Ryoya stirred uncomfortably. How ever long he's been out for, he didn't know. But he did know that when he opened his eyes, they immediately burned from the blinding light. He slammed them shut and groaned before trying to rub them, but then realized he couldn't move his hands.
Nor his feet for that matter.
"What?" He questioned to no one in particular, and after blinking the dots out of his vision, he finally realized the position he was in. Sitting in the middle of a large, empty room with the lights on overhead, bound with rope to a chair. Had it not been for him immediately sensing his two sensei, Ryoya might've panicked. Then his eyes widened. "The mall! The others!" He started to thrash about, before igniting both hands and feet to simply burn his way free.
"Calm down," A rough voice ordered from behind him. "I'll tell you everything but first, I'll need you to not try to fight your way out."
Ryoya scowled, but calmed his movements. "It's not my fault you weren't in the room when I came to, Sensei."
Ryu frowned, not that Ryoya could see it. "What do you remember?" He said, skipping the pleasantries.
"...I remember an explosion. A villain attack, gunshots." Ryoya listed, his scowl deepening with every memory. "The guy who came with Lizar-, I mean Setsuna, and Itsuka was knocked out and there were still so many people. Me and Izuku didn't have a choice but to act."
Ryu listened intently. "And after that?"
Ryu was clearly looking for something, of that, Ryoya was sure. But he wasn't quite sure what he was fishing for as yet. "I remember telling him to split up and leave the civilians away while I distracted the villains."
"Do you remember who those villains were?"
Ryoya paused. "Fucking Shadaloo." He spat. "Vega was there."
"Did you engage Vega?" Ryu continued his line of questioning. Ryoya was at a lost as to what exactly he was looking for still, but he started getting an idea.
"More like, he engaged me. After Izuku dove in to grab the girl, I tried to cover him by kicking that masked prick. Didn't play out though."
"...you used the Dark Hado." Ryu said seriously, causing Ryoya to flinch at the tone.
There was a small pause of tense silence before Ryoya sighed. "...yes, I did."
"Do you even remember what happened when you activated it?"
"...No."
Ryu's ki flared for a fraction of a second, before returning to normal.
"Ryoya." Ryu said in a "no bullshit" tone. A tone that Ryu only used when the situation was dire and one he'd only used with him once before. Ryoya hated this tone. "You attempted to kill a man today. If All Might hadn't been there, who knows what would've happened between you and Vega. There is a reason I told you time and time again that the Dark Hado is not a power one just calls on in times like that. It feeds off of negative emotions. Your rage, and hatred towards Shadaloo caused it to completely over take your personality. You almost attacked All Might."
Ryoya winces at that. Not only was it surprising that All Might was even there, but the fact that he almost attacked the Symbol of Peace... that could've only ended terribly.
"Your teeth." the man said, "they've changed."
The golden eyed boy seemed confuse for a bit before using his tongue to prod his teeth and sure enough, his upper canines were longer, like fangs.
Ryu continued on. "I understand it was a high pressure situation and you felt you needed the extra boost, but calling upon that power nearly cost you your life!" Ryu shouted at the end, a rarity since the man had the composure of a stone.
"I only tried to call on a portion of it!" Ryoya shouted back.
"Boy, how many times must I tell you? It feeds off your emotions. You know why you lost control today? You felt nothing but the desire to kill Vega!"
"I know, damn it!" Ryoya roared. "I fucked up big time! You told me not to use it at all, and I still went and did all because that bastard was right in front of me!" He calmed down in an instant, trying to blink back his tears of frustration. "He was taunting me! He knew about Bison and the fucker laughed at it!"
Ryu simply listened for a bit. He could understand the frustration and he could definitely relate to what happens when bits of that accursed power seeps into one's being. Thankfully, he blocked the connection before the boy could fully be consumed by it, but he was using it long enough for him to lose a bit of his compassion and humanity. To the extent that he was more than willing to challenge the number one hero if it meant killing Vega.
"I... I failed." Ryoya started sobbing quietly. "I swore to myself that I could protect those weaker than me and stop Bison. I can't let others go through what I did. I had one of his top men right in front of me, and I failed. I failed to fight him. I failed to control the Dark Hado. I failed you, Sensei."
"Ryoya." Ryu said softly, but firm enough to get and keep the boy's attention. "You are fourteen years old. A child. You are allowed to make mistakes." Ryu soothed, for the first time, walking from around the boy's chair to look at him face to face. He looked pretty weathered. His hair was a mess and fell over his eyes, but the tear streaks were as visible as the morning sun. "You have power in your veins, child. And today, you tried to use it to defend."
"No, I fucking didn't!" Ryoya snapped. "I wanted the bastard dead!"
"Did you not lead the group of villains away from Midoriya and those civilians?" Ryu pressed.
"Well, I-."
"And did you not carry that boy while Midoriya did basic first aid?"
"That was-"
"Do you want to be a hero, Ryoya Harushi?" The question came out of seemingly nowhere for Ryoya, but Ryu knew exactly what he was doing. He was much smarter than people were lead to believe. After all, one does not travel the world as many times as he has and grow in intelligence.
"I... I'm not sure." Ryoya said shakily.
"Why not?" Ryu pushed. "Do you not think you'll be a be a good one?"
"... no." He said honestly. "I don't think so. I'm not hero material." Ryoya hung his head in dejection.
"What makes you say that? You clearly want to protect those who can't protect themselves. You clearly want to stop Shadaloo and prevent them from ever conducting those sick experiments again. And you have the power to do it."
"Is that really enough of a reason to be a hero?"
"Does one need a reason to want to protect those who can't protect themselves?"
Ryoya... didn't have an answer to that.
"Try to activate the Dark Hado again." Ryu said after several beats of silence. Ryoya tilted his head in confusion and opened his mouth to say something but Ryu raised a hand to silence him. "Just trust me. You can't get out of the rope if you tried."
Ryoya nodded and tried to feel for the forbidden energy. Normally, it was like he was standing above the clouds on something solid, overlooking the edge of the precipice. It was as easy as walking off and falling into the dark below. It was always tempting, having that much power right there at your beck and call, but years of training made him realize that the power came at a price. Stare into the abyss and it begins to stare back.
He took the mental step and... nothing. His eyes shot open.
"I can't." He said slowly.
"I know you can't. I've sealed it off. I may not have the same level of skill that my master had when it comes to this stuff, but the seal I placed on you is neigh unbreakable. But, don't push it. It'll wear off in time and you'll need to come back and get it redone until you're ready to try to master the Satsui No Hado. Understood?" Ryu explained, making his way to untie his student.
"Yes, Sensei."
"Good. Now, you've been here for a day and a half now and your friends are worried, especially Midoriya. Give them a call or something to let 'em know your not dead." Ryu said light-heartedly, then his expression grew serious once more. "Are you going to tell them about the Dark Hado?"
Ryoya paused for a second before nodding slowly. "In time."
Ryu responded with a non-committal grunt. "We have something else to talk about. School."
Super Street Fightin' Friends
Shhh...: Any word on or about Ryoya?"
Shhh...: Everyone
Falcon-PUNCH: Nothing here sadly
Dino-City: Ugh, same, I'm already super worried and this is making it worse
3D-Printer: The only thing I know is that Chun-Li sensei said he's with Ryu-san and Ken-san somewhere not very close. But that's all I know
ME: I spoke to Ken-sensei today and all he said was that he's fine but he doesn't know when him and Ryu-sensei will be back.
Falcon-PUNCH: Well, if your sensei says he's fine, well I guess he is? And we just have to wait until he's able to talk again
Hot-Stuff is typing...
Hot-Stuff is typing...
Dino-City: EVERYONE SHUT THE FUCK UP
Hot-Stuff is typing...
3D-Printer: Ryo-kun, thank goodness.
Hot-Stuff: hi
Falcon-PUNCH: That's it? Hi? You and Midoriya go through that whole ordeal, save a bunch of people from villains and help arrest a dozen or so of said villains and then vanish for two days and the only thing you say is hi?
Shhh...: Wow, I can almost taste the anger from here
Hot-Stuff: Sorry... been dealing with some things mentally that I should've addressed a while ago and the attack made some bad memories resurface.
Hot-Stuff: Am I in danger?
3D-Printer: You most certainly aren't! We're just very happy to have you back. We were so scared when we didn't see you after the attack
Dino-City: Are you feeling okay? We're your friends you know. You can talk to us about anything.
Falcon-PUNCH: She's right. You've listened to us over the years but you don't seem to realize that it goes both ways, we're here for you
Hot-Stuff: Thank you, it really means a lot to me.
Hot-Stuff: Shockingly-Green Two things. One, you and I need to have a talk about something important.
ME: Well that's not ominous at all, what's it about?
Hot-Stuff: I'll tell you in person.
Falcon-PUNCH: Did we not just say we're all friends here and you can talk to us about anything? -_-
Hot-Stuff: I have a feeling that you guys lied and Red-chan is actually mad at me and I'm in danger.
Hot-Stuff: I'll tell you guys soon, I promise. It's just something between me and Izuku.
Falcon-PUNCH: Alright... if you say so
Hot-Stuff: Thanks.
ME: What was the other thing?
Hot-Stuff: Me and you need some kind of code word or gesture or something for you to do the next time you're either in danger or plan to run head first into danger again.
Dino-City: He did what?!
3D-Printer: Again? What do you mean again?
Hot-Stuff: Do you seriously believe that Izuku will never, ever in his life run into danger again? At least he can have the grace to give me a heads up so he doesn't get himself killed.
ME: I'm right here guys...
The following day, Izuku and Ryoya met up at the dojo at their usual time. There was a small bit of tension between the two as Izuku desperately wanted to ask Ryoya about the mall trip and that exceedingly oppressive ki signature, but he mentally reasoned that his friend would tell him when he was ready. After their pre-work out stretches and meditation, but before the actual training started, Ryoya pulled Izuku to the side with quite possibly the most serious look he'd ever seen on the boy's face. He even had his hair down as if to emphasize how serious he was.
Ever since his teeth randomly grew, Ryoya's air of intimidation only increased, or decreased, depending on who you asked. Ken-sensei said that he was gonna be even more popular with the ladies since he looked so feral, to which Ryoya tried to defend. But his hair was down and still as messy as ever, so he didn't really have a chance.
Izuku saw him yawn and immediately thought he looked like a cat. He wouldn't voice this thought, since he really didn't feel like being set on fire, but when he snuck a picture and sent it to the girls, they agreed.
"Izuku." He said gravely. Izuku internally started freaking out. "I have something important to tell you."
"W-what is it?"
"As you know, I've always been homeschooled here at the dojo." Izuku nodded. He's met the man on several occasions. Jack had such a cool mental quirk that allowed him photographic memory and recall everything said or heard at any point whenever he so chose. He called it Memory File because he once said he accessed the memories like a file cabinet. "Yeah, well. That's not happening anymore. Jack had to go back to the U.S for something and won't be around to teach me for the last year old middle school."
"Oh, that's a shame. Is everything alright?"
"I don't know." Ryoya rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. "But I do know that I'll have to spend the last year in an actual school."
Oh. "Well," Izuku started, unsure. "You're super smart right? You should be able to breeze by with no problems."
Ryoya made a non-committal sound. "So, Ryu-Sensei spoke to me and apparently he signed me up already for a near-by public school."
Oh. Oh, no. No. No.
"Izuku, I'm going to Aldera."
The simple declaration hit the air like a sledgehammer on a sheet of glass.
"What!? Why? Is there no other place? Not that I wouldn't want my best friend in the same school as me. Do you think we'll be in the same class?" Mutter. Mutter. Mutter.
"I thought we broke that habit." Ryoya interrupted with an extremely withered look. "As for why? I just told you. Why are so pressed about this? Is your school not the best place?"
That was a massive understatement. "No, no!" Izuku lied. "School is fine."
Ryoya gave him a dry look. "Are you sure?"
"Y-yeah! I'm sure." Izuku waved off frantically.
He wasn't sure at all for several reasons. One being Bakugo. Sure, over the years, Bakugo's attempts at physical bullying were met with resistance so he slowly started to lay off Izuku and focus on weaker people, but the verbal abuse was still there daily. Secondly, Ryoya apparently had a small, but dedicated fanbase at his school from the few times he'd been spotted waiting at the gate for his green haired best friend. On too many occasions, Izuku would meet his locker filled with love letters. None directed to him. The first batch, he actually asked the group if he even should show them to Ryoya but it was met by surprisingly hostile resistance.
"I recall you saying a few years back that your school isn't the biggest fan of people like us." Ryoya said easily. "And you didn't have any friends. That still the case?"
"...kinda?" He still didn't have friends, but people no longer went out of their way to harass him. Sure, they would still jeer at him occasionally, but no one besides Bakugo and his crew actively sought him out to do him harm. He ever had one or two people eat lunch with him before when other tables were full and they had peaceful, light conversations. Overall, far, far from great since the teachers were still the same, but not completely terrible.
Maybe it had something to do with how much he grew, or the amount of muscle he put on.
"Well, I guess it won't be so bad. It's only the rest of the year."
"Have you decided on whether or not you want to be a hero or not?" Izuku suddenly asked, making Ryoya's eyes widen a very small amount. So small that to the untrained eye, nothing happened. But Izuku knew his friend/rival very well.
"...still thinking about it."
Izuku inwardly sighed. If it was one thing he didn't like about Ryoya was his current predicament. To Izuku, someone like Ryoya not being a hero with all the power he has would be nothing short of a travesty. It was like Bakugo not becoming one. Some people, Izuku noted, just seemed destined to be a hero, and Ryoya definitely was one of those people. He may not have believed it, but Izuku's seen the boy in many different situations and he proved to have the the conviction of a hero.
When Izuku woke up the following Monday, he started his usual routine without fanfare. Yawned, headed to the bathroom, relieved himself, showered, brushed his teeth and started putting on his uniform. Everything seemed normal until he got to the kitchen and saw his mother cook with someone.
"Couldn't we add the stock all at once?" He hears his mother ask.
"We could," surprisingly, Izuku knew that voice. "but then we'd just be making rice."
The day hadn't even fully started and Ryoya had already appeared in his home. "I feel like I know the answer already..." Izuku start cautiously. "But I just have to ask. Why are you in my home this early in the morning?"
Ryoya turned slowly. His hair is tied up better than he'd ever seen it before and a bit shorter, ending now just at his shoulders. He looks weird in a gakuran. Weird, but far from bad. He has a completely straight face but Izuku can see the very slight pink forming around his ears.
"Ken-Sensei woke me up really early and I didn't know what to do until time."
"...are you sure it's not because you're socially awkward and would rather not walk in school by yourself since you don't know anyone?" Inko said serenely. Ryoya turned stiffly to give her a betrayed look.
"Izuku, we're sparring at the dojo later. No ki."
"What?! I didn't even say anything!"
"Yes," Ryoya says without missing a beat. "But I can't challenge your mother for this transgression. You're the next best option. What's our current record? With and without ki."
"With, it's 20-15, your favor. Without, it's 40-29, also your favor." Izuku said dryly. He knew that Ryoya also kept track of their scores, he must've just wanted to hear it.
"Why's it so much closer with ki, if you don't mind me asking?" Inko spoke out.
"Because, I'm the better fighter, but getting hit by Izuku with that stupid cloak active is like getting hit with a sledgehammer that's also a taser on max output. It's not pleasant at all." Ryoya scowled at the memory of the first time he lost. It was actually the first time they'd sparred with both the Denjin Renki and Heat Rush active. Ryoya thought that the extra speed and fire control would be more than enough to keep Izuku at bay, but he greatly underestimated how strong that technique was. Normally, he was faster than Izuku. Not by much, but he always had the very clear advantage in speed, while Izuku edged him out in raw strength at times. But when he activated Denjin Renki, Izuku actually closed the gap to be nearly as fast, if not the same speed as Ryoya himself. The boost caught him off guard and gave Izuku a free, heavy elbow to Ryoya's stomach that shocked him, both figuratively and literally.
"Don't act like getting hit by one of your flaming kicks feels like a love tap!" Izuku protested. "It hurt to breathe for days."
"I couldn't move for days, Spinach!"
Before the boys could come to blows over this, Inko cleared her throat. "What's rule one again?" She said in a tone that was just a bit too sweet.
"...no fighting in doors."
"Good boy, Ryoya-kun." She said while reaching up to pat his head. Seriously, when did he get so tall? She almost couldn't do it.
"We're not stopping to watch some hero fight." Ryoya said in a deadpanned tone.
"B-But it wouldn't even take long! And I heard that Kamui Woods is there! He's a popular young raising star and his quirk 'Arbor' gives him the ability to control his limbs like tree branches! He's fighting some giant vilain!" Izuku's eyes shined as he continued moving towards the front of the crowd, literally dragging the tan boy by his wrist.
Ryoya looked like he wanted to die.
"Izuku, if this makes me late of my first day, I will kick your ass."
Izuku slowed down. Only slightly though. "It won't, I promise!" As they got to the front of the crowd, Izuku smiled widely. "Here it comes, his preemptive binding technique!"
"Lacquered Chain Prison!"
"Canyon Cannon!"
Suddenly, a titanic woman flew seemingly out of nowhere and kicked the giant villain in the face.
"Today's my debut!" The woman said, bending over slightly at a provocative angle. "Pleased to meet you all! Call me, Mt. Lady!"
Within seconds, Izuku had a notebook out. "Gigantification huh? It's a common and quite powerful quirk, but it could be an issue when public property damage comes into play? Maybe a limit on how long she can be like that?" Mutter, mutter, mutter.
People were starting to stare and Ryoya suddenly felt the overwhelming urge to sink into the ground. He grabbed Izuku by the back of the uniform and picked him up with an impressive display of strength before heading to school. "S-sorry about him. He's just... him." He gestured vaguely to Izuku, still muttering and taking notes and didn't elaborate further.
"Before we start today, I have an announcement to make." The aged teacher said with a bit of vitriol in his voice. "We have a new student joining us for the remainder of the year. You may enter."
The door slid open and those brilliant golden eyes scanned the room as Ryoya walked in with a neutral expression. "My name is Ryoya Harushi, I am in your care." He said robotically with a tilt of the head.
The class's reactions were instant. Almost all the girls, and even some guys immediately swooned over his appearance. Izuku knew for a fact that at least two of the people in this class were in his fan club, but the number seemed to double in a single sentence. Izuku couldn't help but to grin at his friend's socially awkward wave before looking at the teacher. Until he saw Bakugo's face. He had more burning anger and hatred on his face than Izuku had ever seen directed at someone who wasn't him.
"Take your seat behind Midoriya." Ryoya did as he was told, keeping his eyes straight ahead. "Now then, you guys are all third-years now. It's time to seriously start thinking about your futures!" He said with a smirk. Ryoya's eye twitched ever so slightly, but no one noticed by the time he sat down. "I would hand out these future career forms but," he paused for dramatic effect. "I'm sure you all want to be heroes!"
The chaos eruption was instant, hands were up and quirks were activated all over the room save for three people. Izuku's hand went up slowly and Ryoya didn't so much as acknowledge the teacher's words. Bakugo threw his feet on the desk, still openly glaring at the boy in the back of class. "Now, now. Yes, you all have wonderful quirks, but it's against the rules to use them in school!"
"Sensei!" Bakugo shouted with a smug look on his face. "Don't lump me in with the rest of these losers. As if I had anything like their crappy quirks." He said with a shit-eating grin.
This was immediately met with boos. "Get over yourself, Bakugo!" One kid with rocks for hair yelled.
"Shut up! Extras like you should act like extras!"
The teacher cut in right then. "Ah, Bakugo... you, of course, must be aiming for U.A High." The class looked shocked and started to chatter among themselves while Izuku just silently watched on and Ryoya raised a brow.
"That national school?! The cut off this year is 79, right?"
"I hear they barely accept anyone!"
It was then that Izuku put his head down and silently groaned. He had a feeling as to what was coming next and with Ryoya now being in class, he didn't know what to expect.
"Shut up, extras!" Bakugo shouted while leaping to stand on his desk. "I aced the mock exam! I'm the only one where with the stuff for U.A!" He boasted loudly. "I'll even surpass All Might and become the new number one hero! Not to mention, I'll be one of the richest people in the world!"
"Oh." The teacher said and Izuku inwardly sighed. Here is comes. "You're also going for U.A, aren't you Midoriya?"
Silence. Then everyone turned to him. And started laughing. Bakugo froze.
"Huh? Midoriya?! No way!"
"Good grades alone can't get you into the hero program!"
"I know," Izuku said back smoothly. "I have been training since I was a kid. I'll be fine."
Just then, Bakugo lunged from his desk and slammed his palm on Izuku's desk, creating a small explosion that blew his hair back, but nothing more. "Come on, Deku!" He sneered. "Forget the crappy quirks, you're totally quirkless! And you think you can rub shoulders with me?!" Izuku really didn't want to deal with Bakugo's attitude today, and was prepared to say as much, but someone beat him to it.
"You think he can't?" A sudden deep, silky voice cut through the commotion. Everyone turned to Ryoya who was giving Bakugo a glare so intense, the class in unison stopped laughing. "What's wrong with being quirkless?"
"Everything! What can Deku even do without a quirk!" Bakugo raised a sparking palm to try intimidate Ryoya but scowled when the only reaction he got was a dry stare.
"More than you." He said simply.
Bakugo took expectation to that. He moved and slammed his palm on Ryoya's desk. Or at least attempted to. When his hand came down, Ryoya grabbed it before it actually met wood and bent his wrist back at a very painful angle. Bakugo hissed in pain and fell to his knees. "Didn't the teacher just say quirk use is against the rules?" He had the nerve to sound bored while shifting his intense glare from Bakugo to the teacher, who stiffened. "I'll ask again, what's wrong with being quirkless?" Ryoya challenged. "I'm quirkless and look how easily I beat you. What does that say?"
More class chatter.
"N-no way he's quirkless and he stopped Bakugo that easy."
"He really is quirkless? No wonder he hangs out with Midoriya."
"Well, the second fan theory was correct. Looks like I owe Haruno one hundred yen."
Ryoya's expression nearly changed after hearing that last one.
Bakugo growled and attempted to stand, but Ryoya simply tightened his grip. "Aren't you going to stop him from using his quirk, Sensei?"
"Let him go, Harushi, only because it's your first day, you won't get detention. Bakugo, to your seat."
Izuku just watched the scene unfold with trepidation. Ken and Ryu had no idea the monster they just released upon Aldera. The last term will be interesting if nothing else.
A/N: Wow, I've been on a roll with the updates, huh? They might start slowing down soon, but who knows? I'm really enjoying writing this. And the reception has made it better. Well, canon begins. Ryoya confronts some of his insecurities and almost breaks, but we have Best Dad!Ryu to save the day. Him being in Aldera now and actively around Bakugo will surely be a peaceful time /s
Like the tags say, you guys pick who I'm shipping Ryoya with. You can choose between someone in 1A, 1B, Support Course, a de-aged pro, etc, etc. The choice is up to you guys.
NinjaFang1331: Thanks!
Ryuujin96: I'm glad to hear I exceeded expectation. Yeah, Izuku has gotten really strong over the years he's been training. Them having the Hadoken, Shoryuken and Tatsumaki are just the tip of the ice berg for what I have planned. Sure, they might have some of their own names for techniques, but who knows? And good pick up. One of Izuku's character traits showed early in the story. He's a hard worker, but never worked because he never had a reason to since no one supported him. In this, he has two scary strong sensei, and a quirkless rival who he relates too. They all push him towards his dreams and Izuku blossoms because of it. As for Ryoya having the Satsui, well, not to spoil, but Izuku won't be getting it. It's just another difference they'll have. They won't just be copy pastes of Ryu and Ken.
Ah yes, the first introduction of Shadaloo. One of the many canon divergences started early. And yeah, that's something I needed to show. Ryoya and Izuku have different ideals despite being similar in many aspects. They both have flaws as people, like I showed here. And Izuku's hero worship will be brought up in a later chapter!
Thanks for the in-depth review!