What is good in the neighborhood? It is your boy,your homie, the one and the only, Eccentric Dez! Welcome back to the Madhouse! Hoping you all are enjoying the rewrite so far. Here's chapter 2.

Ten months later.

It was the day before the U.A. Entrance Exam and Izuku had worked hard for it. His training had been brutal but he made his way through. He was currently in his hideout, working a sandbag to its breaking point.

[Give me 5 three-strike combos!]

Scarab yelled at Izuku, who furiously punched and kicked the sandbag. Beads of sweat ran down his forehead and bare chest. He finished pummeling the sandbag and hugged it, breathing hard.

[All right] Scarab said. [That's good. Take five.]

Izuku breathed a sigh of relief as he walked to a bench, toweled off, and sat down.

[Great job today, man.]

"Thanks," Izuku said, breathlessly. "Wow, those ten months went by like that."

[For you, maybe. You're not the one who had to listen to all that bitching and moaning for five of those months.]

"Hey," Izuku replied. "Let's not forget who made me run 5 miles with an empty refrigerator on my back!"

[You're still bringing that up? I should've made it two fridges!] Izuku rolled his eyes.

[Besides, you should be thanking me! Ten months ago, you couldn't even lift 30 pounds! Now look at you.]

Izuku stood and walked to a mirror, admiring his form. Sculpted arms, chiseled abs, powerful leg muscles.

[Sheeesh! Damn daddy! You lookin' snackish!]

"Ok," Izuku said, rolling his eyes. "That's enough. Let's go home."

[Aww, what's the matter, Zu? Am I too much for you?]

"Yes, you are." Izuku said, putting on his t-shirt. Scarab chuckled.

He returned home just as the sun began to set. As he walked in, he saw his mother sitting on the couch, watching TV.

"Hey, mom," Izuku said, walking over to kiss her cheek. "How are you?"

"Good," she said, hugging him. "How was your workout?"

"Pretty good. I've gotten faster with my Muay Thai combos and my shifting has gotten better."

"That's good. Izuku, I need to talk to you."

Izuku noticed the serious tone in Inko's voice.

"Is everything okay?" he replied with concern. She patted the couch cushion next to her. Izuku sat down and faced his mother.

"Izuku," Inko said, hesitantly. "I wanted to tell you how proud of you I am. You've worked very hard these last ten months. I hope you pass that test."

Izuku was surprised to hear his mom say that. "Thanks, Mom. I'm glad to hear you say that."

Inko smiled at her son, then her demeanor became crestfallen.

"I also want to apologize to you." Izuku's eyebrows raised in confusion.

"Ten years ago," she continued. "When we came home from the doctor's office, you asked me if you could still be a hero despite being Quirkless. I didn't give you the answer you needed. I worried that you thought I didn't believe in you and for that, I am truly sorry."

Izuku's eyes fell as he remembered that day.

He was 4 years old, sitting at his desk, watching a video of All Might on the computer, just like he did everyday. Fresh tears fell from his eyes as he asked his mother, "Can I still be a hero?" He remembered his mother crying and hugging him tight, saying, "I'm sorry, Izuku."

He looked at Inko, who had begun to cry. "Mom," he said softly as he took her hands in his. "Please, don't cry. I'm not mad at you."

Inko looked at her son in surprise. "I was never mad at you," he continued. "You don't have to apologize."

"But, Izuku-"

"Mom, even though you didn't give me the answer I wanted, you've always had my back and supported me. I always knew you believed in me, even if you didn't say it."

Tears began rolling down his face as he looked at his mother. "Oh, Izuku." She pulled him into a hug. They sat there, hugging and crying.

"I love you, Mom."

"I love you too, Izuku."

Hours later, after the Midoriya family had eaten, Izuku was standing on the roof of a building in Musutafu. The lights of the city glowed as night fell on Japan.

"Scarab," Izuku said, engrossed with the beauty of the city. "Why are we here?"

[Don't you recognize this rooftop?] Scarab replied. The green-haired teen looked around in confusion.

[This is the same place you stood ten months ago, when All Might said you couldn't be a hero.]

Izuku's eyes widened in recognition. He was standing in the same spot where he discovered the truth about All Might and where his dream got crushed.

"Scarab, why did you bring me here?" The alien detected the anger in Izuku's voice.

[I brought you here because I wanted to show you how far you've come in these last ten months. I know they were hard, but you didn't give up.]

"Not for lack of trying on your part." [Anyway] Scarab said in annoyance. [I'm proud of you, Izuku.]

"Thanks, Scarab. I couldn't have done this without you."

[I disagree. All you had to do was believe in yourself and you probably would've been fine.]

"I do believe in myself."

[Good. So what are we gonna do tomorrow?]

A devious smile etched itself onto Izuku's face. "Chew bubblegum and kick ass?"

[Hell yeah!!]

Izuku shook his head and took off running to the edge of the roof. He jumped off, activating his wings and flew through the city.

"Thanks, Scarab. You're a good friend."

[Always.] Izuku smiled as he flew home and went to sleep, ready to start living his dream.

Madhouse vibes forever.