Let Never Be Said She Wastes an Opportunity When She Sees It.

There's not a single spec of doubt in Izuku Midoriya's mind that today has been the worst day ever.

Sure, his life for the past ten years hasn't been rainbows and roses…neither what anyone could call above average in any sense of the word…heck, just regular a lifestyle would've been a better alternative to the constant physical and mental harassment, the stares of disgust, disdain, contempt, and pity when they look at him and remind him day by day his lack of a quirk! As if he was some kind of defective and lesser human being! Nothing but trash and a Deku!

…

…The point is that today…today he truly got up on the wrong side of the bed.

Well, the part about seeing Kamui Woods and Mt. Lady in action against that giant villain in action wasn't bad, it gave him some good notes to write about in his notebook.

…Although it's not like he has use for them any longer.

Right, that's…that's what All Might made clear, didn't he?

Following that, that's when things truly turned south.

He was mocked for his desire of attending U.A. High School. Shamed for his will to give it a chance. Ridiculed for desiring to chase his dream. Humiliated for wanting to be a hero, and not for the first time 'While I highly doubt that for the last time, either…', looked down upon for being quirkless.

Then Kacchan…he…he―

If you wanna be a hero so badly, why don't you give it a try by jumping off a rooftop and hope for a quirk in your next life, eh Deku?

―Goddammit!

Just remembering Kacchan's words hammering into his psyche was enough to make him sick. Izuku knew that he and Kacchan weren't on the best of terms 'And that's putting it lightly…' ever since the ashen-blonde got his admittedly awesome quirk. The treatment Izuku received from Kacchan grew harsher with each year, getting to the point of…well, today happening.

Why would he say something that cruel…?

As if that wasn't bad enough, for how horrible all of that was, Izuku couldn't say that's where things touched bottom for him. Putting aside his near-death experience with the sludge villain…

…There was All Might.

When Izuku caught sight of his idol right in front of him, it gave him the best of feelings, thinking everything was finally turning into a new positive light. And for a few moments…it truly was. His most idolized hero saved his life and signed his notebook. It was all too good to be true, and knowing that that was probably his first and last chance, Izuku had to ask him.

Can someone become a hero without a quirk?

Pros are always risking their lives. It would be wrong of me to say that you can become a hero without a quirk…I'm sorry, kid. It is good to have dreams…but it is also important to set realistic goals.

Become a police officer. That's what All Might said, what he recommended Izuku go for. That's what those pro-heroes back an hour ago implied through those scoldings he received for his impulsive actions, and that's what Kacchan, his classmates, professors, and his own mother have reminded him for years is the best he could aspire for.

…

…

…

…Izuku knew.

He has always known in the deepest corners of his mind, that the chances of being a pro-hero when he is quirkless were next to zero. But…just once. Just one person. Before getting his dream crushed, he would've wished to hear from at least a single person those words.

That he could become a―

"DEKU! ! !"

Eh!?

Like a deer in headlights, Izuku twirled in the direction of a voice full of venomous fury with a far from a small amount of panic. It was then that he caught sight of his former childhood friend running in his direction while sending him a glare.

Although it's not like that last part is any different from the ashen-blonde's usual expression.

"K-Kacchan!? What are you―!?"

"LISTEN WELL, YOU PIECE OF SHIT!" Before Izuku could end that sentence, Kacchan stopped in his tracks before beginning to snarl while pointing an accusatory finger "Don't you dare think I owe you shit! I never asked you to save me, ya hear!? Least of all by a pathetic quirkless wimp destined to failure like you! Actually, fuck that! You didn't save anyone's ass! You are and always will be a fucking useless Deku with no right to look down on me! Do you understand, shitty nerd!?" The ashen-blonde growled with a look of absolute contempt, though just as fast, he began to walk in the opposite direction all the while whispering 'By Kacchan's standards…' what Izuku could barely make up as "Deku" and "Quirkless trash" as he kicked the ground every now and then.

And that was it. That's all Kacchan came here for. Rub into his face one more that Izuku's circumstances made it impossible for him to achieve his dream.

Only this time, Izuku understands he's right.

He finally knows that letting go of that goal is the best course of action he could take. It was time to focus instead on a future within his capabilities.

…

Izuku couldn't help an audible sigh at that "…At least the day couldn't get any worse, I guess…"

"Eh, I don't know about that. What I do know, though…geez, someone needs to retrieve the stick outta that guy's ass"

"W-Well, I-I can't truly, erm, disagree on that, but that's how Kacchan's always―"

Wait! Whom I am talking with!?

Turning towards where the voice of this newcomer was coming from, Izuku saw…Izuku…he…he…he saw…

…A girl.

She was taller than him, not like he had set the bar high for that, and try as he might, Izuku couldn't determine if it was because she was older, or it was simply because of her blessed genetics. Her face and body in general made it hard to guess. Speaking of which, she was without a doubt the most beautiful girl Izuku has ever met in his life. Granted, the repertoire of girls he has interacted with is not what you could consider impressive, but that didn't make his assessment any less true.

Her hourglass figure, whose skin, while soft looking, lacked any excess fat. Her legs which weren't left behind were a perfect balance with neither ripping in muscles nor excessively plump. There was also her massive pair of…strawberry-blonde pigtails which fitted so well with her face, that while being what one could easily label as 'Sexy', there's no denying her cute charm greatly supported by those round and large blue eyes that made Izuku feel as if she was staring at his very soul.

The attire she was wearing did nothing but boost up the grace she carried herself with. Her white dress shirt underneath a black cardigan, with both of them having their sleeves pulled up and left open enough to expose her black and red black bra, in addition to a red skirt so short that Izuku couldn't dare to stare much, and black boots. Even the small details like the black choker on her neck, her loosely hanging black and white tie, the red bow attached to her right chest area, or those clips of a bunny on her right pigtail and a red and white bow on her left one added to her sense of fashion that people all around the globe would kill for.

If someone were to tell Izuku that the girl in front of him was an acclaimed celebrity working as a model for a highly reputable magazine, he wouldn't doubt it at all.

Just being in her presence, Izuku could feel himself drawn towards the massive aura of confidence and charisma radiating out of this woman with unnatural beauty. Almost like, if she were to propose herself something, the masses would go as far as to move at their own will and act as step ladders for her sake. For any declaration she was to make, you could bet it was nothing but the absolute truth, even if it was yet to be proven, as the skies and oceans would kneel before her to make it a reality if necessary.

All in all, every single detail about the woman in front of him seemed as if it was assessed with scrutinous precision, and only until it got a seal of approval for flawless perfection, it was attached to her being.

Most important of all, though…

SHE'S A GIRL!?

E-Eh? W-W-W-W-Why is a girl talking to me!? A-A-And a beautiful one at that!? What could she want with someone like m-m-me!? Wait, hold on a second! Is she actually talking to me!? O-O-Or could it be that someone else is behind me and she was addressing that person, making me nothing but an idiot if I were to reply!? Ah! B-But I already replied back to her, didn't I!? Arghhh dammit! I'm such a fool! And I bet she thinks the same right now. Now she's gonna begin to loudly laugh while mocking my blunder! Then share the experience with her friends about that loser who directed her a word, and they too will see me as a laughing stock! Although she hasn't begun guffawing yet, m-maybe I can salvage this. Perhaps acting as if I too was talking to someone else? No, all she would have to do is to turn back to notice my ruse and it would make matters even worse! W-What about an apology!? That might work, or at the very least, it is the only path I can see with some chance of success. Depending on how I do it, it is possible that―

"Eh, I was talking to ya, so the apology is kinda overkill at this point"

"A-A…c…c…I…I-I…s-s…y…m-m…u…u…"

"Oi, it's too early in the story to break on me, don'tcha think?"

"A-A G-G-GIRL!?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure I'm one since last I checked"

"O-Oh? I-I see that is good to―Eeeek! D-D-D-Did I said that o-out loud!?"

"Yep, you were"

"ACK! I-I-I'm s-sorry! I―"

"Hey, hey, you need to chillax, like, a lot. This routine of me saying something and you freaking out long since outlived its cheap comedy effect. Breath in, breath out, you can do that, right?"

As if a spell was cast upon him, Izuku stopped his stuttering with a hitch before complying with her instructions. Closing his eyes for concentration while dissipating any outer distractions, Izuku absorbed some air in until his lungs were full and then huffed that same air out. He repeated the exercise a pair of times more until he finally began to feel his nerves calming down.

Once he expulsed the residual carbon dioxide out of his system, Izuku began to slowly open his eyes, only to catch sight of the strawberry-blonde still standing there, now with her hands behind her and a tilted head where a slightly amused smile gracing her lips "…So, think you are capable of coherent speech now?"

"I…I, um, y-yeah, I…I'm fine now…" That's what he said, but he still couldn't avoid acting self-conscious as a dark tone of red formed on his cheeks while addressing the strawberry blonde. Can someone blame him? This is the most ANY girl has directed him a word in more than a decade! The fact that this girl was a world-class beauty didn't help on the matter "…Um, can…c-can I help you with something?"

Izuku internally winced at the awkward way he made that question, but it couldn't be helped. He was genuinely wondering if she required assistance on any matter and that was why he was talking to him. If it weren't because of her fluid Japanese he might've confused her for a foreign, but even if she isn't, perhaps she's not from around here. Maybe she was new in town and needed help with directions.

With that same smile plastered on her face, the strawberry-blonde girl began to eye him up and down, as she did so, the corners of her mouth began to stretch slightly upwards. Meanwhile, Izuku couldn't help but grew exponentially nervous as the seconds ticked by. Wondering if this was a signal that this time indeed, she was going to laugh at his expense for daring to suggest that he could be useful for whatever was running through her mind.

Just as he was about to sputter out another apology, the blue-eyed girl spoke up with a sing-song voice "Hmm, I wonder about that…" She said nothing else for a few moments as she taped her chin with a single finger, though before another wave of nerves could make a comeback, the strawberry-blonde snapped her finger with her other hand so suddenly that it made him flinch "Alright, come with me"

That was the last thing she said before turning on her heels and strolling forward.

"Eh…?"

Instead of explaining any further, the blue-eyed girl continued on her way without looking back, as if those words of hers were all the explanation he needed. This admittedly put Izuku at a crossroad, quite literally.

On one hand, he could ignore her as she now is apparently doing, seeing that she wasn't even checking if Izuku was actually following her, and continue his path back home. On the other, he could allow the curiosity bubbling within him to get the better of him and follow the mysterious strawberry-blonde girl.

He understood that the latter was the peak of recklessness. He had no idea who she was, what were her intentions, heck, he didn't even get her name! For all Izuku knew, this girl could be working for a group of kidnappers, acting as the bait for naïve fools like him who would follow her just because, only to become their next victim!

…Although…

It is also true that acting that cynical wouldn't sit right with him, less so when she hasn't given Izuku any signals to act like that. If anything, the blue-eyed girl has been considerably polite, at least more than what he was used to. When he was a stuttering mess, she didn't laugh at him. Sure, the signals that she found it funny were there but that was about it, there wasn't any mocking on her part, and when he began in one of his whispering ramblings, instead of giving him a look of contempt or being weirded out as he is used to, she took it in stride AND helped him calm down. That has never happened before!

If this girl were to truly need him for something, he doesn't think rejecting her request would let him sleep right. He may be about to give up on his dream of being a hero…but that doesn't mean he wouldn't help people if it was feasible for him.

…

…

…

…And, if by any chance, there was something shady going on, then someone needs to report it to the pro-heroes! He can always back down and run away at the first signal of true danger so he could leave it to the professionals.

Right?

He might not be sure about this, but...there was something about this person that he just couldn't ignore. He would like to say that it was because he would feel terrible if he were to ignore the possible need for help, but it just felt like there was something more to it.

...

...

...

...In the end, curiosity got the better of him, and Izuku deviated from his path as he followed the strawberry-blonde girl. All the while hoping he wasn't making a mistake.