A/N : Hi guys! I hope you all are safe and sound during this pandemic. I'm sorry that this chapter took so long to release. I have only a few excuses, mostly that I've gotten a bit addicted to my new Nintendo Switch and NBA 2k20 + My Hero One's Justice. I'm extremely grateful for all of you continuing reading this despite my inconsistency! Now. on to the reviews!

Reviews :

SwordOfTheGods : Thank you for those kind words! Honestly, when writing these chapters, I worry about the quips, because I don't consider myself a very funny guy, but I'm glad to see that someone thinks I do well on them.

Katt58 : I'm glad that you're liking the story! I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint you.

AkaDeca : Wow, 7 reviews! Thanks! I'm glad you like the story, and I'll try to keep updating soon.

X X X

"But first," Shigaraki looked back to Izuku, "Nomu, get rid of the prodigal son. We don't need him getting in our way." Immediately, Nomu became a black blur, even faster than before, when Izuku sprang up, trying to get back to his friends or even just All Might. However, Nomu grabbed his neck and squeezed. Quickly his vision faded to black as soon as All Might entered his field of vision.

X X X

Groaning slightly, Izuku opened his eyes and tried to push himself off his bed. However, he suddenly felt a painful tremor travel up the length of his right arm. Looking down, he saw his arm looking raw and broken. He winced when he saw the little scars that marred his skin. Luckily they were somewhat faint, not very eye-catching, so even he wouldn't notice it too much. Wha- what happened? He thought confusedly, trying to take in his surroundings. He was in a small room with a single window and a large overhead light. He was currently lying down in a cushiony bed that was startlingly white, with two bars lining the sides, presumably to keep him from falling over. It was soon that he realized where he was; a hospital! But why . . . oh. Memories flooded his mind, and Izuku found himself organizing those memories by significance.

How . . . irrational. I wasn't even hurt that badly! He thought. They could have been using this equipment on anyone else, someone who needs it more! Sighing, Izuku abandoned this train of thought and contented himself with analyzing his fight with Nomu, every quip, injury, and move both of them gave, along with some healthy quirk speculation. Hm, he seemed to fight with more brute strength than any strategy other than what that Shigaraki told him. Perhaps he had some super-strength at the cost of being completely subservient. He shook his head. No, he didn't even react when I punched him in his crotch, almost as if he didn't even feel it. No amount of subservience would stop the pain receptors in the brain with such a vulnerable area. He also didn't move an inch, but even All Might himself would move at least an inch if I punched him as hard as possible. Maybe . . . a shock-nullification quirk? Added to the strength, perhaps. Plausible that he has 2 quirks. Unlikely, but not unheard of. Shoto seems to be the same. Or . . . since Shigaraki seems to know about my connection to my father, it is possible that he knows or takes orders from him, and he gave Nomu those quirks. Izuku shuddered slightly at the possibility, but forced himself to think of other things, when something that Shigaraki had said made his blood run cold. 'One of your bloodline?' Izuku frowned heavily as he recalled that Ochako had been clearly confused after the line was said, and would likely want an answer for her questions. Of course he had considered the possibility of being recognised as the son of a villain before, long before even applying to U.A. but the possibility had never felt so real, so omnipresent. He felt a massive fear pressing down on his chest as he realized what this would mean for his friendship with his classmates, especially that of Ochako.

Izuku sighed heavily, refusing to let his mind continue; he would face this threat just like he did everything else - head held high as he walked forward boldly. Izuku idly noticed the state of his suit, and noted, I need a new suit. His fingers twitched slightly yearning for his notebook to write in, document his thoughts, theories, designs, and observations. All I know, he thoughtfully thought, is that the new suit cannot be nearly as baggy as the old one. If it had been even a bit stronger, I would be god-knows where. Maybe I could use a skin tight suit? Sighing one final time, he resolved to think more on this when he got his stuff back.

X X X

About half an hour later, Izuku got his first visitor - the one he had been dreading most - Ochako. "Oh my gosh! Zuku, you're awake!" She cried in clever surprise, clapping her hands to her cheeks, making sure to keep her pinkies clear.

"Yup," Izuku stated mildly, popping the "P". "Have been for about . . ." he looked at an imaginary watch on his left wrist, "half an hour." There was a small period of comfortable silence before Izuku asked, "So, we won?"

She nodded, smiling widely. "Yeah! After your fight with that . . . thing, All Might showed up and quickly ripped you out of its grip and left you with us on top of the stairs. Then he went like, Pow!" She punched the air in front of her. "And wham," She did an uppercut, "and then All Might sent that monster through the roof! Sending him flying SUPER far! And whenever those two villains tried to gang up on him, Bakugo and Kirishima stepped in to help!" She shook her head slightly. "It was amazing! And you were awesome! I can't believe that you were able to fight them to a standstill! You were moving so fast!"

Izuku smiled and laughed a tiny bit at her praise, rubbing his neck with his healed arm, before asking, "So, how long was I out?"

"Um, it's been about . . . a day and a half."

"That long?!" Izuku used his free hand to run it through his unkempt hair. "Holy crap! I thought that it was like half a day at most."

She shook her head, "No, it's been a day. Scouts honor!" She lifted three fingers, remembering how Izuku had done it to her when they first met.

Izuku didn't miss this and smiled slightly as he spoke. "Alright then, I guess I'll trust you." That smile began to waver as the room began to feel thick with tension and Izuku could see that Ochako wanted to ask the million dollar question. "You want to know about what that villain said about my 'bloodline', right?"

She nodded haltingly, feeling slightly uncomfortable. "Sorry, but it's been bugging me ever since the police let us go home. I'm sorry if it's personal, and if it is you don't have to answer or explain, but if you don't mind . . ."

Izuku desperately wanted to take her out, to simply let the question sit until she demanded an answer, but he knew that his pride wouldn't let him do anything less than face his problems head on. He nodded slightly. "It- it's fine. It is a bit personal, but I don't mind. Here goes . . ." He began his life story at the very beginning, his parents' names. Then he walked her through his entire childhood until the moment that had changed his life. "My 'father'," he placed the word 'father' in air quotes, "called me into his office one day, as soon as I got home from school, one where I was beaten particularly badly, and asked me what was wrong. I told him what went on, and he gave me an offer. He offered to give me a quirk."

"But that's impossible!" Ochako cried out suddenly.

Izuku nodded knowingly. "I thought so too, but as it turns out, it is indeed possible. His quirk, 'All For One' allows him to steal all the quirks he wants and to either give them away or keep them." He shook his head before continuing, "Anyways, he had said enough for me to reveal him. And then he in turn revealed that he hated All Might and was trying to kill him. It was clear to me then; I had to leave. And then I did, I bolted out of the room and found my dad while he was exploring the city. I told him everything, and so he took me, and he's been taking care of me ever since." Izuku relaxed as he finished his story, as he felt the fear leave his system mostly. It was all out now.

Ochako stood there for a moment, stunned into silence, before she stated, "Wow." Silence followed her statement like night follows day, both trying to find something to say to the other after that bombshell. The silence continued for almost 2 minutes, until Izuku broke it suddenly.

"So . . . I guess I can forgive you if you don't trust me now, after I kept something like this from you. Hell, I can understand if you wouldn't want to be friends, or even acquaintances, either," he stated, his head falling low and his bangs covering his eyes.

"Izuku . . ." he felt a hand chop his head lightly, "that is the most dumb thing I have ever heard you say." Izuku's head shot up immediately, his hair flying out of his eyes wildly. "Zuku, you're one of the most heroic, if not the most heroic, person I have ever met! Just because I know who your father is doesn't make you any less . . . you. In fact, it makes me have an even higher opinion of you, because you were able to move forward without fear towards your dream." She smiled brightly, tears beginning to fill her eyes as she said, "You're still my best friend!"

Without another word, Izuku did a crunch and forced himself off his bed, wrapping her in a tight one armed hug. Tossing his feelings of worries and rejection away, he softly cried out, "Thank you! Thank you so much!" They remained like that for several moments before they separated, both bearing a light blush and a blinding smile. They continued for several minutes before Ochako looked at her phone's time and discovered that she had to leave. As she stood from her spot on his bed, he asked, "Can you do me a favor, Ochako?" She responded positively, and so he asked, "Can I use your phone to text my mom?"

X X X

"Izuku!" A small missile with blonde hair crashed into him, hugging him tightly.

There was a spike of pain as he winced. "Nice to see you too Munch, but can you loosen the grip? My arm still hurts." Immediately, Rose let go of his body, looking at him curiously.

"What happened?" Rose asked curiously, sending a glance at her mother who slowly walked in behind her. "Mom wouldn't tell me anything besides you and daddy being in the Hospital."

Izuku nodded, smiling slightly, before replying, "Well, I don't know if I'm willing to incur mom's rage just for that." Rose pouted slightly as their mother came closer, laying the contents of her arms on the bed. "Hey mom."

His mother smiled slightly, kissing the top of his head. "Hi Izuku. I'm glad - what?" Izuku was looking at his mother with a frown. She had several dark bags under her eyes, several worry lines being carved into her face.

"You haven't been sleeping mom," Izuku stated matter of factly. "Mom, relax, worrying isn't going to make anything better."

"Fine," she said, but everyone knew that she would, in fact, not relax until his father was back on his feet. "So, how are you feeling?"

Izuku shrugged slightly. "Eh, it's not that bad. It hurts a bit to move my arm, but honestly, all this fuss isn't really that bad." Frowning, Rose poked his right arm and Izuku winced. "Okay, I think it is broken, but honestly that's it."

His mother glared at him, evaluating his honesty before sighing and steering the conversation away from his injuries. "So, tell me about your friend that visited you earlier."

X X X

Later on in the day, after seeing his mother and Rose, he received another surprise. "Mr. Aizawa?" A man in a beige trench coat asked as he and a police officer entered the room slowly. Suddenly, a spike of fear embedded itself into his heart, and Izuku simply nodded, not trusting his voice. The man flashed him a smile, before introducing himself. "Hello. My name is Detective Naomasa, and this is Officer Yagi from the Mustafu Police Department. We're sorry for bothering you, but we were told to collect all the experiences of the USJ from the students involved."

Relief coursed through his body as he asked, "So you need mine as well, right?" Naomasa nodded. "Alright then, ask away."

"Perfect! We'll go ahead and ask some easy questions to establish some context. Your name is Izuku Aizawa, the adopted son of Juliet and Shouta Aizawa, correct?"

"Yes."

Naomasa nodded. "Now, would you mind describing what happened at the USJ?"

"Not at all. I'll tell you all I know. So, we were . . ." Izuku recounted his experiences, all the way from his talk with his father on the bus to his forced exit from the fight. "And that's it. I was knocked unconscious by the Nomu, and I woke up here a bit later."

Naomasa hummed quietly as he processed the story. "So, you clashed with this Nomu?"

Izuku nodded, before adding, "Although, I think that he was holding back. I don't know why he did that, but he was able to move almost as fast as All Might later on, and All Might is faster than I am by a significant amount."

Naomasa nodded, saying, "We'd heard stories like that from those that witnessed the fight, but hearing it from your point of view . . ." he shook his head. "Anyways, what you've said matches what the others have said as well, but I am a bit curious." Naomasa placed his fingers against each other in front of his face. "What made you fight so hard? Why do you want to be a hero so badly? That is, if you don't mind me asking."

Izuku replied immediately, nodding as he spoke. "It's fine. It isn't like it's confidencial." He leaned back against his pillow, before continuing. "Why do I want to be a hero? When I was 4, I was diagnosed as being 'Quirkless' by a doctor who specializes in Quirk Detection. Following that devastation, I was bullied relentlessly, even until I was 8 and began to fight back, trying to defend myself. Then, when I was 14, a miracle happened. My quirk manifested, and I was able to use it to defend another, but then I was punished for doing so." He shook his head slightly, a smile dancing on the edge of his lips. "The bully who I fought against got off scot free while I was suspended. While I felt somewhat enraged by this, my Uncle came to pick me up and take me home, and he said something that stuck with me; 'With Great Power comes Great Responsibility.' I realized that I had been blessed with a power that was not meant to simply fight, but also to defend and protect others; to take the hits that they can't take themselves. Not a right or ability, but a responsibility to protect others."

Naomasa nodded, his fingers separating as he stood up, smiling, his partner following his example. "Thank you so much for your time, Mr. Aizawa." Nodding to him, they turned and left his room, and Izuku shrugged and grabbed his notebook to design a new suit.

X X X

"So, was that boy what you've been looking for, Toshinori?" Naomasa asked his companion, the deflated form of All Might.

"Absolutely!" Toshinori exclaimed, nodding his head firmly. "The boy's answers to all of your questions only cemented my will."

"May I ask why? I mean, I know he answered them all fairly well, but that surely isn't the only reason why, otherwise some politician would meet your standards."

Toshinori smiled slightly as he nodded. "Of course it isn't. The young man's answers were simply the final nails in the coffin. He selflessly distracted the Nomu and his leader, after managing to help take care of their escape route, providing some time for Thirteen and his classmates to get to a spot of safety with the injured Eraserhead. Not only that, but he also fought and then downplayed his actions in the fight, revealing himself as a humble person, the type that aren't easily corrupted by power. He also has yet to show himself as, or even hint at him being, anything other than honorable, virtuous, and is more intelligent than the majority of his peers. Not only that, but he has the courage and sheer will to match all of those," All Might's true form ranted.

Naomasa whistled as they exited the building. "Wow, you've had your eyes on him for quite a while, huh?" It was a simple statement, not a question, but Toshinori nodded anyway. As they walked to their simple car, Naomasa asked, "If you're so set on him, when'll you ask?"

"Soon."

X X X

After a bit of time, a nurse accompanied Recovery Girl to Izuku's room in order to complete his stay, and then let him walk out after he changed into the clothes his mother had left. As Izuku clipped his web shooters onto his wrist, he suddenly felt an odd sense of protection, as if he had been naked and these had been some clothes. He let out a soft sigh, letting his body relax slightly as he stepped out into the sunlight and let the light surround him. After a moment of that, he began to swing home, when his phone vibrated against his leg. Keeping an eye ahead of him, Izuku pulled out his phone and read the text.

Golden Goblin : Hey, dude, I'd seriously appreciate it if you could visit me today - that is if you are feeling up to it. From what MJ told me, you got beat only slightly better than I did. Anyways, no pressure, but if you can . . . I'm in Room 103 of Mustafu General Aid.

Eyes widening slightly, Izuku changed direction and made his way to that room. When he got there, he exclaimed, "Oh my goodness! Harry!" The hero-in-training was lying down on a hospital bed, both legs suspended in the air above him with his torso wrapped in white gause.

"Oh, hey Zuku. What's hanging?" Harry returned, grinning slightly as he turned his head towards Izuku. "I see you got my message."

Izuku nodded. "Yeah." He came closer, sitting down on a chair that was next to his bed. "Are you okay Harry? Do you need me to get you something?" Harry eyed him for a bit before he began to chuckle. "What?"

"Oh, well, it's nothing really, but there have been two extremely beautiful ladies offering me the same thing today, and, well, Izuku you're cute and all, but you've got nothing on them," Harry stated with his eyes twinkling with mirth. Izuku joined him in his chuckles for a few moments, before Harry's face began to sober up. "Izuku, seriously, I wanted to thank you."

Izuku was taken aback by his tone and asked, "What for? I wasn't fast enough to stop them from actually hurting, and even whenever I got there, I wasn't even able to help you to safety myself," he stated bitterly.

Harry looked at him with a blank face as he said, "Izuku you are so stupid sometimes. Zuku, you were able to give them enough time to actually get me to safety. Not to mention that you risked yourself in doing so. You also stopped them from killing me too." Izuku gasped and looked at Harry with a shocked face. "You didn't know? They were going to kill Tsuyu, Thirteen, and I before you managed to catch their attention, keeping the damage to this." He gestured to his broken lower body before he looked back to Izuku, his smile growing as he declared, "Izuku Aiawa, you saved my life."

Izuku grinned as he began to tear up, asking, "Man, what happened to the kid who felt the need to give a wise crack every 5 minutes?"

"He grew up."

X X X

At the very same time that Izuku and Harry conversed, a man went about his daily routine when another man ran into his office. "What is it Mr. Jones?" He asked, placing his hands on his desk and looking at the newcomer.

"S-s-sir! The project is a success!" Mr. Jones exclaimed, making the man jump up, walking to the man and gesturing for him to lead him to the experiment. On the way, Jones tried to make small talk, but his partner was too intent on seeing the fruits of his labor. Finally, he arrived in his lab, where a few people milled about, working on their own projects.

When they finally reached his experiment, the man declared, "It's a masterpiece!" A spider was lying on the ground a few feet away, waiting for a fly to fly into its web, and when one did, an electric shock ran throughout the web, instantly frying the bug. "How long until we can replicate the effects of this serum on humans?"

"O-only a few days, if all goes right."

"Good. I want to be the first to experience the fruits of our labor Mr. Jones, so contact me as soon as it is possible."

The man began to turn away, already striding back to his office, when Mr. Jones called out, "Mr. Osborn, are you sure? Surely you'd wish to use it when it is tr-"

"I am sure. Send word as soon as it is possible," Norman Osborn demanded as he left the lab.

X X X

A/N : Please don't kill me! I promise I tried everything I could in order to actually get a fight scene in here, but each time I tried to do something that followed the imagery that I set up in Chapter 6, I failed badly, only ever producing a product that was poor, at best, or an abomination at worst, so I decided to end the fight as soon as possible, trying to do a good job for you all. So review and let me know if you think I did a good job.

Also, as a side note, I don't intend to do much with MJ and Gwen in the story, besides certain situations, like the Sports Festival and other small events and filler chapters, so don't expect a huge arc where they become super important.