Shota Aizawa was having a good day. Well, good is a strong word. He was having a somewhat tolerable day. Keyword, was. He had gotten a full three hours of sleep during the day. His favorite cat cafe had a freshly brewed pot of coffee just finished when he walked in during the evening. Even the cats seemed extra affectionate today. Although he could've done without Purresent Mic meowing in his ear constantly, but it's not like that was much different from the man himself.

Patrol had started off fine as well that night. A couple of muggings, a bar fight, and a drug deal. Nothing he couldn't deal with or had to strain his eyes too badly for. No, it wasn't until he was stopping a trigger deal in some alley that it all went wrong.

Four assailants. Two were buying, and the other two were selling. As soon as he confirmed the money and trigger, he jumped down. He had the two sellers down almost immediately, landing on one and putting the other down with a well-placed elbow to the face. Predictably, the other two froze and freaked out when their quirks wouldn't come to them. In the few seconds he took to descend on them was when he noticed a fifth assailant. Apparently, one of the parties had someone waiting in the wings just in case things went bad. The man had some sort of chameleon mutation and quirk that had allowed him to blend into his surroundings.

That seemed to be all he was good for though, because he ran once he registered Shota was there. The criminal rounded the corner as Eraserhead was finishing with the men in the alley and was about to go after him when he heard a scream and a thud from the street. He tore out of the alley, quirk activated and capture weapon ready when he met what would ultimately ruin his night.

A child stood on the sidewalk, beaming at him so brightly Shota was glad he was wearing his goggles. The criminal lays on the ground in front of him, unconscious.

"Eraserhead!" The kid screams before pulling a notebook out from…somewhere. "Can I have your autograph?!"

He takes note of their surroundings to make sure they aren't in any danger before looking the kid up and down, checking for injuries. Once he's satisfied, he answers, "what happened?" He gestured to the unconscious man. "Did you do this?"

The kid pulls the notebook back and looks down. "O-oh, uh, him? No, he um, tripped. I think I must've scared him when he was running from you? Because he saw me and tripped."

Shota raises an unimpressed eyebrow. "He tripped?"

The kid nods rapidly. His wild green hair flopping everywhere with his head movements. "Yeah! Tripped!"

Shota glances back down. "So." His headache is making itself known. "He saw you. Tripped. And that caused the cut on his thigh, and his head to hit the wall hard enough to cause cracks in it?"

"Wow! You're as good as they say!"

Shota takes a long, very long breath through his nose before exhaling. He hears in his earpiece that police and medical are minutes away. He wraps the villain in his scarf and picks him up to take him back into the alley. "Go home kid." He could still salvage the night. "And don't let me catch you out here again." The kid is clearly a fan, hopefully, his word will be enough to get the kid to stop whatever it is he was planning.

The underground hero carries the last trigger dealer into the alley and sets him by the others. Relieved the kid didn't follow, Shota applies basic first aid to the man's head and checks the injuries on the others before the ambulance and police arrive. He gives a quick statement before using his capture weapon to repel himself back to the top of the building to watch the police finish up and leave.

Shota sighs, crouching down and slipping a jelly packet out of his pocket to sip on. He watches the city in thought. Well, that kid was a minor setback but overall, not the worst day. He's not sure how a, ten? Eleven? Year-old kid found him. Maybe quirk related? Ah well, it's done now so he can focus on his new class he's gotta teach in two days and-

"So about that autograph?"

Shota does not jump. No. That would imply he was scared, or gotten scared. Which he didn't. What he is, however, is confused. He turns his head to see the kid, the same kid from before, practically vibrating with excitement next to him. Notebook held out again. Shota narrows his eyes, no one had been able to sneak up on him in years. It'd be impressive in almost any other situation.

"What did I just tell you, kid?" He drawls.

"Not to let you catch me out here again!" The kid actually jumps up and down a little while answering. Yeah, his night was ruined.

"Right, so what are you still doing here?" Shota has been told his lack of patience is easily identifiable in his voice. He's hoping the kid gets it.

"Actually," the kid starts. The headache pounds harder. "You never said I had to leave. You said I just had to make sure you didn't catch me!"

Shota looks over the edge of the building. No, this fall wouldn't be enough to kill him. Shame.

"Wrong kid. The first thing I told you to do is go home. Now go, before I drag you to the nearest police station."

"But Eraser!" The kid whines. He. Is. Whining. "Home is such a subjective term! It can mean any number of places!"

Instead of answering, Shota whips his scarf at the kid, the police should let him off with a warning and he'll learn his lesson. Wrapping the scarf around his mouth will just be a bonus. But in a feat the veteran hero hasn't seen done by many, the kid moves, dodging the scarf, and standing up straight up again, holding out the notebook.

"You dodged." Shota states. Standing up and rolling his scarf back up around his neck. He pretends not to feel his knees popping as he does so.

Somehow, the kid's smile grows. "Well, I did say I wouldn't let you catch me."

Shota wants to be more upset than he is. "I don't give autographs. So just head back to wherever you live."

This burgeoning problem child has the audacity to pout. Thank god Nemuri wasn't here. She'd be putty in his hands. "But it took so long to find you…"

Another sigh. A rapidly common occurrence tonight. At least, more than usual. "Do you have a pen?" A happy gasp and the kid looks at his pocket and when he does, it was Shota's turn to move. He gets right in front of the kid before he even has a chance to look up and by the time he does, he's wrapped up with his feet off the ground. "Your reflexes are well beyond your age. But never take your eyes off a potential enemy."

While Eraserhead had been expecting some form of disappointment or begging, instead, the almost confirmed problem child was somehow even happier. "Oh my god, I'm wrapped up in the Eraserhead's capture weapon! This is one of the greatest days of my life! Wow, it's so light but strong! Carbon Fiber right? I heard there's some metal woven into the material to make it very hard to cut, is that true? Although, I'm sure the knife you have hidden on you can probably cut it right?" How does he know about that? "Would it be too much to ask you to take a picture of me like this? Or, no! Can we find someone else to take a picture of me like this with you?! Yeah, and can you have that exact scowl on your face that you have now? Please!"

The gremlin descends into a mumble storm as Shota carefully navigates their way back down to the sidewalk. He's not sure if the kid takes a breath in that time but the pro hero is making sure the scarf isn't too tight so it's probably fine.

"Enough," Shota says once they're back on the ground. It's simple, but enough to break the kid out of, whatever the hell that was. "I gave you the chance to leave, kid, now if you behave on the way to the station, they'll probably let you off light, but only if you behave? Got it?" Thankfully, mercifully, he gets a nod and they begin their walk. Well, Shota's walking while the kid just sort of dangles. It's peaceful.

"So what do I have to do to get that autograph?"

It was peaceful. Was is becoming an important word tonight. "Stay out of trouble and next time, do what I, or any pro hero, tell you to do."

"Then I'll get it?!"

"No."

The human-sized broccoli groans. "C'mon Eraserhead. There's gotta be some way. What if I can get out of this? Can I get it then?"

"I don't know what your quirk is. It would be illogical to take that bet."

"I can create illusions. And anyway you can just keep your quirk on me until we get there. I couldn't see when you'd blink. Also, does your quirk work through any glass, or are your goggles made from something special? Your scarf and hair float when you use your quirk, obviously to move anything blocking your sight, so does that mean it has some sort of minor anti-gravity quirk built into it? That would be such a cool quirk on it's own. But your stuff floating is a big tell. Couldn't you cut your hair and wear your scarf somewhere else so the villains aren't tipped off? How much weight can your quirk's side effect move? Like, how about a tennis ball or something? Would that float around your face? What about red-colored contacts? So nobody could tell when your quirk is activated with or without the goggles. Oh! What about-" a small shake breaks the kid's concentration.

It's doing nothing for Shota's full-blown migraine.

"If I give you an autograph, will you shut up and head home? Your actual home, and stay there?"

"Yes!!" Now he's practically dancing in the weapon, wonderful. "Oh yes yes yes! I promise! Thank youuuuu!" Are those tears? Whatever. Shota looks up and down the street to make sure they're alone when he feels the weight the capture weapon is holding disappear. He turns around, lowering himself into a fighting stance only to see, again, the kid holding out his notebook and pen with the biggest smile on his face.

"I thought you said your quirk was illusion creation."

"I said I could create illusions. I never said it was my quirk."

Yeah. Shota needs to end this. He can feel his grip on reality slipping. He takes the notebook from the kid and sees a- god dammit, a good drawing of himself on one page and words written on the other page. At least he assumes their words.

"What language is this?" Shota asks, squinting.

The kid picks at his fingernails nervously. "It's uh, code. I like to analyze heroes but I don't want just anyone to be able to read my notes. So I code everything."

'Potential.' Shota's traitorous brain provides. But if even half the questions he could make out from the kid were accurate, maybe it wasn't that far off. He signs his name under the picture and hands it back.

The kid's hands tremble as he takes the book back. "Th-thank you. Thank you so much!" He sniffles and oh god here come the tears again.

Shota waves him off, rubbing his irritated eyes. "Yeah yeah, kid. Just make sure-" he opens his eyes and the kid is gone. What was he saying before? His grip on reality was slipping? That kid was real right? He doesn't even know if he's hopeful about that or not. But he does know one thing. He needs more coffee.

Mirai Sasaki dodges back just as his intern, Mirio Togata, shoots up from the ground. The two take a moment to steady themselves before Mirio charges forward. Mirai takes another step back, pretending to lose his footing, and throws two of his super density stamp seals in 'panic.'

Mirio activates his permeation, letting the seals pass through him. "I got you now, Sir!" He yells, aiming a fist at his mentor's face.

"Tunnel vision," Mirai says simply. Mirio has just enough time for his face to form one of confusion before Mirai's knee catches him in the gut. The UA student falls to his knees, wheezing. "You continue to improve." Mirai continues while he straightens his suit and glasses. "However, when you feel victory is assured, you gain tunnel vision in regards to your opponent. You don't consider what ways your enemy can counter you. Or, how they may be tricking you." He holds his hand out and Mirio takes it, pulling himself up and smiling.

"I'll be sure to work on it through this year, Sir!" Mirio proudly declares, pumping his fist in the air. "Besides, I wouldn't want to be known for tunneling during a fight, then people might say I'm boring!"

Mirai stares at his student for a few seconds before snorting. "Take the rest of the day off. Make sure to turn your costume in before you leave for any last-minute alterations."

"Oh, I'm good to go again if you want."

"No, you start classes tomorrow and should be well-rested. You did good work. I look forward to your sports festival this year."

Mirio's bright smile returns full force before he bows. "Thank you Sir!" The almost UA second year wave as he leaves. Mirai allows himself a small smile before returning to his office.

Slumping in his seat, All Might's former sidekick lets out a relieved sigh. It was almost time. He would use this year to continue to develop Mirio. The work studies after the boy obtained his provisional license would be a massive help. And at the end, Mirio will be more than ready for One for All. Toshinori will pass on the quirk, the country will have it's new Symbol of Peace for decades to come, and his old friend can finally retire and be safe.

Still, it helps to be prepared. Mirai picks up his phone and dials a number he hadn't in a long time. Unsurprisingly, it doesn't take long for him to get an answer. "Yeah?"

"Torino, it's Mirai."

"Heh, should've figured you'd have the guts to call before the oaf. What do you want?"

"I want you to meet my chosen successor to All Might. And I want you to help me convince Toshinori to meet him as well. The sooner the better."

"You know. Typically, the user picks their successor."

"We both know that Toshinori will wait until the last possible moment to even think about finding a successor. And by then it will be too late. Your help with convincing him and in training the boy would be appreciated."

"Yeah, I don't know Mirai…I just got a new microwave and the trains are so crowded these days, damn young people don't even offer their seats to us old folk anymore…"

Mirai pinches the bridge of his nose in exasperation. And the old man wonders why they don't call anymore. "I'll send a company car to pick you up and you can have as much Taiyaki as you can eat."

"…I'll see you tomorrow." The line goes dead.

Mission accomplished he supposes. All the pieces are in place. Sir Nighteye thinks back to last year's sports festival. To that embarrassed Mirio who lost his clothes on live television. He knows many wrote him off. But he was not one of many. Mirai knew then he had found him. Despite his poor performance at the festival, his future intern never stopped smiling.

With that smile and positive attitude, Mirai knew there was no other choice. He offered the boy an internship because of it. He would be the ninth user of One for All. Sure, if for some reason Mirio did not receive the quirk, he couldn't fathom why, then yes, he would still make an excellent hero.

Tomorrow will be an interesting day. Hopefully, he can even convince Toshinori to come so he and Mirio can start to get to know each other. No, it was all gonna work. All that would be left is for Mirio to accept.

"Why bother? I know you all want to go to the Hero track!"

Katsuki Bakugo scoffed as all the extras in the room cheered and showed off their worthless quirks. First day of his last year in middle school and he couldn't be more ready to leave. Stupid fucking extras. Most of their quirks couldn't be used for heroics, and the few that maybe could have worked, aren't going to now. They hadn't put any work into it. Unlike him.

He had been training his ass off since he could remember. Keeping his body in peak condition, studying to keep his mind sharp, and learning to use his quirk in different ways. Deku had actually been useful for quirk training when they were younger, he could really see how much damage different size explosions did to a person, at least before the fucker started to be able to pull his little disappearing act. Fucking coward.

Katsuki side-eyed the nerd in the back corner of the room. There he was, just scribbling away in one of his stalker books. Whatever. At least he had the good sense not to pretend he had a chance like the rest of these losers. Oh good, Sensei is finally starting to get back whatever little control he has over the class. Time to set the record straight.

He propped his feet on the desk. "Hey Teach." The class went silent. Good. They should hang off every word of the future number one. "Don't lump me in with the rest of these extras. I'm the real deal, but they'll all be lucky to get into the gen ed courses of any hero school."

He laughs as the class protests before Sensei mentions he's trying for UA. That shuts them all up. Finally. "I'll be doing more than trying out. Once they see me, UA is gonna be begging me to join their hero course!" The blonde steps up on top of his desk. "I've aced every mock test. I have the perfect quirk. I'm the only one here with any chance to get in. And after, I'm gonna be richer and more popular than even All Might!"

The class stares at him in awe. Good. They should get used to looking up at him, and you know what? He can't say he minds looking down at them. That's right. All of them, especially Deku, are just stones. No, not even stones. They're pebbles on his path to glory. And nothing's gonna-

"Oh yeah, Midoriya, don't you wanna go to UA too?"

Katsuki's thoughts come to a screeching halt. 'What?' He wouldn't seriously even think about applying to UA right? He knows Katsuki's going, and he has to be the only one from this shitty school to make it in. Why is Deku trying to ruin his perfect backstory? Does he think he's that much better than him?!

He drills his eyes into Deku, who's leaning his face into his hand, looking resigned to what's about to happen.

Katsuki's thoughts can't go any further before the class breaks out into laughter.

"Deku? Seriously?!"

"Nothing you make is real, how is that gonna help?"

"Card tricks can't beat villains, Deku."

"Hey, maybe he could pull Miruko from a hat and she can beat the villains for him!"

The class laughs more while Deku just sighs, tapping his pencil against his notebook. Oh, Katsuki's body can finally move. He rushes forward and slams his hand on Deku's desk, causing a small explosion. The shitty nerd doesn't move for a second before tilting his head up but leaving it in his hand. Deku gives him a small nauseating smile. "Hey, Kacchan. Here to wish me luck?"

You know, there's a small, very small part of Katsuki that wants Deku to get into the hero course. So he can have permission to kick his ass every day and explode that smirk right off his face. But the nerd not getting anywhere near UA is still preferred.

For now, he just settles on growling. "Listen up, Deku. You're just some wannabe birthday clown who'll run from the first villain he sees. You really think they'd let someone like you in when they could have me?"

"I'm sorry Kacchan but are you confused?"

"What did you just ask-"

"Are you confused? Because you know UA doesn't have to choose between us right? We don't have to compete against each other in that way. It's not like they can only accept one kid from each middle school, we can both go. I thought you said you'd been studying?" Deku throws him an even wider smile.

He's a dead man.

With a roar, Katsuki throws his fist back, ready to swing, but before he could, "that's enough Bakugo! Return to your seat." Sensei calls out. Thankfully, his training had awarded him with plenty of willpower. Since it was taking every last of it right now to hold back. He couldn't risk anything appearing on his record to hurt his chances at UA. So he'll play nice for now. At least while Sensei is here. The explosion quirk user stomps back to his desk and let the rest of the day pass him by.

Not soon enough, the day ends. Katsuki waits for the rest of the extras and Sensei to leave before storming back to Deku's desk. There he was. Smiling at some stupid shit on his phone while writing in his notebook. "Oi, Deku! We weren't done!" Katsuki goes to snatch the dweeb's notebook…only for his hand to go through an illusion of said book.

Deku stands up, his bag disappearing in a green light, and this motherfucker has the balls to sigh at him! "Your whole thing is being loud, Kacchan. I knew you were coming. Did you think I'd just let you take my book?"

Katsuki flings the desk in between them out of the way and across the room. Some extra comes up behind him. Oh, it's Long-Fingers.

"H-hey Bakugo, man. Maybe we should…"

"Shut the fuck up!" He glares back at Deku, but he wasn't even looking at him! The idiot was staring at where his desk was!

"Huh…maybe next time I should create a decoy of the desk too? But how far would Kacchan be willing to go in property damage? Should I create decoys of everyone's desks?…yeah I know they never respected mine but being a hero is about being the bigger person…no no the windows should be fine, Kacchan wouldn't let that big of an explosion inside the school…no! I'm not willing to see how far I'd have to push him to do it!…"

What. The. Fuck. Deku and his stupid fucking mumble storms that no one understands. No wonder he didn't have any friends.

"Deku!"

"W-what? Oh! Sorry, Kacchan!" He pointedly ignores the apologetic smile Deku gives him. "What were we talking about?"

He doesn't remember?! Katsuki is the future number one! Deku should be honored just to talk to him! "All you're good at is running away, Deku. You'll die at the entrance exams, and I'm gonna prove it." Katsuki's hand starts to heat up and smoke. He went to put his hand on Deku's shoulder. "Now run away and leave your little clone."

Before his hand could touch him, Katsuki felt something press against his wrist. His eyes widen at the sight of a knife that was not there before.

"How's that for running away?" Katsuki clenches his fist harder, making a sound similar to a rabid dog. "Don't worry Kacchan. You'll get the fight you want when I get into UA."

"Is that a threat?" Katsuki spat.

"It's a promise."

Red eyes met green for a few tense seconds before Katsuki pulled his hand away. The knife was already gone. He scoffs, stuffing his hands into his pockets before making his way to the door.

No. He would not let that nerd get the last word. Time to put him in his place once and for all. Katsuki stops at the door. "You know, there is a way you could be a hero." He pauses. "Just pray that you'll be born with a better quirk in your next life, and take a swan dive off the roof of the building."

Deku actually takes a step back, his face falling. Good. He gets it. Katsuki leaves without another word.

He did it. The nerd seemed to finally understand. No way he applies to UA now. He should feel satisfied with his victory.

So why didn't he?

'Why would he say that?' Izuku Midoriya shakes his head while walking home. Why would Kacchan go that far? Was this his fault? Had he pushed his old friend too far? He knew he could be annoying at even the best times but still…did he really want him to die?

Izuku's way home takes him through a tunnel. No no he couldn't have actually wanted him to jump off a building. Sure, he and Kacchan hadn't exactly gotten along for years but this was different. Did he not want him to go to UA that bad? Why? He wasn't that irritating right? It couldn't be that Kacchan…actually saw him as a threat, right? Ha, no. That'd be ridiculous. So, what-

I

"Get back here!"

Izuku's train of thought is derailed by a shout from outside the tunnel. The teen looks up to see someone small running at him from the other end. A child, he realizes. A girl. She stops in front of him and for the second time that day, Izuku's green eyes meet another person's red. But while Kacchan's were full of anger, hers show nothing but fear.

Izuku raises his hands, trying to show her that he means no harm. Giving his best smile, he says, "are you-"

"Hey!"

The girl squeals in terror, flinging herself onto him, clinging tightly. She's trembling. Izuku looks up to see, what he assumes is a man from his build, standing at the end of the tunnel. Most of his body is covered by a black cloak and he wears some sort of plague doctor mask over his face. Well if that doesn't scream bad guy.

"Thanks for finding my boss' kid." The man says. "We'll be taking her back now."

'We?'

"Yeah, give her to one of us and you're free to go kid." The voice comes from behind him. Izuku turns his head to see another man, dressed the same way as the first, blocking the other end of the tunnel. The man behind him looks down. "Oh shit, look at his shoes! He's a quirkless!" The man laughs a little. "You can understand us, right?"

The first man laughs too. "Oh right! I heard most of them can't even talk! Good point!"

Izuku gently places his hands around the girl. "I can understand you. Just. Fine." Izuku says, his voice low.

"Whatever you say." The first man replies, still laughing a little. "Well, the deal still stands. Give her up and you can leave. Though I almost feel bad for letting you go, a worthless life sounds like hell to me."

Izuku's mind quickly flashed through his early years, back before he could use any of his powers. How just him suggesting he could be a hero while everyone thought he was quirkless got him beaten up, got him secluded, got him burned.

He wouldn't trade his powers for anything but dang it, he knows he could've been a hero without them. Sure, no one believed in him and it had never been done before, but he could have! At least he's pretty sure…

Izuku opens his mouth to respond but a soft, broken voice stops him. "Please…" Izuku looks down. The girl is somehow holding him even tighter. "Please…don't go…"

Izuku takes a second to get a good look at her. Raggedy clothes. Bluish, off-white hair. A small horn on her forehead. And, oh god, bandages on her arms. She couldn't be older than five.

Determination courses through his body as Izuku takes a breath. "I'm not going anywhere." He says to her. "I promise."

A nearby manhole cover began to stir.