This story is set with a sort of Anti Deku character... I am pleased with him.


Three months before UA Exam

BAM!BAM!BAM!

Riley smiled, pulling back his gun and looking at the target. Three perfect bullseyes. "Damn, I am good."

"You've gotten better, kid." He turned, seeing the owner of the shooting range. "Why are you practicing here anyway, you've never told me?"

Gathering himself, Riley said. "To become a hero."

The man frowned. "I thought you were Quirkless?"

The sting of annoyance hit Riley hard, but he pushed it down with practiced ease. "I am, but there is always a way to get around that. Look at Snipe, he is just a really good marksman. Midnight without her gas is just a dominatrix. Gunhead is a master martial artist. Most Quirks are a last resort, most heroes use combat and support weapons to overcome their foes. I can do that too! I am well-trained in first aid, I am a blackbelt in Judo and I am working on Kickboxing! I am an amazing shot with a gun! I have spent every day of the last five years getting myself to the point that I can be what I need to be! To overcome the limitations pressed on me by genetics and society. I can do this."

The man before him was stunned, not entirely sure how to handle his blunt defense. "I see... well... I ... I guess the worst that can happen is you fail."

Riley just nodded, not entirely sure the man believed his vigorous defense. As he left, Riley sighed. "I can do this, everyone needs to start believing in me 'cause I am making the most of my life, damn it!"

:::

Getting home, Riley immediately put on an audiobook, one on advanced chemistry, and then got to his workout. He lived alone, had for years, and set himself to learn as much as he could. He aimed to make his own support weapons, he didn't trust others to not sabotage him. People were cruel and he did not trust them as far as he could throw them. he had ideas, so many ideas, for one to replicate Midnight's compound to knock out others but he also wanted to gain immunity to it. Plans in plans.

His workout lasted for two hours before he rested. He started the day with a jog and some sprints, a few miles of each, and moved to a gentle set of stretches. He devoted countless hours to exercise, knowing he had to be at the perfect level if he was to become the hero he so desired to be. He could not afford to falter, not even a little bit... not for a second...

He only had three more months until he took the UA exam... he could do this... he would do this!

"Today is a hard workout, tomorrow is kickboxing... and Sunday I rest... I got this... I got this."

And so Riley continued on his exercises, making all the steps he could take to put himself exactly where he needed to be. After three years of hard training, he would never let it all go to waste, damn it!


Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.

This was a joy to write.

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.