come Aki's injuries don't count as sufficient?!" The marked teen suddenly realized, looking up. "He looked like he was hit by a train when I rescued him, surely…"
"Without the ability to prove where they came from definitively, there's simply no way we can use it as effective evidence." The dark haired man explained, walking to the door. "I'm sorry i couldn't bring you better news but I'm afraid there is nothing to be done about it."
"Yeah…"
After that, the man left the two Midoriya's to return to his precint presumably while the marked teen walked towards the couch, collapsing into it.
Then he let out a frustrated scream.
'HOW THE CRAP DO YOU LOSE AN ENTIRE ROOM?!'
Aside from that revelation, the rest of the small break the students had been affored after the festival had passed in relative peace. Iida rarely responded or sent texts, and the girls grew worried for both him and Midoriya, who had ended up going pretty silent as well.
The greenette did his best to keep them reassured though when he could, it was just the fact that an entire damn room managed to vanish that was really starting to keep him up at night.
He shook his head, walking up the pathway to U.A in the rain. (He had asked the carpool to let him get out early, so he could walk for a bit and clear his head.)
He had yet to return to the void again and meet any of the One for All holders. Whether that be because the Outsider wanted him to talk to All Might first, or was setting something up or what, Midoriya didn't know.
He looked up, noticing he was getting close to the main building when he heard splashing and footsteps behind him. Turning, he was surprised to see Iida running as fast as he seemed able.
"Oh, Iida?"
"Morning, Midoriya! Where's your sense of urgency?! We'll be late!" The boy said quickly, pulling out ahead. Midoriya blinked as hestarted to hurry his own pace.
"But there's still twenty minutes until the first bell!"
"Yes but as U.A students we should be ten minutes early at the very least everyday, do you not agree!?" The engine teen called back, eventually slowing down as he reached the steps to the main building. Then he suddenly lifted his head up as if he'd just remembered something. "Oh, and Midoriya?"
"Hm?"
"I know you're going to ask. My brother is… stable for now. He's still at Hosu general hospital." Iida explained as he started unzipping his coat, the two stepping into the dry refuge of the locker area. Midoriya could only wince though, as while his friend smiled at him, his emotions screamed an entirely different story. "There's nothing to worry about."
Anger, and resentment poured through him. It was so… similar to how Todoroki had been but… There was one major difference. Iida's emotions were punctuated by so much fear. After everything that had already passed, the greenette wasn't letting it slide. "Iida… Please… Don't lie to me. I'm your friend. I can tell something isn't right…"
The taller teen's smile fell away at that as they started walking to their class. "Right… it's surprisingly easy to forget you're emphatic abilties… Alright, to be honest, I can't help but worry. It was Stain who was responsible."
Midoriya felt his eyes bugle out of his skull as whipped around, taking that in. "You mean the Hero Killer? Oh no…"
His friend gave a nod of confirmation and Midoriya felt his stomach sink. Stain was a notorious 'vigilante', if you could even call him that who was killing heroes as well as criminals who deemed to be unworthy of that title.
A lot of pro's the greenette had looked up to had been ended by the man. He'd never been caught yet…
"Yes, seeing as you're good at keeping up to date with hero news I'm sure you're aware no one has escaped him before." Iida said with frown as they walked up to their class, no one having arrived yet besides them. "In an odd sort of way, I'd almost feel better if my brother's injuries weren't temporary. OF course I'd never wish that upon my brother but at least I'd know he'd be safe from further assaults. Now that he can recover…"
"You're worried stain will attack while he's weak?"
"Yes…."
Midoriya sighed, frowing as he took his seat. There was nothing he could say to that, that wouldn't make Iida feel worse. In all honesty, it's what Midoriya expected to happen.
Stain didn't seem like the type to leave business unfinished.
After a couple of moments, the rest of the class had started filing in. The first to come in after the two had been Todoroki, who had given a small nod to the greenette before sitting and Midoriya was happy to note he looked a million years younger.
It was still clear thar what was bothering him wasn't gone but at least for him it seemed those burdens were beginning to lift. Everyone else had filed in, talking about how people recongized them from the festival and finally eventually mister Aizawa had appeared, no longer wrapped in bandages.
The class would of cheered for him if it wasn't for the fact it would make him use his quirk on them. After the usual general announcments were over, the scruffy man looked over them all.
"Now, we have an important assignment for you to complete today. Something that could shape your whole future as a hero." He announced, drawing in their attention. Some of them tensed, scared of what it could be. "You have to pick code names, before you go out for your internships."
Those who were worried relaxed. "Speaking of, so you'r aware, here's the totals for those of you who got offers. Normally this wouldn't happen until your second and third year but this time it's different. By extending these offers, pro's are essentially investing in your future. They can be rescinded at any time."
"So we still have to prove ourselves." Jirou summoned up, leaning back in her seat. The scruffy man nodded as he pressed a button and various names came on the screen. Not everyone got offers but a fair amount of the class did.
Bakugou and Todoroki had hundreds more than the rest, and as he scanned the board, Midoriya realized….
"Midoriya, you only got one offer…" Mineta commented from behind. "I bet most of the pro's found you're insane stunts too… well insane. Does that mean you're gonna be forced into that one internship?"
"Not if I refuse it." He said simply, getting a few surprised looks at that. He understood why, throwing away his one best chance at proving himself probably seemed pretty stupid but he just had a bad feeling… 'Only one offer, and I can think of at least two different groups of people who might try to pose as heroes….'
"Well, that's your choice." Their teacher shrugged as he started to zip up his sleeping bag. "I'm not ideally suited to helping you pick out names, so today-"
"-I'll be helping!" A new voice announced and they all looked up at the entrance way to see Midnight leaning in as if the doorframe was a pole. With a grin she bounded in while Aizawa grumbled, beaming at them all. "These names are supposed to be temporary but you should still treat them as if they will be the final product. If people come recongize you as one thing it can be incredibly difficult to change to anything else."
She paused for a moment as she fished out a few whiteboards and markers from Aizawa's desk, before putting the stack in front of each of the first row students. Midoriya tried to ignore the fact Bakugou's hand was smoking when he handed his over.
"A good name is something memorable, recognizable that also says what you're all about! My pro name for example, aside from being mysterious causing people to internalize it easier, also refers to the fact that at midnight a majority of people are asleep and my quirk puts people to sleep. Of course, it doesn't nessecarily have to be in refrence to your powers…."
As Midoriya looked down at the white board in front of him, he began to think. A hero name that screams what he's all about…
"Izuku Midoriya…. Aren't you an intresting puzzle piece of history…"
"You earned this, My boy…"
"I figured you wouldn't mind me catching you."
Aoyoma walked up first, his hero name a ridiculous full sentence. Midoriya wasn't sure how Midnight allowed it, 'I can't stop twinkling' didn't exactly roll off the tongue.
His hand seemed to act all of its own accord as he turned back to face the robot. Some small, semi-opaque black and purple tendrils shot out his hand and wrapped around the robots head, pulling the boy back.
He was confused but didn't have time for questions. He had to save that girl! Now he had a slight bit more idea of his power he aimed for the robots head and kicked towards the robot, using the wind pressure generated by his legs and flying to the robot. He turned around mid-air, remembering the way he'd seen the blue haired boy destroy one of the smaller villains and smashed right through the robots head, coming out the other side.
Mina jumped up next, getting her suggestion of 'Alien queen' shot down, and replaced with 'Pinky'. She quietly accepted the change with a pout, returning to her seat.
Asui walked up next, with the first normal name of the bunch. 'Rainy season hero: Froppy.'
"Well at least you—WOAAHHH" The blonde had made to get up as he was talking but ended up standing on one of the items neither had noticed, causing the blonde to slip and fall backwards out the window to Midoriya's horror.
"ALL MIGHT!" The boy shouted in shock. On instinct he leaned out the window and threw his left hand forward, summoning his power. At the same time, The man bulked up into his muscle form. The boy had forgotten about that! 'oh crap im going to get pulled out by his weight!'
At least, that's what the boy thought but to both there surprise when the tentacle wrapped around All might, He was stopped in the air. He was definitely heavy but not enough to pull the boy out like he thought.
The muscular man looked up and laughed. "Haha, nice work Midoriya! Why don't you see if you can pull me up from there?"
"Alright, here's mine. My code name should be Red Riot!" Kirishima announced next, catching both Midoriya and Midnight by surprise. 'He's naming himself after Crimson Riot….'
As he looked down at his board, a thought passed him by. Midnight did say It didn't have to embody your physical abilties or appearance…
He couldn't believe he had accepted Deku as a nickname from the girl but he couldn't deny hearing her say it so endearingly made him like it
"THAT'S ALL YOU ARE, A WORTHLESS DEKU!"
"You know what, I like Deku. Makes me think 'I can do it!'…Plus, I think it's kind of cute."
"The hearing hero! Earphone Jack!"
"The Tentecale hero: Tentacole!"
"The Tape hero: Cellophane!"
"You can call me Deku, but I'm not worthless anymore! From now on Deku Is the name of a hero!"
"URACHAN, MOVE!"
"I'm the sweets hero, Sugar Man!"
"Stun Gun Hero: Chargebolt!"
"YOU can decide who dies!"
A warm crackle of energy in his legs.
A sharp pain, like fire in his left hand.
"I hope I can live up to this name. I'm the everything hero: Creati."
Finally, Midoriya put his pen to the board. His name wasn't a indicator of what he could do. It was something much more important.
A fist collided with the boy's face, making him stumble. The villain slowly walked towards him, looking somehow bored yet amused. 'Another multi-quirk user?! No….I recognize this energy….It can't be…' "I'm only gonna explain once you brat, and only so you can actually be a 'worth it' target. I have superiors, and not those League of Villains chumps. Heroes and Villains mean nothing to us, though we do have to thank those morons for making sure evil persists and keeps us fed. What would be a good term for us? Hmmm, I did always enjoy being called a demon when I was alive."
"Shoto…"
"Just your name?"
"Yes…"
"Haruki Aki… I don't know who you are or why these guys wanted you, what you do or what you want…" Not just energy but fire flowed through Midoriya as several clicks rang through the air. A chandelier was the only thing between the two sides of the balconies, the only path without overseers. 'Only one shot at this' "…But like I said, I'm Izuku Midoriya. I'm a student at U.A. and I WILL save you!"
"The Jet-Black hero: Tsukuyomi"
"Fresh picked hero: Grape Juice!"
'Everything that's happened up until now…'
He focused on the raging fire of his magic as he summoned Far Reach and did his best to stoke that fire and turn it into a raging inferno as the power shot out.
Both student and teacher were caught by surprise when the manifested tentacle twisted and contorted, going rigid. The top sharpened into a fine point and where a strong tendril would once be, a sharp lance now took its place in the greenette's hand..
"T-the petting hero… A-anima…."
"King Explosion murder!"
"I'm going to say no."
"HUH?! WHY THE FUCK NOT?!"
Urarka walked up next, as Bakugou still ranted about his not being accepted. "This is the name I came up with. Uravity…"
"I just love that." Midnight cooed, before looking out. "Ok, now I think we just have Iida, and Bakugou who needs to rethink. Oh and Midoriya as well of course."
Iida walked up at that prompting, radiating a plethora of emotions Deku hated to know was coming from him as he put down the whiteboard, showing them all. "Tenya."
"You're sticking to your first name as well?" Midnight asked, surprised. The blue haired teen just nodded as he walked back to his seat. "Well… alright then. Midoriya?"
With a steadying breathe, the greenette put down the final touch and stood up.
Who he was, was a hero in training, who wanted to help others.
Who he also was though, was a witch.
Not an evil one of course, but a good witch who helped others. That's how he was happy to characterize himself as now. Plus witch was more dramtic and themed than 'Marked'.
And if he was going to be a witch, he had to be ready to sacrifice some other things. He finally let the last of his strength go. Todoroki smashed his hand into the table and the arena exploded into cheers.
He faced the card to the class, and even the slightest mummuring died away as they took it in. Some gave him incredoulous looks while others just sat stunned.
"Dude… You sure you want to go with that? I mean… They're insults…" Kirishima asked, his jaw hanging open.
"And… You don't even have hero as part of your name…." Jirou observed, blinking in surprise.
"I know it might seem weird, to all of you to choose this but… No offense but you guys haven't been through what I have since I got to this school. The 'demon', the Abbey…. The first part…. I used to hate it, it was the longest running insult I've ever put up with but… I guess someone taught me to view it differently, and now I really like it."
"And… the other part?" Hagakure asked, leaning in.
"My name isn't something meant to scream what I can do. It's meant for me. A promise…. A promise that no matter what, no matter who I have to come up against to do so… I will always do what I believe is right. In the end…. There was nothing else it ever could have been."
He smiled, closing his eyes and for a brief moment, he felt as if One for All and his magic were calm oceans pouring through him, telling him what he'd choosen was right.
His codename….
"Deku, The witch."