Chapter 3:
Izuka sighed tiredly as her teacher threw all the papers in his hand causing the class to cheer and the people around her to use their quirks.
"Ha! Don't lump me with these losers!" A familiar blond yelled earning several cries of outrage.
The teacher raised an eyebrow looking at his list with students and their project high school. "You're aiming for U.A. Bakugo?" He asked causing several people to gasp in surprise.
"You're aiming for the top school in Japan!"
"But their cut off is super low this year!"
Bakugo smirked as he tilted further in his seat, "Of course! I'm the best and only the best get into U.A! Me and Deku are gonna get in no sweat and be the #1 duo in the world!"
Izuka rolled her eyes as the class went into an uproar, "Stop leaning back you'll fall." she chastised the blond in front of her.
"Izuka is applying too?"
"You can't get into U.A. with smarts alone Izuka!"
"Isn't she blind or something? What hero is blind?"
"Izuka's power seems more like a villain's power than a heroes."
The class was eventually settled down by the teacher starting the lesson for the period. Izuka ignored the lesson having already gone over it beforehand. She looked out the window as a flock of birds flew into the sky. A small crow landed on the closed window and Izuka felt a smile slowly build on her face as it ruffled its feathers at her before flying away.
Izuka shook her head before looking back at her notebook. Her thoughts slowly drifted towards her own thoughts of the future. She thought about the exam in 10 months and considered what she'd do to prepare for it. She was afraid of possibly having to use her quirk on people. It would be better for her if the test involved things like robots.
She worked hard to make her quirk defensive. She could dip both her legs and arms into the tar, and was able to hit harder than anyone. She rarely used the claws as they were too dangerous. They sliced through everything with ease that scared her more often than not.
She hadn't tried to dip fully into the tar as of yet. She never knew what happened when she did last time, but she could always see the fear that appeared in her mother's eyes when she talked about training.
She was brought out of her musing by a tap on her shoulder. She looked over to see Bakugo looking at her with a raised eyebrow. She shook her head and started packing her stuff.
Bakugo furrowed his eyebrows before standing up, "Do you have Judo practice today?"
Izuka nodded standing up as well, "Yeah I'm suppose to be teaching the little kids because I broke my sparring partner's arm yesterday."
Bakugo cringed but otherwise didn't say anything about it, "I have to get back quickly the old hag wants me to do some chores for her."
Izuka nodded, "Tell her I said hi. See you later Bakago."
He grinned as they went their opposite ways, "Later Deku"
Izuka walked while writing in her hero analysis book. She was just barely paying attention until she felt the shadows shift behind her. She stopped and looked back to see green ooze from the manhole.
"Ah this one is blind, but I'm on a time limit here. You'll have to do." The slime's rough voice rung out sending shivers down her spine.
Izuka quickly turned to run away only to be grabbed by her leg and dragged into the slimes body. She tried to pull on the power of her quirk to defend herself, but she couldn't do anything to the liquid body of the slime. She kept her mouth shut tightly as she continued to try and pry herself from the slime. Her fingers and shadows were unable to grab at the slime making her quirk pretty much useless in the situation she found herself in.
Izuka felt her lungs burn as the monster struggled on her mouth. She was about to pass out when a deep voice resonated into the tunnel.
"Fear not! For I am Here!"
She felt a strong hand grip her arm and suddenly with a gust of strong wind the slime surrounding her was gone. She quickly sucked in a large gulp of air and regulated her breathing as the large man started gathering up the bits and pieces of the slime.
Izuka finally caught her bearings and looked at the man who had saved her.
"A-All Might?" She asked as he finally scooped the last of the slime off the walls into a soda bottle.
The looming blond turned towards her with a grin, "Yes it is I! I apologize for getting you involved in my fight with that villian! The sewer systems here are quite confusing, but it's thanks to you that I was able to capture him!" he boomed.
"I-it's okay! U-uh can I get an autograph?" Izuka stuttered holding out her hero analysis book.
"Why of course! Anything for a fan!" He grabbed the book and pen and flicked through the pages till he got to two empty pages and signed both of them.
Izuka smiled as she held her book in her hands, "T-thank you!"
"No problem! I have to go turn this guy into the police so keep supporting me!" He grinned about to jump off.
"W-wait!" Izuka yelled after him, but he had already jumped off.
She sighed as she looked after him longingly. After a second, she shook her head and slapped her face with both hands before grabbing her fallen bag and headed off to her Judo classes.
Upon entering her dojo, she was met with the stern glare of her teacher. She immediately kneeled with her head held down.
"I'm sorry master. I was attacked on my way here by a villain." She said her voice low but sincere.
He softened his gaze seeing the bruises beginning to form on her face, "It is okay young one, but the children have gotten restless since you are late." He turned away from her and walked further into the dojo.
Izuka quickly stood up and followed after him. She stopped by the changing rooms to switch into her gi before heading down the hall once more. After walking by a few doors, he directed her into a room. She sighed as she entered and was met with the sight of ten children sitting in front of a small stage.
"Hello children," her master called out getting their attention, "Sorry for the delay, but your teacher for the day is finally here. Be on your best behaviour for Midoriya-sensei okay?"
The children all yelled out a quick "Hai" before standing and bowing to her.
Izuka silently moved to stand in front of the kids with a soft smile. She may not like kids much, but she would never do anything to disturb their innocent nature by being overly harsh to them.
"Hello class. As you know I am Midoriya-Sensi. I have been training in judo since I was your age and am currently a second-degree black belt." She looked at the looks of awe being sent her way. "Today I will be teaching you how to handle an opponent bigger and stronger than you. Just because you are small doesn't mean you will always be pushed around by the bigger people."
One kid raised his hand, "Are you blind Midoriya-sensei?"
Izuka chuckled, "No I am not. My blindfold is here for your own protection. My eyes are dangerous weapons and I am strictly forbidden from using them."
The children look at her in awe. Izuka smiled softly before clapping, "Let's get started young ones!"
"Yosh!"
Izuka spent the class teaching them with the utmost diligence. She did not baby them the way other teachers would. When they made mistakes she corrected them and made them do their stance over again and again till they got it right. By the end of the class, the kids all considered Midoriya-sensei to be their least favorite teacher.
"Alright class your parents are here to pick you up." She called out to the tired children.
"Hai!" all the kids yelled back.
After all the kids left Midoriya went to an empty classroom and practiced. Her movements felt rigid and stiff. She was angry as she did her katas and it was showing. After working up a sweat, she changed her clothes and went home.
For the next ten months leading up to the U.A. exams Izuka was forced to teach the children who studied at the dojo. She asked why many times, but the grand master would only shake his head. It was the day before the exams that she finally got her answer.
"Alright class your parents are here to pick you up. I won't be with you next class, but I expect you all to advance further and give your all in judo." She called out to the tired children.
"Hai!" all the kids yelled back enthusiastically.
Izuka couldn't help smiling as they all were ushered out the room. Their innocence and childish nature brought out the better in her. She was teaching them, but they were helping her just as much. When she spared with people she would always use it to unleash the anger and frustration she felt, but looking at the faces of the children around her made her anger subside.
Izuka made sure all the kids got to their parents before going to an empty classroom. She stretched and got herself ready before going through her kata in a fast pace. Once she was finished going through them quickly she went through them slowly making sure each move was firm. She didn't feel as rigid or stiff. Her movements felt smoother more powerful.
"Young Midoriya"
She was brought out of her katas by the sound of her master's voice. She turned towards him and kneeled with her head bowed.
"Master"
The old man walked to her and placed a hand on her shoulder, "I think it is time you surpassed me in the art of Judo my dear."
Izuka's eyes widened as she looked up at her master, "What changed? Before you said I wasn't ready to leave."
"Young Midoriya, you are what changed. Before you were very angry." He sighed looking at her with sad eyes, "Even now you still hold onto a lingering anger. To surpass me you had to not only be strong but also show emotional maturity. Today with the kids you were at ease and there was a power that started to glow within you."
Izuka felt tears sting her eyes as she looked at her master. She had spent the last 10 years of her life working under him as a student, but in the last few months she had learned the most important thing she ever could.
"Today you learned to let go of that anger and have become more powerful because of it. That anger is still there but it is not as strong. It has been overtaken by your own determination." He grinned, "You no longer fight to win do you? You fight protect."
Izuka felt her tears start to fall as she nodded. "I have fought to be #1 for so long. All that mattered was being the best so that my father was wrong, but I've been fighting for the wrong reasons. I lost to a villian 10 months ago and it hurt my pride more than anything. I'm suppose to be the best at every time. I was saved by All Might and I'm afraid of what would have happened if he didn't show up. How could I be a hero if I don't win?" She paused and took a deep breath.
"Young Midoriya, If you fight to win you will never truly win, but if you fight to protect not only yourself but those around you. Young, old, weak, strong. Then you will always win." She looked up into the eyes of her master. Even through the blindfold it felt as though their eyes were connecting, "That is the most important lesson I'll teach you."
"Master" She was cut off by the older man putting his hand on her shoulder.
"I expect you to grow and learn more of your flaws but for now," her master's smile turned into a grin, "I am proud to present you with this belt." He held out a black belt much like her own, but it was different. She could see red thread tying it together and the kanji for 3 sewn into the fabric. "You have surpassed yourself and are finally a 3rd-degree. There is nothing left for me to teach you."
Izuka tentatively grabbed the belt and to the surprise of the grand master she took her blindfold off keeping her eyes closed and replaced it with her belt.
"By wearing this belt, I will always stand by the teachings of my master and use my power to protect everyone." Izuka declared standing up.
The grandmaster smiled, "Go young Midor- no Izuka, go and become a hero truly worth looking up to."