Trtt

by Nexus Sannin

T

3. Nbb

Makings of a Hero; Body and Spirit

by Zeniah

Summary:

Rumi's climb within the ranks of heroism has never been met with struggle. Her strength rivalled some of the greatest heroes of her generation, and of all time. No one doubted her future. Alas, many of her seniors quickly recognised that although she was a fierce fighter, she wasn't necessarily one who inspired others to rise up alongside her. The Symbol of Peace was unreachable to every other hero, no matter what they wanted, but it seemed to never be in Rumi's field of vision at all.

Her exact counter-opposite - Izuku, recognised clearly as bred and fostered to be a hero from the very start, but without the means to become one. Everyone around him recognised that he had the makings of a hero, but never the genuine potential...At least until he was recognised by The Symbol. And even with that, the spirit was willing but it seemed the body was not for Izuku.

The senior staff of UA quickly recognised the potential for growth these two could have together.

TLDR; De-aged Rumi. Class 2-B. U.A Sports Festival Arc. Izuku and Rumi figure out what it means to be a hero, with guidance, hope and so much patience. Also, Eraserhead knows about One For All.

ork for notes

Chapter 1

Everyone knew The Symbol of Peace. His figure as a silhouette was iconic; Villains knew to be petrified, Heroes knew to be inspired, and Civilians knew to be hopeful. Because he was here. He would make everything alright.

Was this something exclusive to All Might? Did no other hero truly represent what he represented? And if so, what is The Symbol of Peace? Was he heroism itself? Or something more?

This was something that Toshinori found himself contending with in the U.A breakroom. A new, extremely high potential class was growing into their best selves before his very eyes. He wanted the absolute best for all of them, all with great potential in their hearts and futures. He wanted to see them become the best that they can be, and he wanted them to be true heroes. Still, this question gnawed at him. What is a hero? He knew well that what he's created is irreplaceable. People just don't *want* another symbol of peace. It's All Might. He wasn't dense, nor was he prideful. It was a fact.

But...

But if there would ever be a Symbol after his death, his retirement...It surely would be young Midoriya. Izuku Midoriya. His successor. He knew as much on that evening, watching him run out to save young Bakugo. If it reignited the fire in his old withered heart, he surely had the potential to become the Symbol!

He lacked something. It wasn't power! God no, with his bestowal of One for All, Izuku would never lack for power. But he was not gifted with the, err...Frame. But more than that. The fierceness, the readiness to fight for ones ideals. Maybe one day, but its not something which could be taught to the boy. No role model would work for him. He needed encounters and experiences, he'd need a strong partner to work alongside him, training with him, teaching him new techniques and...Ugh...

Toshinori grasped at the ache from his wound he'd been struck years prior. This was not something he could give the boy. Even if he hadn't become weak, he simply had never struggled like he had. The injuries Izuku inflicts on himself in the usage of One for All is an abnormality to him.

Still. This was the purpose of the upcoming Sports Festival. An opportunity for these young heroes to show themselves to the world, and for a potential hero to look on and perhaps take them on as an intern. There's much for Izuku to potentially learn here...Which, he should probably get ready to go to soon.

Toshinori leaned his head back into his chair, flashes of memories, faces, people and heroes stimulating his mind.

"Who could give that to young Midoriya..." Toshinori found himself muttering under his breath. There were plenty of strong heroes. Was that what he really needed? Someone strong to show him the way? It didn't seem like it. Just look at Bakugo. Izuku finds himself shrinking by that boy.

No...He needed someone to grow alongside. To lift him up. A partner, a compatriot? "Hah..." Toshinori quickly jolted in his chair, quickly glancing at the noise.

Aizawa stood there, looking tiredly at Toshinori. He held a closed laptop under his arm.

"Ah...Aizawa! I didn't realize you were there. How are you?" Toshinori quickly stammered out.

"You know what? I can tell why you like Izuku so much. You're similar. And you both mutter when there's a lot on your mind." Aizawa gestures, tapping his head twice. Toshinori quickly rubs the back of his head and awkwardly laughs in response.

"Ah...So...You heard me then? How much?" Toshinori asks gently, whilst Aizawa takes a seat adjacent to him, placing his laptop down.

"I agree with you. This is an opportunity for these students to grow alongside each other. They can all be great heroes one day, but I don't know if any of them can really quite be The Symbol. And as for Midoriya..." He stretches back, letting hit joints loosen - "...He needs help, that's true. Someone he can lift up too, so that he won't feel small or like a waste. Someone he can grow alongside, like you said. Really, it's...It's quite troublesome. And the injury problems too..." He rubs his eyes, trying to wrestle some of the sleepiness from them.

"Then, you heard everything I said?" Toshinori leans forward, seemingly blushing from being caught whispering to himself. Aizawa simply stares back at him.

Aizawa leans forward, opening his laptop and clicking away at it for a few moments. Toshinori feels awkward, wondering when Aizawa will finish or respond to any of his questions. No matter. He'll surely respond soon. Surely.

After a few moments, Aizawa swivels the laptop towards him. The screen displays a profile for one particular student of U.A. Class 2-B. He looks at the profile, unsure of what to expect.

Rumi Usagiyama. Hero Name: Mirko. Quirk: Rabbit.

"Look over it later. You've got plenty of time for that. But for now, we should go. Midoriya is about to fight Todoroki soon. Time to see how he's grown."

Toshinori looks back up at Aizawa, seeing him with a grim smile smile on his face.

5 MINUTES LATER --

5 MINUTES LATER

"Wait, whaddaya want me to do?" Rumi looks up at her old teacher, Eraserhead, frustrated about her break being interrupted. She'd just kicked her feet up, not quite ready to deal with a teacher at the moment.

"The Sports Festival. I want you to show up and watch this fight, the second to last fight. I'd like you to watch it all but I don't think you would listen to me. So just one fight. Ten minutes of your time."

"Why?" Rumi couldn't help but feel irritated about this. She'd already avoided more than half of the festival. And one fight? Why? What's so special about this one?

"To learn something. Show up in 10 minutes. If you don't, I'll sign you up for another hero apprenticeship." A smug smile starts appearing on his face. "One you'll really hate." He starts to turn and walk away, but looks back beforehand - "And if you don't show up to it again, I'm going to expel you from your course. Don't embarrass our school again, Usagiyama." Then he just starts walking away again.

"Wha- Oi! You can't just threaten me to get me to do shit! I don't even know why ya want me to do

this!" Rumi shouts, trying to get her fair share in. Aizawa just keep walking, waving his hand backward as if signalling that he's ignoring her.

"Ugh...Really, man?" Leaning back, kicking her legs up, she looks at her phone to see what the commotions about. "UA Sport Festival, Quarter-Finals... Okay. Next one up is Todoroki Shoto vs Izuku Midoriya. Oh, Endeavours kid. Okay, that makes sense then." So Eraserhead wanted her to see the number 2's kid and see what he's got to offer. "Not so much an All Might, but.."

She pocketed her phone, then stood up and got ready to head to the event. It was coming up very soon.

10 MINUTES LATER --

10 MINUTES LATER

"STAAAAAAAAAAAART!" Present Mic's shrill voice rang through the arena, as Todoroki's ice immediately catapulted forward toward Midoriya. Rumi was pretty confident in Todoroki, considering his father, and didn't really know much about the green-haired one. Super Power? What does that even mean? Was it something similar to All Mi-

"SMASH!" The kid yelled out, but the more sickening noise that hit Rumi was the sound of something snapping horribly. Not too long to focus on it though, as the arena immediately was enveloped in a fierce torrent of glacial air and force as the ice around him instantly shattered and was sent flying towards Todoroki. That brought her attention to focus, as she looked down and saw them once again standing apart, stunned but ready to continue fighting. She wasnt sure what happened, but it was insanely powerful. More than anything she'd seen in her life.

"Wow! Midoriya stopped Todoroki's attack!" The kid was clutching his arm, clearly in pain...That noise, had he...? He did. He'd massacred his finger just to send off that attack.

Right..His body couldn't handle that much force, and it backfired on him. Wait, his finger? That much power with just his finger?

"SMASH!" Once again, shattering the ice and sending it hurtling back towards him. Still, it seemed meaningless with Todoroki's defence, but...This kid was insanely powerful...

...

The fight seemed over. Midoriya had shattered his arm and every finger on his hand. Now just for him to clean up his work. As the ice hurtled towards him...

"Where are you looking?" Rumi quirked an eyebrow. What?

The arena split in two once again as another hurricane struck the stadium. Even Todoroki seemed shocked by another attack he hadn't seen coming. Was it not over?

As she looked over, Midoriya's hand seemed sickening to look at. Distorted and massacred, but clenched together...

"You want to win with just half your strength?! You haven't put a single scratch on me, You know! Come at me with everything you've got!" She could feel a small grin leaking onto her face...

...

"Should I stop it, Midnight?" Rumi's head snapped over. She'd been intensely focused on the fight,

listening with her enhanced senses, and noticed the referees discussing things. End the fight, now? When Midoriya was so immersed in the fight? Not yet, surely... "That Midoriya's probably thinking that Recovery girl will heal me, so he's behaving recklessly. He's so full of adrenaline, probably not feeling much pain... But, those injuries..."

...

10 MINUTES LATER --

10 MINUTES LATER

She was so immersed in the fight up until the very end... Why did they have to stop it like that? Midoriya could have won if it werent for the intervention. It halted the full brunt of his attack. He was so immersed in the fight, like a true hero should be. If it jus-

"Usagiyama." She'd been halted from her thought process by Eraserhead calling attention to them. She whipped around and looked at the man. "Did you do what I told you to?"

"Yeah, I went. Midoriya vs Todoroki."

"Good. Did you... learn anything from what you saw?" He said with a slightly...Strangely optimistic edge to his voice. Rumi waved her hand at him, looking away smugly.

"Yeah, sure, Endeavours kid seemed to have a good handle on his power, whatever, did you see the green haired kid though? Midoriya. He was way more interesting."

"Oh?"

"Yeah! He was so immersed in the battle, he didn't even give a shit about his arms! I'm far more interested in him. And his power too!"

Aizawa stared at her for a good 5 seconds. In that moment, the world froze all around them. If you listened closely, you could hear a pin drop, the gears in his head turning, the complete lack of anything tangible going on in Rumi's brain...

The moment ended when Eraserhead started cradling his chin in one hand.

"Yeah...I...Well, it's unfortunate you didn't learn anything. From Todoroki. What's got you so interested in Midoriya again, pardon?"

"His immersion in the fight and his power! Seriously, Super Power is the vaguest thing ever but somehow the most accurate name for it. His body couldn't even handle that strength! I wanna go check on him, can I?" Rumi seemed with what he might have mistaken to be a hop in her step. He had to resist the urge for his eyes to roll back into his head at this situation.

"Yeah, sure. He's on the next floor up."

"Cool! See ya, teach." She ran off into the distance, and he watched her go.

How did...It's like she used the right equation to get the wrong answer.

Still though, it might not be all bad. Usagiyama has a powerful mastery of her own quirk, and the force it has. And the energy for it. Maybe they can still learn and grow from each other.

Maybe...Maybe this went well after all.

Chapter Summary

Mirko, meet Deku

Rumi has great intent to meet Izuku Midoriya, the aspiring hero who impressed her during the Sports Festival. Only, how on earth will he respond to this unexpected guest?

Chapter Notes

From here on, most of this is going to be far from canon. Last episode was basically just S2 E23, with Mirko, but we're going to be doing things different now.

This will be after the surgery with Recovery Girl. All Might, nor his class were there with Izuku during his talk with Recovery Girl.

All Might did not remind him the importance of his in-fight interactions with Todoroki.

Izuku was allowed to wallow in his own doubt due to his injuries and Recovery Girl's admonishment.

I'm going to try and divorce this series from most of the canonicity of MHA. Starting now!

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Izuku was spending his time thinking whilst in the Recovery room. He'd absolutely messed up with how far he pushed himself and Todoroki; he'd hoped that he was okay, but most of all he was slightly worried about how the people around him would respond to what he's done. Sure enough, it was the hardest he'd ever fought, and he honestly felt a little embarrassed knowing so many pro heroes, other students and even family members of *other* students saw him in that way.

Still though, he'd gotten through to Todoroki...He knew how he struggled with his own power, and managing to break through that and get him to *really* fight and try his hardest mattered much to him. It's just that, he only wished he didn't have to smash his body to pieces just to get through to someone, or beat something. He'd wished...

"Young Midoriya!" A loud voice boomed, just to his right.

Izuku gazed up to see All Might - sliding the door open to get to see him.

He was beefed up as per usual whilst in public, and seemingly not too tired, thankfully. "Young Midoriya, what were you thinking? You can't treat your own body that way!"

The smile had gone from his face. In an almost pitiable way, he seemed as if he wasn't in his super powered form at all. "I know, sir, but...This fight was nothing to the kind of feats you're capable of.

Even what I've seen from you in person! With that sludge villain! You easily blew it away, even whilst tired...If I can't get used to this power, how can I be a hero?" Izuku could only say with a smile that tried its best to dispel any worries.

All Might didn't know how to respond to that. Was it merely a matter of "Getting used to it"? Still growing stronger? A year's worth of training already...

A truly earth-shattering noise shook them out of their stupor.

"HEEEEEEEEEEEEY!" Something shrilled from the hallway, with a loud bang. All Might looked on with curiosity whilst Izuku practically jumped in his bed.

"YO!" The voice once again called out.

Listening closely, Izuku noticed it was the sounds of one of the sliding doors being practically torn asunder from its walls. If he hadn't known any better, he'd assumed Kacchan was on a whirlwind tantrum - that voice, though..

A pair of quick footsteps quickly approached his room now, and Izuku could only tense up. The doors were ripped apart with a thud, and a slightly out of breath, dishevelled and clearly excited woman stood before him. Not terribly tall, but Izuku could see a lot of power from her, and attitude.

"OI! Hey, there ya are, Izu- Midoriya! Been looking for you!" - She snapped her fingers with a cheery grin at him - "Oh! And All Might too. Hey, old man!" The tall hero lost his footing for a moment from the shock, but tried his best to regain his mind.

"Ah...Usagiyama, right? Usagiyama Rumi? What do you need with my student?" All Might took a moment to assess the situation. Merely an hour, maybe two hours ago, he was reading over her case file. He thought it a strange coincidence that after that meeting with Aizawa, this chance encounter would occur.

"Yeah, I watched his fight with Endeavors kid. You know me?" She honestly felt a little chuffed with herself that the top hero knew her name. "I just need a moment to talk with yours, here. That good?" She said, expectantly.

Toshinori had heard bad things about her, but it seemed gossip in this moment. This cheery young lady seemed utterly uninhibited and free in this moment. Perhaps a little too easy-going, but... "Hmm...Of course, I'll be outside. Young Midoriya." He politely bowed his head, then went to go outside.

Izuku could still feel himself recovering from the shock of his room being shocked and assaulted, but tried his best to recover quickly. "Um...Usagiyama? What would you like wi-" His momentary greeting was interrupted by Rumi non-subtly sitting on the edge of the bed, right on his broken (recovering) leg. He let out a loud yelp whilst Rumi instantly panicked -

"Shit! Sorry. I'm a bit out of it, right now - I wanted to come see you quickly as I could! I watched your fight, it was great! You shouldn't have been stopped right there. Not to mention, holy hell, you are STRONG! Why haven't I heard more about you?"

Izuku was being overwhelmed right now, but still managed to catch what she said. He shouldn't have been stopped? "N-No! You're wrong...I messed up. I shouldn't have gone so crazy, I could've really hurt Todoroki. He isn't physically that durable, and not to mention..."

The words of Recovery Girl echoed in his head - "You should think of that crooked right hand as a

warning." - Izuku found himself looking at his injury, even now, clad in bandages...

"...I can't keep letting things go on like this." His voice wavered, now. He felt tears that should've been gone streaming back.

"Hey! No no, listen, what you did out there was some of the most heroic shit I've ever seen! Right on!" She grasped onto that hand with both of her own, gently but still firmly, her red eyes seeming to glow with an endless energy. Ambition, even, but more a *passion* for what she'd seen in the stadium. "This ain't nothing. I've had worse!" She hadn't. She wished she had. "And besides, heroes get injuries all the time. That doesn't stop them all from fighting on!"

She continued. "Look, I know it can be real debilitating when you get a mad injury like the ones you've gotten. But every hero should have a few scars! Numbers of battles, numbers of lives saved...There isn't a singular top hero that hasnt got the marks of their fights on them, mind and body. This is what it means to be a true hero! To keep on fighting with all of this going on, even in spite of it!" Rumi couldn't find the right time to urge herself to stop. However...

A voice called out behind her. "I hope you're not being too enabling, Young Usagiyama." She turned around, a little insulted by the interruption, to once again seeing All Might enter. She could feel herself gulp just a little.

"What we saw today was...Not the right step for Midoriya. You are unaware of how many injuries he's suffered from his power now." Taking this authoritative tone with one of his school's students didn't feel *quite* right for Toshinori. He'd gotten used to others doing this for him... He remembers why Aizawa told him about Usagiyama. This was a potential moment for Young Midoriya. "He needs to learn discipline and control. And technique."

Rumi, very tentatively, prepares to respond, standing up from her bed. "Well, I - Yeah! But, lemme help him out then! I'm his senior, and I've gotten a lot of experience with fighting! And I'm not just gonna boss him around, like what'll happen if the hero agencies get their hands on him. We're both still students! We can train alongside each other, spar and shit!" She playfully performs a few jabs and kicks, as if demonstrating her strength and technique. "I can teach him stuff - like, for instance, why the hell is he constantly punching?"

All Might and Izuku froze in their respective spots at this decleration.

If Rumi had noticed, she didn't care. She continued, "All Might, you're hella strong and big and all, so I totally understand you letting loose and just using every one of your limbs, but Midoriya's pretty scrawny!" She mistakenly lets out a hand to feel at Midoriya's arm, not realizing he's actually reasonably lean - just not got a very big stature. She looks over for a moment to notice her error, then quickly whips back to the Number 1 Hero, slight blush of embarrassment present on her face. "Or, I, well, either way, he's letting out hits which would put you to shame!"

...

What the hell is she saying right now!?

She immediately verbally tripped over herself to rectify her error; "No - I mean that he's rivalling you with some of his hits! Just from sheer wind pressure! Yeah, that!"

She hadn't felt this nervous and frazzled since her third hero internment.

A new figure walks out from the hallway, Aizawa, having followed Usagiyama and her storm of devastation she'd let out throughout the entire school hallway. He crosses his arms and looks on, a

mischievous twinkle in his eye that only Izuku caught. "Are you saying you'd like to take on Midoriya for training, and sparring?"

"Yeah! It's fine, right? Why wouldn't it be?" Rumi put on her best look of confidence.

Aizawa's calmness in this moment didnt fail him, even now. "The purpose of the Sports Festival is to allow an opportunity for our students to prove their potential to the greater hero society, and allow an opportunity for them to become interns of a Hero Agency. You can't replace that experience for Izuku. You realize this?"

A moment passes between them all. Izuku seems confused and surprised by Usagiyama's absolute excitement and readiness towards him. Was he really worth this excitement and appraisal? Sure, One For All, but...

Still, Rumi wouldn't falter. She sensed a kindred spirit in Midoriya. "Y-Yeah! I do. I think he's gotta lotta potential! And!" - She quickly pulls out a few finger guns, with a wink and a cheeky grin - "I think I can get the hero agency I'm with to help him too!"

Aizawa looks on tentatively, whilst All Might is being uncharacteristically quiet.

Rumi takes an opportunity to go one step further. "And, listen, I'm super strong. I've made it my #1 focus to have an absolute understanding and control over my quirk. I can't imagine I'd have nothing to teach him right? Plus, yadda-yadda, he can help me grow as a hero by getting experience in training a future hero. Right? What's the lose situation here?"

"The lose situation is you helping turn Midoriya into more of a problem child than he already is, Usagiyama." Aizawa looks at her with a threatening edge to her voice.

She isn't terribly impressed, but... "Him? A problem child? He's meek as a lamb outside a fight. Come on, lemme help!" Rumi honestly finds herself getting a little desperate. She isn't sure why now, but she remembers just how much potential she saw in that stadium...

"...And you think you can get him to agree?"

Rumi freezes on the spot, bead of sweat trickling down.

"Aeehhh..." Rumi lets out slightly pathetically.

"Usagiyama." Aizawa grabs her attention. "Will Endeavor agree?"

A small, knowing smile appears of All Might's face at the mention of the name.

Rumi finds herself promising to something she probably shouldn't. "Um...Yeah. He will."

"Good." Aizawa looks to his right. "All Might, come with me."

Toshinori stops leaning on a table, and heads out the room, gently shutting the door - but before hand...

"Young Midoriya."

Izuku looks on at his idol, the Symbol in its glory. The light casts on his back, his imposing silhouette standing in the doorway, looking on at him...

All Might shines back on his face again. "I believe in you."

And just like that, he slides the door shut. Izuku feels tears well in his eyes, seemingly having forgotten about his guest.

Rumi stands next to him, quite surprised but honestly a little heartwarmed by what she saw. "He means a lot to you, huh?"

"Yeah. He, uhm...He's my hero." He says with a happy smile, a hint of sadness behind it... "Hmm...He's probably every ones hero, huh? Even I'm a little smitten."

That makes Izuku laugh just a little.

Rumi continues, trying her best to cheer him up now. "Look, I don't know what kind of relationship you two've got going on, but I'll do my best to help you reach your goals! If you've got an idol like him supporting you, and with your strength? You can do so much!" She taps her chest twice with a closed fist, then extends it forward at Izuku. "We'll do so much! Don't forget, I'm gonna be a top hero too!"

Izuku finds his lip trembling as he looks at her. He wasn't sure who she was exactly, but he found himself admiring her spirit.

Was it...

Was it something he didn't have? This energy, this passion...

It's not even about determination. He knew he's worked hard. But he's missing something.

--

"Dumb Hot-headedness." Aizawa mentioned seemingly at random, walking alongside All Might to his office. All Might looked over with a hint of confusion at the tired man.

"Pardon?" All Might confusedly asks.

Aizawa let a devilish grin slide across his face. "Usagiyama is a dumb, hot-headed, to-be hero. She doesn't know the first thing about being a 'symbol' but she'll fight tooth and nail for what she believes in."

All Might wordlessly slides a key into his hand, which he unlocks in an instant. He holds open the door for the both of them, stepping inside. He firmly shuts the door.

Poof, as Toshinori appears in the spot where All Might once stood. Aizawa realigns his eyes to meet his now shorter self.

"Izuku has problems. His lack of understanding of your power is the first one." Aizawa states matter-of-factly.

Toshinori's head drops at this statement.

Aizawa continues. "The second is the lack of will he has. No confidence. Outside of a fight, a test, of course." Aizawa gets the coffee on as Toshinori slouches down on the couch in his office. "Third is his idealism."

Toshinori looks up at mention of this. "He is my student. My successor. Idealism is a part of being the symbol. You suggest he forsakes this?"

Aizawa is leaning his back against the wall adjacent to Toshinori now. Waiting for his god-send to be finished. "No. I'm suggesting he grows up. It's fine for your average kid to believe in the Symbol of Peace as adamantly as he does. But if he keeps going at the rate he is, he'll just be a fanatic villain-fighter. It's pointless. It's not a hero." He sits up again, getting two mugs for the both of them. "You know the rate of poverty in some select areas of Japan. And you know what poverty causes. What it creates. You know the injustices this world has. Naivety like his will not serve him well."

Toshinori gets ready to raise his objection. "These are things that are not learnt at his age!" He sighs now, leaning back into his couch. "No, I...I get it. I do. But all our students are growing into their roles as heroes. And young Midoriya...His power is new to him. He had practically given up. I did that to him, Aizawa. I made him give up! And he still tried to save young Bakugo... He will be the Symbol of Peace. Using my power, but with his spirit! I hesitate to change that."

Aizawa places Toshinori's mug on the table next to him, which he wordlessly thanks him for. He sits on a chair, still adjacents to the sofa Toshinori rests upon.

"Okay. I don't want to shout at each other right now. Can we just agree that he needs help, and leave it there?" He sips at his coffee.

Toshinori looks sorrowful for a moment, but steels himself. "He does." Toshinori picks up his coffee, also taking a drink.

Meanwhile..

--

"So...?" Izuku asks hesitantly.

Rumi places her phone back into her skirt pocket. She looks back at Midoriya, still smiling. "He said he'll take another look at the footage, and see what you have to offer. Hah!" - She starts laughing abruptly - "Old fool was probably too busy watching his own son to even notice you! Proud old dad, nasty."

Izuku instantly starts freaking out. "W-Wait! Of course, Todoroki's dad! Won't he be mad about our fight!? I punched and hit his kid like, a lot!" Izuku flailing around his hands as he speaks, but Usagiyama raises and waves a hand to calm him down.

"Ahhh, don't worry. It was a tourney. He'll just be impressed that you took on his own flesh and blood in the way that you did. If anything, it's a positive. And a negative for you."

Izuku's mouth slowly shuts as he looks on. "W-what do you mean? A negative for me? Why?"

Rumi smiles, like someone asked her why hell was bad. "You're going to hate it. But don't worry! I'll be there, or whatever. Who wouldn't wanna be alongside Mirko, Pro Hero!?" Izuku hears her breathlessly mention 'aspiring' but chooses to ignore it in favor of keeping her wild delusions secure. "Also, you've got time to rest and heal up. Endeavor's agency is high demand, but only for a while until people realize he's insane. Meaning that so long as you keep your intent to join stable, you'll have a spot in...a month?" She smiles, now. "And time to train with me!"

She flexes for Izuku, trying to portray some confidence for him. He appreciates the gesture. "Can I learn about you now? You're a student like me, right? The uniform." He points for a moment. "What's your quirk...?"

Her eyes flash for just a moment. "Uhhh! Usagiyama Rumi, Class 2-B! Hero Name: Miruko! My

Quirk: Rabbit!" She could never get used to this part of hero-business. Rabbit was a self- explanatory name, but she never could figure out a better name for it. "I have the powers and abilities of a rabbit, but I'm a kick-ass human! Actually kick-ass!" - She quickly snaps her leg forward, accidentally rocking a table, cursing and cussing for the mistake - "Shit! Um, yeah! Super strong legs! And my senses are wild too! Your heart rate is 120 right now. I can even hear your blood circulating! Cool, right?"

Izuku immediately lights up. "Wait wait, you have a mutant power quirk! I thought your rabbit ears had something to do with it! So, you can do everything a rabbit can do? Oh god, I don't know anything about rabbits, that's super cool though! I bet you'd be a great jumper! Do you have any like, any footage..? You could show me..?"

She instantly gets embarrassed, but appreciative of the enthusiasm. And also because she has zero footage available on hand. "Uh...You can walk, right? You got Recovery Girl's help? Wanna come with me to the training hall?"

5 MINUTES LATER --

5 MINUTES LATER

Like a snake coiling, she holds her leg close to her chest, standing on one foot. In an instant, she snaps it forward, instantly kicking a piece of rock apart with just one kick. She recoils her leg, then once again unfurling and devastating a large boulder with multiple kicks. Resetting back into a neutral position, she jumps in the air, spinning through the air for momentum before bringing her leg down and splitting another rock right down the middle.

Izuku looks on in genuine awe. "I - doesn't that hurt? Doing that? It's really impressive though! I had no idea someone so strong was in Class 2!"

She looks back with a happy smile. "Well, y'know! It's like, All Might doesn't hurt himself every time he punches some shit out, right? I can just power right through the force. It's pretty great! My arms aren't all that much though." She demonstrates by punching a rock. Sounds more like she just hurt herself. She silently waves her hand around, eyes scrunching from the tears...

"That's still great! I..." He freezes. How had he been so stupid? She asked earlier why on earth he hasn't used kicks. The reason was simple. He had been too immersed in his idea of All Might. Replacing him. He didn't even really train his legs the same way he treated his arms. "...I'm not too good with kicks, heh. Can you teach me...?" He tentatively looks.

She just smiles back at him.

"No! Kahah! No, I can't! You're gonna break all your shit. I ain't responsible for that." She waves her hand as Izuku's feelings of defeat instantly becomes obvious. "But, we gotta work out your quirk, man! What on earth is it? Do you just implode whenever you throw a punch or something? Because if it is, you'll just do the same thing when you throw a kick." - She drops her fist into one of her open hands - "But, hey, your legs are naturally stronger than your arms. Obviously not quite a whole heck of a difference when your limbs are devastated no matter what. But its a start." She just smiles at him now, not worrying too much. "That's not what your quirk is. I saw when you punched Endeavors kid, the way your arm didnt launch off into the distance when you threw that punch. You controlled it, didn't you? You tried to."

She leans back, catching her fall on some rocks, stretching her back with her eyes closed. She snaps them back open, alert, looking at Izuku. "And it was a weaker punch than all your other things. You hurt your fingers, but they were already broken. Tell me. You controlled it." She's just

relaxing, hanging back whilst Izuku seems perplexed by all the questions. "Well...Yeah! I tried to. And I think I did...?" He says, almost hesitantly.

She clicks a finger at him."So it's just a matter of control! That's fine, then, man! So, what if you get better at that control. You know. Throw a few punc- A few kicks. You'd make your injuries worse if you punched." She wordlessly gestured at the casts his arms were in. "Throw a few kicks, using like, 10% of your strength. Or whatever works best!" She's just shooting off random suggestions that pop up to her, but as she looks up whilst thinking, she notices something.

A man. A man clad in black. Staring down at her from the balcony overlooking the testing area. Aizawa *glaring* at her.

Rumi falters for a moment. "Or...Maybe that approach is a bit too dangerous." Izuku's dissapointment becomes slightly evident.

She starts brainstorming again. And then, something hits her, "When you channel your power, is it like...'This limb will have 100% power' or 'I'm going to put all my power into my body'?"

Izuku looks at her, slightly confused. "Uhm...The former? I put my power into my arm to make my arm stronger. I remember, I was going to flick a finger, but then decided to put all my power into my arm. Why?"

"No, no! That's no good! No wonder you get wrecked, then!" She sighs loudly. "Ughh... Throw a punch. Not at me, please, just in general."

"Wait, what? Why?" Izuku seems baffled.

"Just do it. Better yet, look at me, okay?" Rumi leans forward and readies herself Izuku agrees. He starts watching now.

She demonstrates by showing the steps of throwing a roundhouse kick at a rock. She balances on top of on leg, twists her knee... uses her arms for balance, swings her waist for more momentum, before uncurling her leg for a powerful strike. It hits Izuku before the demonstration is finished.

"You...Right. You use your whole body for the hit. It's the same concept for me! I've gotta channel all my power into my body before using it!"

She smiles at his revelation. "Yeah, man, just..Y'know. Get better at using like, 5%. If you do 100% I'm pretty sure you will explode into blood instantly." Usagiyama casually mentions.

Ah...

Y'know what?

He'll remember that one.

Chapter End Notes

As of writing this end of chapter note, My work has 340 hits, 26 kudos, 4 bookmarks,

2 comments. Thank you to Void_of_life777, LoganGrand, Sanshands45 and arrowhead911, for your bookmarks and kind words. And thank you to everyone who gave kudos.

So, this is the first thing I'm writing before I start work on this chapter. I was not expecting the reception my first piece of creative writing in *5 god damn years* would get. I either expected not a singular soul to look on my work or care, OR I expected lots of criticisms and hate. I'm genuinely quite astounded. I know to some larger creators its just absolute rookie numbers, but I did not expect anything close to this. It honestly makes me a little anxious; I'm worried about meeting expectations now, but it's far too early for that - and I'm going to try and do my best with this regardless.

I have plans. I'm also writing by the seat of my chair right now, the first chapter was *literally* written on the fly. I have story beats in mind but overall I don't have an entire story set out. But that's okay! I'm going to give it proper thought and time. Like I am right now! :P

Also, in terms of a release schedule, I'm gonna try weekly (but more likely just releasing when im ready). Frankly, I have no idea how long this would take once I'm in a rhythm, but it seems appropriate (if a little long) with what I have in mind.

Once again, thank you to everyone who's taken even a mild interest in this. I didn't expect this at all! 3

PS:

Small edit! Got my first piece of critique just earlier. Just trying to make dialogue clearer as to who is talking. See! Taking criticism on board!

Chapter Summary

One for All, All Might's power

Izuku learns more about his power. All Might shares secrets regarding One for All. Rumi and Izuku get closer.

Chapter Notes

See the end of the chapter for notes

Izuku's mind was adrift as he jogged along the tracks of U.A's very own PE Grounds. In light of his encounter with Usagiyama, he had learnt more about his very own power. He'd been using it all wrong for a while now, and had been anxious for the opportunity to test out his own power. But his injuries had rooted him, at least for a while, and this was his first opportunity to try some actual physical exercise. He'd needed it as a part of his physical rehab.

Recovery Girl's power was the weirdest thing. He still felt a peculiar ache in his own muscles and bones, but he tried his best to power through it. He wasn't a particularly good runner, generally average compared to the rest of his class. But now, now was his opportunity to see if he could change that.

He let his power, the power of One for All, the power of All Might, channel through his body. It wasn't easy. First he put it through his own legs, but that didn't feel quite right, and let the power die down.

He tried to let it flow through each part of his body, one at a time, but it felt more like he was just over exerting his own body. Like trying to rub your head and pat your chest at the same time, only much less intuitively obvious. He felt the strain of his mind buckle alongside the rest of him.

Finally, something clicked inside of his head. He felt the power of One for All rocketing through his own body, like a force flowing through his own blood, as though he could feel his very nerves, channelling all throughout his body. His jogging came to an immediate stop.

As he looked on at his own hands, it was as though he could feel his quirk empowering him, flourishing throughout him. He could imagine it, feel it, and felt as though a degree of control was afforded to him which wasn't there before. The way this clicked was so unusual and foreign, it could be more easily described as him tapping into a new "ability" of his quirk.

What on earth was this?

Izuku was aware of the damages that his quirk at high powers would have on his body, so he tried to tone it down for full activation. He tried with 10%, and...

Instant collapse straight to his knees. The power shot through him like a lightning bolt, paralyzing him immediately, making his body feel like it was instantly crushed under immense pressure. Not only that, but it was pure survival instinct. It was like his body knowing that, if it moved, it would rip itself apart. So it froze in panic. Izuku let go of his own power, lifelessly letting his grip on his strength go.

He fell down on his hands now, breath caught in his own throat, and after a couple seconds of catching his breath, resolves himself to trying again. If 10% did that to his own body, no wonder 100% ruined him in the way that it did. No wonder...

He tried 2% now. Once again, the power surges through him, more slowly now, patiently, and...It felt immense. Like he'd been under ball and chain for all his life. And with this... Just a mere 2% of his absolute power to come. It didn't feel quite right with his still sore limbs, but he could feel himself dash side-to-side and feel genuinely good with his power, something he never thought he'd say about it.

He does a quick stretch, balancing on one leg, then the other, before setting off running again. The wind soaring by him as he ran made him feel...Just incredible. He wasn't sure how fast he was running, it felt like too much for his own body and mind to handle. He tried to stop now, but only found himself sliding across the coarse dirt, tearing up his shoes - even having to slam a hand down into the ground just to drag himself to a stop. Looking back, he realized how far he'd gone; he'd managed to cross what he could wager as being about 50 metres in just 3 seconds. He could see each footstep, marking each bound, and he's easily slid a good 10 metres alone...

He instantly realized he'd wanted to go try out this power in a proper test. ...

"So? You reckon you figured out what I was suggesting?" Usagiyama said, watching Midoriya flex his hands grip and look down at himself. There was a different air about him, something surging through him. He took a moment to breathe, then cast his gaze up.

"Yeah. It's..I don't really know how to put it? I tried to put power individually into each part of my body, but...It didn't work like that. I had to tap into something different, and, I don't know - it was like accessing something completely different.

"Mhm-" Usagiyama strolled around him, looking him up and down and even being able to hear the way his body was reacting to his power, " -I can see it. It's not the same as what you did in the sports festival, that's for sure. You're alive, for one. Is it more of an unconscious process now? Almost like breathing?"

"I think so...Um. Can you tell me what happened with Endeavor?" Midoriya felt shy mentioning this now. He'd been worried about the reception he'd get, especially from the Number 2 Hero... "Is everything okay?"

Usagiyama stopped circling and crossed his arms in front of him, small smirk on her face, "Yeah, it's all okay. But he told me that there wasn't much for him to teach you for your quirk. So he wants me to help you out! Which I was already planning to do, so I'm gonna put even more effort into it." She pat him on his shoulder now, looking up slightly to match his eye-sight, not letting her confidence betray her. "Besides, this basically makes me a member of Endeavor's agency!"

Midoriya's small smile slowly grew bigger at this declaration. He honestly felt a little glad to have someone teach him more. He wished All Might properly retained his power and could readily use it, and spar with him, or help him more with other aspects of his quirk...It made him feel isolated knowing it was something All Might never struggled with.

Usagiyama saw that he still had a lot on his mind, which is something she always had a cure to. "Listen, do you wanna show me what you can do with it now? Remember, use some kicks. They

can handle more than your arms can right now." She dropped a hand onto his forearm, then held it up for Midoriya to see. "Have you trained your legs much?"

"...No, not really. They've been a natural part of my training, but most of my focus was put on my grip strength, lifting, that kind of thing. How should I, um..." His cheeks got a little red at the admission. "What's the best way to kick...?"

"Hah! Okay, hold on." Usagiyama now stood up straight and stretched her body. Then, adopting a stance, once again showed Midoriya a pretty straight forward front kick, as well as a roundhouse kick and an axe kick. Her speed and the way she was able to use her body to generate momentum for her whole body genuinely kind of amazed him.

"Okay. I can do those!" Midoriya declared. Usagiyama just smiled and gave him a thumbs up in response.

10 MINUTES LATER --

10 MINUTES LATER

Izuku wasn't even close to strength as Usagiyama. He was legitimately very surprised by her abilities to fight, smashing rocks into tiny pieces without even stopping between each hit. Meanwhile, he was only able to chip and damage the rocks, which is still pretty impressive for power which is generally about peak super-human at his level, but...

He cast his mind back to All-Might, his heroic figure and boundless strength. Was he really channelling 2% of it? Was All-Might really only 50x stronger than he is right now? No, surely not...What he was doing now was impressive compared to what he was used to, sure, but...

He'd quickly picked up on everything that Usagiyama had to teach him, so he went on his way and decided he had to speak to his idol, to learn more about that power.

...

Toshinori wasn't expecting such a strange encounter right now. Young Midoriya barged into his office, nearly scaring the life out of him, before seating himself abruptly, leaning forward and asking him the question he'd been troubling himself with;

"How much power did you use to defeat the Slime Villain, All Might?" Izuku asked briefly and simply. He seemed quite desperate.

Leaning back in his chair, he chuckled a little nervously, "Uhm. 5%? I didn't want to hurt you, nor hurt young Bakugo."

Izuku's eyes bulged and his mouth dropped agape. He sat like this for a second before suddenly dropping his head in his hands and letting out a loud sigh. Did...He not appreciate this answer?

Izuku lifted his head slightly, eyes dull and dead before beginning to speak. "I'd...Usagiyama's now my mentor in Endeavor's stead, since she could teach me more and was technically qualified enough to be a representative for his agency, with his permission." Toshinori lifted an eyebrow at this but didn't interrupt the boy. "Basically, she helped me figure out how to use my power without injuring myself, using only a small percentage of your power. I can use my quirk properly."

This instantly brightened Toshinori's face, as he ran around the table and embraced the boy in a big ol' plus ultra hug. He even started laughing, "Haha! Young Midoriya! This is a huge step for you, the second big step in your quirks progress! Oh, I wish I could've done more to help you, but I'm so glad Young Usagiyama could help you with working that out. Oh, this is fantastic news! Why did you look so crestfallen, my boy?" He let go of his embrace but still held Young Midoriya by the shoulders with both hands.

"I can use about 2% now, I haven't tried pushing it further because of my injuries, but I think I could sustain 5% with some effort. It's just..." He tried to maintain some semblance of a hopeful smile, but his eyes faltered and looked down to the side. "I'm not even close to you in terms of strength. If I was using 2% of my strength, and you were using 5%, I should be only 2 and a half times weaker than when you threw that punch. But I'm not. I'm so much weaker than that." He couldn't stop tears shedding from his eyes as his lip quivered whilst speaking.

Toshinori leant down onto one knee and tried to maintain eye contact with his pupil, "Midoriya, my boy! Listen. I believe that our bodies, are like vessels." He places a hand on Midoriya's chest, just on top of his heart. "That is why I made you train your body, remember? To become a proper vessel for this strength. But there's more. We are more than just vessels, we are like batteries." He smiles as Midoriya tries to listen to him.

Toshinori continues. "Imagine a battery, yes? And One for All, is like something charging that battery. One for all is a truly powerful quirk. It's energy has become boundless, stretching through generations and countless paragons of heroism. But I am able to maintain all the strength that is available for me. But you, Young Midoriya... One for All has become much too powerful for such a small body like yours. But that doesn't mean you can't eventually retain its full strength, no. You must continue to exert yourself and challenge your body with various trials. You will unlock more of this strength, I believe that. You did not use 2% of One for All's full power, you used 2% of the the *available* power of One for All."

Midoriya has managed to calm down a little, now. "Did...You grow in strength over your life? Did you become a powerful enough vessel for One for All over time?" Midoriya quivered still a little as he spoke. Toshinori showed a small, sad smile at this.

"No, Young Midoriya. I was always able to contain the strength that was available to me through One for All. I only got weaker over time from my injuries. Over time, the possessor of One for All empowers it until they are ready to pass it on. Then, the next person they pass it onto will have the strength of its predecessor." A realization slowly hit Midoriya as his idol spoke. "When I fought, it was not my strength that led me to victory. No. Really, it was my predecessor, Nana Shimura. Nana Shimura was the true Symbol of Peace. Her, and the people that came before her. It was not my strength that I wielded. It was hers and everyone who fought and overcame various obstacles, before her. It was not my strength that won the various victories over my career, nor was it what saved your life, Midoriya. It was everyone who came before me that led me to victory."

Toshinori now let go of Midoriya's shoulders and clasped onto his hands, looking him in his eyes and on his level. "Izuku Midoriya. You now wield my strength. My battles and the obstacles I've overcome now flow through you. You are the vessel, the hero, I chose for that strength. It won't be easy! Haha, it won't be. But the Symbol of Peace itself flows through you. Who knows how strong

One for All will be in your hands? I never got to experience my own strength, my own victories," He smiled brightly, powering up to his full form and flexing for the boy, "But you will get to experience it! Young Midoriya, you will wield my strength too!"

Izuku pretty much broke down into crying and muttered 'thank yous' throughout this whole experience. Hearing this all overwhelmed him, plainly speaking. He knew the responsibilities of inheriting One for All, but knowing he was going to be even stronger than All Might ever could be, was just...So much to hear.

"Can I...Can I tell Usagiyama, please? I think I need her help with my quirk." Izuku just looked up to All Might now, seemingly more desperate than he was before, shocking All Might. He faltered for a moment, powering down, but...

"Well...Yes, Young Midoriya. You can. I believe she can be a great hero, just like I know you will be. I entrust her with our little secret. It will help you grow together."

Izuku silently stood back to his feet, bowed, and left the room. Toshinori watched him leave with a slightly worried smile, but resolved himself.

Was this the first time Midoriya referred to his quirk, in an honest and open manner, as his own quirk? He couldn't recall...

20 MINUTES LATER --

20 MINUTES LATER

Izuku and Rumi were sitting together in her room. There wasn't much more of a private place for them to discuss things, and he felt like he needed to get it all of his back *now*. He was sitting in a purple beanbag chair whilst she was adjacent on her bed.

Rumi listened to his story with complete focus. Not a hint of doubt let show on her face as she listened closely to everything he had to say. All Might initially being quirkless, as well as Midoriya himself, the history that the quirk has... He tried his best to answer every question, but one that really took him aback was the big one.

"Why did All Might choose you?" Rumi casually asked. Izuku practically froze at this question, which Rumi immediately caught onto. "Ah! I mean...Y'know, what made him decide it was you? You can't have been his first potential inheritor." She wasn't sure what to say now.

"No, it's okay. I know I don't really give off that energy of the Symbol of Peace. I...I think he just saw something in me. He wanted to empower me, and I guess he thought I 'deserved it'." Izuku didn't seem too upset.

Rumi smiled. "I think he chose the best person for it. You're real cool, Izuku. And it sounds like you're only gonna get cooler with time." She leaned back onto her bed, against the wall. "I knew you and All Might had a lot of similarities. And isn't it funny to think you literally have the potential of All Might, no matter what you do?"

A beat passes as genuine surprise travels across Izuku's expression. "Oh, I hadn't thought about it in that way. That does kind of mean that, huh? When I watched All Might, it was the power and potential of everyone before him. But for me..."

"Hey, don't get too ahead of yourself." She clicks a finger and winks at him. "You're still my pupil at this point. You've got some stuff to work through, okay?"

Izuku smiles and nods his head. They're both relaxed at this point, but a question pops into his head. "Usagiyama. Why are-"

"No, call me Rumi. We're secret-keepers now, Izuku." There's a cheeky smile on her face.

"Oh, uhm, okay, Rumi." He's blushing now. "Why...Why did you want to become a hero?"

Instantly, Rumi's face darkens. Izuku immediately regrets ruining the moment.

Rumi waits a moment, then starts speaking again, turned towards him, expression unreadable. "What is a hero to you, Izuku?" She just looks right at him, staring right through him.

"Uhm...Someone who saves everyone they can, with a smile on their face."

She smiles an empty smile. "Sure. That's a fair answer. But for me? I just want to be the best hero I can. And help make our society a little better. A hero is a civil servant." She leans forward, resting her elbows on her knees. "I just think there are too many villains who are victims. If you live in poverty, you're more likely to be a villain. If you're from a family of heroes, you're more likely to be a hero. Naturally. And..." This fact makes her the most bitter. With the most venom in her mouth, and the most disdain and spite behind it. "...If you've got a mutant quirk, you're more likely to be a villain." She just says it straight out. She sits back, propping herself up on her hands behind her. Looking at Izuku.

"...But heroes are doing their best to help society, right? That's why you're one. That's why I am, too." Izuku remarks gently. He feels a pressure from her, nervous about this subject. She casts her eyes to the side.

"...Yeah. That's what heroes are doing. I want to be the number one hero. And I know I can, because I know I'm getting stronger. I can't fix every problem, but the people who are born like me shouldn't be feared. And they shouldn't fear themselves. We should all have what it takes to be heroes. We should all think that everyone around us can be heroes." Her eyes flick towards him. "And quirkless people should be just as free and happy in our society as anyone else. Shouldn't they?"

Izuku smiles at this, a little shy. "Yeah. We should be."

Rumi chuckles, leaning forward and ruffling his hair. "Yep. *You* should be, like every other quirkless person." She sits up off her bed and starts walking towards the door.

"Are you treating me like a kid? I'm a year younger than you. And I'm taller than you." He pushes himself up with one hand.

She turns around with a snarky grin. "Yes, little Izuku, I'm a year older than you. There's a huge different between 1-A and 2-B. Year 2's where shit gets real, my boy! Hah." She leans forward, looking up slightly at Izuku. She hasn't seen the insane person she saw in him in the Sports Festival again, but learning more about him has been an interesting experience. It's nice knowing he's got such a pure, idealistic idea of heroism in his head. "The existential shit is where it all begins, in Year 2. If Year 1 is learning how to use your quirk, and Year 3 is the transition phase between unofficial hero and Pro-Hero, Year 2 is about learning what it means to be a hero. It's also the phase with the highest drop out rate..." She trails off. "Year 1 is the poster-children of the entire school, for the world to see. And Year 3 is the poster-heroes for the pro-heroes to admire and

consider for sidekicks or even full on branching out into their own agencies. But with us?"

She just shakes her head. "Alright, enough of that. Sorry. It's been a weird time. Endeavor is a pain in the ass, and I've been running around Musutafu for a while now, chasing down any bad guys and running errands everywhere. It's a pain but, hey, I'm getting stronger."

This catches Izuku's ear. "Wait, can I join you on this? Getting around Musutafu, helping people...I wanna get involved. You're my mentor now. And I can actually use my quirk properly!"

Rumi waves a hand at him. "Alright, settle down. I wasn't going to say no, but it won't be easy, man. You want to go now? Are you sure you can keep up with your quirk?" She smirks at him.

Izuku lets the power flow through his whole body, the veins in his body lighting up and sparks of energy lifting off him. "Yeah! I know I can!"

Rumi clenches her fist, then looks towards her door. "Okay, then. Izuku! Let's get going!" Chapter End Notes

Hi! As of writing this, my work has 1200 hits. When I wrote my first chapter, I expected it to peak at 30 hits and 2 kudos (which it hit in about 1 day). It then hit 300 hits. Now, my second chapter has hit 1200 hits. Although this is horrifyingly scary on one level, it's also fantastic and wonderful on another. Thank you, to each and every individual who has read my work.

So, I haven't published anything in over 2 weeks now. Lemme explain. I got covid. I actually wrote this entire chapter when I first got diagnosed, in a sort of feverish neurodivergent and ill expression of passion. And if I'm being horrendously blunt? I don't know how good this chapter is. I wrote it whilst completely out of my head, and when I re-read it I don't see any problems. I'm worried that I'm trying to look for small problems when the entire thing is fucked - like if someone told me "Yeah, Neptune's orbit is a bit janky, and definitely does orbit further than Uranus at times, but you forgot that the Sun doesnt orbit the Earth."

So. I hope no one tells me that I completely fucked up. HOWEVER, if I did fuck up, please tell me! I want to learn.

Also. I've had some time to think about my story more and frankly, I've got some shit to do and think over.

Okay, with that out of the way! Let me talk a little. Frankly, I'm incredibly insecure about this work. I have legitimately had covid these past 2 weeks, but the amount of time I've just been sitting in my chair completely fucked up has given me time to think about this. And frequently check the view counts and comments. It's scary! I never realized when I would read other fanfictions, just how big 1000 hits are. I'd read shit with hundreds of thousands of views, and barely even respond, but now that I'm here its very freaky.

It's also given me time to think about the future of this fanfiction. Look, I have no idea if people actually think my work is impressive. There isn't a rating score. If I could just hear "This is a 7/10." I'd maybe feel a little better, but what can you do? When I

came up with the first chapter, I didn't plan for many more chapters after it. Which might mean I need to rethink things going forward. I don't know how to write Izuku and Rumi out of this environment. Because I don't want them to be in U.A, honestly.

I have so many ideas though! I have character profiles for wholly unique villains. And a re-considered AFO. Because he is such a weirdly cool but completely under-utilized character (in my opinion) with some really genuinely interesting things to think about regarding his quirk, for instance, the fact that he's literally IMMORTAL?

But I don't know how to write about this in my first ever written media in 5 years about Rumi and Izuku.

So, more critique. More comments, please. Hell, gimme ideas. Ideas are fun. Please give me things to think about and work on in the future. I already adjusted chapter 2 because of a comment I got. And I wrote this entire chapter with that critique in mind. I promise, I will read and think about and process and respond to every comment I get. So please write anything you want.

I'll see you when my next chapter is ready. 3

Chapter Summary

Gathering Wind, Gathering Storm

Mirko and Deku begin their heroic adventures together. Izuku tries to get his shit together. Aizawa has the mildest panic attack on the planet.

Chapter Notes

See the end of the chapter for notes

"We gonna talk about this?"

Rumi flicks the ear-like protrusions atop Izuku's mask. He pulls back, leaning away from her and grabbing onto one of them. "I...What's there to talk about? They're a part of my costume. You don't hate it, right?"

"Hate it? No, it's...It's just cute! And funny. You're working for the rabbit hero, and you've got dumb little rabbit ears too!" She snickers at him, pointing a finger at them whilst Izuku starts to blush.

They'd both prepared for Izuku's little heroic debut. The idea had been sprung on them both equally, as an impulse from Izuku and Rumi both. Still, they both felt ready for what's to come.

"They're not rabbit ears...They're meant to be like All Might's strands of hair. The two ones that stick up, they're..." Izuku's blush only brightens further. "They're super cool. They're iconic, and, I guess I wanted to show that a little in my costume design." Izuku quickly flips his hood back down, off his face, hiding them from her.

"No! Hey, stop that." She circles around him, flipping it back up, patting his shoulder. "I was just teasing! C'mon. It's a nice design. There's nothing wrong with paying an homage." She grins at him, which perks Izuku back up. "Hey, listen, we gotta go now. It's, what, 1PM? There's probably some stuff going on now. Even if not, it's a fine idea to show you my rotation. Come come!" She starts jogging away from him, waving for him to follow.

And, Izuku follows, Into Musutafu...

10 MINUTES LATER --

10 MINUTES LATER

Izuku had already realized this. He'd known it for a long while now. But now that he was dancing between buildings, tight spots and running along alleyways alongside Rumi, it had become much clearer.

People who've had genuine time to experiment with, and learn their quirk, are terrifying.

Rumi knew how much force she had to use for each jump, how to catch herself on rails effortlessly, the exact amount of time it'd take to scale a building effortlessly...

Izuku had already pushed himself to the limit already. He was only using 2% of his power, and it had served him just fine with keeping up with a (holding back) Rumi. But rather, his stamina simply reached its limit, and trying to keep track of all the obstacles to vault and people to avoid - all while keeping a weary eye out for any injustices was taxing on him.

But still, he had to keep up!

"Izuku, stop." Rumi dropped down instantly just before Izuku, who was dashing through an alleyway. "I hear commotion about two blocks down...Like, to our right?" She points with her thumb to the right, down the street. "Actually, just follow me. It'll be easier. Mind launching me up this building?"

"What? Why? I've seen you scale about 15 buildings."

"I dunno man, birds eye view for all the crime, team-building exercise type shit. Just do it. Come on." She bounces up and down repeatedly and quickly, a ball of energy.

Izuku squats down and prepares to lift her up, using his quirk to power himself up, as Rumi jumps up onto his hands and quickly gets boosted up to the top of the building. The sheer force of the jump makes Izuku's arms feel like jelly, but he just ignores it. But then;

"Oi! Come up here too!" She reaches a hand down, signalling for Izuku to join her up on top of the roof.

Izuku silently curses, then tries to figure out the best way to get up there with his current strength. He's in a tight alleyway right now, with a set of stairs halfway up the building. He jumps from wall to wall, grabs the stairways half way up then launches himself the rest of the way, latching onto Rumi's hand, who then pulls him up too. She struggles a little to lift him, but gets it done, as they both fall back in a slightly tired mess, Izuku landing on top of Rumi.

"Ugh...Okay, enough time wasted. That was all well and good. We're now besties. We got some crime to stop, okay? Come!" She launches to her feet, then starts sprinting, jumping between roofs as Izuku watches on in exhausted dismay.

...

Izuku and Rumi watch from the top of a roof, hanging off stairways, observing the situation.

Two thugs, one with a mutant quirk that makes him look like a cross human-rhinoceros and one other seemingly regular, blonde person, who're both harassing someone on the ground, kicking him on the ground. Between the bruises and lacerations, it's harder to see what their deal might be.

"Fuck...Okay." Rumi moves a hand over to a small black-box thing on her waist, with two buttons, blue and red, then holds down the blue button for 2 seconds before letting it go. Then, the same thing for the red button. Izuku quirks an eyebrow, but says nothing.

Rumi opens her mouth to speak again. "Alright, I'm going to go for a knock-out on our rhino-boy. You go for the same deal on blondie. You got that?"

Izuku nods his head promptly. Rumi grins and turns back towards the situation. Then, like a spring uncoiled, Mirko immediately darts down, adjusting in the air to a devastating drop kick right into the back of the rhino's body, all in an instant. The impact sends him careening straight into a brick wall, cracking it in multiple places, out like a light.

Deku soon follows, also jumping down - slower than Mirko, but still extremely quickly - and goes

for a spinning back-kick on the man.

He whips around, wide eyes bulging with fear and realization. The man swings one arm around in an instant.

Incredible wind pressure emanates from the swing, sending Deku flying and completely messing up his trajectory. The windows all around him smash, and some of the walls around him splinter - he re-adjusts in mid air to land on all fours, before springing back up into a standing position, trying to figure out what just happened.

The man then whirls back around to face Mirko, who's simply standing with one hand on her hip and looking at him. Sweat bares down his face, but he refocuses back onto Deku.

"You're...Just a kid, right? Fuck are you doing here? This isn't any of your business!" The man's voice is gravelly and hoarse, but still stares down Deku.

Deku's eyes strain at this, not sure how to respond, but tries his best anyway. "I...You were breaking the law! You were hurting this guy, for who knows why! We're, um, we're bringing you in!"

Mirko snaps her fingers, catching his attention, whilst signalling a "cut it out!" gesture with her hand. Izuku just gulps, then looks back at his adversary.

Izuku tried to think for a moment. When he swung his arm around, it seemed uncannily fast. With One for All, his reaction speeds were reinforced and heightened alongside his strength and speed. He could watch his reaction to Izuku easily. But once he had begun the full force of swinging his arm, he couldn't track the movement. It was like the cocking of a gun before firing.

Deku leaned down into a sprinting position, before darting towards him as fast as he could. Again, he watched as the man primed a punch forwards towards him, easily, but once it reached full speed it was impossible to track. However, Deku predicted it, dashing to the side before once again running towards him.

The man leapt back, again with incredible speed, before swinging his arm around in a horizontal line in front of him, trying to catch his dodges. Deku jumps into the air 10's of feet, getting ready to drop down on him with a massive axe kick. But the man was prepared for this, winding his fist back for one huge punch forward, with much more concentrated wind pressure in one area. The blow would devastate Deku. And he was in mid-air, so he had no way to dodge it. What could he do...?!

"Okay, enough." Suddenly, Mirko is by his side, slamming into his liver with one strong side kick. The man's eyes instantly turn white and he curls over into a miserable ball. Deku, still flying through the air, anti-climactically drops down with relief, powering down.

Rumi's looking down at the curled up man, smiling with poorly-masked sadism. Then, turns to Izuku with a small grin. "I've got some feedback for you. First, this fight wasn't your fault. This guy had a...What, Class B Quirk? This isn't something we could've accounted for. Rhino-boy here would only really be considered a C or below. So, basically I left you to deal with some guy who's stronger than what I dealt with. I'm sorry. I should've gone for this guy first. We had a fair idea of what the Rhino could do, but this guy was a total mystery."

"Second, you made the right choice with taking a moment to think about what to do next. How his quirk works. I saw that glint in your eye." She smiles more widely at him, walking towards him and brushing him off. "But you messed up with jumping into the air. You can't dodge in mid air

with your current strength."

"Although I can. Because I'm badass." She chuckles at herself, whilst Izuku weakly smiles. Rumi notices this, then turns serious. "Hey, listen! I was here alongside you. This wasn't a fight you could've reasonably accounted for. And I'm here to protect you if you need it. That guy could've been a real danger if he got up close, but he knew he wasn't fast enough to deal with us. And I'm glad you caught onto the fact that he moves slowly at first, too. Oh, and anyway. You see this?" She taps her black box, on her waist. "This is a real life-saver. Hold blue-button down for 2 seconds, for an ambulance to your GPS. Red for police. We'll need em both, so we're calling both. Little favour from Endeavor's agency, should be standard-issue if you ask me."

Izuku's still standing completely still, slightly terrified of how closely he almost got obliterated. Rumi tries to figure out what to do, then figures she'd go for her ace in a hole.

Rumi slowly walks forward and embraces Izuku. Izuku freezes. Again. "Okay, listen alright? You freaked out mid-air. I felt your heartrate accelerate instantly. For all that blood flowing through your body, it all stopped going into your brain. And it's okay. It really does happen. This was your first fight with a villain, and this shit just happens. You did your best with what you had, so let me give you a few pointers, okay? When you were in mid-air, you could've used your own strength to counter the hit with your own wind pressure." Izuku's eyes widen at this. Oh, right...How could he miss something like that? "There's other stuff. You could've slid under the horizontal swing, but you were quick to try and end the fight. Which is sometimes good, but not if it throws you in a reckless situation. You could've gone for a manhole cover to throw at him, or hit and run tactics. This is all stuff to take under your belt and remember for the future, okay?"

Rumi pulls back, holding him by the shoulders and looking up at him. She expected a blush, but Izuku is seemingly just slack-jawed.

As the sirens louden and the ambulances and police cruisers start to bare in onto there position, Rumi looks into his eyes. "...Honestly, I'd feel a little less embarrassed if you were embarrassed."

...

With the arrest of the two thugs, as well as the ambulance rescuing the anonymous gentleman who got mugged, Izuku and Rumi had to sort out details some details with the police. And the property damage. And their own witness accounts. It was a pain and annoying and awful and horrible, so they went to get some burgers.

They'd both retired for a while in a park, just next to a burger place, as they relax and watch the trees.

"Urghh..." Izuku laid back into the bench that they were sitting on, the wrapping of his burger crinkling in his hands as he let his body unwind. "Dude...My entire body hurts. This burger is massive. How often do you do this?" He turns towards Rumi, wolfing down her burger.

"Um. I don't know. Every other day? Every other three days? It used to be much more lenient, but Endeavor's the worst. So, every other day. Or three days. Your body gets used to it. Or, y'know..." She signals towards his body. "...You'll get used to your power. It's all good. Are you hurt, by the way? From the fight."

"I'm okay...I think. I don't know, the wind kinda bit into me but... I would've been worse off if you didn't save me. Thank you...I love you." Izuku's still leaning back and feeling his back click.

Rumi looks over at him, then back at her burger. She knew he was just saying it as a quip."...Love

you too, man. Anything for my bunny-bro."

Izuku groans loudly, as Rumi lets out a little chuckle. "They're not bunny ears...We already spoke about them. I just wanted to look a little like All Might."

"Well, don't worry. If you keep running around with me whilst looking like that, you'll end up being associated with me more and more. My bunny sidekick, or something. The bunny duo..." She taps her chin, then waves her hand to the side. "Eh, local media would come up with something. We'll be the best heroes of Musutafu in no time. You gonna keep joining me, then?"

"Maybe not if I end up being considered your sidekick." Izuku murmurs, whilst Rumi snickers next to him. "No, I...I'll keep joining you. You're really strong, and fast too. I guess I have a lot to learn, especially with using more of my power..."

Still snacking on her burger, Rumi points at Izuku. "Just an idea I had. Give a go at using your power throughout the whole day." Izuku's eyes widen at her, which she acknowledges by holding her hand out. "I know, U.A doesn't like using quirk without proper reasoning. But your quirk is pretty subtle if you just keep it activated on a low level and constantly. If I'm right, it should help you out with stamina, and keeping your body fit. Turn on One for All now, okay?"

Izuku promptly agrees, and his body fills with power at a light 2% level. Rumi pats a hand on his shoulder and starts listening closely, before speaking again. "Right, so...I can hear it in you. Your heartrate just spiked, your muscles contracted, I can hear your blood flowing more strongly now. It's sorta like a performance enhancer in a weird way. I know how it works and all, what with the quirks history, but...If this is just 2%, I have no idea what using higher levels would cause." She tilts her head. "I wonder if, like...5% is the same deal. But on a higher level...How does that work, though? Would your heartrate be at like, 200? Then what about higher levels?"

"I remember that when I activated 10%, my entire body seized up and started hurting like crazy. My heart felt painful, but didn't feel too elevated or anything..."

Rumi puts her hand around her chin. "...So, what, its not OFA making your body's heartrate higher, but your body responding to the power that makes your body amped up?" She starts rubbing her eyes with her finger and thumb whilst trying to think. "...I guess then, that its not like your body is trying to channel 200% of your strength right now. But rather, your body responds to the power coursing through it, and tries to keep you at 100% to survive it...? I don't get it. It's complicated. Ugh, whatever, quirks are too complicated to figure out. Point is, I think if you keep it activated for long periods of time, you'll get stronger. You got that?"

Izuku looks at her, then down into his hands. "...I feel like I'm dying though."

Rumi reels her head back, laughing. "Hahaha! Yeah, well! You'll have to stick with it. This could be a big progress point for you! Promise me you'll try sticking with it? It'll be good for you."

"Okay. I'll try my best. I could ask for help from All Might, maybe. He could know something." Izuku smiles at her.

Rumi smiles back and ruffles his hair. "Alright! Let's get back to prowling around the streets then. Still got a few hours to go!"

"What?" Izuku's face instantly dropped. They'd only been at it for about half an hour and he'd already felt dead. And almost been dead. "We're still going?"

"Yeah, we're still going! Crime doesn't sleep, and neither can we. At least on our official hours.

C'mon!" She grabs his arm and pulls him up as they both stand. She then dashes down the road, back into the heart of the city, whilst Izuku defeatedly holds onto his burger before daintly dropping it into the trash. He pulls his hood back up, readjusting his...ears, and takes off after her.

--

3 HOURS LATER --

Toshinori had been in his office. He'd been less capable of functioning as All Might ever since his fight with the Nomu, and as such has unofficially retired from the public space. He'd make speeches, and still be around for people to see, like a fossil. It put a dirty taste in his mouth, but he needed to savour his strength in the event of a fight he needed to give his all to.

A knock at the door disturbed him. "Come i-" Toshinori was barely able to mutter out before Aizawa let himself in, holding his laptop under his arm. Toshinori let his arm fall onto his table defeatedly as Aizawa took a seat adjacent to him. He opened his laptop, clicked a few times, then spun it around to face Toshinori.

Toshinori squints at the laptop screen, before preparing to read. "Two criminals, apprehended and subdued by Rumi Usagiyama; Mirko and Izuku Midoriya; Deku. Police and emergency services were on the site 2 minutes after their engagement with the targets." Toshinori clicked on, browsing through the rest of the document. "Four criminals, again apprehended...Police on the site in 1 minute after their engagement...They got faster. Small robbery, here..." Toshinori scratched his chin as he looked on, before slightly closing the laptop to get to look at Aizawa. "They've done good work today. They're a great team!" Toshinori beams.

"Yes, well...As I thought, I was right to set these two together." Aizawa scratches his chin. "...And, it seems that Midoriya has worked out how to use his quirk appropriately. Without massive bodily harm. You should've told me, Toshinori."

Toshinori leans back in his chair, rubbing the back of his head. "Yes, well...This was only recently. Today, even. He told me he'd been experimenting and was not capable of using his quirk in a controlled manner, only much weaker than his full strength. It'll grow in time. It's good." Toshinori smiles.

Aizawa nods his head, then puts one hand on the table, looking down.

"Aizawa? What's wrong...?" Toshinori tilts his head at him, as his smile fades. "...Why are you really here, Aizawa? This kind of sentimentality is unusual from you. You'd not come talk about this kind of thing."

"Its...Do you remember that school that collapsed? Hiroo Senior High School. It was 5 years ago." Aizawa anxiously taps his finger on the desk.

Toshinori's face drops. "Yes, of course I remember. I was involved in the rescue effort. A young man's quirk manifested at a late age. A late bloomer. Class A, Class S quirk. Completely demolished the building...We thought it was an earthquake at first. He was, um..." He taps his fingers on the table a few times. "...15? Maybe 16. I ploughed my way through rubble only to find him encased in a bubble of air, protected from the wreckage. There was...only so much there for me to rescue, in the end."

Aizawa nods, then leans forward. "He was admitted into the system at the same time. His name was Kajiwara Makoto. He was...Essentially arrested and then admitted into quirk therapy. And when he turned 17, one year ago, he disappeared." Aizawa looks on at Toshinori.

"...I see. I wasn't aware of that."

"It's okay. You're the symbol of peace. No one expects you to fully know everything you've been involved in." Aizawa leans back into his chair, letting out a long sigh. "A young man, facing innumerable issues and trauma, with a quirk that's incredibly powerful, just completely slipped off our radar. There's nothing left of him on this earth. Just the ashes of an old building and the memories of some children, soon to be young adults and their traumas."

"Why are you telling me this, Aizawa? Have you learnt something?"

"...Yes." Aizawa slides the laptop back towards himself, then starts typing. Five seconds later, he turns it back towards Toshinori. It was a video. Various compilations of CTTV footage, stitched together to tell a story. Toshinori's eyes squint as he watches the video play. The timestamp of the footage seems to correlate with his disappearance.

...

The streets of Musutafu merged together in a hazy image, the streets and the people being a grey blur. But his feet could not stop moving, and the image in his head remained constant. He wanted to see his old school again.

He felt it best to hide his face and keep a hoodie on, so that he could easily blend in. His face seemed to be known to some degree. He'd occasionally be observed like a wild animal, fearful of his intentions. He didn't want that. So he just kept walking.

He had spent a year in different types of intensive therapy, learning more about his own quirk, but the people around him never wanted him to experiment too far with it. They wanted to help him learn to not fear his ability, but he wished they weren't so afraid too.

It was getting closer now. His feet started to swell and ache, but he'd walked these steps for miles before. He replayed so many memories of this time of his life now. They were all just a torrent in his mind. They were all overwhelming each other.

But he was here now. He felt his eyes slowly creak open and gaze upon his past.

The old school had been completely locked up due to eminent dangers. A gate blocked his way, and to prevent potential dangers, most of it was knocked down - finishing the work he had started. Everything was cleaned. It just looked like a regular wreckage now.

He held his hand out at the gate, feeling trepidation, but his power flowed out regardless. In an instance, the gates smashed open, with a massive torrent of air. He would feel almost startled if he hadnt felt it dozens of times now. He walked forwards, slowly towards the wreckage, before collapsing down on his knees. He spent a minute picking up each brick and just thinking.

In a moment, a great fog enveloped him.

A voice seemed to echo all around and inside of him. "Your name is Kajiwara Makoto. You were responsible for this sight before you. The system has accepted you, chewed you, and spat you out."

Kajiwara Makoto's voice felt sore. His throat ached, but he spoke. "...Are you hugging me right now?"

"...I am enveloping you. You are being taken somewhere else so we can speak. Tell me, Kajiwara. What do you want?"

"I don't know."

"Do you want to destroy another school, Kajiwara?"

"No, I...I don't. I don't want to hurt people again."

"Then, do you want other people to destroy other schools, Kajiwara? Hurt more people?"

"...No. I don't think my opinion on that matters."

"Yes, it does. Because you have a great power that can let you do some great things. Kajiwara, do you want to make a difference?"

"My power is pointless and worthless and dangerous. Because of my power, I've ruined my life and I've ruined other peoples lives. I've killed and maimed them. And I will do it again because I'm disgusting. What difference can I make?"

"If I told you that you could join like-minded people such as yourself...Erase this blemish off the face of the earth. Remove our damnable powers. Kajiwara Makoto, would you join us?"

"...How?"

"We have the potential to remove quirks. And we are going to be able to develop this potential to be on a massive scale. No child will make such a grievous error ever again. You will never hurt anyone ever again. Do you understand, Kajiwara?"

"...Can such a thing exist?" "Yes."

The fog reached inside of his body, intertwining with his heart. He felt it in his lungs and in his spine. In his nerves and his blood.

"...Kajiwara Makoto. Will you set this world upon the correct path? Will you join the Shie Hassaikai?"

...

Toshinori watched as the hooded figure was enveloped in a hazed fog. Moments passed, and then he was gone. The video ended moments later.

"...Was that the league of villains, Aizawa? The same warper who transported the Nomu into U.A."

Aizawa coughed into his fist. "No, I don't think so. Analysts have observed it, as well as I. It seems to be a wholly new warper. Not unheard of, of course. But it does mean we are unaware of their intentions for Kajiwara."

Toshinori closed the laptop firmly. "How do we know that was even him? He was masked and hooded."

"His quirk lined up with official documentation of him. Quirk: Reverberation. He can vibrate the molecules in the air, control them in anyway he sees fit. I've memorized it. How he opened the gate - This was him. This event was on the anniversary of his school collapsing."

Toshinori sighed and closed his eyes. "Okay. What do we do?"

"Nothing, I suppose. We need to learn more about this individual who abducted him, as well as where they can be operating. It must be in the city, but it's unlikely to be the League of Villains. I don't know what that means for us. If this is an organization with a warper this powerful, it means there may be a major villain operation underground in Musutafu. We're going to be hosting an official operation to uncover and learn more about this potential organization. Because if we're correct, it would account for a massive shadow in our official villain records. A shadow organization. In the meanwhile..."

Aizawa looks almost sheepishly to the side. "...This could be a good opportunity for Midoriya and Rumi to get involved."

A moment passed. Two moments passed.

Almost three moments passed, before a shocked Toshinori opened his mouth. "You want to involve two students, one who has had access to a small potential of his quirk for *one* day, and a 2nd year who's still growing as well, to be involved in an operation spanning a villain organization!? This is...Highly reckless, Aizawa. It's ridiculous!"

"It's a good opportunity, like I said. And they're already skulking around the streets, arresting and subduing many villains. Forget my idea, they're already indirectly involved. There is no harm on getting them the resources that might potentially uncover something huge." Aizawa stares down Toshinori. "You need to stop trying to protect Midoriya. He is a hero in a world of villains."

All Might immediately stands up, powering up, and marches towards his door. He takes a small flip phone out of his suit jacket, then leaves the room. Aizawa, momentarily stunned, then stands up and slowly walks out of the room too.

...

"Rumi...How do you do this every two days...?" Izuku was slung over her shoulder, both bruised and dirty but Izuku especially so. His suit was worn and tattered, one of his ears ripped off. Rumi would frequently batter her opponents instantly, outside of a few exceptions, but Izuku got the worst of the encounters.

"Haha! C'mon, man. You just gotta get used to it over time. 'Sides, if you don't keep messing up and getting into a full on brawl every time, maybe you'll do a better job of not getting beat up. Anyways..." She pats him on the back. "I'll keep ya safe. Y'know I won't let you get seriously injured."

"But all the running...All the parkour nonsense...Even my quirk feels like its hurting, Rumi..."

"Then maybe you gotta do a better job of keeping up! You're always trying to catch up with me, buddy. Would love to see the day that you've left me behind in the dust. I told you. Get used to your quirk on a constant. Use it all the time. You'll do well, eventually...! Besides, getting hit less will pay you less visits to the support team for costume repairs. It's sad seeing you with your rabbit ears all messed up."

"They're not rabbit ears!"

"No. We have now entered a reality where they are rabbit ears. You've worked as my partner longer than you've worked as All Might's protege. You're my bunny partner now."

Suddenly, Izuku's phone starts ringing with All Might's signature phrase. "I am here! I am here!" Izuku quickly fetches it out of his pocket, much to his chagrin.

"U-um! Hello? Who is this?"

"Young Midoriya! Excellent work today o-"

"OH MY GOD!? All Might?!" Izuku scrambled and starts squirming, as Rumi relents and lets him down. "All Might!? What do you need me to do? Should I hurry back!?"

"...Excellent work today on your hero business, Young Midoriya! And yes, I will need you *and* Rumi to come back soon. There's something I would like to discuss with you two! A potential opportunity for your heroic endeavors and...Future! So please, hurry back soon! Beep!"

Izuku looks at his phone confusedly, pretty sure that All Might just beeped out loud to hang up the call, before turning to Rumi, who's smirking at him.

"So! A-All Might wants us both to come back and discuss something at U.A. We should hurry back! I don't really like keeping him waiting..."

"Sure. Race you back?" Rumi smiles at him innocently whilst stretching her legs. "...No. I don't want to be embarrased."

"I'll go easy on you." Rumi still smiles with zero ill will in her eyes whatsoever. "Go easy on me by ten-fold...Okay. We should go, anyway."

"Cool. Let's go!" Rumi bends down, then starts a mad-dash back to U.A, as Izuku performs a sort of pathetic half-limp and half-sprint back.

Chapter End Notes

This is probably the worst case of writers block I've had so far with this fanfiction. Mostly because of just how open-ended I've let things be for what could happen this chapter. Should Izuku and Rumi lose majorly on his debut? Should they meet a future villain that I definitely want to incorporate?

Like...I dunno, man.

This is the most unique chapter I've written so far. It's kind of scary, and I hope it's not shit. Please tell me your thoughts!

I'm also coming to another realization. Right now, I'm waking up at about 10am and sleeping at 2am. My realization? I write better when I'm writing from midnight - 7am. Idk why. Even now, I'm writing this at midnight.

So maybe chapters will slow down? I don't know. Sorry!

You guys wanna know something else? I don't know how to write relationships. I've had one. I guess that's all I need, but hopefully my inexperience won't show in later chapters. (ALSO, LEMME JUST SAY I'M NOT WRITING ANY SMUT. NO SIREE. SORRY IF THATS WHAT U WANT. That just isn't something I can do, and frankly,

something I don't want to do. Rumi and Izuku's relationship will eventually be romantic, but I want to show you all their growth as friends first. And sex just isn't going to be something I write.)

Okay, anyway.

As of writing this, my work is now at...1573 hits! Gaining (i think) 400 hits in (i think) one day is pretty weird and wacky. I'd have thought that views would stagnate by now. But I guess people still want to see more...!

I will continue to create chapters for this series so long as people care, are enjoying the work, and so long as I have actual ideas in my little head. I can't keep writing if I know that people are just getting more pissed off and disappointed each chapter. However. To my amazement, every singular comment and bookmark comment I've gotten has been entirely positive! So, thank you all for every singular comment you've all left.

You know what's coming, though.

If ANYONE, has even a SMALL AMOUNT of criticism, PLEASE COMMENT. Anything. I won't cry! Promise! But if there's something I can do better, I need to know. I do not have people I can ask. You guys are all I have to ask about this stuff.

Okay, let's talk about the chapter now.

Firstly: How was the action? Was stuff relatively clear to understand? Engaging? I'm fine with leaving much of the action unwritten. Mostly because I don't have much confidence in my ability to write action, mostly because I find that lots of action in one chapter makes everything sort of blend together uninterestingly in my head. What do you guys think? I'm a little worried about my descriptions for the settings where the actions are taking place. I just hope it's obvious or relatively clear how everything looks in each scene.

Secondly: How strong is Mirko? Well, this is where I get feelings of confusion. I want her to be something crossed between a rival, a partner (Not sidekick) and something between a friend/lover for Izuku. Which kind of means she needs to be on par with him in certain ways. So, In my mind, current Mirko would be equivalent to 30% Deku. But she will get stronger. And of course, so will Deku. So, goes without saying, Mirko is stronger than Deku right now.

Thirdly: When there is "Hero action" going on, I'm going to refer to characters as their hero names. However, they'll still refer to each other as Izuku and Rumi, and in their own heads they'll refer to themselves as their names. This is just so theres a clearer seperation between thoughts and actions, as well as when the hero action is starting. So tell me, is this good? Or does it come off as weird and clunky? Lemme know. I'm very open to feedback on this.

Also, of course, Toshinori is always referred to All Might whenever he is in his beefed up form. Because when One for All is activated, Toshinori is always All Might.

Fourthly: I'm adding a Quirk classification system. Class SSS - SS - S - A - B - C - D. I stole this from /works/36245632/chapters/90354916. Don't get upset at me! This fanfiction is the inspiration for me creating my very own fanfiction. It's also loosely inspired by it. I also think that quirk classification is

just...Fun? It's nice. Anyway! In the actual canon of MHA, villains are ranked using a similar grading system. But only villains? I don't know why. But I'll be doing this for everyone and every quirk from now on (Important ones). I'll update next chapter with a full classification of every quirk in the story right now. Just know for now that OFA and AFO are both respectively Class SSS. Also, if you want a good fanfic to read, read Cure to Evil, by Mirrond. Same series I linked in this paragraph. It's good stuff. And honestly? Quirk classification should exist in canon MHA. It's a lot of fun.

PS:

I will never give up the bit of All Might getting interrupted.

Chapter Summary

Boötes, Pluto, Arcturus

Rumi and Izuku regroup, and learn about the Musutafu Void. They both bond. Izuku gets taught a lesson.

Chapter Notes

See the end of the chapter for notes

U.A was a multitude of different facilities. First and foremost, officially, it was the most prestigious High School in all of the world, boasting the highest degree of heroics education possible. And what it officially was not, was a key hot spot for the briefing of some of the most important operations in all of Japan. Its security was second-to-none, and politically a neutral zone for many pro heroes to discuss and plan special operations within Japan.

Thus, U.A was now the meeting grounds for many various pro-heroes and their agents. And now, All Might had extended a hand to two aspiring heroes for their support.

Anyway, now one of them has showed up, practically glistening and cheery with hardly a mark on them, and one was collapsed onto the doorway, gasping, deathly requiring air, covered in cuts and bruises everywhere. All Might was prepared to greet them, but not quite expecting this.

"Hey, All might! How's it going, old man? Caught plenty of bad guys today? We got a few dozen!" She holds her fist up, grinning, wanting a fist bump.

"Young Usagiyama...!" All Might graciously bumps her fist. "I am doing well today! There's some time, but we have plenty to disc-" All Might starts, but is interrupted by Izuku retching and coughing into his hand, collapsing further into a ball. Rumi watches on in mild dismay, as All Might looks stunned.

All Might kneels down to him. "M-Midoriya! Do you need some water?" "...Please...Rumi's a monster." Izuku murmurs out quietly.

All Might catches onto the request, but also...Rumi? They've gotten closer, hm? He'll inquire about this later. He dashes off into the distance to the nearest vending machine, disappearing around a corner.

"Hm...I even gave you a two minute break. Are you dying?" She leans down and pokes his cheek as he groans. "Wait, are you still using your quirk? Your heart's going insane. Turn it off, man! Plus there's...Shit going on, it seems..."

"But...You said it's good for training. That I should keep it activated whilst inactive...What do you mean shit going on?"

"I don't know, just seems like U.A's a little restless - and turn it off when you're dying then, ya idiot! You need to be alive for whatever's happening."

Izuku's blood pressure slowly lowers and his muscles unconstrict. Rumi smiles uneasily and rustles

his hair.

"Alright, I hear the old man stomping around. He should be on his way soon. Izuku, you doing okay?" She can hear his breathing start to slow and calm.

"I'm okay...! I'm okay!" He coughs again and slowly stands up.

"Alright, come on. Let's get you looking sorta presentable." She can't do much about the pale face and wounds and tiredness, but she tries her best at sort of managing his unkempt hair and combs it with her hands.

"Young Midoriya! Are you feeling any better?" Swift and loud stomps rush towards them, as All Might slides in with a glass of water. Izuku takes it, thanking him wordlessly before downing the whole glass, as All Might looks on with relief. He hands it back, and All Might gently places it down on a bench nearby. "Okay, Usagiyama, Midoriya, let's shortly discuss what's going on."

He dramatically clears his throat, then continues: "In essence, Aizawa and I have both agreed that it would be good for the both of your trainings and overall careers, if you were to assist U.A and the Hero PSC - that stands for Hero Public Safety commission, youngsters - in an ongoing investigation into the villain and criminal underground. What say you to this opportunity, you two?"

Izuku does his best to light up at the offer despite his condition, and Rumi beams and gives him a big thumbs up whilst grinning. All Might beams back and gives a salute. "That's just the general foundation, though! We've got a general overview happening in just an hour. You two will need to sign an agreement disclosing that everything you hear is to be kept discreet - Legal mumbo jumbo, essentially, It'll all be okay! You two should regroup together, recover from your hero work, and the discussion will be held in a private office in U.A." He sets off to leave, but is interrupted by Izuku calling out to him.

"W-wait! Before you go; why are you involving us?" Izuku questions, while Rumi turns her head to look at him with furrowed eyebrows. "I mean, I'm happy to get involved if it'll help me learn, but how come you chose us? I-I mean, I've only just figured out my quirk, barely."

All Might smiles, turns around to see if anyone's listening in, then leans forward with a hand covering his mouth. "Keep it between us, but you won't be involved in any particularly dangerous work. I believe the majority of the work you'll be doing is essentially reconnaissance and identifying and arresting a few key suspects for interrogation. The entire operation isn't necessarily centred around you two, but still an excellent opportunity for you to be involved in a very real operation with very real learning opportunities. So don't take it leniently..." He leans back slyly. "Anyway, I must be going now... I have some conversations to make and emails to send. Be seeing you two!" He runs off whilst waving behind him, still grinning happily. Rumi and Izuku watch him go, Rumi a little confused and Izuku cheerily waving back.

"I don't like that. So what, we're there to gather information...? Not really our forte, I think." Rumi seems unimpressed.

"Well, no! But we're good at arresting really quickly, right? And we aren't gonna be interrogating them, surely? We're not pros!" Izuku fires back, finding his energy again. Rumi looks back at him, still unimpressed, but a slightly tired smirk on her face.

"Yeah...You definitely started picking up the pace later today. Still had to save your ass a few times though, didn't I?" She leads him by the arm towards a bench nearby, to take a seat and relax a little. "This discussion, or meeting, I can't say I'm looking forward to. Never could...Concentrate

well on this kind of thing. Maybe you can brief me yourself after we've finished it?" "Sure, I help you with the boring stuff, and... you kick everyone unconscious.?"

"Hehehe..." Rumi chuckles and leans back into the chair, resting her eyes. The two rest in silence, for a while. "We worked hard together today. Not bad for your first time with hero action, man... Maybe we cou-" She's cut off by Izuku's head collapsing onto her shoulder, eyes closed and dozing silently.

She looks at him for a moment, sullenly, then turns around and looks away for a moment. She supposed he'd worked hard today. Then, with her left arm, readjusts his head to be more comfortable on her shoulder. "An hour, hm..."

--

1 HOUR AND 15 MINUTES LATER --

The two were now in a hall together. Izuku's phone had buzzed just a while prior, and panic ensued in between the realization that he had fallen asleep, that he was almost late for the meeting, and that he fell asleep *on* Rumi. She just laughed off his panic and got ready to trek towards the meeting room.

The room was larger than she had expected. It seemed to be able to fit comfortably a good 40- people, with a projector in the centre of the room. About twice as large as the average classroom, perhaps. After they had signed their non-disclosure agreement, the two sat together at the front of the room, with some space between them and the projector. As multiple pro-heroes active in the main area of Musutafu funnelled in, some which the two recognised and some they didn't, the light's dimmed and Aizawa took his opportunity to begin the meeting.

Izuku and Rumi both learnt many details about the investigation, although many things were omitted. They both learnt the basics, however; A large criminal underground was present in Musutafu. That was known to everyone present, however there had been a clear 'hole' so to speak, where there is an incredible lack of information and knowledge of what's happening. It's been unofficially dubbed the Musutafu Void. The Hero Public Safety Commission is highly invested in learning more about this slightly unknown aspect of the criminal and villain underground, and is enlisting the help of many Hero entities to learn more about it. Undercover heroes infiltrating and learning more, whilst most pro-heroes are arresting and investigating suspicious individuals - Something which appears to be something Rumi and Izuku will both be mutually involved with. To aid them in this, they're provided a similar black box that Rumi is used to having - which is used specifically for this investigation and will be used to arrest key suspects who can be used for interrogation, which Rumi and Izuku both pocket.

Then, the meeting takes a slightly unusual turn. Aizawa switches the screen to CTTV footage of a young man being seemingly abducted in the middle of a school wreckage. "His name is Kajiwara Makoto. He was taken by an unknown, and...Extremely powerful warper, based on his speed and lack of setup. Perhaps not unlike that of the League of Villains. However, we have identified him as not being the same warper that they had used. And since we know nothing about this individual, we can safely assume he may be a member of this unknown organization. We have reason, as well, to believe that they are abducting various powerful quirk-users who have suffered injustices. Including our man, Kajiwara Makoto, who had perhaps a Class-S quirk. We did not have much of an opportunity to learn more about him."

Izuku looks over at Rumi with curiosity, and sees that she has a certain twinkle in her eye as she looks at the man. He can't place the emotion, perhaps a little lost or upset...He turns back towards

the projector and Aizawa as he continues on.

The meeting continued on with less to remember. About 2 hours had passed, and it was getting to be evening now. Izuku and Rumi were both nodding off by the end, embarrassingly whilst most of the pro-heroes seemed alert and aware. Luckily, it concluded long before that could happen. They both pack up and get ready to leave, the lights switched back on. Just as they leave the door, Izuku receives an email from All Might, calling for his presence alongside Rumi. He looks to her, aware that their both tired, but she sighs and shakes her head, figuring that they both should go meet him in his office.

...

"So, how was the meeting, you two?" Toshinori asks, powered down and resting in his office chair despite the mountain of paper work on his desk, as Izuku and Rumi practically collapsed and incredibly weary sit across from him.

Izuku starts first. "It was, uhm...There was a lot...? There were a lot of potential suspects to look for? I guess mine and Rumi's plans haven't changed, though...Still running around and arresting bad guys..." His eyes are a little droopy and quite tired and red, whilst Rumi's deep red eyes are a little lost in thought and also rather tired, which Toshinori takes not of.

"I see you both are tired. I'm sorry for calling you two here, I just wanted to check in on you both. You two go rest now, okay?"

Rumi sighs with exasperation, then picks herself and Izuku up with one hand, then both leave together. Toshinori watches them leave in silence, hoping they both are okay.

Rumi shuts the door behind them both, and they both start walking down the hallway - which Izuku is practically dragging himself down. She looks at him for a moment.

"Let's give ourselves a two-day break, okay? Not much has changed for us, except a new black- box, right?" She waves it in front of him, before pocketing it. "You can get some time to practice with your quirk, and we can hang out some more, right?" Izuku continues to slink forward, hardly responsive. "Okay, let's get some rest first, then. I'll see you tommorow, okay, Izuku?"

He stops for a moment, before turning back to her, and embracing her in a hug. Rumi freezes in place for a moment from it, before Izuku starts speaking. "...Thank you for today. It was a lot, and kind of torture, but I'm happy we're gonna keep working together." His arms are locked around her shoulders.

"I...Of course, man...! Um..." Her arms are sort of hanging above his back, not sure what to do, before Izuku steps away quickly with a slight blush and starts walking away back to his dorm room. She watches him go with beady eyes and a highly confused expression, turning back around slowly and going back to her own room.

She has a slight smile and a warm flush on her face as she makes her way home.

--

1 DAY LATER, 4PM --

Crack! A large boulder, about the size and width of a car splits down the middle with the collision of one of Izuku's kicks. His legs were reinforced with lightweight armor he'd gotten made quickly from the support team; just a placeholder for something which would later become a more intrinsic

part of his costume. It helped for support as he got used to his new power, and he'd been kicking away at it for the last couple of minutes as Rumi watches on. She's sitting down on a particularly small rock with her legs crossed and her chin nestled in the palm of her hand.

"Heeey, Izuku." Rumi murmurs out whilst Izuku takes another crack at one of his kicks, but he doesn't notice. "Izuuukkuuu!" Izuku's head whips back, whilst standing on one leg with his other leg extended towards the rock. He spins around, facing her squarely.

"What's up, Rumi?"

"What's up? I wanna talk about that awkward ass hug you gave me." Rumi's eyes are slightly dead as she looks on.

Izuku freezes. "Er, well...Bonding experience? Team building exercise?" Rumi just shakes her head at this. "I haven't really had many girl-friends - um, friend girls? So I don't really, um, know our distance..."

"Hey, I didn't mind the hug." She leans back, propping herself up with her hands behind her. "Was just surprised, bun." Izuku groans. "We've spoken about this. You're my bunny sidekick. Get over it. So, yeah, like I said, I didn't mind the hug at all. Just didn't expect it from you." She starts grinning. "When I saw you down on the stadium, watching you *smash* yourself into pieces, I thought I had a good idea of you in my head. But you're meek as a sheep in person. The disparity is..." - She waves her hand to the side indifferently - "...Funny. And seeing you try to muster up confidence is also very funny."

Izuku exhales and picks up a rock and throws it against the floor, smashing it into pieces. "...I dunno. I wasn't particularly proud of myself in the festival. And even in hindsight, knowing how much I failed to understand my own power... God, I could've done so much better... I'm really glad we met and you helped me, Rumi, but... Knowing that I had access to a whole other section of my power, and I never even considered or tried it? I don't know." He crosses his arms and slumps his shoulders, as Rumi cocks her head at him.

"You've...got some real confidence issues, huh? Listen, Izuku, you've had your quirk for...What, a month? C'mon. No one expects you to be a master at this."

"You don't get it. I have to be a master at this. I'm the successor of the Symbol of Peace, Rumi..." Izuku casts his head down as he says this, feeling ashamed of his failings. Rumi furrows her eyebrows.

"Seriously? How old is that man, Izuku? Hell, does anyone know how old he is? He's a complete enigma, his entire *existence* is unfair to compare yourself to...I know you've got a lot of responsibility on your shoulders, but...You don't even know if you're gonna last on your U.A course, even! You could get expelled next week, and then what?" Izuku looks up at her, eyes portraying betrayal. "No, listen to me. I know you're unconfident, and unsure, but how about you leave the thoughts of being a "Symbol" to the days when you're even officially acknowledged as a pro-hero? Why don't you worry about something you know you can do something about?"

Izuku stays silent for a while, with his head still looking down. Slowly, he opens his mouth to speak. "...Sorry. Things haven't been making much sense lately."

Rumi motions at him to elaborate. "Y'know, I...When All Might told me everything about this quirk. The power I'll be gaining, how much stronger I'll get...I always wanted to be a hero. A strong hero. Ever since I was a little kid. And I had my dreams dashed over the course of my entire life. Then one day, it got so bad I thought I'd never be whole again. And in that same day, my dream

was made true. It was honestly a little cruel, haha...And, now things are shaping up for me in such a way that I might be cast into the spotlight of...I don't know, being *THE* hero? That's what All Might was, right? There were people, heroes, pro-heroes, and All Might. Is that...Me, next? Deku, the Symbol of Peace?

Rumi raps her fingers on her thigh as she looks at him. "The old man has plans for you. And agendas of his own. I know you love All Might, but in the end, he has his idea of heroism and his idea of our world. But that doesn't mean he's right. For all his power, all his prestige and his influence...I don't...think he's made the world better." Rumi places a hand over her mouth and casts a sidesway glance. "Sorry. I know this is sacrilege in our world. But you want to save everyone you can with a smile on your face, don't you? But that's not all a hero does. They have to fight villains too. Sometimes they have to hurt a lot of people. And put them away, somewhere they wont see the light of day, sometimes. That's what a hero is, right? Half the job is saving people, the other half is knocking someone's lights out." She looks right at him. "So why are you a hero? You want to save people with a smile? But you're not a paramedic. You're not a doctor, or a nurse. You're not a therapist. You're a hero. A hero who's second biggest job is, ultimately, hurting people."

Izuku starts to open his mouth, but Rumi holds up a hand to stop him. "...Listen, I'm not suggesting you're some violent thug with a repressed aggressive streak to them. Or hell, maybe you are. I might be, a little! But you need to figure out why you're ready and willing to punch someone's lights out when no one needs saving, right? You know there's victimless crimes, don't you? And you know we have to put a stop to that too, right? Because All Might sure as shit was ready and willing to do that. You know he was. You've seen the same videos everyone has, and more. Answer these questions about yourself. Figure out who you are before you try...Becoming the mascot of heroism all around the world." She stands up, patting his head. "It'll help you form that image of yourself. You'll know who Deku is. You'll know why Deku fights." She smiles at him.

Izuku's lip is slightly quivering as he looks at her. "...Thank you, Rumi...I'll do my best, okay?" Rumi nods, and grins at him. And he gets that urge to hug her, again.

"Alright, all this conversating has made me hungry for a fight. I'm going out again. Need to find some suspects, right? You coming with?" Rumi points a thumb behind her at the doors to leave the training area. Izuku's face betrays bewilderment at this.

"You...We went out yesterday, remember? You said you only go out every 2, or 3 days for hero- work."

"Yeah, but...I Lied? To not scare you away. When I'm not otherwise required, I go out daily. So?"

"...Okay. Let me get my full costume ready. Support hasn't got my stuff ready for me, though...Is that fine?"

"This isn't your hero debut. You've got that basic stuff on you. I remembered using that shit early on, hehe...You won't need it later, don't fret. Get your ol' bunny ears on...I'll be waiting out front. Oh, and Izuku? Bring a bag. Stick your casual attire in there. I'll do the same." Rumi makes for the exit out of the training area whilst Izuku heads to the front to gather his equipment.

"Bunny ears...Ugh..."

--

ONE HOUR LATER --

"Hey. You want one?"

Rumi holds out a bag of crisps to Izuku, who's sitting adjacent to her. He waves a hand at her and she goes back to crunching on them alone. They're both sitting on top of a roof, relying on Rumi's abilities to hear and sense any potential criminal activities in a wide range around them. They're both sitting on their bags for comfort, dressed in their hero attires. He squints at her, curious for a moment.

"How are you able to filter out all the noise? You're even eating. Doesn't all the noise get in the way of being able to hear stuff?" Izuku ponders.

"Oh, well..." Rumi looks down at her bag. "It's sort of a combo. I have to try and keep a lid on my abilities with noise, since there's always so much of it in the background in a major city. But someone getting hit, assaulted, I can hear that real easy. And I've also got a sixth sense kind of deal. It's most noticeable in fights, I get this urge and...I guess instinct? Bloodlust, even? But when I'm just sitting around like this, I can sense ill will. I don't know how to explain it. It's like a shiver down my neck, or an itch I can't scratch, but I *can* pinpoint what's causing it. And when I focus in on that feeling, combined with my hearing, I can find some criminals."

"Wooow..." Izuku focused for a second, trying to muster up courage. Then, Rumi squints at him. "Really?"

"Oh, that's really strange. You felt that? I was trying to muster up the courage to punch you." Izuku chuckles, feeling awkward about how strong her sense really is, if she could detect something like that.

"Yeah, well, I guess it's an ill will thing. An idiot like you wouldn't register on my wider radar. I guess it's just...You know, when people are excited and giddy, nervous and scared before committing a crime. They have to muster up that aggression sometimes, right? Psyche themselves up. I don't know how, I can just feel that. My...My first fight, I was freaking out the whole time. I've gotten a handle on it now, but it's like I could feel the way they did for a second."

"...Does that mean you wanted to punch me too?" Izuku slyly remarks. Rumi smirks at him. Then, she perks up.

"Heads up, Izuku. I think there might be something." ...

From what the two would-be heroes could see, a particularly fancy limo turned up to a restaurant. Within it, there were a good 5 people inside, all seeming to wear suits - even the man who seems to ill-fit it, easily being 7 foot tall and plastered in muscle. The group seems official, and very professional, but to Rumi, it screams organized crime. And luckily for her instinct, one of the men very clearly resembles one of the key suspects detailed in their reports. They all head inside the restaurant, seemingly for some kind of discussion. One of them brought a case.

"Okay, well...This is what we brought the casual shit for. Let's head into the restaurant and see if we can't find them. If this is all just a front, we just kick the shit out of everyone there. But we're here for information, so let's listen..."

"W-Wait, where should we get dressed?" Izuku points at his bag, bewildered.

"Up here? Just turn around." She smirks. "I won't look at your maidenly body, don't worry."

"I-Okay..." He quietly mumbles, as Rumi spins around and struts away. Izuku turns his back and starts getting prepared.

After about a minute, they're both ready. She's wearing a sports bra with a zip hoodie over, with legging and sneakers. Izuku is wearing a sweater with cargo pants and sneakers too, and as it happens, also donning a hoodie - Rumi smugly looks at him, as he exhales and whips out a jacket that was also in his carrier bag, replacing it with that. "Aww! I wanted to match! We'd look so cute together, Bun!"

"I don't wanna keep fuelling your side-kick fantasies, especially since we gotta be somewhere, right?" He quips back at her, which she smiles in response to. And then promptly throws him off the roof, her following after.

"We can grab our stuff on the roof later! Let's check out this place." They both land on their feet, Izuku shocked but no worse for wear, and they both cross the street to head inside.

...

A bell on the door jingles as she opens it, which she silently curses since it's drawn at least *some* attention to them. Thankfully, although confusingly, she spots no sign of the men in the restaurant. Which likely leans to her theory of the restaurant being a front. Still though, she tries the calm route, and takes a seat at one of the tables closer to the back, to see if she can use her enhanced senses to hear anything.

She leads Izuku by the hand to one of the tables, where she orders a coffee and he orders a coke for himself. The old and grey-haired man obliges and heads behind the bar for their order. Rumi looks slyly into Izuku's eyes, red eyes dim and focused, as one of her large ears lifts and starts focusing on any noise.

Izuku looks confusedly at her, wondering if she's noticed anything, but after a moment, she sighs and leans forward to whisper to him.

"I reckon its noise is being cancelled out with something. Padding, I dunno. We need to get back there. And...Our man is keeping an eye on us. Let's go." Rumi perks up, and, again, lifts up Izuku by the arm and leads him with her to the front.

"Hey. We're heroes." Rumi simply puts it. Izuku silently mouths a 'what' but lets her continue. "We got some bad guys back there, in your restaurant. Let us through?" She smiles sweetly and innocently, her eyes staring a hole into the man. She watches him intently, and once she starts sensing intent, immediately snaps a punch into his face, which knocks him down. "Okay, let's go! We got some bad guys to catch."

"Wha-but, that was way too hardcore! We could've snuck through!" Izuku protests, as Rumi continues leading him to the back, one of the staff doors.

"Yep. But we don't need more trouble on our way out. Especially with an unknown quirk user. We need to get our arrests and *go.* See what information we can wrestle. Follow me, okay?" Rumi

lets go of his hand as she gently opens the staff door, and Izuku anxiously looks around to see if anyone saw.

They both head through the back of the restaurant, around the kitchen where seemingly no one is really around, and most importantly where she can hear some commotion - downstairs, perhaps a basement. It's not her first infiltration into this kind of situation. As she heads down the stairs though, the situation immediately strikes her as some kind of dealing - as well as...A poker table? The men's eyes goes wild as they all notice her heading down the stairs.

She grips the railing heading down the stairs and peers out from above it. "Oh! Well, If I knew you guys were just having a cute party, I wouldn't have bothered intervening. Tell me though, does anyone here particularly want a fight? We can just quickly grab our guy, and that case..." She points at the case, nestled against the wall next to one of the larger men, not quite ready to be shown to the group yet. "Cus, y'know. No one needs to get their teeth kicked in, right!?"

The men all stand, with two even grabbing pistols that were under their jacket. Mirko immediately vaults the rail, spinning around in the air and instantly helicopter kicking the two men in the face, sending them hurtling towards a wall. Likewise, Izuku shortly follows, slipping in through the chaos to kick the back of the knee of the 7 foot man and smashing his head against the table with a spin kick.

From there, chaos ensues in an all-out brawl. ...

"Izuku. Help me with this?" She points down at one man, his eyes rolled back into his head, his arm limp and unconsciously gripping onto Rumi's leg after it destroyed him. Izuku strolls over, no worse for wear, and looks down at the man.

"Uh...I don't think he's really...Alive? Well, he's breathing, but I don't think he's grabbing you on purpose." He, likewise, points down at the mans head and the severe swelling occurring to it.

"Yeah, but I need my big strong sidekick to help me out with him. He's gripping my leg sooooo hard, Bun. I'm dying over here. Help me, pleeaaassee?" Izuku sighs, then wrenches his hand open to free her. She laughs, and pats him on the shoulder as she starts to search around.

She spots the man they were looking for, head seemingly fused with a wall he'd been sent flying into after trying to pull a gun. She wrestles the man free, whilst Izuku clicks the button on his black box to call for an interrogator and officials to show. Afterwards, Izuku wanders over to the briefcase against the side of the wall, and forces it open with his quirk, padlock snapping and sparks flying.

"Woooow. Very cool." Rumi says, crouching next to the man she ruined, looking up at Izuku. He scoffs, then takes a look inside. It contains some money along the side, as well as a small brown envelope. He takes a peek inside, which seems to be a lot of reports as well as a few pictures of a man in a strange mask with purple hair and strange, tiny orange eyes. Izuku doesnt recognise the man, and slides everything back into the envelope, then back into the briefcase.

"I think we're finished, right? This is everyone who came here." Izuku slides the case off the table and into his arms. "Key suspect, and some strange stuff in this case. This is good, right?"

"Well, I don't think it could've gone any better. We're good here. Just gotta wait on the police to show. Then we just leave! And grab a bite. And our stuff from the roof. Easy peasy."

Izuku nods his head, then tilts his head at her. "Nice kicks, by the way... I don't know how you move in the air like that. You can control yourself perfectly." Izuku seems impressed, whilst Rumi just smirks.

"Izuku, my max strength kick is the equivalent of a train hitting you at almost 100 metres per second. I have never kicked a human being, even with quirks, with even half of my actual strength. Manoeuvring in the air is easy-as. I could probably take off like a fuckin' helicopter if I swung around right. I can basically fly if I need to." Rumi continues to just smirk, as upstairs she can start to hear commotion. Izuku slowly blinks then leans his head back against the wall.

"I hope we never spar."

"I hope we don't either, Izuku. I don't really want to deal with you at 100%, y'know?" Rumi smiles as multiple officers arrive and start to question the two.

Chapter End Notes

I'm writing this on 23/04 right now. If you're reading this, I'm gonna go ahead and assume that when you read this, this was a while ago...?

Point is, I'm feeling conflicted about my work right now. It's in a very awkward and transformative phase which will highly impact the development of its future. Do I want to focus majorly on Izuku/Rumi's relationship...? Do I want to strike out and write about some aspects of MHA society which I find interesting...? Do I just wanna transition the story into a poorly veiled rant about capitalism or something? Probably not. But the future is still up in the air.

I'm worried, because I don't know what people really want out of this. When I first started writing, I was writing purely for my own interest. I wanted to see a story exist with ideas and inspirations which I personally had. So I started writing, and didn't care about what happened. I got 30 hits and 2 kudos and legitimately thought that was the attention it would get. And if it got more, it would be wholly negative attention.

Alas, 2300 hits later, that isn't really how it went down. People want to see what I write. Which I assume comes with some level of expectation.

I'm going to stop worrying about writing down what people want to see, or what I assume people want for me to write. I'm going to wait for the ideas to come to me, and then I'ma write them. And then I'm gonna think about it more, play some vidya games, edit the shit that needs it, and post it.

Oh! Right. I'm also going to be writing shorter chapters, I believe. I was pushing for 5000 words per chapter recently, and its kind of been ruining me. It's made me write more than I felt was necessary. I felt more comfortable with a smaller work flow, and therefore, we going with a smaller workflow. I'll just write what *feels* good. I suppose we'll see what that means soon.

Okay, anyway, my end notes chapters have sorta turned into a "diary"? I don't know. I'm gonna finish writing this up, though.

It's now the 27th of April. There's been a lot going on. I'm struggling a lot with anxiety but...regardless, my work is now at 2700 hits.

I don't even know what to do with that. That's crazy. Nearly 2800, now. I don't even know what to do with that information!

I think my upload schedule is going to continue to be not very consistent. Sometimes I have the motivation to write 2 chapters in, like, 4 days. Sometimes I don't even look at ao3 for a week.

But its okay. I'm working on this now, and although I've definitely got some writers block going on, I'm doin' it.

It's also now 02/05. Freaky business. Sorry for how late this chapter has come out to be. As I said, lots going on, lots happening. Let me also say: Thank you all for 3000 hits. That is a...Big number. I feel bad admitting this honestly, but I'm excited to see how big it can get.

I'm almost finished with this chapter now. And I feel good about it, but I'm interested in seeing more reception. I have a clearer idea in my mind of the general philosophy, ideals and themes of my story going forward. Still lots of Rumi / Izuku stuff of course, but just letting y'all know I've got a clear story in my mind.

Let me know what you guys think of the chapter.

Advocate

Chapter Summary

Rumi and Izuku hang out. A new proponent of Hero Society reveals himself.

Chapter Notes

See the end of the chapter for notes

White vans are almost universally utilized as, essentially, the 'kidnapping vehicle', whether it be for illegal purposes or "kinda illegal" purposes. So Izuku and Rumi both were unsurprised to see their little suspect wheeled off in it, whilst the other nobodies were just regularly arrested in police cruisers. No one really chose to bat an eye at this, and so they both made off for the roof to collect their gear.

They both didn't bother with hanging around the scene any more than that. Once they were done, they'd just headed back to the streets and decided to have a stroll.

"Ending things a bit early, aren't we?" Izuku smiles at Rumi as they're both walking down the street. Rumi seems a little sheepish, he notices.

"Yeah, well...I don't know. We got a real good haul today, and uhm...Guns. They mess with me pretty badly." Rumi says this whilst keeping her head low although smiling a little, as Izuku sympathetically pats her back.

"Do they, um...Scare you?"

Rumi's eyes flick back towards him as she waves her hands. "No, no! I mean, yeah! But its not that. The noise freaks out my instincts really badly. It's not debilitating or anything, it just makes me on edge for the rest of the day. Takes my ears some time to adjust, too. It's fine when I'm in a fight, but once I'm out of it, everything starts to...Y'know. Hit me? Like shock."

Izuku doesn't respond, so she hesitates for a moment before continuing. "Izuku...Do you wanna go grab a bite? And then we can just head back to U.A? I think I'm done for today."

To his surprise, Rumi still seems a little sheepish even now, and he turns towards her. "Are you okay? You wouldn't normally be this apprehensive. You'd just drag me off to a burger joint or something - You're not hurt or anything, are you?" Izuku's eyes abruptly go wide with worry.

"I'm fine! Relax!" She waves her hands again. "Really, I'm fine...Or, well...Okay, fine. Yeah, guns freak me out. I don't have any real reason to worry in a fight, but guns can do some real shit, and I...I did get breezed by one, once."

Izuku signals for her to elaborate - she sighs, and rolls up her leggings to show a small scar on the back of her left calf. "I know it doesn't look like much, and thankfully so...It just about grazed me. But if I moved wrong, or was just slightly off - and, you know, I move my legs around a lot in a fight. So if I was just moving wrong for a second, I could've lost function in this leg completely." She silently rolls her leggings back down as Izuku slightly pouts. "Sorry. This is silly, I know, I'm just not really used to guns yet. Maybe its an experience or training thing, I dunno..." She stands

back to full height alongside Izuku, as she awkwardly pulls and fiddles with her hoodie.

Izuku's eyes are slightly downcast, but he lifts them to try and meet hers and console her. "...Yeah, guns are, uhm...They're scary." She instinctively smiles at this awkward display as he blushes to try and think of the words. "Or, you know, I guess when I watch you fight, I get the same feeling I get when I watch All Might fight." Rumi's eyes widen. "...Y'know...? You just...You seem invincible. Guns are definitely scary, and you should be careful - always, but...I guess I'm not scared when I watch you go into a fight. And I know that they're too scared of you to not pull a gun, right? They'd never stand a chance without it!" He tries to give his best smile as he says this, as Rumi still seems legitimately shocked and even a little red.

Then, abruptly, she leans in to give him a hug and bury herself in his shoulder.

Izuku's even more shocked than she is, at this point, as his face too starts to redden. "U-Um, R- Rumi?"

"Shut up. You've given me an awkward hug. I'm giving you one back. And mines more justified, anyway. I don't want you to see me like this, especially if you think I'm so 'invincible'." She half- laughs, still buried in his shoulder, clearly choking something back.

As Izuku's arms linked around her back, and he tightens the embrace, he realizes in a moment how little he really understands much about Rumi. He'd seen such a seemingly strong person, free of any doubts or confusions about herself. She's only really confided in him once, and never let much slip. He knew that she had dealt with some existential things, but nothing specific. He'd gotten to peer into her soul, just a little, today.

They both let a few more moments pass before Izuku starts to open his mouth.

"...I'm...I won't be your sidekick, Rumi, but I'll always try to help you out when you need me." She snorts - then starts laughing, drawing herself away with drops of tears in her eyes as she cackles. Izuku is momentarily surprised, but smiles and even chuckles a little as he watches her.

"HAH! Yeah? Won't be my sidekick, huh! Well, ah...I'm a little sad that's your prerogative, Bun! That's a real shame for sure, huh!" She wipes the tears in her eyes as she genuinely warmly smiles at him. "I know you're gonna be a big ol' hero one day, and I know I quip about you being my sidekick or whatever, but...I do think I'd like if we worked together in the future. As my junior, of course." She evilly grins at him, whilst Izuku is still just happy to see her better.

"Yeaaah, of course...Do you wanna go get something to eat now? Not a burger place, again, just...I dunno. A cafe maybe? Since we didn't get out order before."

She smiles differently - warmly, this time. "Sure, Izuku." And they both head off.

...

Izuku had elected to enter first and go ahead and sit down before Rumi, and was slightly surprised to see her also take a seat right next to him as she flicks open a menu. He shifts a little, smiling a little, and opens up a menu of his own.

Rumi starts a conversation whilst browsing her menu. "Soo...You gonna tell me about that briefcase?"

He scoffs. "What, you didn't hear me discuss it with the police? I don't know, it just contained a

couple wads of cash, as well as an envelope with reports and a picture of this...Guy. Looked like an odd duck, but... I honestly didn't read into it much." He turns to her. "You wanna talk about hero business whilst we're relaxing? I didn't think you the type."

She lifts her hand in the air to call attention to a waitress. "Yeah, well, this seemed like a pretty major day for us. Right? We hardly even broke a sweat, too. And it looks like you're getting more comfortable throwing yourself into the fray, hm?" She smiles at him, as Izuku looks to the side.

The waitress comes over to see what they want to order. Rumi gets herself a slice of carrot cake. Izuku gets the same as well as a bottle of coke.

She digs into her cake instantly. Izuku watches her momentarily, sticking his fork into his cake and sort of twirling it around. After a moment of wolfing down, she looks at him curiously.

"What's up, Izuku?"

"N-No, it's... Is this, uhm...A date?" Izuku turns away.

Rumi looks at him, shocked, before slowly starting to grin. "A date? Oh...Is that what this is, Bun?"

Izuku instantly groans, stabbing his cake. "No...Forget I said anything. Forget I said everything..."

She laughs, leaning back. "No, no, Izuku! Don't get nervous now! Is this a date, I wonder?" She leans against him. "Do ya want it to be a date, Izuku?" She looks on earnestly at him, nary a hint of mischief in her eyes, blank faced.

Izuku pauses, his mouth agape, unsure if this is a ruse or genuine. But before he could say anything...

Rumi's face instantly drops, her eyes darting to her right, her ear simultaneously lifting up. Izuku looks on, confused, as Rumi tilts her head to meet what Izuku can only assume is some sound.

She practically jumps out of her chair, slamming cash on the table, spinning around, whilst simultaneously grabbing Izuku's hand and leading him out of the restaurant. Izuku gets pulled out of his chair with little resistance.

"W-wait! What's going on!?" Izuku pleads as Rumi continues dragging him with her.

"I'm sorry about this!" Rumi spins Izuku around, before pulling him and holding him tightly in her arms. Then, abruptly, jumping into the ground dozens of feet into the air - soaring over the city, far beyond anything he's seen her do before. He hardly gets to let out a yelp before they land on concrete, smashing through and sliding through an alleyway. In a flash, Rumi smashes her blackbox to call for police and emergency services.

Debris and garbage spray everywhere - but as the dust settles, Izuku's eyes focus on one man, towering over a limp, blood covered body, blade soaked and slathered in blood, deep in the shoulder.. The larger man's eyes are bloodshot, red, laser-focused on the man below him - until, his eyes slowly start to crawl up towards Izuku and Rumi... And a dry, hoarse voice slowly creeps into Izuku's consciousness.

"I thought...I had enough weak wannabes for today." He twists the blade, pushing it in further, and slouching down as if to whisper into the bodies ear. "You weren't enough...These two won't be anything either...You know that, don't you?"

Stifled through a pained grasp, he yells, "You bastard! You dare...!" But he can't let out anymore noise. The pain is just too severe, as he lets out a blood-curdling scream.

Mirko's grip on Deku loosens for a second, before she instantly leaps forward, spinning and smashing the man's jaws with a massive hook kick. His eyes roll into the back of his head - before they instantly refocus and train directly on her, whilst simultaneously quickly slashing upwards with a smaller, dagger-like blade and nicking Rumi's leg. She uses his face as a launch pad, leaping backwards, landing elegantly on her two feet.

The man has his face held low, one hand massaging his cheek as his eyes gaze down at his blade - before looking up at Mirko, "You...What are you here for? You're surely not with these two fools." He casts his bloody blade down at the one body on the ground - Deku only then notices the other body next to him, too. Both pro-heroes?

Mirko starts to shout, "I heard you...Felt you, blocks away! I don't know who you are, but I won't let you get away with what you've done! You're gonna come in - with a broken jaw, or not."

He scoffs, holding his blade up closer to his face, looking at the blood spilt. "Oh? The little hero is going to put an end to me? You're no hero." And suddenly, he laps at his blade and the blood on it - and Mirko instantly falls down onto her side, paralyzed.

With a shaken voice that sounds choked, she starts to speak, "I-Izuku! I...I can't move! He only just grazed me, but..." Mirko's voice is small and startled, and Deku's eyes are wide, his stance loose and startled as he looks at the situation before him...

He takes just a moment to stop, to try and analyse the situation. Mirko froze when he licked his blade, so perhaps...If he tastes their blood, he can paralyze them? Izuku stands still, like a stump, before a booming voice interrupts him.

"WHAT IS THIS!? A mewling hare and a stunned child! Are you afraid, little one? Unsure?" He reels forward, pointing his blade straight at Deku as blood seeps around his mouth, half of his face red and swollen from Mirko's kick, "Let me make this easy to understand for you, *faker!* My name, is Stain! I don't care how many of you come for me! These streets...They'll run red with the blood of all you fakes!"

Stain instantly charges straight for Deku - his blade at his side as he prepares a horizontal slash at his chest. Deku falls backwards instantly, bracing his fall with one hand as he slams a leg into Stains side. Once again, he whips a blade in a vertical slash at his leg as a counter, but Deku foresaw it, swinging backwards and leaping through the air in a backwards cartwheel.

It's only when Stain scoffs and spins his blade around, pointing towards Mirko, does Deku's eyes go wide with fear, and he leaps forward - and uses his shoulder as a powerful battering ram, sending Stain hurtling backwards onto his back. He only realized how close he was to Mirko when he was already there. Far too late.

There's a pit in Deku's throat which he can feel as he opens his mouth to try to speak, "L-Leave everyone alone! Why on earth are you doing this?"

Stain only sneers in response - but as he watches him, he notices something strange. An ache in his calves...In his body... The fight had slown down to a halt, and as he watched Stain, he could see him move slowly too. His reaction speed was faster. The world was slower around him - he's using 5% of One For All. He can feel it.

Izuku took a reckless moment to look at his body, seeing his veins pumping and his heart warm and

heavy in his chest. Last he'd used it, it paralyzed him from the neck down and made him feel like death... Or was that 10%? Either way, he seemed to be slightly working himself, but definitely stronger.

"Why...Am I doing this, boy? I do this because I know no one else will. All Might..." Stain practically grows as he says this, sending a shiver down Izuku's spine, "...All Might is the one hero this world needs. It deserves him. The Hero... Where is he, now? All Might? These streets need you... There's too many...Fakes! Too many! No one's willing to stand up for what they think is right! Heroes, villains, these...These people don't know the meaning of the word. They don't."

He's still on his back after getting knocked down by Deku, but wrenches himself up to his feet. Now that he's had time to look and focus on him, he notices the bruises and cuts all over him. His clothing is worn and tattered, bandages all over his arms - bloody and ripped in many places. His hair is blood-soaked and ragged, filthy. Deku watches him for a moment longer, then slowly opens his mouth...

"...How long have you been fighting for...?"

Stain's eyes go wide. As does Mirko's. His tongue swishes out of his mouth for a second like a snake, before slowly coiling back into his mouth, "I...I am officially recognised as the Hero Killer. My name is Stain. I have killed, or mutilated and disfigured..." His head falls back and his eyes look up at the sky, recalling long lost faces and fights... "...43 officially recognised professional Heroes. I will continue to do this until the Legendary Hero, All Might, faces me down and kills me."

"You...You must've been fighting for a long time, right? You cant keep going on like this...You need to turn yourself in."

Stain only cackles at this, "You think I must stop!? You think I am the one here who must rest? I will face towards and watch the sun rise and fall every day, resting atop the bodies of fallen and disgraced 'heroes', and their measly legacies they all leave behind...Until he comes for me. This culling *fuels* me. And what? Are you trying to...To SAVE ME? That, or you're stalling as these wretches bleed out around you, wasted and forgotten." He clicks his tongue and shakes his head, "Forget it."

And then, he twirls his blade around in one hand before pointing it at the neck of one of the heroes on the ground.

"NO!!" Deku instantly dashes forward with a huge side kick to try and stop Stain before his blade could fall. Stain ducked instantly as Deku's leg embedded itself into the brick wall besides his head - and as Deku fearfully cast his eyes towards Stain's crouched position, a pair of wide and enraged eyes met his gaze.

"OH?!" Stain swung back up and immediately ripped his arm up and down - his blade like a club to bring down onto Deku's head. Deku used his leg against the wall to kick himself back, sending him hurtling on his back, painfully sliding across the trash-riddled concrete, as Stain's blade smashes and splinters across the concrete at the sheer force of his blow. At the fight's escalation, Mirko starts to squirm and panic.

Stain slides a large dagger from one of his side pockets, now wielding two daggers.. "So you wanted to save me, now you try to KILL me?! Damn fake! So inconsistent, so weak!" He dashes forward, swinging and slashing in a flurry of attacks as Deku narrowly dodges each of them. One nicks his arm, just under his elbow - Deku panics and instantly smashes the dagger in his hand with a fist before he has a chance to paralyse him, and a sickening snapping sound echoes through the

alley as Stain's wrist breaks and the blade hurtles into the long alley, lost. Stain clenches his teeth before punching him in the face repeatedly, kneeing his stomach and instantly going for the kill by slashing his neck open - before Deku just slinks out of the way and Stain's blade grazes his neck and collarbone.

Stain pushes Deku away with a front kick before licking at his blade before he can recover - Paralysed, on his back, helpless.

Next to Stain, almost on prompt, Mirko instantly springs forward and smashes two legs straight into his side without holding back, winding him badly and sending him hurtling into and completely breaking the brick wall behind him. Mirko jumps straight to Deku's side.

"Hey! Hey, are you okay!? I'm sorry I was outta the fight so long! Izuku!?" Rumi kneels down next to him and holds a hand to his cheek, another hand checking to see the gash around his collarbone - and sighing with relief to see it wasn't at his neck.

"I...I'm okay, Rumi..." He tries to put a hand on top of hers, reassuringly, but his body just cant do anything. "Don't forget about him...He's tough..."

Rumi simply smiles down at him, her eyes slightly watery but steady "I'll be okay. I know his trick now. And you did real good. So...Don't worry." She stands up straight and swivels back to Stain, blood coming from his mouth after Rumi's massive strike. The wall starts to quiver as Stain forcefully yanks himself out of it, collapsing down onto his knees and one steady arm. His broken wrist lays limp at his side. He glares upwards at Rumi, who's confident and grinning menacingly at him, and Stain only weakly chuckles before climbing to his feet, ready to face her.

Izuku watches, only slightly from the corner of his eye, before looking up at the twilight sky and trying to steady his breathing. Blood trails down his body and costume from his neck and collar. The adrenaline starts to fade and his ribs start to really hurt now. The sounds of massive strikes, wind roaring and grunts of pain and agony from Stain resonate throughout the alley.

...

As he starts to feel a little blood oozing in his mouth, the sounds of sirens start to wail and the fight settles down. A few hops come to his left, and as he turns his neck slightly, he smiles warmly at Rumi, sweating and invigorated but completely harm-free, also grinning back, and an incapacitated, unconscious Stain laying face down in the concrete.

Her arms reach down and hoist Izuku up, carrying him in a bridal carry - much to Izuku's chagrin, but he says nothing as she carries him out into the light. The other pro heroes around them seem to still be paralysed, but alive. Izuku would ordinarily be curious why the paralysis took longer for them, but he was too tired. An ambulance awaited them both, as well as a police cruiser for Stain. His eyes are white and rolled back into his head, his body bruised and swollen everywhere.

Why on earth did he fight like that, never endingly? A question for another time, Izuku thought.

Rumi carried him to the stretcher, laying him down gently, as he's hoisted into the ambulance. She hesitates for a second at the open door, the paramedics looking at her expectantly, before she pulls herself in through the doors to be with him - closing the doors behind her.

The paramedics quickly hook Izuku up to many different monitors and medical equipment, checking his pulse and his wounds - mostly lacerations, bruises and swelling. His neck wasn't majorly cut, no veins nicked or any throat injury. Rumi briefly explains why he's paralyzed. After they confirm he isn't critical - despise some worry about his neck cut - the ambulance ride

suddenly feels a lot smoother. Izuku eventually regains motor control, and swings a hand towards Rumi, tiredly trying to find her. Rumi grabs onto his hand and smiles at him. He weakly smiles back and squeezes his hand.

...

Izuku doesn't remember much of the ambulance trip. Once the adrenaline started wearing off, all he really had left was pain and tiredness. But that doesn't mean he was expecting to wake up 16 hours later with a worried All Might by his side - albeit in his powered down form.

As he notices Izuku starting to open his eyes, he slides his chair forwards and leans towards him.

"Young Midoriya, how do you feel? You've been at hospital for a while now...I heard you and Usagiyama took down the Hero Killer!" Toshinori smiles at him, but the worry doesn't leave his eyes.

Izuku looks at his idol, still tired and confused, before slinking a hand upwards towards his face, feeling the swelling and pain, as well as the numerous stitches around his neck area. An unreadable expression crosses his face as he focuses on his wounds. His eyes train onto Toshinori's.

"Is...Rumi okay? We fought together...I don't know what happened after I lost..." His face drops and he closes his eyes, unable to remember.

Toshinori smiles at him, taking his hand with both of his firmly. "But you didn't lose, my boy! You won...You and Usagiyama, both. You are hurt, but she is okay. She had a small check up, but most of her wounds were minor. And you just needed lost of rest. Speaking of...would you like to see her?"

His eyes reopen as he looks on at his idol. He's warmly looking at him. "I'd...Like that."

Toshinori smiles, and stands up to leave and signal her in. He leaves the room, and as the door closes behind him, Izuku hears some quiet chatter just shortly after.

Soon after, a Rumi in her casual outfit walks in, without so much as a scratch on her. She's grinning lightly, softly, and Izuku can't help but smile back as he sees her. She takes a seat next to him, folding her legs and hesitantly looking over at Izuku's wounds. Izuku can't muster much to say, but Rumi seems to be thinking of something, so he doesn't mind.

She slowly starts to open her mouth, still hesitantly, then sighing. Then she opens it again. "So...In that fight, against Stain. I messed up. And he was mad at me. You threw yourself on the line - real hard, for me. And for the other two, I guess." She sneers mischeviously, but still earnestly, "But obviously you were doing it for me, so, uhm..."

She sighs again, then scratches her arm awkwardly. "I...Feel awkward. And I'm making jokes because of it. And I do it a lot with you because...You're my first partner, and now you saved me... I'm meant to be mentoring you, but if you didn't do what you did, I'd be dead meat. Or crippled. And I don't know what would've been worse. But I don't have to worry about it because of you. And I know you don't know that much about me, but...that means an insane amount to me. I know after that fight, you must be thinking it doesn't get much tougher than that, but..."

Her hand gently clasps one of his, and she squeezes it warmly. "...This has been one of the easiest, best weeks of my hero career. You protected me, when I was hopeless, and I protected you back...And it's not just some trade, equal thing. It's made me think differently of you. Made me think better of you. You're more than just a friend to me now. Y'know?" There's an expectant, strange look in her dim red eyes.

Izuku is watching her softly, before his lips slowly part, his voice soft and weak. "...More than just...a sidekick?"

He expects her to laugh, but she just smiles instead. "I'm trying to be genuine, y'know. Won't you, too?"

Izuku smiles back, a slight nervous hint in his voice. "The anaesthesia would definitely make me say something I regret."

She lightly chuckles at his response. "What, like what you said at the cafe? I wouldn't worry about it, Izuku. And for sure...more than just a sidekick."

She kicks herself up quickly, walking slowly towards the door and opening it as Izuku watches on sadly - but before she opens it, she casts her gaze back at him. "And yeah, sure. It was a date, Izuku." She smiles warmly before opening the door and leaving.

Izuku's face only reddens even further, with even more of a warm blush, as he starts to ruminate on what he heard.

...

Toshinori's quietly leaning against a wall as he watches Usagiyama leave Midoriya's room with her face downcast. He immediately suspects something went wrong.

He tries to catch up to her as she quietly marches away. "U-Usagiyama! What happened in there? Did something go wrong?"

Usagiyama's voice barely raises an octave. "Not right now, old man..."

Toshinori out stretches an arm to her shoulder, trying to stop and talk to her -but she spins around, revealing a large blush on her face with her eyes casted straight downwards. And then he realizes.

"Oh. Um...I'm sorry." He raises his hands in a sort of faux surrender. "I thought...You looked upset."

She casts her eyes up at him, her red eyes wide and almost stunned. "I'm okay...I gotta go, though. See ya."

And then she marches off again.

Toshinori was holding his breath throughout that entire encounter, but he lets it go as she leaves. From first names to this...? They work...fast...

Chapter End Notes Hi.

It's been a while, hasn't it?

I have a lot of worries about this chapter, and I hope it is received well.

I did have more to say, but then I accidentally deleted all my notes. And some of this chapter. So I don't want to repeat everything I said, but y'know...Gotta write something, hm?

I'm nervous about this chapter, and the reception it gets. As always. I hope it is received well.

Okay, onto Stain.

God I've had such issues writing this chapter because of him.

Not because I don't understand his character. But because I understand him well and want to represent a new "spin" on him, properly.

This is another example of how this story is different to canon MHA.

I think I need to set it in stone now.

This fanfiction isn't "MHA but Rumi."

It's an entirely different version of the events of MHA...With Rumi there too.

And not everything is different purely because of Rumi's inclusion. She's here, along for the ride, and important of course, but this story is also just fundamentally different.

And, ultimately, harder. Mentally more taxing, physically more straining, and spiritually more draining. Teehee. Like the title. You know?

Sorry.

So, yeah. Stain ultimately is a more complex and *difficult* version of his canon self.

Stain killed and harmed heroes because he believed they were heroes for the wrong reason. Because being a hero in canon mha means wanting to save people with a smile.

But it's not really what it's about in my story, as I tried to show a few chapters ago.

This is a later update - So, uhm...It's even later to upload than I expected. Sorry.

I'm gonna take a break from this fanfiction for a while. Not permanent, definitely not permanent. I might work on some other fanfic. But the fact that this fanfic is so close to canon makes me nervous about what to do with it.

I started working on this chapter weeks ago. But it's so damn hard to write words down rn. Nothing works.

The more I struggle to write this chapter, and much more to come, the more I come up

with new ideas for different fanfiction. So...

As I said, a break. And when I come back, I think I'm gonna start making plans to divert this from the canon.

It might even be as extreme as "Villain Izuku" type shit. Or Vigilante. But I can't keep writing this close to canon. Iida's meant to be here. Stain isn't meant to be in Musutafu. The timeline's so fucked up. So much is wrong because of my changes, and I can't even imagine how much more there'd be to come. And I can't justify why Iida isn't in this fight, asides from "I don't wanna write that plotline. It doesn't work with the story I want to tell". Because with how much I want to change, this is INFINITELY more than just a "MHA but with young Rumi". But that's how I set it up to be.

Fuck me.

So, I'm sorry. If I have any expectations of this chapter's reception, It's likely to be my worst so far. Just owing to how discombobulated and confused I've been whilst writing it, stretched out over a large period of time. And how tired and depressed I've felt whilst doing it.

That doesn't mean "It's full of mistakes, I know, don't tell me about it". Please, give me any feedback you'd like. I've worked on and corrected everything I could with this chapter. All I want you to understand and know is that I'm taking a break after this, and that I feel a little less confident right now. I may work on some other fanfiction during my break, but I'm taking a break from Makings of a Hero. I want to continue growing as a writer before I can keep tackling this, and I can't in good faith start writing something new until I finish this chapter.

So.

Thank you for reading.

End Notes

Hey! This is my first ever fanfiction. Also the first thing I've written in 4 years. Outside of work stuff. I always kind of enjoyed writing in school, but I was too much of an edge lord, depression incarnate to really write anything of substance. More like taking out anger on a piece of paper. But I'm older now, and much more stable. I'm not sure what's made me want to write again, except...I like fanfiction?

If this gets any attention whatsoever, I'd love for feedback. I don't know shit

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