Chapter II:

You can be a hero

Tatouin Station

Near the station, Midoriya's old childhood friend was passing through an alley with his two partners while drinking his soda and kicking whatever comes in his way in order to forget his anger. Today was a horrible day for him. How not after he was beaten badly in front of his classmates? His blood was totally boiling with fury.

Teenager 1: "Hey, Katsuki, are you still mad about what happened today in class?"

Katsuki (crashing his bottle/angrily): "And do you think that I'll forget easily the embarrassment that happened to me today !? It's not just that I had been beaten badly by a dumb weakling in front of everyone, but that I also couldn't do anything against him! He almost broke my arm without effort but I… I couldn't even move from my PLACE? (kicking the trash can) I was just lying on the floor! Screaming in pain like a KID! And it's all the fault of that bastard DEKU!"

Teenager 2 (in fear): "Alright, alright! Just calm down. But, to be honest with you, you went a little overboard today."

Teenager 1: "Y-Yeah, aren't you two childhood friends?"

Bakugou calmed down a little bit, yet he was still mad, and then responded to his comrades: "It's his fault for getting in my way." Once he remembered what happened, he kicked a bottle near him with all his power leading it to be smashed and opened. "He's an idiot dreaming like a kid! Just watching him pisses me off!"

Teenager 2: "Then, why don't we go to the arcade for a change of pace? You'll come, too, right, Katsuki?"

Katsuki: "Yeah."

Teenager 1: "Then let's go to the one in front of the station. There's lots of prey there."

Teenager 2 (talking to his partner): "You're terrible."

Katsuki (angrily): "What?! If we get caught, it'll end up in my record!"

But suddenly, out of nowhere, a huge green mud-like monster with an ugly face appeared behind the teenagers. It was the Sludge Villain that All Might captured earlier. The bottle that Bakugou kicked a few seconds ago was the one that All Might used to capture him. Before he could understand the situation, the spiky ash-blond-haired teenager was attacked by this creature and…

Back with Izuku

Izuku and Gohan stood there waiting for All Might's answer, but in an instant, something weird happened with the Symbol of Peace. His smile was gone and he started shaking a bit like he had a heart attack. Gohan sensed his Ki decreasing and he heard him mumbling some cursing words like 'holy shit' and 'goddammit'. But the most strange part was that some smoke appeared out of nowhere like if the number one hero's body was creating it. It made the half-Saiyan a bit worried.

Gohan (worried): "Umm… Sir… All Might… A-Are you O.K. ?"

Izuku (looking to the floor in sadness without noticing what's happening): "It might've been because I don't have a Quirk, but I'm always made fun of… Maybe that's why… I don't know… But I think saving people is super cool. (raising his face with a smile) Saving people with a fearless smile. I want to be the greatest hero, like you…!"

Once the smoke cleared, both Gohan and Midoriya opened their jaws in shock and disbelief. The mighty muscular man somehow turned into a totally skinny man with sharp, angular features and long limbs. Poor Izuku couldn't believe what his eyes were seeing, he screamed with a high voice from this shock. Could it be… that his best hero ever… his idol… is just a… a weak thin man?! No, it's impossible. There must be a trick or something.

Izuku (in shock): "Y-Y-You're deflating…!"

Gohan (in disbelief): "A-A-All… M-M-Might… is this… is this really YOU ?!"

Izuku (trying to find an explanation for what happened): "Wait, up until now… Huh?! Fake? A fake?! You're so skinny!"

All Might (Toshinori Yagi currently) knew that there was no need to hide the truth from the two teenagers after they saw him transform in front of their eyes. Sooner or later, they'll understand the fact that he is the same muscular hero who saves people with a smile, so he confirmed it to them saying: "I am All Might…" and then he spouted blood from his mouth much to the boys' shock (and fear for Midoriya).

Izuku (screaming in fear): "No way!"

Gohan (shocked): "All Might, can you please explain to us what happened to your body?!"

All Might (Responding): "You know the guys at the pool are constantly flexing and posturing? It's like that."

Gohan and Izuku: "No way…!"

Izuku (shaking/ still in shock): "I-It can't be… All Might is fearless… He saves everyone with a smile… He's the greatest…"

Toshinori sighed and then sat on the floor repeating the boy's words: "A fearless smile, huh?" From the way he said it, the two friends felt as if there was a sad tone in his voice. He looked at them and said: "Now that you two have seen me like this, young men, make sure you don't write about it online, even accidentally." To explain what he was gonna say, the blond lanky man showed the boys a wound on his body much to their fear. He continued: "It's an injury I got from an enemy's attack five years ago. Half of my respiratory organs were destroyed, and I lost my whole stomach. I've become emaciated from repeated surgeries and the aftereffects. Right now, I can work as a hero for about three hours a day."

Izuku (in disbelief): "That can't be… Five years ago… Was that when you fought Toxic Chainsaw?"

Gohan: "So this is why you didn't participate in the Cell Games?"

Toshinori (responding): "You two are well-informed (pointing to Izuku), especially you young man. But a punk like that couldn't defeat me. This fight was not made public to the world. I asked that it not be made public. (he turned his head to the street looking at all the civilians and innocent people, then he looked high to the sky with hope) I will save people with a smile! The Symbol of peace cannot be daunted by evil. I smile to show the pressure of heroes and to trick the fear inside of me. Pros are always risking their lives. I cannot simply say, 'You can become a hero even without power.'"

Finally, All Might said his answer. Both Gohan and Midoriya couldn't believe what their ears heard. Gohan was waiting for him to support his friend and convince him to follow his dreams, not to tell him that they were impossible. As for Izuku, the hit was stronger to him. Except for his friend, no one believed he could be a hero. All Might himself didn't believe this. Maybe Bakugou was right the whole time, maybe he's just… 'Deku'.

Gohan: "Wait, this can't be. He… he always dreamed of being a hero… like you. And now, you just… you just tell him… IT'S IMPOSSIBLE!"

Toshinori stood up walking away while answering the Saiyan: "I didn't tell him it's bad to dream. But at your current age, you have to consider what's realistic, young man. If he wants to help others, then he could also become a police officer. They're often teased because they get villains delivered to their doorstep, but that is also a fine occupation." Then he walked through the door and left the two behind. Gohan knew how much Izuku loved All Might, so hearing him doubting the fact that he can be a hero must be hard for him. The spiky-haired boy walked to his friend. He seemed like he was on the verge of tears, all he cared about now was just to comfort him. Suddenly, before he could say anything, an explosion happened in another area of the city. Midoriya woke up from his shock and took a look at the source of smoke knowing that a villain must have appeared there.

Gohan: "What was that?!"

Izuku: "A villain!" He approached his friend, grabbed his hand, and ran with him to the stairs.

Gohan: "Izuku! W-Where are we going?"

Izuku: "To the scene. I want to know what hero will go there." But he stopped once he remembered his idol's words.

Gohan: "Izuku, why did you stop?"

Izuku (closing his eyes and walking slowly): "What's the meaning of this? Let's just go to the park. There we… I mean I can't bother anyone."

Gohan: "Hey, listen, I know you're All Might's biggest fan ever, and you respect him and wish to be like him, but just because he said you can't be a hero—"

Izuku (cutting him/angrily): "GOHAN! I know you're just saying all of this to comfort me but it's the truth! Even a top pro said it! I can't be a hero. I CAN'T! Kacchan didn't believe in me. Mom didn't believe in me. All Might didn't believe in me. EVERYONE didn't believe in me! So why would you?! If you're really my friend then just admit it! I'm… I'm…" Before he finished, he looked at his friend's face. The sadness and even fear appeared clearly in him. How not and his best friend treated him that way. The younger teenager just stood there in silence. After all that he had done to him, to help him, to protect him, he screamed in his face that badly. Izuku wasn't able to sustain himself any longer. He immediately shredded tears from his eyes and apologized to his friend saying: "I'm sorry, Gohan. I'm sorry for s-screaming in your face. I-I'm useless… I'm useless even in making friends." And he fell to the ground in tears.

Gohan approached him and sat next to him starting a new discussion: "You're not useless, buddy. You're not. If you were useless in making friends you would've broken our friendship right now. It's just that not everyone can see what a person is capable of. I know you can be a hero because you have the heart of one. If everybody loses faith in you, don't lose your faith in yourself."

Izuku (wiping his tears): "B-but Gohan… How can I save anyone without a Quirk? I-I can't even protect myself."

Gohan (in mind): "He really wants to be a hero to save others no matter what, like the pro heroes, like my friends, like my father. He really deserves to be one. Izuku, my friend, I know you very well, and I know you won't reveal All Might's secret… nor mine. (speaking loudly) Izuku, there's a way you can be a hero without a Quirk."

Izuku: "Wait, what?! How?!"

Gohan (standing up): "Come on. Follow me. I'll tell you the full story while walking, but promise me you won't tell anyone."

Izuku (in mind): "Man, it seems like many secrets will be revealed to me today."

A few minutes later

The two boys were walking alone in the street so no one could hear their conversation. Gohan made a serious choice to help his friend in achieving his dream: he told him everything about his past, his powers, and the secret of controlling Ki. Meanwhile, his Quirkless friend was taking notes of what he was saying.

Gohan: "And that's my full story. So, what do you think?"

Izuku: "I… I don't know Gohan. What you were saying is a bit hard to believe. You said your father is an alien and you're half an alien and there is life on other planets of the universe, you traveled through space, you're the golden young boy who fought Cell and you're the one who defeated him and not Hercule… I-It's just… If it's a lie to comfort me then it won't work, Gohan."

Gohan: "Izuku, there's no meaning to lie to you about the Ki because, sooner or later, you will discover it at the end, right? And if you still don't believe me, I'll show you the proof. Follow me." He said, running to a dark passage.

Izuku (a bit afraid): "Umm… O… O.K."

Making sure no one was there, the hybrid Saiyan took a deep breath and in a second, his black spiky hair turned blond, his eyes became green and a white aura surrounded his body: he turned into a Super Saiyan.

Izuku (shocked): "G-G-Gohan… I-Is that… Is that really you? D-Did you just… turn to… o-one of those g-golden warriors right now?"

Gohan: "Yup, as I told you, it's called Super Saiyan. When a Saiyan turns into one, he obtains a huge power to the point that it makes the area around him shake, but once he masters the form, he'll be able to transform at any time without screaming or affecting anything."

Izuku: "W-Wait a minute, if what you're saying is true and that both you and Cell are solar system busters, then this… this makes you… STRONGER THAN ALL MIGHT?!"

Gohan (turning back to his base form): "Yes, and to be honest with you, I am able to defeat him easily even in my regular state."

Izuku (in shock): "This… this can't be… S-so… I am the friend of the… mightiest person in the UNIVERSE! W-wait, how can anger make you stronger? Perhaps anger hormones have an effect on the body's cells. Or maybe all this Saiyan race has the ability to gain this form only by becoming furious more than ever before. What if it was the land they train on? Gohan said that on planet Vegeta the SSJ appears only one time every 1000 years but now four Super Saiyans appeared in a short period of time and all of them obtained the form on Earth and on another planet named Namek." Unknown to the Midoriya, the short green-haired boy has started his endless mumbling, annoying his friend.

Gohan (annoyed): "Izuku. Izuku. (screaming) IZUKU!"

Izuku (returning to reality): "Huh, what? Oh, I was mumbling again, did I?"

Gohan (with an annoyed face): "Yes, you did. Listen, you're my friend, my best friend, but to be honest with you, you must stop doing this. You look… scary and annoying."

Izuku: "I know, I'm sorry. So, why did you decide to tell me your secret? I mean what makes you sure that I won't tell anyone?"

Gohan: "Well, you see—" before he could answer, a huge sound was heard in the nearby street where a big cloud of smoke was rising. It was another explosion like the one earlier. Many people and police cars were closing the entrance as if there was a crime happening there.

Gohan: "What's going on there?"

Izuku: "Hey, is this where the explosion earlier was?"

Gohan: "Yes, you're right. (Immediately, he grabbed his friend's hand and dashed towards the zone) Come on!"

Izuku (confused): "W-Wait, w-where are we going?"

Gohan: "To the scene. Didn't you want to know what hero will go there?"

Izuku (with a smile on his face): "Y-Yes, let's go!"

Explosion zone

The situation was hard. The fire was everywhere. Not only the civilians were in fear, but also the heroes themselves seemed troubled and afraid of something. They just stood there watching some kind of monster destroying everything around them. Whoever was this villain, he must be very strong to the point that even the pros didn't dare approach him. When the two boys became closer, they recognized the criminal in an instant.

Gohan (shocked): "I-It's the Sludge Villain from before!"

Izuku (shocked as well): "Why's that guy here?! Did it get away from All Might?! Did he drop it? If he did… then it's my fault… "

Gohan tried to convince his friend that it was only an accident since he didn't mean to do it and then approached a civilian and asked: "Excuse me, sir. Can you tell me why the heroes aren't doing anything?"

People A: "I have no idea. Actually, I'm confused as well as you."

People B: "Apparently the villain caught a junior high schooler. It's been like that for a while."

Gohan: "Wait, caught…?!"

Izuku: "It's been like that for a while?! (remembering what the monster did to him before) How can they bear that suffocation? I thought I'd die in a few seconds. Wow…"

Then, one of the civilians noticed the fact that this villain was the same one that All Might was chasing this morning, causing the crowd to notice the absence of the number one hero who was standing between them in his true skinny form. He was thinking that the escape of the villain was the fault of his neglect and his excessive focus on his time limit. Midoriya also was blaming himself for distracting him which led him to drop the bottle. As for Gohan, he was wishing that he could do something to save the victim.

Gohan (in mind): "Damn it, I wish I could do something right now. If I use my power, it will be considered a crime. I must, I must- wait a minute… this Ki… No, NO! It can't be him!"

Izuku (noticing Gohan's serious face): "G-Gohan, is everything okay with you?"

Gohan (responding): "The boy… over there… it's…" when he said that, Izuku's attention turned towards the victim in order to see his face clearly, and once he did, he recognized him quickly: it was Kacchan.

Without thinking of anything, the Quirkless teenager ran as fast as possible in the direction of the villain, to the shock of everyone. It all happened in a second, he saw his friend in danger and then he rushed to his rescue. The boy himself had no idea of what he was doing. The heroes ordered him to stop but he just ignored them. It was as if his legs were moving automatically. He tried to stop, but he couldn't. All that was in his mind is that there is someone who needs help. Using the notes he wrote, Izuku struck the sludge villain by throwing his bag on him, giving him an opening to get close to Katsuki who wasn't so pleased to see him.

Katsuki (annoyed): "Why are you here?"

Izuku (trying to release him/scared): "My legs moved on their own! I don't know why, though! (he started remembering all his memories of when people told him to give up, what he went through, how his close friend always supported him, and how becoming a hero was his dream, then he looked to his childhood friend with a smile and teary eyes) You looked like you were asking for help…"

At that moment, the monster finally recovered and attempted to attack Midoriya when he felt a hand grabbing him protecting the boy. When he turned, he saw another teenager with the same uniform as the two glaring at him angrily. It was none other than Son Gohan.

The Sludge Villain (surprised/angrily): "Wh-Who are you two?! Another weakling trying to act like a hero?!"

Gohan (calmly): "No, I'm just a boy, (getting angry) a boy who'll always protect his friends from monsters like you NO MATTER WHAT!" And with all his force, he grabbed Bakugou's hand and released him, and flew with him and Izuku back to the public. The pro heroes knew that this was their chance to go into action.

Kamui Woods: "Finally, it's our chance!"

Sludge Villain (furious/preparing to attack): "You fools! I'm going to absorb all of you at ONCE!"

?: "No, you won't cause any harm to anyone." The mud-like monster knew this voice well. It's the voice of the same person who captured him earlier: All Might. Even after his time limit has finished, he somehow managed to overcome his weakness and transform into his muscular form again. He couldn't just stand there, not after what he saw. The two young boys from earlier risked both their lives and their freedom just to save their friend while he and the other so-called heroes just did nothing. How can he call himself the symbol of peace if he didn't have enough power and courage as those two? So, he used all the power that was left in his body to use his quirk once more. Toshinori understood that the Sludge Villain's Quirk is too dangerous and he must be captured again and immediately, so, using his right fist, he launched a powerful Detroit Smash, destroying the villain and creating a strong wind pressure to the point that it changed the weather into rainy. The crowd screamed joyfully for the pro's victory, feeling proud that the number one hero will always be by their side. What made All Might special is that always, no matter how hard the situation is, he brings happiness to others when he saves them. Even now, when he felt like he was going to fall down, he gathered his strength and stood up, lifting his hand into the heavens smiling at the civilians, especially Son and Midoriya. After this, the heroes collected the scattered sludge and safely delivered it to the police. As for our two heroes, well… they got some reprimand for their recklessness, while on the other hand, Katsuki was praised for fighting back. It seems that his strong Quirk impressed the heroes to the point that one of them asked him to be his sidekick in the future.

Later that day…

The two young men were walking home together conversing about the incident of today. By the noun, the event was on all the channels on TV. The reporters came from all the media hoping that they could have some words from All Might. Soon the number one hero was surrounded from everywhere by journalists which made it impossible for Midoriya to approach him. He didn't want to ask him anything, he just wanted to say three simple words: I am sorry. He didn't mean to harm anyone by releasing the villain. He didn't mean to hinder the top hero's from doing his work. He didn't want to discover All Might's deep secrets. He didn't want any of this to happen at all. He thought that apologizing is the least thing he can do. Yet, he couldn't do it either.

Gohan: "So, you couldn't apologize at the end, right?"

Izuku (with a sad tone): "Yup, I'll try sending him a message on his website when I get home. I just hope that he'll read it."

Gohan: "Listen, I still blame you for what you've done to All Might but I know you didn't mean to cause any trouble."

Izuku: "Still, this doesn't change the fact that I put my friend's life in danger."

?: "Deku! Spiky Hair!"

Gohan (annoyed/in his mind): "Speaking of the devil."

Katsuki spent the last few minutes looking for the two to say something to them. It appeared as if he wanted to thank them and apologize to them for what he said today. But actually… it's was the opposite.

Katsuki (mad): "I never asked you two for help! And you didn't help me! GOT IT?! I was fine by myself. (talking with Midoriya) You're a Quirkless failure playing without a full deck! (speaking with Son) As for you, mister, if you think that just because you saved me I'll forget what you've done to me then forget about it! I could've beaten that thing lonely! O.K. ?! I don't owe any of you anything at ALL! Don't look down on me!" Then he walked away leaving them behind.

Gohan (annoyed/in his mind): "Next time when he's in danger I'll let him handle the situation on his own."

Izuku (smiling): "You know, Gohan, it's just as Kacchan said. It's not like we accomplished anything, or changed anything. And that reminds me, you didn't answer my question: Why did you believe me to keep your secret?"

Gohan stopped walking, thinking of his friend's question. He tried to find the necessary words to describe his strong belief in him. Finally, he took a breath and spoke: "Izuku, when I told you my story, didn't you notice something?"

Izuku (puzzled): "Like what?"

Gohan: "All of my friends who love me and care about me are either my dad's friends or people I battled with, suffered with, trained with… As I said, I've been homeschooled for my whole life, it prevented me from making normal friends. I don't say that I didn't make normal friends at all but… once I meet one, I soon leave him behind. Remember when we first met, when we said goodbye to each other, I thought that I'll… I'll never see you ever again. When mom signed me in your middle school, I was full of joy because I'll finally make friends and you don't know how happy I was when I saw you."

Izuku (speechless): "G-Gohan."

Gohan (continuing): "I know how much you wanted to be a hero, not for richness and fame but… to protect others, especially those you love. (Then he started having a flashback of when his father and Android 16 died in front of him because of his weakness and arrogance) That's something… I couldn't do it. (The green-haired earthling noticed the sadness in his friend's voice, and what made him feel painful is seeing a little tear sobbing from his eye) People always treated you like trash just because you don't have one of those Quirks, yet you still treat them like friends. If this proves anything it's that you have a pure heart, and that's the most important point in being a hero. The point is, I believe in you because you're my friend… my best friend, and I hate to see… my friends… suffer, no matter how."

At that point, Izuku felt the sadness inside his friend. He was speechless from what he heard: his Saiyan friend was ready to risk revealing his secret to him because he put all his faith in him. That's something nobody had done to him before. For the first time in his life, he had a friend who believed in him, in his potential, and in his dreams. He didn't know what to say to him after this. He wanted to comfort his partner like he always did to him. Finally, he's got an idea: he approached his friend slowly, and then… he hugged him, surprising the hybrid Saiyan.

Gohan (surprised/confused): "Izuku… W-what are you doing?"

Izuku (lifting his head with a smile across his face): "Mom told me before that the best way to comfort someone is to hug him, right?"

At that moment, Gohan bent over to his friend's level, closed his eyes, and hugged him back happily saying calmly: "Thanks Izuku, for being my friend." After a minute of hugging, the two broke up the hug and the half-Saiyan teenager asked his friends when he wanted to start training, so he answered him gladly: "Well we can start at any time you want. You know, it's really awesome to be the friend of the hero who saved the world from Cell."

Gohan (chuckling): "Thanks, it's nice to hear that. Alright, it's time to say goodbye. See you tomorrow, my friend."

Izuku: "See ya."

?: "Wait a minute!"

The two stopped in their places once they heard someone asking them to stop. They both knew whose voice was that.

Izuku/Gohan: "All Might !?"

In a flash, the number one hero appeared in front of the two in his huge muscular form. It seems like somehow he managed to escape from the reporters.

Izuku: "Why are you here? You were surrounded by reporters until just now…"

All Might (laughing): "Getting away from them was a piece of cake. Why? Because I am All Migh—" Before he could finish, he finally turned back to his true skinny form spouting blood from his mouth, scaring the green-haired young men… again.

Toshinori: "Young men. I came with thanks, a correction, and a suggestion to young Midoriya."

Izuku: "A suggestion? To me?"

Toshinori (responding): "Yes. If you hadn't been there… If you hadn't told me about your life… I would've turned into a guy in a bodysuit who was all talk. Thank you."

Gohan: "Hey, sir, don't say that about yourself. You didn't mean to shatter his dreams, you just… wanted him to be more realistic."

Izuku (feeling guilty): "Yes, it was my fault in the first place. I got in the way of your work, and I said all those impertinent things even though I'm Quirkless…"

Toshinori: "That's right. It was none other than the timid, Quirkless you at the scene that I was able to act. Top heroes have stories about them from their school days. Most of their stories have one thing in common: Their bodies moved before they had a chance to think. That was true for you, too, wasn't it?"

The young green-haired boy felt touched by his idol's words and immediately, he fell to the ground in tears. The half Saiyan bowed on his knees to his level putting a hand on his back and then he spoke with the Symbol of Peace breaking up the silence: "All Might, do you want to say…?"

Toshinori (nodding his head): "Yes, he can become a hero. Young man, you are worthy to inherit my power."