Putting on his new school uniform was a bittersweet experience for Izuku. He was going to U.A. Juts not as a hero trainee. But that would change in time. Izuku hid his maimed hand with a black glove and brushed his hair over the scars on the left side of his face. A smile crept on his face when he glanced himself in the mirror. Izuku Midoriya. U.A student.
Suck my freckled dick, Bakugou, Izuku thought.
Mom was waiting for him when he stepped out of his room and gave an approving nod.
"Someone's looking handsome." Mom said.
"… come on, mom." Izuku said bashfully.
Mom straightened his tie.
"Knock 'em dead, honey." Mom said.
"… I will."
Izuku was almost out the door when mom called after him.
"Izuku."
"… yeah?"
"Are you happy now?"
Izuku didn't have to think about his answer and grinned.
"Yeah."
The train ride to school was the fastest one of his life. You could see U.A from far away. The campus dwarfed his old school and seemed to promise everything to those who walked through its gates. Mei was waiting for him at the school entrance. She didn't look comfortable in her school uniform and Izuku could empathize. After you got used to work overalls it was hard to go back to regular clothes. They were so comfortable and practical. Everything else just felt stifling.
"Izuku, my man. Ready to rock the word so hard it will walk funny for a week?" Mei said.
"Yes." Izuku said.
"Hey."
Izuku turned and saw the red-haired student who had joined their chant at the entrance exam.
"You two made it." The red-haired boy said.
"I told you we'd ace the bitch and I'm always right." Mei said.
"… she really is." Izuku said.
"Cool." The red-haired boy said and offered his hand: "Eijirou Kirishima."
"Mei Hatsume and this is Izuku Midoriya. The hero Indestructible." Mei said.
"You're in the Hero Course too? What's your Quirk?" Kirishima said excitedly.
"… I don't have one."
Kirishima looked amazed.
"You made it in without a Quirk?"
"Not yet but he will once the tournament rolls around. The power of science will crush Quirks. Plus Ultra!" Mei said.
"Plus Ultra! I'll be cheering for. A real hero doesn't need a Quirk. Just manly spirit." Kirishima said and grinned: "I'll see you two around."
Kirishima walked past them into U.A.
"… he seemed nice." Izuku said.
"Nice? I'm surprised he didn't have a choir of angels following him." Mei said.
They found their way into their new classroom and Izuku was surprised to find it empty. Judging from how few desks it had, it hadn't been designed to hold many students in the first place. A force of habit made Izuku pick a desk in the back and Mei sat next to him.
"… where is everybody?" Izuku said.
"Right here. You think the Hero Course is picky? They ain't got shit on Support." Mei said.
The classroom door opened and a sinewy man with animalistic helmet, power gloves and no shirt stepped in. He looked at them and didn't seem pleased.
"Good God. Is this really the best we could get? I asked for inventors and got nimrods. Well, if that's how Nezu wants to play it, fine. I'll turn you into professionals even if I must squeeze every last drop of blood out of your bones. If you came here to have fun, get the hell out of my classroom. You're here to learn and I will teach you even if it kills you. My name is Power Loader and you will learn my methods."
Sweat had started to form on Izuku's forehead. Power Loader glared at them for a while and then started laughing.
"I'm just messing with you. Welcome to U.A. I'm looking forward to working with you."
The rest of the lecture was orientation. Majority of their studies would be individual work in the workshop. They had free reign to build anything they wanted as long as it had been approved by a teacher. If anyone in the Hero Course ordered something, the Support Department would build it and maintain it.
After Power Loader was done, he led them to the workshop. Older Support students were busy at work and were too engrossed in their projects to offer them so much as a glance. Izuku looked around in amazement. This had to be the kind of workshop Mei had dreamed of having. All the equipment was brand new and there was no shortage of raw materials. You had all the room and light you could ask for. There was a faint smell of oil in the air that Izuku found pleasant.
"Pick a corner and make yourselves at home. I'll come see what you're cooking in a moment." Power Loader said.
Mei picked a room for them with a view on the Hero Course building. Everything was neatly organized which meant no one was actually using it, and it had shelf full of books on engineering.
"We need to buy that man a shirt." Mei said.
"… you should have seen Midnight's first uniform." Izuku said and walked to the shelf.
"Oh yeah. Is it true it showed her boobs?"
Izuku mumbled an answer and looked through the books. Among all the engineering books there were also school year books on the annual U.A tournament. Izuku pulled it out and tried to find a picture of All-Might as a student. He had to go back over thirty years, but he recognized All-Might immediately. He'd been nowhere near as muscular back then but even as a teen All-Might towered over everyone and shined brighter than anyone.
Each year's participants names and Quirks who'd made it to the finals had been written down but for some reason All-Might's name and Quirk had been blacked out.
Izuku started flipping through the pages and to his surprise found a picture of Mei's dad from twenty-six years ago. Teenage Blacksmith had been a male version of his daughter. They even had the same over-excited smile. When Izuku looked closer he noticed that Blacksmith was holding the hand of another student. A pretty girl with shoulder length white hair and a gentle smile. Both looked overjoyed. Izuku looked through the name list.
Ken Hatsume. Quirk: Iron Works.
Rei Kurosawa. Quirk: Hailstorm.
"… is that your mom?" Izuku said and showed Mei the picture.
The smile dried on Mei's face when she saw the picture and her eyes shone for a moment with cold fury.
"No. It's not." Mei said bluntly.
The anger in Mei's voice made Izuku think better than probe the matter and he put the book away. The usual smile returned to Mei's face when she took the surviving shock glove from her bag along with the blueprints for Project: Indestructible.
"Come on, babies. Make mommy and daddy proud."
When Power Loader entered Mei gave him the blueprints. Izuku wondered if he ever got cold for running around without a shirt.
"This is… very ambitious." Power Loader said finally.
"You're goddamn right. This baby will put our man Izuku in the Hero Course." Mei said.
Power Loader glanced at Izuku over the blueprints.
"Weren't you Quirkless?" Power Loader said.
"What do you need a Quirk for when you have science?" Mei said.
"The hero business is… dangerous. It would be very reckless for me to encourage someone without a Quirk to try become one." Power Loader said.
"Is that so? I wonder if Support Courses in other schools have lost their balls." Mei said.
"… Mei." Izuku said and looked at Power Loader: "Mr. Power Loader… teacher. I… all I ever wanted to be was a hero. I came here to be a hero and… because I believe that the work Mei does is important. This could help science... and heroes."
Power Loader sighed.
"Listen, Midoriya. You grew up watching All-Might and think that being a hero is all about saving people, smiling to the camera and knocking out villains with one punch. Things can get really ugly and… when a villain… a real villain stares down on you…"
Izuku took off his glove and showed Power Loader his maimed hand. Power Loader was a pro, so he'd had to have seen some shit. The sight of Izuku's hand still made him flinch.
"… I know what it's like getting hurt and… I'm not afraid. I want to be a hero."
"Bet All-Might would give us the go ahead." Mei said.
"All-Might isn't the head of Support." Power Loader said and tried not to stare at Izuku's hand.
"Oh, please. It's All-Might's world and we're just living in it. Call the man and he'll tell you that if Izuku's balls were any bigger I'd have to carry them for him." Mei said.
"… seriously, Mei?" Izuku said and put the glove back on.
Power Loader stared at them for a moment and then took out his cellphone.
"All-Might. Sorry to disturb you. It's Power Loader. Do you know anyone named Izuku Midoriya? I…"
Power Loader went silent.
"I see. Okay. Thanks for the help." Power Loader said and hung up.
"Well?" Mei said.
Power Loader looked at them.
"I guess this year a Quirkless student will be participating in the tournament." Power Loader said and picked up the remaining shock glove: "Is this what messed up your hand?"
"Got me there." Mei said: "The facial scars are from a shaving related accident."
"… I don't shave." Izuku said.
"I believe you." Power Loader said and turned on the glove.
Electricity hummed through it.
"You two actually made this on your own?" Power Loader said.
"It's amazing what you can accomplish when you're awesome like me. Hate to brag but I might be the greatest thing you've ever met." Mei said.
Power Loader looked at the blue prints again.
"If it doesn't meet the safety standards, I'm pulling the plug. Got it?"
"Safety is for cowards. Dad didn't raise no pussy." Mei said.
"… we get it." Izuku said.
When Power Loader was gone, Mei started laughing. She grabbed Izuku's hands and twirled him around the room.
"Fucking A, Izuku! Plus Ultra! Indestructible is a go!"
A wide smile crept on Izuku's face.
"… now what?"
"Now we stop wasting time and get to work. I'll start upgrading the gloves and you scout the competition. Chart all the Quirks in the Hero Course and tell me who you think will make it to the finals." Mei said.
Izuku nodded and got to work. Power Loader was nice enough to give him a file on the first-year students and Izuku got to studying. When he'd read and re-read the file, he let the knowledge brew in his head and started helping Mei with the new shock gloves. When he'd had couple of days to think about it, he shared his findings with Mei.
"So, what do you have for me?" Mei said.
Izuku pointed at Bakugou, Kaminari, Tokoyami and Todoroki in the file. When talking about Quirks, a subject he knew and loved, his voice came out clear and without hesitation.
"These are the big hitters in 1-A. Bakugou has explosions. Kaminari can control electricity and Tokoyami his shadow. Todoroki has… ice?"
Rei Kurosawa. Quirk: Hailstorm.
Izuku glanced at Todoroki's picture. He could see a resemblance and not just because half of Todoroki's hair was white.
"Izuku? Earth to Izuku." Mei said.
"… sorry. If anyone of them make it to the finals, they are almost certain to win." Izuku said.
"If they make it? I'm pretty sure they are shoe ins for the finals."
"… not necessarily." Izuku said.
All the big hitters Quirks were amazing and powerful but also impractical. They caused a lot of collateral that was hard to contain. Many heroes had lost their careers when bills caused by damages had started to pile up. The big fight at the end of the tournament was a poor indicator how well someone would do in the field. They'd have plenty of room to move and wouldn't have to worry about civilians but to get there they'd have to pass the first two stages. People with blander but more practical Quirks could potentially score much better in the early competitions.
"Okay. So, who're the real threats?"
Izuku pointed out Eijirou Kirishima, Tenya Iida and Tsuyu Asui.
"Man. Why did it have to be Kirishima. The guy's a total teddy bear." Mei said.
"… he's also invulnerable."
"Well, you're Indestructible. What about the guy with the glasses?"
"Super speed."
"Okay yeah. That is a problem. And the frog girl?"
"The worst of the three. She has super strength in her legs. Maybe even in the rest of her. She can jump ten meters in the air without even trying." Izuku said.
Mei rubbed her chin.
"And if the fall doesn't break anything, she has some kind of a super toughness. So, in a way, what Kirishima and Iida can do, she can do too." Mei said.
"Yeah. She can also spit poison and her tongue… it's long and strong. Like a whip."
Izuku and Mei stared at Asui's picture and a knot was tied in Izuku's stomach. Asui's Quirk wasn't flashy, but it was useful, and she'd had it all her life. Where as Izuku hadn't even put on the Indestructible armor yet. In a fight experience might decide the winner instead of raw power.
"She's a bridge we'll cross when the time comes." Mei said and grinned: "Want to test out our baby?"
"Plus Ultra!" Izuku said.
The new shock gloves were sleeker and lighter than the originals. The also covered his entre arms.
"These bad boys don't just electrocute motherfuckers. They also pack a punch. Want to go all Plus Ultra on a punching bag?"
Izuku nodded.
The punching bag at the Support Department was machine designed to measure impact power. Izuku turned on the gloves and took a few deep breaths before he threw a punch.
The punch broke the previous record. Along with Izuku's arm.
Shuichi hid his face under a hoodie and was careful not to let anyone get a good luck at his face. Mustard should have been the one to do a food run, but the little bitch was too scared to even step out of their hideout anymore. Not that Shuichi could blame him. There were some secrets that were too terrifying for anyone to know. All-Might being… vulnerable. Human. Who would have believed it? Demigods weren't supposed to be weak like the rest of them.
It was the kind of secret people would kill for. If heroes knew what they had found out… Would even All-Might come for them? Shuichi clutched the paper bag tighter and hastened his pace. Maybe they should just run. Take a bus and go as far as they could.
When Shuichi finally got back to the apartment he let out a sigh of relief. It didn't last long. Mustard wasn't alone.
"Oh… no." Shuichi said.
"Hello, Spinner."
Out of all Overhaul's enforcers Dabi was easily the most terrifying. A tall, lanky man with black hair and a heavily scarred face. His jaw and the bags under his eyes were a mess of dark scar tissue. Mustard was sitting in a corner hugging his knees like a kid caught in a thunderstorm.
Dabi looked at the paper bag.
"Is that food? Do you mind? Looking for you two has left me a mite hungry."
Shuichi gave him the paper bag without saying a word. Dabi fished out a burger and bit down.
"Man, this is really good." Dabi said with his mouth full of burger.
"… glad you like it." Shuichi said.
Dabi finished the burger in a few bites and started munching on the fries.
"You boys really fucked up. Overhaul ain't too happy."
Mustard looked up.
"We can…"
Blue flames erupted around Dabi and singed the couch.
"Shut the fuck up! I'm talking to Spinner."
Mustard whimpered like a beaten dog and made himself look even smaller. Dabi took out the bottle that Shuichi had stuck slime boy in to keep the smell bearable.
"Hope you three have practiced your excuses." Dabi said.
Shuichi swallowed.
"Dabi… look… I… we have intel on All-Might." Shuichi said and told everything that slime boy had seen.
When he was finished Dabi kept on eating the fries and looking unimpressed.
"Oh, Spinner. And here I thought you were the one with a brain and a spine. You'll have to try harder with Overhaul."
Mustard started crying.
"I don't want to die! I don't! Mom! Help me!"
Dabi stared at the crying Mustard for a moment and then got up. He slapped Mustard. Hard enough to draw blood.
"You're trying my patience and that can be very dangerous. Get up and take it like a man."
Dabi put slime boy's bottle in his jacket pocket and picked up the paper bag.
"These burgers are really good. Thanks for telling me about this place." Dabi said.
"… you're welcome." Shuichi said.
"Well then, let's get moving. We have a car waiting."
Rappa was waiting for them at the car. Shuichi wished Rappa had been the one to find them. Out of all Overhaul's goons he wasn't so bad. He might have even let them go if they'd been pathetic enough. The car ride was the longest in Shuichi's life and Mustard cried silently the whole way to the Shi Hassaikai mansion. The mansion was a massive compound that could house a small army and no expense had been spared while building it. But much like the yakuza, it had seen better days. Dabi and Rappa escorted them through the mansion and Shuichi caught a glimpse of an albino girl in the inner yard.
Overhaul was waiting for them in his study. Shuichi had only ever seen him from afar, but the man had always reminded him of a vulture. Not because of the beak mask but because of his eyes. Overhaul had the flat, lifeless eyes of a carrion eater. Overhaul regarded them for a moment. Mustard hid behind Shuichi like Shuichi could have done something to protect them.
"What… is that smell?" Overhaul said.
"Ask him." Dabi said and showed Overhaul the bottle with slime boy in it.
"Dabi, kill that skid mark." Overhaul said.
"Wait! Please wait! Slime boy. Tell them what you told us!" Shuichi said.
Overhaul stayed off the execution while slime boy told how he had cornered the kids Mustard had asked him to rough up and then All-Might showed and went to town with him. He was able to put up a good fight and even land a few hits but… no one could beat All-Might. When the fight was over All-Might was so tired he… shrunk. The Symbol of Peace turned into a husk. Dabi just shook his head but Overhaul looked… intrigued.
"Rappa. Get Shin." Overhaul said.
Rappa obeyed like a dog who hated his master but feared his whip. He returned soon with a spectacled, blonde man.
"Tell the story again. And Dabi." Overhaul said.
"Yes?"
"If they lied, take them in the back and kill them."
Slime boy told the story again but there was one difference. It wasn't All-Might who beat him but the Quirkless freak with a shock glove. Rest of the story held true even with Shin's Quirk that prevented lying.
"You got beaten by some Quirkless kid?" Overhaul said and shook his head: "Good God. What did I do to deserve you idiots?"
Rappa bared his teeth. Overhaul turned to look at him.
"What's that, Rappa? You had something in mind?"
Rappa had a short fight with himself.
"No… Overhole."
"That's what I thought." Overhaul said and smiled behind his mask: "Congratulations, boys. You idiots just saved your lives."
Shuichi let out a sigh of relief and Mustard started crying again.
"What do you want to do now? Kill All-Might?" Dabi said.
"There are other ways to destroy a man. We just need some evidence." Overhaul said.
"I know someone." Dabi said.
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