Chapter 19: Quirkless or Quirked

Nedzu, Aizawa, and Izuku were all sitting in the UA principal's office. None of them spoke as an uneasy silence fell over them. Finally, Aizawa cleared his throat to break down the uncomfortable silence reigning upon them, "So… you're not actually quirkless?" Aizawa asked.

"There's a chance," Nedzu responded, "But a minuscule chance,"

Izuku didn't bother responding. The news had come to him as a shock and over the span of 24 hours, he had still not come to terms with it. His mother had berated herself for not getting a second opinion and his father had disappeared.

Kenji told them that Hisashi was on a mission but Izuku wondered whether if it had something to do with Garaki. Hisashi could be very protective.

"What if I actually do have a quirk?" Izuku finally spoke, "My entire life was so shitty and to think I could have avoided it by just getting a second opinion," Izuku gritted his teeth in anger.

Nedzu and Aizawa shared a look. Neither of them was good at emotions and hoped that Mic was here instead. Aizawa slowly went up to his protégé, "Kid, it's still unlikely that you do have a quirk. It doesn't change anything,"

"Yeah, but what if I do have a quirk?" Izuku yelled.

Aizawa went silent for a while, "Then you'll simply have another weapon in your arsenal,"

Izuku thought on that for a bit, "And if I really am quirkless?"

"Then there's no use crying over something you never had,"

Nedzu smiled. Izuku had really brushed up Aizawa. He'd never seen him be this emotive after Oboro. Not even Mic could get to him much, "And either way, I suggest we keep your status quirkless," Nedzu stated.

"Why?" Aizawa asked the rat.

"Izuku would be hope for the quirkless. A bit of propaganda never hurt anyone," Nedzu spoke. Aizawa stared at the principal with displeased eyes, "Point is," he shrugged off Nedzu's thoughts, "It doesn't matter what your quirk status is. Things would be the same,"

"No, they wouldn't!" Izuku said angrily, "I wouldn't have gotten bullied, Bakugou would have been nicer… Everything would be better!"

"That would have been false kindness," Nedzu said gently, "In a way, being quirkless was good because it meant we had proof to send the bad guys to prison,"

"So, I'm just the fall guy?" Izuku said sassily.

"Of course not. I'm just showing you the silver lining," Nedzu replied.

The room fell into an uncomfortable silence once more. Nedzu didn't dare speak further in case Izuku burst, and Aizawa didn't seem like he'd be interrupting Izuku's thoughts either.

Finally, Izuku sighed, "You are right sensei," he acknowledged, "But I still hope I'm quirkless. It is what I have grown accustomed to. If I found out that I had a quirk, I don't know what I would do with it. Plus, I can only be a symbol of hope for quirkless people if I am actually quirkless,"

Nedzu smiled, "That's the spirit. So shall we call off the test to see if you have a quirk?"

"No, better to know than having it sprout up,"

"Alright then, let's begin," Nedzu pulled out a blueprint from his drawer.

"What's this?" Izuku asked.

"Just a blueprint for the test,"

"Well, Shizune-sensei is already checking. She took a bit of DNA for it,"

"Shizune-sensei?"

Izuku froze for a second. He had forgotten that Aizawa didn't know he was attending the police academy, "Uhm, she's just a teacher at my school?"

"I thought you were getting homeschooled,"

"I got enrolled," Izuku spoke shortly.

Nedzu simply grinned at his apprentice's audacity. The day Aizawa found the truth, Izuku would find the true meaning of what it means to not piss off a sleep-deprived man. He had first-hand experience of it whenever he'd take certain experiments a bit too far.

Aizawa didn't seem to prod any further and Izuku breathed a sigh of relief. Truthfully, he didn't think this would turn out well either but he did want to see the look on his face. Plus, he could always just point out that Mic put him up to this.

"I'm sure your teacher is capable, but this is a far swifter test," Nedzu assured.

"What is it?"

"I like to call it, 'The Sky-High test," Nedzu replied.

Instantly, Aizawa snatched the blueprint from Nedzu's desk, "Are you crazy!?" he yelled, "I mean you are! But this is even crazier!"

"Wh-what's the sky-high test?" Izuku asked nervously.

"It's a test designed to bring out a quirk, if there is any, by putting them into life-threatening situations," Aizawa replied.

"In a controlled environment!" Nedzu argued.

"I'm not letting you do this," Aizawa replied.

"It's Izuku's choice," Nedzu replied.

"You know what fine," Aizawa's eyes gleamed, "If you can convince Hisashi to let his precious child go through this test, you can do it,"

Nedzu's eyes furrowed, knowing he was beaten. Hisashi was pretty overprotective when it came to Izuku, "Fine. Let's go to Recovery Girl now,"

"Why?" Izuku asked.

"It's only fair that we get a third opinion when two opinions differ," Nedzu addressed Shizune and Garaki's diagnoses.

"You think Izuku's teacher might be wrong and Garaki is right?" Aizawa asked.

"A possibility," Nedzu agreed and opened the door to the nurse's office. Chiyo looked up and stared at the three, "I assume you are here for my diagnosis?"

"That is correct," Nedzu replied.

"How did you already know?" Izuku asked.

"Word travels fast around the UA staff," Chiyo replied and hit Izuku over the head with her cane, "All those times I X-rayed your leg after you dislocated or broke it while fighting with Aizawa, and you never mentioned that the double toe joint was your only diagnosis?"

"I didn't think it was necessary. You should have told me," Izuku replied back.

"How was I to know you went to a quack doctor," Chiyo replied, "What's done is done. But yes, Shizune-san is right. Double-jointed toe does not mean quirkless. I have seen a few single-jointed people who don't have quirks too. It works both ways,"

"So, I might have a quirk?" Izuku repeated.

"The chances are one in a million or so," Chiyo replied, "But yes, you might have a quirk. But since it's obviously not a physical quirk, it has to be mental. Which means you need to have genome sequencing run,"

"Shizune-sensei is already doing that,"

"Hm, she sure works fast. I remember when she was a snot-based brat," Chiyo spoke reminiscently.

"Y-you trained her?"

"Of course. How else could she be good?" Chiyo laughed.

"So, it's settled, Garaki gave the wrong diagnosis," Nedzu said.

"Wait Garaki?" Chiyo asked.

Nedzu and Aizawa shared a look, "You know him?"

"He's the one who came up with that quirk doomsday theory. It does have merit to it but it's mostly regarded as an absurd theory," Chiyo told them, "Maybe he went off his mind and gave a wrong diagnosis? It doesn't make sense to call someone quirkless otherwise,"

"Possible," Nedzu said, deep in thought. The quirk doomsday theory was one that was certainly showing itself lately. As One for All passed along to All Might, the strength became so immense that All Might could barely hold it.

Even children were developing quirks that were harder to control and ended up severely injuring or killing those nearby. But what did such a theory have to do with Izuku? The only conclusive reason he could come to was that they planned to poach Izuku by calling him quirkless when he actually had a strong quirk.

The other reason was that they planned to kidnap Izuku, just like they kidnapped other quirkless people. But, in that case, why the false diagnosis? It didn't add up. Unless, they had branded many others falsely quirkless and used that to kidnap them easier.

"Are you alright sensei?" Izuku asked Nedzu who snapped out of his musings and gave a warm smile, "Yes, I just remembered some work I have to do. Why don't you and Aizawa get lunch and we'll talk later?" Nedzu asked.

"Ok," Izuku replied, and Nedzu was gone in a flash. Izuku wondered what all that was about.

The cafeteria was empty, the usual hustle-bustle was not there given it was a weekend. Only the staff were there, all of whom had grown accustomed to his presence. Heck, he'd even hit it off with a few of them like Power loader. He always had cool equipment!

"You alright Izuku?" Mic spoke in his normal voice… which meant he yelled.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Izuku took a seat.

"Here's some ice cream and Katsudon! Special treat!" Lunch Rush grinned.

Izuku looked at him in surprise. Lunch Rush never gave ice cream unless it was a special occasion. He noticed all the teachers were taking turns staring at him. And they were all looking concerned and pitiful. And to top it off with Lunch Rush's sudden treat, he caught on pretty quick, "Recovery girl wasn't kidding when she said word travels fast in UA,"

Kayama grinned, "What can we say. We love gossiping,"

"Thought Nedzu-sensei would want to keep it under ropes,"

"Actually…" Ectoplasm motioned towards Aizawa who dug his face into his scarves.

"No!" Izuku was astonished.

"Yup!" Thirteen said, "When he heard you were quirkless, he told us all to keep an eye out for you whenever you're on campus,"

"Aww, you care sensei!"

"Shut up problem child!" Aizawa snarled.

"Now, now. There's no use being in denial. It's a bad habit Aizawa," Snipe said.

"Still take it from me Izuku. It's better not to have a quirk. You keep getting exploited for it," Cementoss assured.

"Exploited?" Izuku was confused.

"Who do you think built all the buildings?" Cementoss asked.

"And marks all the papers," Ectoplasm asked.

"And is forced to commentate at all the festivals?" Mic added.

"Oh please, you love being a host," Midnight said, "Try being exploited for your sleeping gas!" Kayama stared dirtily at Aizawa who didn't look the least bit apologetic.

"At least Lunch Rush and Chiyo-san get paid for what they do. We don't get paid extra! It's slave labor!" Ectoplasm whined.

Izuku chuckled. It always amazed him to see usually serious pro-heroes be so normal with their reactions.

"You know what, you guys should protest!" Izuku offered.

"How?"

"Well, Ectoplasm could just stop say he won't use his clones to be fair to other teachers who can't be a one-man army," Izuku said, "And, Cementoss could just stop building things. Students always end up breaking things so Nedzu will be forced,"

"Hmm, not a bad idea. I say we do it," Aizawa said.

"Oh, and what would you be protesting?" Mic laughed, "Extra nap time?"

"Yes," Aizawa replied seriously.

The teachers and Izuku kept discussing plans back and forth until the door opened, to reveal Shikamaru, "Inko sent me to take you home," he said lazily, "Stupid Hisashi. Making me baby-sit," he complained.

"So early?" Izuku asked.

"Yup. You got your quirk results back," Shikamaru stated.

"I-I did?"

Shikamaru nodded droopily. "Well, what is it?" Mic asked. The teachers knew both Hisashi and Shikamaru by now. Hisashi was hailed for being able to go pound for pound with the rat principal. Even sneaking past the UA alarm system multiple times to put laxatives in Nedzu's tea.

But, what Nedzu didn't know was that the teachers were the ones letting Hisashi in. And of course, Shikamaru held the record for being the only one who ever beat Nedzu in Shogi. How that was possible, no one knew but they would rather not anger someone who could match up to Nedzu.

"Troublesome. Are you alright if I say it Izuku?" Shikamaru asked. Izuku nodded ecstatically at his self-proclaimed brother.

A normal person would have held his breath, stopped, and then spoke slowly for dramatic effect. But Shikamaru was Shikamaru. He was too lazy and just dropped the news, "You're quirkless,"

The staff turned to Izuku, expecting him to be slightly sad but instead, he jumped up with excitement, "YES! I'M QUIRKLESS! WHOO!"

"You're not sad?" Mic asked intrigued.

"Of course not! This means people won't attribute having a quirk to my success. It's brilliant!" Izuku yelled happily.

Aizawa smirked as he sipped his tea. It was nice to see Izuku coming to terms with his quirklessness so much so that he'd now rather not have a quirk.

"How did you test it this time?" Midnight asked.

"Shizune-san matched it with the isolated DNA from someone before the quirk era. The genetic markers for quirks are absent in both Izuku and the other DNA," Shikamaru explained.

The door burst open once again and Nedzu ran in, "SHIKAMARU!" Nedzu yelled.

Izuku and all the teachers stared.

"Troublesome," Shikamaru said, "For the last time I won't give a lecture on the law to your third years. It's too much work. Find someone else,"

"But you're the only one who's capable enough! You beat me in strategy!" Nedzu wailed.

"It's too troublesome," Shikamaru repeated.

"Please?"

"Troublesome,"

"I'll make it worth your while,"

"Don't need money," Shikamaru replied shortly but then seemed to give it a thought, "Actually, I will give a lecture… but for a price?"

Nedzu's ears perked up, "Oh?"

"In exchange for a lecture, I get to cash in 5 favors from you and UA," Shikamaru offered,

"Aren't they the same thing?" Midnight asked.

"No. Nedzu might not be principal forever and who knows how long after it may be before I cash my favors,"

Nedzu seemed to weigh up the options, "Deal! Do you want it in writing?"

"Next time, when I'm here for the lecture. I want some sleep," Shikamaru said. Aizawa nodded understandably.

"Come on Izuku," Shikamaru said. On the way out, Shikamaru looked at Aizawa, "Nice sleeping bag," he complimented.

Aizawa nodded with a smile.

"Did he just compliment a sleeping bag?" Midnight asked.

"That's what you are fixated on? Nedzu just gave away 5 favors from UA!" Mic yelled.

"That's Nedzu's deal,"

"Idiots! We are part of UA!" Mic yelled.

The teachers gulped. Snipe slowly spoke, "So are the students…"

"Nedzu," Kayama said, "Did you think this through?"

"Of course," he chirped happily.

The teachers sighed. Who were they kidding? Why would Nedzu feel sorry about exploiting the staff for a lecture? He was Nedzu after all.

A/N: It is still a plot point but Izuku is definitively quirkless