Inko Midoriya smiled happily as she gingerly picked at her bowl of rice and fish, content that she had been able to spend the last three weeks with her daughter again. It had been almost ten years since she and Izumi had sat together in this apartment sharing a meal, thinking back that she had only seen her daughter properly two weeks a year almost always broke her heart but it could not be said it hadn't been done out of love.
She had remembered the day Izumi's quirk had fully manifested, while she had always had the wing and engine mutations nothing had really stood out until something had happened while at kindergarten. Getting that call from the kindergarten explaining that her daughter had turned the play area into a crater had been a shock, not as shocking as finding out it had been the cause of her getting into a fight with her long time best friend Mitsuki's son. While Inko hadn't been overly concerned about the reason for the fight at the time, instead choosing to focus more on the sheer destructiveness of the newly revealed emitter part of her daughter's quirk she had worried about how best to help Izumi control it.
It was during one of those nerve filled days Inko remembered her husbands older brother, a man who held a strikingly similar quirk to the emitter half of Izumi's quirk. Getting in touch with her brother-in-law had not been particularly easy, partly due to his work as an international hero. Explaining her situation to him had been hard for the single parent, having to admit she didn't know how to help her daughter almost ripped her heart in two. Yet it was after trying her husband Hisashi instead, Inko had learnt that he and his brother were operating out of the same are. But rather than give her advice over the phone, Hisashi had all but insisted they fly out to where he and his brother were stationed, that truly set her nerves on edge and caused her to truly start to worry.
Her worry had not been unfounded, as while she had watched Izumi run off happily with her father Hisashi and his older stoic brother Tsubasa, beyond over the moon to be spending time with her dad and what he had proclaimed 'best uncle', it had been what Tsubasa's hero partner, an Englishman named Neil Lodge better known as The Aerial Control Hero: SkyEye, had told her. "I won't lie to you Mrs Midoriya your daughter has a dangerous quirk if handled incorrectly."
"I know," Inko muttered looking out across the secluded airfield turned heroics base, watching her five-year-old daughter run about arms out at her sides mimicking a plane all while her uncle and father chased her, Izumi's joy-filled laughter echoing across the silent sunny tarmac, "She wants to be a hero, but if she can't control her quirk that could ruin her dream."
"Only if it remains untrained," Neil countered watching his long time partner pick Izumi up and spin the giggling child around, "That's why you reached out to Tsubasa," He paused looking over at Inko as she nodded in confirmation, "You did the right thing, we can help her understand how to control her quirk."
Inko turned a soft smile on her lips at hearing Neil's words, "How long do you think it will take?" slowly her smile faded into a worried expression knowing deep down she was not going to like the answer.
"Several years, possibly a decade," Neil offered glancing from Inko down to the quirks assessment file she had brought from Izumi's first check-up, "Considering this is one of the worst quirk assessments I have seen," Pausing to let the anger at such an abysmal and dangerous lack fo information being given to a parent ebb away Neil closed the file, "We can't truly be sure of the full capabilities of her quirk."
Inko steadied herself taking a shuddering breath, knowing what she was going to ask would be the hardest thing she possibly could ask even if she already knew the heartbreaking answer, "Would she have to stay with you and Tsubasa?"
"It would certainly help," Neil stopped hearing the involuntary hiccup in Inko's voice knowing what he was asking, from what Hisashi had raved about, a mother who would do anything for her child and loved her with every ounce of her being to do, "That doesn't mean you are abandoning her, you are giving her the best chance to control her quirk and a headstart at becoming a hero."
Seeing the mother on the brink of tears Neil held out a tissue towards her, choosing his next words carefully so not to set the woman off, remembering the warning Hisashi had given about how if he hadn't seen her with a telekinetic quirk he'd have assumed she had one that allowed her to fill a bathtub with tears, "Think of it like a prep-school program, she'll gain a wealth of experience in not only her quirk but see the world as well' It will open up so many doors for her."
Gently wiping her eyes Inko took a calming breath before looking out once again at her daughter, watching as she was excitedly bouncing on the balls of her feet as Tsubasa was strapping part of his hero costume that resembled her daughter's mutation, "I'll have to talk to her about it, I don't want my baby to feel like I am abandoning her."
"That alone shows you care about her Inko." Neil smiled softly turning back to watch as Tsubasa and Hisashi both began couching Izumi to try jumping high with her quirk, "Spend as much time here as you need, I know Tsubasa won't mind and Hisashi will be overjoyed."
It was with those words final words Inko watched her daughter swirling emotion filling her, knowing her daughter would want to stay and learn everything she could. She mentally and emotionally prepared herself knowing it would happen but resolving to still be apart of Izumi's childhood.
As the week passed Inko had taken the time to fully explain everything to her daughter, almost breaking at her daughter not understanding why she couldn't stay but accepting it none the less. Deep down Inko knew why she couldn't stay, her love for Izumi would not bear to see her hurt in any way and with the training, Izumi would need she would only disrupt it by being the overprotective worrier that she was. That didn't stop her promising not only Izumi that she'd call her every single day but going so far as to get both her husband and his brother to agree to make sure that happened.
It from that moment Inko settled into an odd routine for the next nine years, living alone in her apartment while making sure to be awake at the oddest of hours to talk with her daughter, finding untold joy in seeing her baby's smile and hearing about everything she was learning and doing. The years passed by for Inko in a blink of an eye, visiting when she could and watching her bubbly baby grow and truly come to understand her quirk.
While never losing her drive to be a hero or the selfless drive that made her daughter who she was, Inko noticed Izumi slowly become more and more serious towards heroics. Yet even with this more serious take on the world of heroics Inko was proud of how far her daughter had come in her desire to be a hero and was always willing to support her dream no matter the cause.
It wasn't until three weeks before the entrance exam when Izumi had properly returned home did Inko truly notice something was off about her daughter, while cheerful and happy to be home Inko had a gut feeling something was wrong. Call it a mothers intuition but something about Izumi's eyes, the dullness that had never existed before sent a shiver down her spine. It had taken some time and an unhealthy number of threats to Hisashi just to get him to reveal the bare bones of what had happened, even then he only told Inko once she had promised not to bring it up unless Izumi did.
When Inko heard what had caused the dullness in her daughter's eyes, she had to stifle a sob at the thought of it. Inko could not possibly comprehend what her baby must have felt at hearing such a tragic event, she had no similar experience to draw upon all she could do was be the supportive mother she had always been and try to get Izumi to talk about it herself. This had lead to her over dinner one evening asking her daughter if her dream to become a hero had ever changed, the answer had truly shocked Inko.
"Heroes keep people safe from villains." Izumi's voice had been quite as she answered, her eyes looking down at her plate before rising to meet Inko's with a burning desire in their green depths, "I'll become a hero villains fear the name of, so no one else will lose a friend."
That had been the day before the entrance exam and hearing those words fro her babies mouth had sent a shiver down Inko's spine, it was something she hoped and prayed that getting accepted to U.A would help rework her drive to be a hero.
Inko was drawn from her memories by the sound of the letterbox being lifted then closing, a little late to be delivering a letter but regardless Inko stood to see what it was before turning back to her daughter seeing Izumi was still staring at the fish held between her chopsticks. "Stop staring at the fish sweetie, I'm going to see what that was could be your U.A letter." watching her daughter slowly put the fish back down she smiled softly and headed to the door.
Sitting there on the welcome mat was a plain unassuming envelope the only thing that stood out was the stylised golden logo of U.A on the front of the letter, gently picking the letter up Inko began making her way back into the apartments combination dining-room kitchen gently waving the letter out towards her daughter, a soft smile on her face. "It arrived."
Gently Izumi rose to her feet and took the letter from her mother, holding the letter gently between her fingers running her thumb over the wax seal on the back. Turning the letter over in her hands Izumi took a seat back at the table, her mother close behind leaning over her shoulder to get a look at whatever the results held. With great care, Izumi gently popped the wax seal and opened the letter pulling out both a white folded up piece of paper and a small silvery metallic disc.
Dropping the disc onto the table it rolled for a few seconds before coming to a stop, as it rolled to a stop the top surface lit up streaming light into the apartment projecting the image of the most recognisable hero across the globe, All-Might. "BOO-YA I AM HERE AS A PROJECTION!" The loud and enthusiastic voice of the Symbol of peace began, taking Inko by surprise and causing her to stumble backwards.
"IT IS MY PLEASURE AS THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE U.A FACULTY TO DELIVER THE RESULTS OF YOUR ENTRANCE EXAM!" All-Might continued striking his signature pose before laughing, only to stop as a hand leaned in from off-screen to gesture for him to hurry-up "SHOW-BOATING? WHO'S SHOW-BOATING?!" At the finger jabbing towards him, All-Might let out an embarrassed laugh, "ALL RIGHT I'LL WRAP IT UP, BUT I HAVE TO SHOW HER SOMETHING FIRST!" There was another series of rapid gesturing from the hand causing All-Might to slump forward slight, "I HAVE TO DO HOW MANY FO THESE THINGS?!" With a groan All-Might straightened himself up, his wide smile once again focused on the camera, "RIGHT WELL MOVING ON! NOT ONLY DID YOU SCORE WITHIN THE TOPE THREE PERCENT ON THE WRITTEN EXAM BUT YOUR IMPRESSIVE TOTAL OF VILLAIN POINTS EARNED PLACED YOU FIRST BY A WIDE MARGIN!" All-Might stepped aside to reveal a scoreboard showing her name squarely at the top with a total of ninety-nine villain points with a second blank column next to it, Izumi could not help but crack a soft smile seeing who was sitting in second place only having seventy-seven villain points. A boy she had not seen since she was five, her once best friend Katsuki Bakugo.
Before she could say anything Izumi felt INko wrap her arms tightly around her daughter pulling her into a loving and tight embrace. "I'm so proud of you!" Inko gushed tears of pride and joy gently flowing from her eyes.
"WHILE THAT SCORE ALONE IS ENOUGH TO SECURE YOUR PLACE AT U.A VILLAIN POINTS ARE NOT ALL POINTS AWARDED DURING THE EXAMINATION!" All-Might continued speech caught both mother and daughter off guard drawing their attention back to the projection. "BUT BEFORE WE GET TO THAT I HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU TO WATCH!" Pulling a small silver remote out of the hideous gold suit he was wearing, the camera panned off to the side showing another screen. With a click of the remote, the camera zoomed in on the screen as it began to play.
As the clip began Izumi recognised the auburn-haired girl she had helped out of the rubble after stopping the zero-pointers rampage, the girl's name floated through her mind 'Ochaco Uraraka' she had been bubbly and friendly and someone Izumi was happy to share a class with. The clip showed Ochaco flagging down Present Mic.
"SHE SHOWED UP RIGHT AFTER RECOVERY GIRL HAD LET HER GO TO TALK ABOUT YOU YOUNG LADY!" Izumi felt her cheeks heat up at that, unable to place why but the idea of someone other than her parents and uncles talking about her, especially Ochaco sent a warm feeling pumping through her chest, "WHAT DID SHE HAVE TO SAY? WELL, YOU'LL HAVE TO STAY TUNED TO FIND OUT!" Pressing play again on the remote the projection once again cut away from All-Might to refocus on Ochaco and Present Mic.
"You the girl with the jet wings on her back," Ochaco began using her hands to gesture for wings out behind her, "And green hair? She said her name was Midoriya, Izumi?" the reconding Ochaco paused as Mic nodded knowing who she meant, "Would it be possible to give her some of the points I earned? She had to stop trying to earn points when she rescued me. If she hadn't done that she could have earned more points." Izumi blinked watching as Ochaco grew more passionate as she spoke, "Please! Someone who would willingly hurl themselves into danger like deserves to here more than anyone!"
Stopping the video there All-Might let out a soft chuckle his back to the camera, "You have an amazing quirk young lady," his voice, while still full of the bravado he was known for was softer truly driving home how proud he felt in delivering her result, "But it's your actions that inspire others, and that is why I am here!" All-Might turned around to face the camera once again his smile still wide as ever, "For she was not the only potential examinee who came forward to speak about you!" He gestured again to the screen showing several recordings of every examinee she remembered rocketing past and saving from an overwhelming number of villain bots.
"What kind of heroics school could reject someone willing to push themselves above and beyond, all in the name of helping others!" All-Might once again gestured to the scoreboard as the blank collum slowly filled with numbers as the word Rescue appeared above them, showing she had earnt seventy-five rescue points, "THAT IS WHY WE HAVE RESCUE POINTS! A PANNEL OF JUDGES VIEWS THE ENTIRE EXAM WATCHING AND WAITING FOR A CHANCE TO AWARD THESE POINTS! AND YOU YOUNG LADY EARNT SEVENTY-FIVE!"
Izumi felt her knees go weak as the total score she had managed to achieve, a total of one hundred and seventy-four points, she could feel Inko still hugging her tightly crying a river of joy at her daughter's impressive achievement.
"WELCOME IZUMI," for the first time in the entire projection All-Might said her name, that alone sent a shiver of pride down her snipe. One of her all-time heroes knew her name. "YOU'VE MADE IT, YOU ARE NOW PART OF THE HERO ACADEMIA. CONGRATULATIONS!" With those final words said, the projection stopped turning itself off.
Izumi kept a soft smile on her face while Inko could do nothing but fuss about her daughter, overcome with emotion and barely able to string a sentence together to truly voice how proud she was. Something Izumi knew her father and Uncle Eye would likewise react in a similar manner, whereas her dad's brother, her Uncle Ribbons, would likely be unsurprised by her achievement but no less proud of her.
The joy-filled calm of their apartment did not last much longer, as it was shattered by the enraged screams coming from their neighbours. "I GOT BEAT BY THE DEKU WHO VANISHED YEARS AGO?!" the muffled enraged voice of Katsuki filtered through the walls, sounding as if he was in the very room with them. Izumi could not help but smile at this, having heard from her mom all about how egotistical he'd become over the years.
Slowly the night moved on, Izumi and Inko calling her dad and both uncles to tell them the news. Izumi beaming with content happiness as they congratulated her, even enjoying Uncle Ribbons advice to not let her ego get too big.
When she finally crawled into bed, Izumi lay there staring up at the posters on her sealing. Her eyes slowly closing as she could feel a pleasant rest overtaking her, looking forward to her first day under a new dawn in her life.