Deku's POV
Jake Never confuses me. How do I know that? Well, at first I didn't know. I only focused on his cool quirk, did you know his ears and tail aren't the only aspects of his quirk? Wait, don't answer that, let me just, set the scene. Never is his last name just so you know.
This is how I realized how little I knew about my classmate Never.
It was our last year at Aldera Junior High, and he walked in head and tail held high, just like he always does. Radiating confidence, almost as much as Allmight, just like he always does.
He is about 14, my age, and he carries a very slender figure. He has light olive skin, rosy cheeks, thick banana-shaped eyebrows, and spiky black hair. As you can probably tell, he has a very handsome but cute face, and he always wears a red bandana around his head. He has noticeable leg and arm muscles, also abdominal muscles. He is shorter than half of the kids there.
Most of the girls, and even a few of the guys, like him, but he never knows.
But it's his confidence, his glow of determination, and his kind personality that make everyone's heads turn. He loves looking out for people and is the only person I know, other than Aunt Mitsuki, who can stand up to Kacchan without an ounce of fear. And oh how he hates him for it.
Our junior 1-A teacher was resting his hands on the desk in front of the classroom. "So. As third-year students, it's time to start thinking seriously about your futures and what you wanna do with your lives." He said.
"I could pass out some career aptitude tests, but," he snatched the tests off his desk, "why bother?" The students start slowly getting their quirks ready. A quirk is a superpower that about 80% of the population has.
The teacher winds his hand back before throwing the tests carelessly behind him. "I know you want to go through the hero route!" Every one of the students shows off their quirks, cheering. Everyone except 3 people. Me, Kacchan, and Jake.
"Yes, yes you have some very impressive quirks, but no power usage allowed in school," He drawled. "Get a hold of yourselves.
I just sit there, trying to hide my face as much as possible, while Jake just sits there considering. Most people think he is a little bit weird, but no one could bring themselves to dislike him, that is, no one except Kacchan.
"Hey, teach!" a teen drawled, "Don't lump me in with these buncha losers." This is Katsuki, also known by me as Kacchan.
He is wearing expensive clean white trainers and his middle school uniform. He is sitting on the chair, with his feet up on the desk, and his head hanging over the chair.
"I'm the real deal, but these guys will be lucky to end up as sidekicks to some busted D-lister. Heh," He scoffs. He raises his head to reveal a mop of very spiky blond hair, and fiery ruby-red eyes. He had an arrogant aura.
Suddenly the class seems to go into a riot, with some students yelling, "You think you're better than us Katsuki!?"
He stands up and challenges them with slightly crazed eyes, "Let's go I'll take you all on!"
But another random student stupidly jumps in, "Didn't that kid beat you!? With a sword!?"
That's why Kacchan hates Jake so much, he was the only person who could ever beat him in a fair fight. But I know my former friend, even though he hates him, he probably has some kind of respect for him buried under all that rough exterior.
Contrary to popular belief, Kacchan is an honest guy, when it comes to winning, he will never hold back, and he hates when his opponents do.
So if that means Jake is at his best with his sword, then that's how he wants to fight. They fought when both of them were at their peak, so they fought on a full moon night, Jake needed the power of the moon and Kacchan needed to see.
Kacchan whirls around with his fists clenched, but before he could retort the teacher chimed in. "Huh. You got some impressive test results." The teacher says with approval. "Maybe you will get into U.A. High."
Everyone automatically starts talking. Amazed at how ambitious Kacchan is. It is the best hero school in all of Japan.
"That's exactly why it's worthy of me." He growled. He balanced on his hands and launched feet first onto the desk.
"I aced all of the mock tests. I'm the only one at this school who stands a chance at getting in. I'll end up more popular than All Might himself! And be the richest hero of all time!" He declares. "People all across the world will know who I am! AND IT ALL STARTS WITH U.A HIGH!"
Before Kacchan could continue his speech, the teacher interrupted him. "Oh yeah, Midoriya, don't you wanna go to U.A too?" He says indifferently.
I immediately bury my face into my desk, protecting my head as I whimper. Everyone goes quiet. And I gingerly raise my head.
Everyone stares at me, unblinking before they all spit out their saliva in jeering laughter. "There is no way you're getting into the hero course without a quirk!" When I heard that, I stood up, and shakily refuted it. "W-Well, actually, they got rid of that rule. I-I could be the first one."
Jake immediately ran in front of me, grabbing Kacchans arm and directing the explosion that would have blown up my desk into the ceiling. I almost jumped out of my skin. Luckily, our class was on the top floor so no one was hurt.
Once the dust settled, I could see he was shielding me with his body. He was smiling, a kind smile, ever-present, just like All Might. "Leave him alone Bakugou. Please." He said agreeably when a second went by. It was cheerful, far too cheerful for someone that was almost exploded.
He had his hands on his hips, in an All Might pose. However, he was tense, poised to attack the second he was sure that Kacchan would go for either of us. His tail was high in the sky, his ears following its example.
It was not a challenge, it was a precaution, but Kacchan seemed to be taking it as one.
"Who the hell do you think you are, you hero wannabe!? Stupid dog! You think they'd let someone like you in when they could have me!?" He raised his hand and curled it into a fist, bringing it down to punch him. "Do you think you're better than me!?"
I had to stop him, so I took the chance to get his attention. "Huh!? No, wait! You got it all wrong! He's not tr-" I didn't finish, because Jake rose his hand up, cutting me off. I got the message. Don't say anything.
I could see him cross his arms, frowning in disapproval. Glaring at him in disappointment. Even though Kacchan was several inches taller, it still looked like he was getting chastised by his mom. And Aunt Mitsuki is the only one I can think of who he is scared of.
Impossibly, I could see him lowering his head, in acknowledgment, probably also reminded of his mom. But he was still stewing in anger.
"Defenseless Izuku…" He growled. "This school is already crappy. You really wanna embarrass it more by failing so hard!?"
I deflate at his words, knowing they're right. But I can't help but wonder, "why did he help me?"
Time skip; End of the school day
Only Jake and I remained in the classroom, he was packing everything in his backpack. I didn't, I stayed there and pulled out my notebook and phone.
Jake walked up to me and asked "Hey, are you okay? What are you doing?" Genuinely… concerned? It just confused me more.
"W-Well, you know the fight from this morning?" He nodded. "Yeah, I was there. Anyway, it's all over the news now, so if it's so important, then I should make notes before I forget." As I said this I grabbed my notebook.
Suddenly it was snatched out of my hand, jolting my attention to Kacchan who had a disgusted look in his eyes. His nose was held high as if he was trying to get away from an awful stench. He had my notebook in his hands, waving it tauntingly over my head.
"I don't know what you think you're doing Deku, but we're not done," he said, not even acknowledging Jake.
His cronies walk up behind him, one asks "What'chu got? His diary?" He carelessly showed him the title. 'Hero notes for the future.'
"Huh? Don't tell me you're taking notes on how to be a hero." They laughed jeeringly, "That's so pathetic!" The other goes, "He's delusional!"
Jake must have noticed something that I didn't, because he said, "Bakugou… What are you doing?" He smiled but was very cautious. His hand is slightly raised like he's trying to calm a temperamental animal.
Kacchan looked down at him, locking eyes with Jake, his eyes shining with a different emotion for half a second. But it was so sudden I couldn't catch it.
He then looked away and without warning, he brought his hands together, letting loose a small explosion, singeing and ripping the cover and paper.
I let out a surprised squeal. "HUH!?" "That's so mean!" I whimpered.
He carelessly threw the notebook behind him. I'm not ashamed to admit that I screamed.
Jake was running to catch it, knocking Kacchan to the side. Later he would tell me that his fingers brushed it but he wasn't fast enough to get it.
After this happened, Kacchan didn't even acknowledge that Jake pushed him to the side. Later I would hear his goons teasing him about it before he got them to shut up.
He decided to use this moment to speak. "Most first-string heroes show potential early on." I tried to understand his words over the whole ordeal that was happening.
"People just look at them and just know they are destined for greatness." I had just enough awareness to glance at Jake as he said this.
"When I'm the only student from this garbage junior high to get into U.A, people will start talking about me like that. They'll realize I'm legit, the next big thing. That's not ego talking, I just know I'm good." The cronies go "ego.."
Suddenly, he placed a firm hand on my shoulder, it was hot enough to start smoking. "Here's a little word of advice, nerd. Don't even think of applying. Or else," He warned. I painstakingly rose my head enough to meet his face. I whimpered pathetically, glued to that spot.
That happened only a minute before this scene.
"Well, that's just sad." The crone said with one eyebrow raised as he walked out the door. "I thought you at least had some fight in you."
The other one agreed, "He finally gets it. He'll never be a hero. Better to find out now instead of later, I guess."
My back was turned, and my shoulders were shaking in silent sobs, so I didn't see the way Kacchan stopped walking. I was slightly shocked when he started to speak.
"Y'know if you really wanna be a hero that badly, there actually might be another way. Just pray that you will be born with Quirk in your next life. And take a swan dive off the roof of the building."
Just as he said the word 'building', the room seemed to be getting colder. It was Jake, I had completely forgotten about him. He walked away from the window, with his hair covering his eyes. He walked passed me, and the cronies who seemed to be peeing their pants.
He stopped in front of Kacchan, grabbed his collar, and used his impressive strength to shove him into the door. "How dare you?" He growled, and said in a threatening tone, "How dare you say that to someone?" He stood there, stayed glaring at him.
But he took a deep breath and slowly let go. The temperature in the room rose again. "I give everyone, many chances. I know that is too much for me to give. But please, do not do that to anybody again." He was still visibly calming down. "If I get word of you saying that to somebody else again, then I will hurt you."
"Leave." He growled.
The cronies ran out of the room in terror, tripping over themselves as they reached the hall. They ran as fast as they could. I could not properly see Kacchan's reaction, but I could see that he was shocked, and on shaky legs, he walked out of the room.
That confused me because Kacchan would never follow orders, especially not from his classmates. I guess it's just another thing to add to my list of questions.
Time skip, 1 minute; Jake's POV
At this time Midoriya plopped back into his chair, resting his head on it, mainly to calm himself down. While he did that, I closed the door and lightly banged my head against it. I know I shouldn't, but I couldn't care less.
I turned my head, he didn't move from his position. "Hey, Midoriya? You said your dream was to become a hero, right?" He gave me a small nod, face still buried into the desk.
"So far, it doesn't seem like you're doing anything to become a hero. I mean you write notes, and that's great and all, but you haven't done anything to prove them wrong, you know?"
At this Midoriya rose his head from its protection, but said nothing. I took this as the go-ahead to continue.
"All you do is roll over and let yourself become a target. Honestly, the only reason I took so long to respond to those people, is that I wanted to see you stand up for yourself. I didn't know they would go that far though."
He straightened up, and nervously asked, "C-can I ask you something?' I nodded, wanting to see where this could go. "Okay, well, d-do you think I could be a hero?"
I frowned. I was not expecting this. It sounds like he needs some kind of validation to become a hero. "Well, my opinion shouldn't matter to you. Okay, I have a question, Do you want to become a hero?" At this, he confidently stands up, "Yes, more than anything, with a smile on his face.
I smile back, but I quickly ask another. "Do you think you can be a hero?" At this his eyebrows furrow, and he slowly deflates. "Well.. everyone says I can't-" I cut him off. "See, that is your problem. You think everyone else, opinions have any relevance to your journey, but they don't. If you don't get out of this mindset, then you may not become a hero." I say, slightly apologetic by my bluntness.
It didn't seem to work, because his head snapped up and his eyes widened in horror. I winced.
He needs to figure this out by himself.
Authors Notes: Hi! I'm finally done with the first chapter! As you can probably tell, I watched the episode itself so that I don't get anything wrong. Also, that little thing I did with the bold, when Jake talked, that is a little something I like to call, the Alpha's decree. It's supposed to make whoever it's directed at follow his orders. Think of Shinsou's quirk, but Jake can't really control it.
