Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters mentioned here.
This story was made with the sole purpose of entertainment and is not intended to be taken seriously in any social, political or religious context under any circumstances.
As such, the actions and/or viewpoints expressed by the characters in this story do not automatically reflect the opinions of the author.
This purely fictional tale is not meant to neither educate nor serve as any kind of moral example to follow by whomever consumes this type of content willingly.
"My Hero Academia" and its characters created by Kōhei Horikoshi.
"Don't Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro!" and its characters created by Nanashi.
Please Be My Hero, Nagatoro!
II
Promising Promises
Nagatoro made a promise.
She vowed to become the best hero she could.
It wouldn't be easy. But nothing has been after the accident…
There was also the announcement.
The company that her parents worked for declared a complete relocation of its headquarters to another prefecture.
Layoffs occurred en masse, while the few who remained were given a choice.
Follow the company, or accept the compensation fee, and look for greener pastures elsewhere.
However, the sudden shift created an influx of work-seekers that struck the already-saturated job market in Kanagawa.
Thus, to avoid economic jeopardy, Nagatoro's family agreed upon traveling alongside the company.
Though the migration process didn't start immediately. Bureaucratic affairs at the corporation granted precious months of anticipation to the affected employees.
Since then, the writing was on the wall.
Her friends, her hometown, and the only way of life she has ever known. Like the sand from the beach she loved to visit, everything slipped through her fingers in an instant.
It hurts. It hurts so much… Why?…
Although, she couldn't cry, despite wanting to with a burning passion. Nagatoro hadn't experienced this feeling before.
The sadness lingered, albeit dulled, as if her soul was simply numbed.
During the final year of middle school, her daily routine became an uncolored loop.
Eyeless faces passed through her without expression, indifferent for her silent screams.
Lethargy haunted her everywhere she went, restrained her in any endeavor she pursued.
Even solace from her closest ones proved to be insufficient. The ache persisted, and her favorite food still lost the flavors she remembered.
It's not fair…
Sometimes, the world just takes away. It takes and takes until an empty husk is all that's left. A byproduct of random coincidences outside her control.
It's not fair. The world is not fair…
Misfortune strikes when it's least expected, where it hurts the most. Neither good nor evil play a part.
Nobody deserves this…
It's merely a statement of fact. A fundamental truth of the universe.
And she rejected it…
Vehemently, Nagatoro rejected the powerlessness, the cold unfairness ruling existence.
So, growing tired of drowning in her own misery, she chose to do something about it.
The news shocked everyone, because she had never shown interest on the matter previously.
Regardless, assuming she really wished to make a change, professional heroism was the best option.
Luckily, her decision received genuine support from her parents, as they knew which destination their employing company would be moving into.
None other than the city of 'Musutafu', renowned for housing the greatest academy of heroics in Japan: 'U.A. High'.
Therefore, with her mind set, a goal in the horizon, and her family's blessing, she spent the remainder of middle school preparing for the entrance exam.
The next months elapsed quickly, almost like a blur.
She returned to taking martial arts classes, read every book she could find about hero work.
But whenever she wasn't studying, Nagatoro kept forging memories alongside Gamo, Yoshi and Sakura, until the inevitable moment of departure arrived.
Afterwards, all that remained was to pack things up for the long way home, away from home…
Upon entering the territory, she realized how the grandiose Musutafu matched its reputation.
A vast network of wide avenues, parks, malls and restaurants. Flamboyant places to visit during the day, while cars speedily traversed the highways nonstop.
Anywhere your sight reached, soaring buildings loomed closely, ornate by spectacular signs flashing 24/7.
Nonetheless, the biggest attraction was the opportunity of watching professional heroes at work, subduing criminals and protecting the innocent from fortuitous ruin. Uplifting performances she rarely got to see in her birthplace.
Uplifting, indeed…
If only she could say the same about their new home…
When Musutafu fully represented a bright, colorful metropolis, Nagatoro's new home strayed far to the opposite spectrum.
It was a bunch of boxes unsuccessfully mimicking an apartment complex.
Five stories-tall boxes neighboring the most urbanized areas, with washed-out paintwork and an eroded facade.
Inside, very little improved. No more than a kitchen, a bath, plus barely enough rooms to accommodate the whole family.
Supposedly, such sojourn wouldn't be permanent. Just till their financial situation stabilized.
That said, this wasn't a vacation…
This was her fresh start.
Being honest, Nagatoro didn't know what to expect, once the calendar landed on the date of the entrance exam.
Acceptance rates for U.A. hardly scraped the ten percent each year, she knew it well.
Still, the amount of applicants amazed her as she stepped before the school herself. Around a thousand students from across the entire country.
The best among the best, gathered here to contest the few spots available.
Even so, she focused on surpassing the obstacles, dismissing her doubts.
Fortunately, she completed the written test without complications. The nights she spent devouring books about heroics definitely paid off. Nagatoro's concerns were beyond those results.
The real test befell later…
Unlike her peers at the GAMOU Fighting Gym, the robotic villains guarding the practical segment of the exam weren't humbled by simple kicks and punches.
Not to mention other applicants hoarding all the points through their stronger, more bombastic quirks.
Nevertheless, only a monumental challenge made her truly comprehend the stakes…
A literal monument. The colossal robot meant to be avoided, dwarfing the surrounding buildings, the ground quaking while it advanced.
She felt so small, utterly unnerved as the ever-growing shadow of the metallic behemoth obscured the sun.
Every contestant shared her sentiment, since they hastily, unhesitatingly, began running away from the imminent threat.
She would have joined them, if she hadn't met the one soul that didn't run…
A meek, average-looking boy wearing the plainest sportswear. The type you pass by in the streets thrice a day.
And he, alone, defied the gigantic engine of destruction…
Leaping over the edifices with a single bound, he fearlessly stared into the eye of the robot, then delivered an almighty blow that shook the atmosphere itself, effectively pushing the iron golem back.
Subsequently, the robot collapsed, lifting an enormous smokescreen which rapidly filled the avenue.
Following the commotion, Nagatoro gazed above.
She was awestruck. Aghast. Inspired…
Soon, she found him again, descending from the clouds like the protector she dreamt of becoming.
But he wasn't actually descending…
He was falling, not showing any signs of slowing down as he neared the Earth.
In that moment, another realization dawned upon Nagatoro.
Heroes aren't heroes because of their strength or intelligence. Heroes are the brave. Those who dive into the fire to defend the defenseless, no matter the personal cost.
She understood. Being a hero didn't equal being the strongest.
And right now, someone needed her help…
That was her call to action.
She started sprinting forward, fueled by sheer adrenaline.
On her way, she came across a large piece of rubble. The perfect bedrock for an improvised ascension, she thought.
Thusly, she swiftly climbed the boulder, standing atop it, waiting…
When the boy appeared in her visual field, she squatted lightly, and leaped, extending her arms forth.
Nagatoro still wasn't sure about the height she cleared. She just recalled the crippling strain consuming her calves after the abrupt landing.
Yet, despite everything, she managed to catch him. She saved him…
At close range, he looked as plain as he did from a distance.
His skin pale like snow. His face round, with faint freckles sprinkling his cheeks. And crowning his head, there was a rather-bushy mop of green hair sticking out in all directions.
While she held him, he glanced up to her through emerald, half-lidded eyes before consciousness suddenly abandoned him.
She remembered it vividly, the sight of his broken, bruised arm and legs.
She remembered the immense panic possessing her, making her forget that, this whole time, she was carrying the boy in a bridal fashion.
Her worries vanished quickly, however, as Recovery Girl approached, calmly instructed her to put him down, then took care of him.
By that point, the test had concluded, so all contestants were dismissed from the premises, and Nagatoro didn't think of it again.
Until the letter finally arrived…
In the weeks prior, she believed herself completely capable of getting her admission to U.A.
Alas, the entrance exam helped her realize how outclassed she really was, facing a foe she couldn't hope to defeat, competing amongst gifted individuals with the power to prevail against insurmountable odds.
For that reason, the shock only became greater when the man, the legend, All Might himself, welcomed her to join the prestigious school.
The points she collected from the written and practical tests weren't particularly impressive. Although, the game-changer manifested in the rescue points she earned by saving the boy who saved everyone else.
Admittedly, Nagatoro cried a little while reviewing the message.
To her pledged word she remained true…
Ensuing months of blood, sweat and tears, she had officially entered the race to become a hero.
Eventually, the school year was upon her.
Assumptions of the future kept eluding Nagatoro, even as she stepped into the '1-A' classroom.
Her classmates seemed fine on the surface. Interesting people with fascinating quirks and vibrant personalities.
But intrigue instantly morphed into amazement once she saw him…
The boy she rescued during the entrance exam, in all his plain glory.
Nonetheless, he apparently had already gotten a couple of friends. A feat she failed to match on the first day.
Fate and its inner workings were strange things, indeed.
Nagatoro wasn't expecting to see him a second time. Not this soon, at least.
She also wasn't prepared for their awkward meeting…
It was her fault.
She was supposed to be looking where she went. She wasn't supposed to linger for so long after the bell rang.
And when she literally crashed onto him, a world of possibilities opened up to her.
In the same way that peculiar notebook accidentally bared its contents for her.
She didn't mean to pry. The drawings inside had aroused her curiosity.
Various heroes in dynamic poses. Their outfits captured with spectacular accuracy to the real deal, plus the well-written notes accompanying the pictures.
Several bits of information about quirks from famous heroes and their intricacies. Incredibly-detailed costume designs highlighting features like fabrication materials.
Hell, there were drawings depicting their classmates, lacking the nuance of the entries for pro heroes, but a clear knowledge of the technique was displayed, glowing through each pencil stroke on the paper.
Every sketch showcased passion. Every sketch made by someone wielding a genuine, tangible motivation to learn.
Nagatoro realized immediately…
That boy fidgeting around like he wasn't meant to be here, was strong, talented and, seemingly, smarter than what a mere glance would have you think.
If, for any motive, he couldn't go far with professional heroism, he could easily pursue a career as an artist or mangaka of sorts.
He just missed the mark when it came to social skills.
Since he struggled to form a mild, coherent sentence while he shyly collected his belongings beside her.
Nagatoro wanted to convince herself that she was the only one who caused such effect on him. But, most likely, he behaved similarly in front of other girls.
Which, rather-comically for her, resulted in his face reddening, sweat damping his forehead, and he simply shivered and stuttered and shivered some more.
It was amusing, endearing. Even, dare she say, familiar?
Timid, quiet, and nerdy. Nagatoro knew that type very well…
Well enough to know what buttons would make him flustered whenever she pressed them.
She was careful about it, though.
She tried to avoid crossing any proverbial boundaries before they were established, like the last time.
That was her biggest concern when she 'kidnapped' his notebook.
She really wasn't planning on ratting him out. It was just the excuse to discover his name without making it weird.
Izuku Midoriya.
The notebook in itself was a blessing. Akin to the disguised blessing that became her normal route being closed for construction work.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have spotted Izuku at that secluded alley.
She wouldn't have found a quicker way home. And she absolutely wouldn't have learned that the two of them recognized the same apartment complex as 'home'.
Why she didn't saw him earlier at the train station? Nagatoro wasn't sure, honestly.
Irregardless, it was all kinds of hilarious to scare the ever-living soul out of Izuku. Aside from how lucky she was that he did remember her saving him at the entrance exam.
Now, she only needed to wait…
After punching a mountain-sized robot into pieces, sending an innocent text shouldn't pose much of a challenge, even for him…
So she waited, and waited…
As she stood in the balcony of her apartment, reminiscing about the past weeks that led her here, with her elbows settled upon the railing, and her cheek cupped by her right palm.
At the summit of the cloudless celestial vault, an ivory moon shone full. Its cool glow reflecting over the expanding stars sprinkling the cerulean nightsky. The wind was still and fresh, occasionally guiding her attention towards the dimly-lit city.
Nagatoro sighed, never parting her sight from the majestic scenery encompassing the heavens.
That is, until her phone suddenly buzzed in her left hand…
Instinctively, she brought the device up, not expecting anything in particular. Maybe Yoshi just sharing a dumb meme in the group chat, as usual.
Because of it, the surprise struck her mightily when she laid eyes upon the notification in the screen.
It was a message, from an unregistered number.
But she already knew who had sent it. She could almost hear him stammering while reading the text.
[10:08 p.m.] (unknown number): "Hello? Nagatoro? It's me, Midoriya, from U.A."
Nagatoro smiled widely, gasping quietly. Though she wondered how long it took him to actually send that message.
Without missing a beat, she saved his contact, and started typing her reply, maintaining her smirk.
[10:09 p.m.] (you): "sup midori."
[10:09 p.m.] (you): "Glad to see u didn't chicken out."
[10:10 p.m.] (you): "cant sleep?"
[10:10 p.m.] (you): "or u watchin lewd things?"
[10:10 p.m.] (you): "Creep!"
(Midori) is typing…
She chuckled, letting that seed of chaos grow. Then, she withdrew from the balcony, and went inside her apartment as she awaited Izuku's response.
It was good to know that she didn't overdo it with her teasing.
Beyond any joy she could potentially have at his expense, she would appreciate having a friend in the grandiose Musutafu.
Finally, succeeding a strenuous series of ruinous events, the planets were favoring her.
And whatever the universe decided to throw at her, she was ready…
It wouldn't be boring, that she was sure of.
Nagatoro made a promise.
She vowed to become the best hero she could.
But she still can have some fun in the meantime, right?
By popular demand, and after giving additional thought to the matter, I have chosen to turn this idea into its own series.
However, unlike all my other projects, I will admit that I didn't have a plan for this story, but I think it will make for a great opportunity to build something special from the ground-up.
I do have loosely built a roadmap for this fic that should keep us all busy until I decide what I want the plot to become. I'll try to avoid dragging things needlessly for too long.
Please feel free to comment what you think of the story, if you're liking where it's going, and any other thought floating in your head. I promise you all that, even if I don't reply to every comment I get, I read and treasure every bit of feedback that comes my way.
Until next time, thank you so much everyone for reading. Cheers!