Chapter 2: Kid with a dream to be a soldier.
1943 New York
To counter enemies forces the Allies are trying to recruit many young men to fight the war. At the one of many enrollment facility are sitting many volunteers waiting their turn. All this guys have different motivations to join the army such as women's attention, fame, money, application for future job or to kill Nazis. Except the one, who decided to join army to protect weak and innocent from evil like a hero.
"Boy, a lot of guys getting killed over there", commented teen?
The said teen is very short for his age, his body is whitely pale and very skinny, his round face framed by a short mess of fluffy dark green hair, which sticks up at odd angles around his head, casting noticeably dark shadows onto itself. His eyes are large and somewhat circular, their irises the same green color as his hair, and stretched quite wide, giving him an innocent appearance. He has a set of four symmetrical freckles in diamond formations, one on each cheek; others often describe him as being plain-looking. He almost looks like a sick kid. His name is Izuku Midoriya and he is 17 years old. He wanted to become a soldier all his live, to protect people from bullies with a bright smile, that is his dream. Unfortunately his dream can't realized because of his many illness and because the military didn't allow people with the age younger than 21. However, that didn't stop Izuku from trying.
"Midoriya, Izuku", called 4F doctor.
"It kind of makes you think twice about enlisting, huh?" asked enlistment guy.
"Nope", answered Izuku without hesitation.
When half-naked Izuku got to the doctor, he was shaking from fear and embarrassment. The fear because he change his data of birth to be accepted, something that prohibited. Moreover, embarrassment because of his shyness and half-nakedness.
"Midoriya", at doctor's words Izuku stiffened. "What did your father die of?"
"Mustard gas. His name was Hizashi Midoriya", answered Izuku in sadness. "He was in the hundred and seventh infantry. I was hoping I could be assigned…"
"Your mother?" interrupted doctor.
"Inko Midoriya. She was a nurse in a TB ward. Got hit, couldn't shake it", said Izuku becoming sadder remembering his golden heart mother.
Doctor haven't care about the tragic story of his dead parents. He only cared about if this one could be fit for military. He already knew the answer by looking at Midoriya medic's file. This teen have many illness then all enlistments combine.
"Sorry, son", sighed doctor.
"Look, just give me a chance, please", said Izuku in despair.
"You'd be ineligible on your asthma alone", argued doctor.
"Please. You have to understand it. It's just this always was my dream. To become a soldier who protects people from bullies with a heroic smile", confessed Midoriya. "Is there anything you can do?"
"I'm doing it", answered doctor. At his words, Izuku's entire body was fuel with hope. Finally his chance to prove himself. To achieve his dream. "I'm saving your life."
Only to be completely crushed by the sound of stamp on the card.
Upset Midoriya decide to go away. He already knew that he wouldn't be accepted to join the military again. Doctor saw the state in which he put this kid. He understood this one's motivation. However, he knew that you can't be a soldier only with dream without strength to back you up. Moreover, military is no place for a naive child.
"Kid! You should forget about your dream. It's impossible for you to accomplish" called doctor. "It's good to dream. However, you have to make them more realistic."
Izuku heard everything but he already heard this words many times. He knew that they are right; however, he couldn't stop himself to left go his dream. Not now, not ever. In addition, with this news he was gone for a walk.
After two hours of walking Izuku decided to go to the cinema to watch a new movie, which was about a superhero duet of mentor and pupil which protect the world from evil. He sometimes was wishing to be born in the world in which everybody have superpowers. At least in that world he would fight to protect people.
Before the movie started, a commercial about the war is playing. The moment where a little child was showing collecting scrap metal, put Midoriya in more misery because that kid at the screen looks the same as himself.
War continues to ravage Europe. But help is on the way. Every able-bodied young man is lining up to serve his country. Even little Timmy is doing his part collecting scrap metal. Nice work, Timmy!
However, not everyone was enjoying this commercial.
"Who cares? Play the movie already!" screamed some Jerk.
"Hey, you wanna show some respect?" quietly said Izuku. Who couldn't believe that someone would be so disrespectful and mean to something important and serious such as war.
Meanwhile, overseas, our brave boys are showing the Axis powers that the price freedom is never too high.
"Let's go! Get on with it! Hey, just start the cartoon!" screamed the same Jerk again disturbing entire room.
"Hey buddy, you wanna shut up?!" screamed Midoriya already fed up with this guy attitude. After realizing what he just said, he shut his mouth with both his hands.
Unfortunately the loud jerk heard him and turn to him with expression that said, "You are gonna get it." Izuku already knew that after the cinema he would die.
After movie, ended Izuku was running away at full speed to escape the mean jerk. However, he had been caught on exit and had been pushed to dark alley by the same jerk. The first punch caught him off guard but didn't stop him from fight back. Unfortunately, Midoriya's attacks didn't even meet their target because the second punch from the bully made Izuku land on the garbage cans. Getting up to fight he pick trash can lid to use as shield. He wasn't planning to go down so easily.
"You just don't know when to give up, do you?" sneered jerk.
"I can do this all day." huffed Izuku in defiance.
That sentence didn't made his opponent to surrender. He just take his "shield" away and punch him in the face for the last time. Midoriya was down on the ground. Before bully could continue the beating he was interrupted.
"Hey! Pick on someone your own size", said the voice.
Before the bully could understand what is happening, he was grabbed from behind and was stumbling to the ground before been punched in the face. After seeing that he was outmatched jerk run away like a coward.
"Sometimes, I think you like getting punched", commented Izuku's savior.
He is a reasonably tall, rather muscular young 18 years old man who is well-built for his age. He has quite long hair, though it doesn't pass his neck, and wears bangs, parted twice as to not obscure his vision. His hair is evenly split between two colors: white on his right-side and crimson red on his left. He also possesses heterochromia iridium, which causes his left eye's iris to appear turquoise, while his right is a somewhat brownish dark gray. His eyes, in shape, are quite thin and reserved, and he has a large burn scar on the left side of his face, which reaches from his hairline to halfway down his cheek. Some girls have claimed that he is incredibly handsome. His name is Shoto Todoroki. He is wearing standard sergeant uniform. He is Izuku's best friend who always save him from problems and bullies.
They become friends since they were 4 years old. When bullies attacked Izuku, Shoto decide to standing up for him but got overpowered when the bullies grouped up on him and held him down and poured hot water from a pipe leaking scathing hot water from nearby on his face. That's exactly how Todoroki gained his scar. That's also was a major part of why Izuku doesn't like bullies. After this incident, those two were always together.
When Inko Midoriya died, the Todoroki family decided to adopt him but Izuku declined. He didn't want to bother them. Rei Todoroki, Shoto's widowed mother, already have three children: Fuyumi and Natsuo Todoroki, Shoto's older sister and brother. After the tragedy, they promised each other that they always would be together to the end of the line.
"I had him on the ropes", answered Izuku slowly getting up.
On the ground, Shoto sees Midoriya's enlistment form and understood that his friend once more was trying to join military.
"How many times is this?" asked Todoroki flipping the file. "Oh, you're from Paramus now? You know it's illegal to lie on the enlistment form and to change your data of birth. And seriously, Jersey?"
"Pot call the kettle black", argued Izuku back. "You change your data of birth either. In addition, it's works for you. You get your orders?"
"Well it's not my fault that I look older than many people think. And yes I do. The one-o-seventh. Sergeant Shoto Todoroki", saluted Shoto. "Shipping out for England first thing tomorrow."
"I should be going", said Midoriya dejectedly. He was happy that his best friend will fight in the War. However, he was also sad that the same trick didn't for him like for his friend.
"Wait, Izuku. My last night! I already said goodbye to my folks. I want to spend this day with my best friend", said concerned Todoroki. "Gotta get you cleaned up."
"Why? Where are we going?" asked Midoriya astonishly.
"The future", smirked Shoto at his friend giving him the newspaper he was holding. "Natsuo bought tickets for us. He said that this will be interesting."
Izuku opens it to see the ad for World Exposition Of Tomorrow, 1943. He heard about it. It's about gathering many scientists engineers and inventors at one place to show everybody their creations. Some young and rich genius created it. Midoriya decides to go with Shoto. Maybe it could distract him from his problems.
Izuku didn't knew that the visit to this Expo will change his live forever.
