MHA: Hope And Justice

AN: Man, I should really stop writing down these ideas, but I just can't help it! I needed to get this thing off my chest! At least put the idea out there! I hope you all understand what I mean.

1 The Big City

"Well, I guess the time has finally come."

Standing in front of a fairly moderate house was a young man around fifteen years of age, sporting a pretty tall and muscular stature. He also had bright blue eyes and short black hair.

He was dressed in a simple white shirt and black pants. He also wore a backpack and held a large duffle bag in one hand.

The young man turned to face a group of people that were about to see him off. He smiled as he faced the two of them that he was closest to. A couple that were in their early to mid-fifties, both smiling back at him. They were his parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent.

The rest were their friends and neighbors from the town of Smallville.

"Knock 'em dead, kid!" one of them exclaimed. "Show those punks from Metropolis what the country folk from Smallville are capable of!"

A woman next to the man elbowed his arm. "Will you cut it out, Gabe?"

The young man chuckled. "I'll give it my best, Mr. Sullivan, Mrs. Sullivan."

"Make sure you do!" Mr. Sullivan said. "And for the last time, it's Gabe and Moira."

Jonathan and Martha approached their son.

"Are you sure you have everything packed, Clark?" Martha asked.

Clark then tapped his duffle bag. "Everything's here and in my backpack. The books, the documents…"

"And some of your comics, no doubt," Jonathan jested.

"I need some entertainment," Clark said with a shrug.

"Don't forget to study as well," Jonathan added. "You can't be a pro hero by lazyin' around."

"Come on, pa, you know me better than that," Clark said.

Jonathan then ruffled his son's hair. "I know, son. But you know fathers can be paranoid.

"Do you have your special shoes?" Martha asked.

"I do, and they are ready to go," Clark confirmed.

The three then hugged, and after a few moments separated.

"Don't forget to call, son," Martha said.

"Of course I won't," Clark said before hanging the duffle bag over his shoulder. He then turned around and gave the group a wave. "Bye, everyone! Wish me luck!"

"Bye Clark!"

"See ya later!"

"Good luck, kid!"

With one final smile, Clark looked back to the road, braced himself, and suddenly he was off, moving at great speeds and leaving a small dust cloud behind him.

Jonathan and Martha watched as the wind made by their son ruffled their hair.

"And there goes our little hero," Jonathan said.

Martha leaned on his shoulder. "Not so little anymore, Jonathan," she said. 'Good luck, my son. I'll pray for a bright future for you.'

It was a great day for Clark Joseph Kent. Today was finally the day that he was going to attend Metropolis High, one of the most prodigious schools for future superheroes in the entire world.

Ever since meta powers, or simply Quirks appeared all those years ago, and with over eighty percent of the population having some kind of power, a lot of schools were created to help young people nurture their talents in hope of becoming future heroes and finding employment in the hero society.

And Metropolis High was one of the most successful ones, and Clark waited for the opportunity ever since he was a little kid.

He couldn't stop smiling as he ran at super speed, liking the cool feeling he felt from the wind resistance.

Finding himself next to some train tracks, he ran alongside a moving train and began easily outrunning it. On one of the windows there was a little girl that noticed him before smiling and giving a wave.

Clark waved back with his free hand before increasing his speed and easily passing the train. He thanked his mother for buying him those shoes, they easily handled his super speed.

For the next several minutes Clark simply ran, already passing the borders of Kansas he deduced he was probably somewhere in Illinois. Considering his timing it wouldn't be long before he reaches New York State.

"Hey, where are you going, kid?!"

Clark snapped a glance sideways and saw another man running next to him. He looked to be in his late twenties or early thirties and dressed in a silver costume with goggles over his eyes, his brown hair exposed through his head sock, some white lines along his arms, legs, and a large white 'S' on his chest.

He recognized the man as the pro hero, Jason Willis, aka the Silver Streak.

"O-oh, I'm headed for Metropolis!" Clark said somewhat nervously at the sudden appearance of a pro hero. "I was accepted into Metropolis High, and I aim to be a pro hero!"

Silver Streak looked slightly stunned before grinning. "Really? Heh, you must be good if you were accepted!"

The two of them then found themselves running towards a road with busy traffic before jumping over and landing on the other side before resuming their speedy run.

"You know, if you do well," Jason said. "You just might end up accepted into the Speedster Society! You look like you'd fit in!"

The Speedster Society was a famous superhero group consisting of heroes whose Quirks allow them to use super speed in some way, whether it be physical enhancements or space/time manipulations. They even took in an occasional flier.

While superhero groups weren't uncommon, the Speedster Society was one of the few who had theirs based on the specific ability of their speed Quirks and were fairly famous among the American populace.

"I-I'm honored, sir!" Clark said. "But my quirk isn't really speed-based! Super speed is only a side-effect of it!"

Silver Streak raised an eyebrow. "A side-effect! Huh, never heard of a Quirk doing that! Oh well, regardless, good luck to you! This was a nice little chat but duty calls! See ya around!"

And with that the pro hero disappeared in a silver blur, leaving Clark alone again.

'Man, I didn't think I'd meet a pro hero so soon,' Clark thought as he saw the hero disappear in the distance. 'Well, I'm sure I'll meet more once I'm in the big city.'

And just a little over half an hour after he left his hometown, he found himself seeing the large city of Metropolis, with its very tall buildings giving a majestic sight of the city that was nicknamed 'The City of Tomorrow'.

When Clark arrived near the city he had to go out of his super-speed as its use was a lot more prohibited in such populated places, for obvious reasons.

Clark marveled at the structures of the buildings, the gleam of sunlight reflecting off the tops, the number of people walking in the streets, there were also many billboards advertising things like fast food restaurants, drinks, or some hero companies, some of which included the Speedster Society. Yep, he definitely wasn't in Kansas anymore.

He went to find a city bus and bought a ticket, before seating himself and waiting. After all that running a bit of a slower pace was actually pretty welcome. Looking outside, he saw several costumed individuals among the regular people, either helping them in traffic, fixing something near a store, or similar labors.

Once his bus stopped, Clark quickly stood up and took his bags. He then took a deep breath and got out of the bus. Clark then gazed upon the stone walls that surrounded the school area and entered through the doorway along with several other people his age.

There was a large building down the stone-paved path, most likely the main school building. But what really got his attention was what was located halfway down the path.

A huge bronze statue was stationed there, shining in the morning sun. It was a statue of a man with a great muscular build and short curly hair, his mighty arms by his side and a determined expression on his face as he stood tall and proud. However, instead of some sort of normal wear or a costume, the man wore a tattered shirt that exposed his muscled physique, along with cargo pants and boots.

Clark stared at the bronze statue as it depicted a man that Clark admired since childhood and the man he was named after. This was the statue of America's very first, and to some, the greatest number one hero, Clark Savage Jr., or as he was better known as Doc Savage, the Man of Bronze.

You see when Quirks first started appearing the people who had them were still in the minority and had to face prejudice from Quirkless people for years. Doc Savage was one of the first people to ever use his powers to be a hero and help people. His Quirk imbued him with incredible strength and endurance but also had a side-effect of turning his skin and hair bronze, which gave him the nickname The Man of Bronze.

He inspired the people with his super-heroics, and being also a very rich man, he used his money to help other people, after which the superpowered people became more organized in their exploits. All that earned him the title of America's number one hero.

Doc Savage was many things, a doctor, a detective, an explorer, adventurer, and most importantly, a hero. The last one being most important to Clark.

Clark remembered when he was a little kid, and how his parents told him who Doc Savage is, and what an admiring figure he was. Clark found himself admiring him as well. He soon found himself watching his movies, buying his comics and action figures.

He was practically obsessive over it.

Jonathan Kent sat on a couch, flipping over the channels with his remote to see if there was anything interesting. After much hard work on the farm, it was a good time for relaxation.

Something then caught his eye on one of the channels and he smiled.

"Clark! Your favorite movie is on!" Jonathan called out.

And soon after, a seven-year-old Clark found himself on the couch next to his father, a bowl of popcorn in his hand as his eyes were excitedly glued to the screen.

The TV showed a man getting off of a snowmobile that traversed the Arctic Circle, with the man removing his head coverings and showing his bronze skin and hair.

"This is Doc Savage," the narrator said. "The Man of Bronze."

Then sounds of drums followed, with Doc Savage looking to the side with a small smile and a twinkle in his eye.

"Have no fear, the Man of Bronze is here!"

Clark shifted in his seat as the song began to play.

"Peace will come to all who find…"

"Doc Savage, Doc Savage!"

"He's a friend to all Mankind."

"Pure of heart and mind!"

Doc Savage then picked up his bag from the snowmobile and walked over to a large spherical ice structure.

"Who will make crime disappear?"

"Doc Savage, Doc Savage!"

"Part hero and pioneer."

"Thank the Lord he's here!"

Doc then put his hand on the structure and began digging his palm until he left an imprint. The ice then soon began cracking, revealing a large metal door beneath that slowly opened.

"Doc made a vow"

"That helps us all so let's recall it now."

"The oath that he swore"

"Said life would be so sweet and free once more."

Doc then walked through the entrance, standing just below a sign that read 'The Fortress of Solitude' and looking over the furnished hideout with a smile.

"A hero has come"

"Let's all join in as we begin the big parade."

"So BANG on your drum!"

"And raise your flag 'cause history is being made!"

Clark brought himself out of the memory lane with a shake of his head. He rewatched that movie so many times he could probably recite it all in his sleep.

Looking down, Clark saw something written on the stone beneath the statue's feet.

The Code of Doc Savage:

Let us strive every moment of our lives to make ourselves better and better to the best of our ability, so that all may profit by it.

Let us think of the right, and lend our assistance to all who may need it, with no regard for anything but justice.

Let us take what comes with a smile, without loss of courage.

Let us be considerate of our country, our fellow citizens, and our associates in anything we say and do.

Let us do right to all.

And wrong no man.

When he uttered those words for the first time on live television, people all around America felt inspired by his sheer charisma and determination that other superpowered individuals rallied to his cause. Even to this day, heroes tried to live up to the code to be the best people they could be.

Well, at least those who still believed in such a cause since there were still those who were in the superhero gig simply for money and fame. They were still human after all. Not to mention the existence of super villains also proved that not everyone with Quirks would be a hero.

The statue in the school grounds was made in honor of Doc Savage since he was one of the main contributors to developing a school system for people with Quirks, with Metropolis High being his main investment. It was unfortunate he never lived to see the end result of his labors.

"Clark? Clark Kent?!"

Clark was snapped out of his musing and saw another boy his age approach him. He was also a similar height and while muscular he was slimmer than Clark, with brown eyes and short curly blond hair. He was dressed in a red shirt and jeans.

"Pete? Pete Ross?!" Clark exclaimed before getting a wide smile.

The two boys approached each other and clasped their arms.

"Hey, how've you been, Pete? Haven't seen you since fourth grade," Clark said.

Pete shrugged his shoulders. "Well, it's been pretty fine. My old man got used to the new job very well. And the school there wasn't so bad either."

"Were you also accepted into Metropolis High?"

Pete got a million-watt smile. "Of course I did! What, you thought I was here just for kicks?" He then wrapped an arm around Clark's shoulder. "Man, I missed you, Kent. Those years haven't been the same without you."

"Same here. Though I guess we'll have plenty of time to catch up over the next four years."

"That we will," Pete said before turning to the statue. "Honestly, I'm not surprised to see you here. I don't think I've ever seen a bigger Doc Savage fan than you."

"Well, you have to admit, he was a great guy," Clark said before looking at the statue as well.

Pete then nudged his friend. "C'mon, Kent. We don't want to be late for the first class."

"Oh, right," Clark said before hoisting his bags. "By the way, which class are you? I'm 1-B."

"Really? Me too!" Pete said excitedly. "This is just perfect! I can once again copy your answers!"

Clark rolled his eyes. "Seriously?"

Pete then playfully tapped Clark's shoulder. "I'm just glad we could hang out more often, that's all," he said before pausing a bit. "But you'll still help me, right?"

Right at eight o'clock, the first lesson began. Clark and Pete soon found themselves seated in one of the classrooms along with over a dozen other students.

At the desk in front of the class was an elderly man, tall and a bit bulky, and dressed in a military-style uniform. He had grey hair and piercing blue eyes that held a stern expression.

"Welcome, class 1-B," the man announced. "For those of you who don't know me, I am Richard Wilson, otherwise known as the Phantom Soldier. I'll be your homeroom teacher for the next four years. Now, all of you here have been accepted based on your previous school performances, and I'm sure you all want to become pro heroes once you graduate. However, there is no guarantee that will happen.

"So it's up to me to whip you into shape and mold you into proper hero material. If you think it's all gonna fun and games, think again. Hero work is more than just running around and punching criminals in the face, and by the end of your stay here, you'll understand that. I hope you settled into your dorms because you're in for one hell of a ride."

"A bit dramatic, isn't he?" Pete lowly whispered but Clark heard him and just shrugged.

"Now, it's time for introductions," Wilson continued. "Knowing more about each other will help you through the school years. You'll stand up, tell us your name, where you're from, and what your Quirk is."

Wilson then pointed at one of the students on the left. "First row, far left, you start and we go from there."

A student with dark red hair rose. "I'm Jack Dawson from Casper, Wyoming. My Quirk is Flame Control."

Next to him was a girl with tanner skin and long black hair. "I'm Clare Lune from Samarkand, Uzbekistan. My Quirk is Super Strength."

Next was a kid with brown hair and green eyes. "I'm Bart Hill from Melbourne, Australia. My Quirk is Super Agility."

This went on several more times before it was Pete's turn. "My name's Pete Ross from Smallville, Kansas. My Quirk is Fire Manipulation."

Next was an African American kid with a similar body build as Clark and a bald head. "I'm John Henry Irons from Metropolis, New York. My Quirk is Steel."

At last, it was Clark's turn. "My name is Clark Joseph Kent from Smallville, Kansas. My Quirk is Sunlight Absorption."

Back on the first row, Jack turned back to Clark in confusion. "Um, how exactly is that going to help you in superhero work?"

"Oh, well, for me it works a bit different than usual. You see, it-"

"That's enough," the Phantom Soldier said while raising his arm. "You all will show what your Quirks do tomorrow when we will visit one of the testing facilities. Now, continue with introductions."

And soon after class Clark found himself in the student dorm on the third floor where his room was. The room itself was pretty spacious, having two work desks a cabinet, and a bunk bed as well. The window in there also provided a pretty decent view of the city.

Clark put his bags away earlier, but he didn't have time to unpack as he needed to get to class. So now he put some of his spare clothes in the cabinet, several of his books on the desk, and the few comics he brought in the drawer of the nightstand.

He then looked at his open palm before clenching it into a fist. Tomorrow they were going to show off their Quirks, which meant Clark would as well. He isn't normally a bragging person but he'd still like to see everyone's reactions to what he can do.

"Ah, so you're my roommate," someone said behind him.

Clark turned to see the student that sat beside him in class, John Henry Irons who held his own duffle bag in his arm before putting it down.

John then put his hand forward for a handshake. "I know we did it during class, but let's introduce again. John Henry Irons, but you can just call me John."

Clark smiled and shook John's hand. "Clark Kent. But you can call me Clark."

"Damn, that's a good grip," John commented as they stopped shaking hands. "Well, looks like we're stuck together for the next four years. Not that I'm complaining, I'm sure you're a nice guy to hang out with."

"Same to you, John."

"Thanks, Clark," John said. "By the way, have you heard about that new superheroine that popped up recently?"

Clark raised his eyebrow. "Um, what superheroine?"

John blinked. "Really? You haven't heard? She was all over the news this morning, and the social media went nuts over her. She's pretty much the new American sensation."

"Um, sorry, I spent most of my morning traveling to this school and my phone's turned off."

John then pulled out his phone. "In that case, you gotta see this!" After several clicks, he walked next to Clark and showed him the screen.

It displayed a video of a woman in her early to mid-twenties that definitely looked peculiar. She was pretty tall and well-muscled, with long blond hair with eight tufts swept backward and dark blue eyes.

Her superhero costume was a dark blue bodysuit with a high collar, a small red mask over her eyes, with her upper chest and her long cape decorated with white and red stripes, some metal gauntlets, shoulder pads, an armor piece on her abdomen, and metal boots. She also had several metal stars decorating her collar, gauntlet, and boots, as well them being cuffs for her cape.

All in all, the woman looked the definition of a patriotic superhero. Tall, powerful, beautiful, proud, and wearing your country's colors as a uniform.

She was standing in the middle of the town square and behind her was what looked like a water construct that was a replica of her from the waist up, holding a large unconscious villain made of rocks.

"And there she is, vanquishing yet another dastardly foe!" a reporter exclaimed excitedly as she got into the frame. "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome America's newest sweetheart!" The camera then zoomed closer to the large superheroine who had a large smile on her face before winking and giving thumbs up. "Star and Stripe!"

"Whoa," Clark muttered out.

"Whoa indeed," John agreed. "Star and Stripe got popular really fast. She already got a crazy amount of followers on social media. Trust me, I've checked." He then looked back at the phone. "And I have to admit, I never thought that I'd like women with those muscles. I think she awakened something in me."

Clark then gave him a look.

"Sorry about that. Too much?" John apologized.

"Oh, no, I… I mean I totally get you."

John grinned. "Oh? She awakened something in you, too?"

Clark then blushed at the sudden question. "Whoa, whoa, slow down a little!"

"Sorry, I'm just messing with you," John said with a chuckle. "Man, I can tell we'll have a great time here."

Then suddenly Pete Ross entered the room. "Hey, Clark! What do you say we go look around the city for a bit?" he asked before noticing John. "Oh, hello there."

"Hello to you as well," John said. "So you two are friends. Mind if I join you two on your tour. I'm from here so I can help you navigate."

"That sounds great!" Pete exclaimed. "What do you say, Clark?"

Clark then switched looks between Pete and John for a bit before smiling. "Sure, why not?"

Yeah, these next four years were definitely going to be interesting.

AN: And that's it for now! Now as you see, in this I don't focus on the usual setting of My Hero Academia where they are in Japan, but I focus more on Superman which means that we'll be spending a lot of time in the United States. I honestly wanted to explore that side of the MHA universe more since we don't really get much of it in the regular canon. I hope you don't mind it. And yeah, I'm also focusing on Star and Stripe in this story. So for those who thought she needed more panel time in the manga, I hope you'll find this satisfying.

And now I implore you to check out my other stories. Trust me, they're worth it. And please leave a review, they are great motivators.

See you next time!