Two days passed without much happening, school continued like normal and everyone attended like normal, but...
Tanjiro could clearly smell something was different with Izuku today. There was a tinge of satisfaction and anticipation coming from him, plus the actual smell of sweat which meant he was definitely doing something physical. Probably trying to get stronger after the recent Villain attack he was involved in.
It's likely because he might've been praised by someone for what he did, from what Tanjiro knew Izuku had just ran straight at a Villain with the ability to hijack people's bodies and kept fighting them until an actual Hero appeared, that Hero might've praised him.
Tanjiro decided to focus on school for now and ask him later, he wasn't someone to snoop around in other people's businesses if they didn't want him to.
To be fair Tanjiro would've done the same if he was in Izuku's position, if he wasn't strong enough he'd just get stronger! That's how things worked back in his prime.
For now Tanjiro kept focusing on class and thought further on it later.
When that 'later' came school already ended, and Tanjiro could see Izuku being more impatient than normal. He went over to the classmate in question and waited until they finished packing their things before asking "Hey, Midoriya. Are you working out?"
Izuku flinched before getting into a more defensive position as if the question was the last thing he expected, he stuttered and tried to find something to say before Tanjiro gave him a closed-eye smile, "That's great! I'm glad you're doing some exercise!", Izuku managed to calm down a bit after that and chuckled nervously, "Y-Yeah, I have a goal I want to work towards." he said sheepishly.
Tanjiro nodded approvingly with a firm "Hm!" before turning around and leaving class, having asked what he wanted to ask.
"Hey, Kamado. Do you mind if I… Accompany you again, today?"
Tanjiro turned around, Izuku stared at him after asking the question, "Sure, I don't mind." Tanjiro responded as he jumped out through the door and into the hall.
It would almost become a habit of the two to walk alongside each other after school, and just like last time Izuku kept talking about Pro Heroes. Normally Tanjiro wouldn't have an interest but would just listen to be polite but today was different, now that Tanjiro had given it some thought there was something he wanted to ask to someone with a genuine interest, so he took a deep breath and asked "Midoriya, you know that bank robbery from earlier this week?"
Izuku's eyes lit up after Tanjiro decided to initiate the topic this time, "Yeah, of course!" he said energetically as he jumped infront of Tanjiro with a beaming expression, "I keep track of all the Hero news, why are you asking?"
Tanjiro chuckled before his expression became more serious, it was clear he was in thought. His expression became harsher as he began talking, "That Villain? I have the feeling I know her. She looks so much like my sister."
"Your sister? You have one?" Izuku asked with mild confusion, causing Tanjiro to laugh awkwardly a bit, "Ah- Yeah, sorry for not telling you, I can remember I had one but I haven't seen her ever since… Well, ever since I woke up in the hospital that day. Like we had been separated… But she was such a sweet person, I can't imagine her becoming a Villain." he said with a somber undertone causing him to sigh afterwards, "I don't know what happened to her, though…" he said after.
Technically he did know, he was there that day afterall.
He saw it happen with his own eyes, but if he was out in the streets that day, why wasn't Nezuko too?
Tanjiro let out a deep sigh, "Let's change the subject." he said as he continued walking. Izuku stared at him for a few seconds before nodding and sprinting to catch up with Tanjiro, matching his pace afterwards.
The rest of the walk remained silent, they eventually went their own ways again and Tanjiro arrived home with no further altercations, after greeting Toshio he went to his room to think about the information for now.
…"Nezuko, that Villain… Apparently she created flames with her Quirk, just like Nezuko's Blood Demon Art. Maybe Nezuko wasn't as lucky as me… I know Muzan was able to place Demons under some kind of trance, the second Progenitor can probably do that too." Tanjiro thought, "Agh, if that's the case I'll have to help her, save her somehow, but how-"
Then Tanjiro remembered what he had said earlier this week in class, 'What if I enroll in U.A.?'
Become a Hero.
Save Nezuko.
That sounded like a solid plan, even Izuku was still trying to be a Hero, there was no way he was going to back out now.
"I'm going to get into U.A. and become a Pro Hero, I'll save you someday, Nezuko! Wait for me."
Chapter 1 - Prologue
END
