The Strength of One

"The Rabbit Hero; Mirko?!" You'll be having your work study with her?! So cool!" exclaimed Deku in excitement.

"I know right?! I didn't expect it at all. I wonder what she saw in me" Goku pondered before his face lit up with happiness, "I'm just happy I'm going on a work study!" After Principal Nezu had told Goku about Mirko's interest in him, the teen had been brimming with anticipation and excitement. As soon as he got back to the dorms he apologised once more for his outburst earlier and told the students who themselves had received an offer.

"I start from tomorrow. It's gonna be fun."

"Well this is where I was meant to meet her. It's definitely nine o'clock," Goku pulled out his phone just to double check the time before putting it back in his bag, "Wonder where she is." He didn't have to wait long before he heard the cries of a man near him.

"You're insane! Get away from me!" the man screamed in fear and anger. Goku turned in confusion only for the man, clearly a criminal, notice him and show a panicked grin on his face. Goku shrugged and thought he'd indulge a little in some fun. The man tackled him to the ground and slammed his head into the ground to disorient him. A trickle of blood appeared on Goku's forehead, but he didn't even grunt in pain. He had felt worse.

"I'm warning you! Stay back or this kid gets it!" threatened the criminal as he wrapped his left arm around Goku's neck and held his right arm to his head level. His hand began to morph. His quirk appeared to have something to do with…irons?

"What are you going to do? Smooth out his face?" grinned his attacker and Goku finally realised why Mirko had been late. She'd been dealing with this idiot, "Hey wait a minute. You're that Goku kid aren't ya? Hah this is great." Mirko began to laugh hysterically and Goku chuckled as well. The crook just looked between the two in confusion.

"What the? I mean it! This kid will get it!" he cried in frustration only feel his grip on Goku loosen. His anger quickly turned back to fear as he saw Goku prying his arm off his neck with little effort. Mirko was standing with her arms folded and a massive grin in triumph. She was watching these events unfold with glee. Goku turned to face the criminal who stumbled back and began to tremble. Goku, for the fun of it, powered up to Super Ascended and began to approach the crook who held his arm to keep Goku away. Goku didn't even touch him and the criminal's eyes lolled back in his head and he passed out.

"Really? That easy? Could have at least put up a fight" Goku rolled his eyes and powered down only to receive a smack on the back from Mirko.

"Not bad Spikes. I was toying around with this guy. Not even a warmup" Mirko groaned in annoyance before noticing a police car approaching, "Come on. Let's ditch this borefest." With that Mirko shot off and Goku was quick to follow. Being in his hero costume made using his quirk easier and since he was seen with Mirko, people just assumed he was a sidekick or something which opened up more questions. The pair didn't bother to ponder these thoughts and continued on their way. Eventually Mirko skidded to a stop and began to lean on a wall. Goku arrived not long after and after landing on the ground he walked over to her.

"It's an honour to be working alongside you ma'am. I promise to give this work study my all and prove my strength…" Goku started as he bowed.

"Yeah yeah whatever," Mirko interrupted him with a bored wave. She pushed off the wall and stood up straight. She stretched out and Goku watched with a raised eyebrow, "Long story short Spikes, you're like really strong. And if you know anything about me then you know I value strength other a lot. It's how I got to where I am. However, I can't help but notice that you tend to work with others. In my opinion teamwork is a waste of time. It makes out that you're relying on the strength of others and not your own strength. Ever noticed how you're at your strongest when no one is able to help?"

Mirko made a good point there. Goku had broken his limits multiple times without the help of others. Kaioken x20, his Super state, Super Ascended and technically even his new unnamed form which first properly manifested against All For One.

"I'll take your silence as a yes. It's impressive Spikes. After hearing about you and getting some info from pros that have seen you in action, my interest was piqued. That's why when I found out about you first years being entered in work studies I just had to act. I may have no agency or any of that crap, but I don't need it. I got here alone, and it will stay that way. However, I made an exception just for you. So, you ready to get stronger and outclass everyone?!" Mirko was getting pumped up and that got Goku pumped up.

"Hell yeah! Let's do this!" Goku shouted with enthusiasm and Mirko smirked approvingly.

"I like this kid. He's got guts." She thought to herself before a frown appeared on her face. Goku opened his eyes in confusion and looked around him before wiping the still present blood from his forehead, assuming that was what Mirko was staring at.

"Alright I get the whole martial arts thing, but you just look like a kid playing dress up" Mirko facepalmed in annoyance. Goku looked at his costume and became slightly disheartened.

"Really? I've only just got it updated" he sighed.

"Geez. Doesn't look like much of an update. You need something that screams you. While those colours suit you, maybe try a new colour palette. Surely you know someone who can design a better costume?" Mirko admitted. A light bulb went off in Goku's head as he remembered what Bulma had be trying to tell him just before he had snapped at her the day before. Something about a new costume design that she thought would really make him look more like a hero.

"Actually, I do. You don't mind if I call her do you?" Goku asked only for Mirko to roll her eyes in annoyance.

"Lesson one. You don't need to ask me crap. You want to call someone, you call them. You want to have something to eat you get something to eat. Just make sure to get me something," Mirko grinned again, "Final part of this lesson is simple. Want to take down a villain or some low-level crook? You're more than welcome to. As long as I don't get to them first." Goku wasn't entirely sure whether that was a friendly challenge or not but took it as such.

"Like that's gonna happen" he replied with a cocky grin receiving a laugh from Mirko.

"Knew I was gonna like you. Get your call done then we're off" she remarked before closing her eyes and leaning on the wall. Much like Goku, she was itching for some action. Goku took his phone from his bag and selected Bulma from his contacts. The phone began to ring for a couple of seconds before she picked up.

"Hey Goku. How may I be of service?"

"Hi Bulma. I just wanted to ask something but first I owe you an apology for yesterday. I shouldn't have snapped at you. I wasn't in the right frame of mind."

"I figured as much. Apology accepted. I hope you're feeling more like yourself today. Anyway, you had a request for me?"

"Yeah. You mentioned a new costume design for me. Well I was wondering if you could make it for me. I know I've only had the updated version since the provisional license exam, but I'd like to see what you've got for me. You've got the go ahead."

"Really?! You mean it?! I won't disappoint! When would you like it for?"

Goku glanced over to Mirko who had opened her eyes and had been listening to the entire conversation. Her rabbit ears weren't for show. She shrugged.

"Some point within this week if possible? I don't want to put too much pressure on you like last time."

"Hah! I love the pressure almost as much as I love our chats. Just for you I'll start work on it right now and have it to you within three days. Have fun on your work study. Go get those villains!"

"You bet. Thanks, Bulma. See you around."

With that the conversation was over and Goku placed his phone, now turned off to minimise distractions, back into his bag. He turned to face Mirko who was still leaning against the wall. She had a knowing grin on her face.

"What?" asked Goku but Mirko just smirked, closed her eyes and shrugged. She pushed herself off the wall and walked on over to the teen.

"Nothing. Let's go," she replied before sprinting off into the city. Goku followed suite and flew after her. By the time he properly caught up she had already dispatched a group of thugs attempting to rob a bank. One of the most stereotypical crimes.

"Too slow Spikes! You even trying?" the heroine gloated as she knocked out the last criminal. Goku just stood there in shock at how quickly she had dispatched them. Then they both heard sirens. Without thinking Goku blasted off towards them and Mirko rushed after him.

"I thought this was a challenge. Where's all your bravado?" called Goku sarcastically. Mirko grinned. He had gotten her adrenaline going and as a result she had begun to speed up. Goku noticed this and made sure to speed up himself. The pair of them arrived at the same time to see two criminals tearing up the street and enjoying every moment of it. Goku went to Super and rocketed towards the two. He was confident he would take them down. Then, to his utter surprise, Mirko launched off a wall and tackled both criminals to the ground.

"Sorry kid. Still too slow," she shouted before jumping back as the crooks used their quirks, "The hell? You're just two lowlifes. No way should your quirks be that strong." Goku was seeing it as well now and immediately urged all civilians to move somewhere safer. One of the criminals was covered completely in metal and was beginning to form weapons out of his hands while the other began to transform into different animals. Though for the animal quirk user something was clearly up. His transformations looked like animals that had gone through a massive evolution and looked far more humanoid. His tiger form, for example, had spikes protruding from his knuckles as well has his shoulders.

"This Trigger stuff is great! We're unstoppable!" roared the animal shifter before lunging at Mirko. The rabbit heroine jumped out of the way with ease but was hit by the same attacker, albeit now in the form of a humanoid elephant. After crashing into a building, Mirko jumped to her feet and sprang into action. She had a massive grin on her face. She finally had a real challenge. Though she did make sure of one thing.

"Spikes! These morons are juiced up on a quirk enhancement drug called Trigger! Sure, it's dangerous but I think it's a blast! It's a great challenge! Have fun with metalhead!" she informed Goku before laughing in excitement as she dealt with her opponent. Goku stood with slight confusion before being snapped out of his trance by the same metal user Mirko had just mentioned. With a hammer morphed hand, the criminal slammed the ground where Goku was standing. With little ease, the teen had dodged out of the way and made his way behind the new powerhouse.

"If she says I should enjoy myself then that's exactly what I'm going to do!" he cried as his aura sprung to life and he charged his opponent who swung his right arm around to hit him. Goku ducked under it a punched the criminal square in the chest. Both fighters grunted in pain. The criminal for there was now a fist shaped dent in his chest and Goku for he had just punched metal. Enhanced metal to be more precise.

"You little shit!" growled the villain and in the confusion he grabbed Goku by the head his left hand and began to squeeze. Not about to let this 'wannabe hero' off easy, he morphed his right arm into a blade and lifted it back to impale Goku. Goku simply roared as he powered up to Super Ascended, his new massive power output making it almost impossible for the villain to keep a hold of him. With the grip on his head loosened Goku swung his right leg up and caught the villain in the chin. Sure, he may have just broken his foot, but it was nothing Recovery Girl couldn't heal. The villain's head snapped back and he stumbled away from Goku, dropping him in the process. Goku gave him but a second to compose himself before barraging him with ki blasts which began to blast the metal off his body. The villain eventually dropped to one knee and began to pant heavily as he formed more metal around his body.

"I'm nearly finished Spikes! You're gonna lose again!" came the voice of Mirko as she was finishing her own battle. Goku grinned and decided to end his battle first. He quickly depowered to his base form and raised both arms above his head with both palms open. He began to draw from the ki of all living things, but only enough for his attack. When his charging was complete he closed his right hand and focused the energy into that one hand. By this point the metal villain had regained his bearings and while he was still forming more metal around him, he saw the opportunity to attack. He charged and Goku powered up to Ascended. Instead of grabbing his young opponent, the metal villain stumbled forward and crashed to the ground while Goku blasted over towards Mirko and delivered a swift, yet powerful, roundhouse kick to her opponent. Mirko's opponent was sent careening into Goku's and lay atop of him. Both were weak and struggling to get up, most likely a result of the Trigger's effects wearing off.

"He was mine!" complained Mirko.

"I thought this was a competition," replied Goku with a smirk before he threw his attack, "Spirit Bomb!" The ball of ki rapidly approached the two villains who were struggling to move. Their efforts were in vain as the attack connected with them and they were engulfed. The Spirit Bomb shot skywards, per Goku's command, and exploded, leaving the two defeated and unconscious villains to fall to the ground.

"Guess they weren't all evil" Goku shrugged before turning to Mirko who had watched the entire event unfold with awe. She was impressed once more, "Sorry did I take your win?"

"Hell, yeah you did!" Mirko laughed before punching Goku in the shoulder jokingly, "First person to do that like ever. Don't expect it to happen all the time though." Goku laughed but suddenly pushed Mirko out of the way. In the crowd he had noticed someone point a gun at her. The bullet caught him straight in the upper left of his chest. Something felt off immediately. Goku depowered to his base form but not at will. He couldn't sense Mirko's ki signature or any ki for that matter. He glanced at the man who began to sweat buckets he must have been a third man. The man threw the gun to the ground and sprinted off. Goku moved to fly after him but felt…nothing. He tried to fire a ki blast, but nothing happened.

"What are you waiting for Spikes? I'll go after him if you won't" joked Mirko but Goku's look of panic caused her to stop messing around, "Kid what's wrong?"

"I can't use my quirk! It won't work!" cried Goku as he looked Mirko in the eyes. She saw so many things. Sadness, anger, guilt and most importantly fear. He was worried about something that could happen now his quirk had vanished.

"Calm down Goku. It's probably temporary," she comforted him before noticing a red dart like object on the floor. She glanced to see the criminal bolting for it. She had to act fast, "Listen to me. I'm going after that guy. Pick up that red dart thing. We'll get it examined by someone. You with me Spikes? Don't go soft now."

"Okay. Go get him." Mirko nodded and sprinted after her target. It didn't take her long to catch up and take him into custody. Yet throughout it all one thought passed through her mind;

"What the hell did the kid get shot with?"

Author's Note

Hi guys. Sorry bout the short delay on this one. I hope you enjoy it. It's quite fun writing the dialogue and relationship between Goku and Mirko (By relationship I mean a teacher/student relationship like All Might and Deku have).

The pair have their first encounter with a certain plot point of this season. Goku isn't a huge fan as you can probably tell.

Anyway I hope you enjoyed and I'll see you in the next chapter,

Ethan