(A/N: Warning for a very brief mention of suicide in the second to last paragraph. It's in the sentence just after [It had been an exhausting day...]. A recap of all Izuku had experienced that day so very very brief but a warning just in case. ^_^ )

...

"Child…why do you want to be a Hero?"

Izuku stared at Stain for a second in slight shock and confusion. Then he turned back to look at the city, deep in thought. Why did he want to be a Hero? For as long as he could remember, his immediate response would be to save people with a smile, like All Might. But now that the Number One Hero himself didn't believe in him, Izuku felt like that goal wasn't enough anymore.

One goal he did have, has always had, was that he wanted to help people. Save people. No matter what. From helping a family of ducks cross the street to helping little old ladies carry their bags to attempting to keep other kids safe from Kacchan's rather…explosive personality. He only wanted to be useful and help however he could.

"I…." he stopped and took a deep breath. "I want t-to be a Hero to help people. No matter who it is, I've only ever wanted to help. To be useful. I may never be a-as powerful or popular as All Might, but I n-never cared about rankings. A-at best, I would be useful as an Underground Hero. They always help people without the praise and publicity o-other Heroes get. But that's all I've ever w-wanted to do. To help."

Interesting, Stain thought to himself. "You say you don't care about rankings, and yet you say All Might is your favorite? The Number One Hero." Not that I'm any different.

Izuku let out a bittersweet sigh. He couldn't help it after meeting his idol only to be told he couldn't be a Hero by said idol. "Yeah, he is my favorite, and still is d-despite his answer. It's because of his spirit. All Might tries to save everyone he can to the b-best of his abilities. To encourage people that everything will be okay with his smile. I've always admired him for that a-and wanted to give people that same hope…"

As the boy talked, the man found himself more intrigued by this young Hero-to-be. He let the boy ramble on about how All Might helped others. How the Number One Hero used his rank and influence to support various social causes and movements. How he used his money to donate to charities and organizations. How the boy himself wished to do the same when he became a Hero no matter where he ended up in the rankings. It was…refreshing. For a someone to actually embracing what Stain himself thought what a Hero should be.

"Little Hero…" Stain interrupted. Izuku squeaked out an apology for rambling and looked at the man in front of him. "All your life, you have been denied what your heart truly yearns for. To help others and become a Hero. Had even All Might himself tell you no. But…"

Izuku watched the Hero Killer slowly stood up, the diminishing rays of light illuminating him as the sun set.

"I can see that you have the true heart of a Hero, and despite what everyone says or believes…"

Izuku found himself frozen in his spot as the Hero Killer towered over him.

"It won't be easy and you will need to find something to give you an edge in a fight, but I believe…"

Green eyes widen as the man outstretched his arm and pointed to the boy.

"You can become a Hero!"

...

After his declaration, the Hero Killer left the roof top quickly and Izuku with it. The boy was in a daze, trying to process everything that had just happened. He made his way home as his mind worked on sorting through it all.

The Hero Killer, Stain, believed he could be a Hero. Not his mom, not Kacchan, not All Might…Stain. The man who believed that all fake Heroes must die and only those who are worthy of the title could live. This murderer believed in Izuku when no one else did. The closest he had gotten to encouragement to pursue his dream was from his dad saying he could at least try. In a strange sense, he was kind of proud that the man believed in him what with all of his convictions and beliefs on what a true Hero is. But on the other hand, he was also a very misguided man who killed people.

The greenet shuddered at the thought that he had been in the presence of a Villain who killed Heroes. Sure, the boy agreed with some points the man made, but murder is never the answer. When he killed his victims, the man stole the opportunity for them to learn from their mistakes and improve themselves. Sure, there were some people who never learn but a Hero should always give them that chance to be better.

Learn. Adapt. Evolve.

In any case, the Villain believed that he, a Quirkless teenager who only had a dream and determination to aide him, could become a Hero. Despite all the man's flaws, Izuku knew that his opinion mattered and found he wanted to prove to the Hero Killer that he was indeed worthy. It would not be easy, not by a long shot. But it was a challenge that Izuku would gladly face.

Eventually he got home and walked inside only to be smashed into by a green blur. It took Izuku a second to realize it was his mom, hugging him as if her life depended on it.

"Izuku!" Inko exclaimed, squeezing her son firmly with her arms. "Where were you?! It was getting so late and you weren't home yet. There was talk on the news of All Might taking down a Villain near here and you know how you go chasing those Hero fights even though you know how much it makes me worry. And I…"

"Mom, calm down!" Izuku squeaked, giving her a short hug before trying to get out of the bear hug she had him in. "I-I'm home now! I'm safe. Could you maybe let me breath now?"

Inko quickly stopped her ramblings and released him from the hug but kept her hands on his shoulders. She chuckled at his exaggerated play-acting of getting his breath back. She knew that he did that just to make her laugh.

"Better?" she giggled. Inko opened her mouth to talk again but then started to cough a little. "Izuku, what happened to you? You smell like a sewer." She could see bits of sludge and debris sticking to his uniform.

"Oh! Heh heh. Um, about that…" Izuku said, scratching the back of his head nervously. "You know that Villain that All Might took down?"

"Izuku, please tell me you did not run to the fight to try and save the victim again," Inko demanded in full 'mom' voice.

"N-no! I didn't," Izuku stuttered out. He focused on the ground, unable to look into his mother's eyes as he said the next part. "I, uh, was the victim actually."

The greenette mother stared at her son in shock. My baby…was attacked by a Villain? Her mouth suddenly felt dry and her throat seemed to constrict. Tears fell down her cheeks and she could only rasp out one word. "What?"

Izuku saw his mom's distress and pulled her into another hug. "I was walking home a-and this Villain made of sludge attacked me," he explained. His mom let out a choked sob as she hugged him back. Holding him tight to let herself know that her son was safe as he continued. "I-I'm ok now! He didn't hold me for long. All Might came a-and took him out with just one punch! I know it was bad that I got attacked by a Villain b-but I got to meet All Might, mom!"

Inko let out a wet chuckle as her tears continued to flow. Of course, her son would down play the danger he had been in just because he got to meet his favorite Hero. It was so Izuku.

"Did you get an autograph?" she asked, pulling back to see the huge grin on his face.

"Yeah! I didn't even have to ask for it. He signed my notebook!" the Hero fanboy rambled with a big smile. But then it dimmed a bit and Inko looked at him with concern. "I, uh, I a-asked him if I could be a Hero. H-he said no." The bright smile from before was completely gone.

"Oh sweety," Inko said, hugging her son again. She knew how much All Might meant to him. He was the young boy's idol. His inspiration. And to have the Number One Hero tell him 'no' must have been a blow to his confidence.

When Izuku was younger, he tended to be a timid and shy kid but one who would still stand up for others. As he grew older though, his confidence grew as he took self-defense to help in the pursuit of his dream. The mother still wasn't too keen on the idea of her son becoming a Hero and didn't think he had much of a chance in succeeding, but she supported him in following his passions and doing his best as long as it made him happy. She only hoped that when he had to face the reality of his situation that it wouldn't hit him too hard. If it did, she would be there to help him pick up the pieces.

"How does katsudon sound tonight, honey?" the mother asked, knowing that having his favorite food would cheer him up. Her son only gave a nod which she felt on her shoulder. She gave him one last squeeze before letting him go. "Alright. Why don't you go take a shower and I'll make dinner. Leave your uniform outside the door so I can wash it tonight."

Izuku gave another nod and headed towards his room to get ready to take a shower. After he was clean, the mother and son ate a quiet dinner while his uniform was in the wash. Instead of watching the news as he usually did after dinner, the boy went straight to bed. He was so tired and just wanted to go to sleep.

It had been an exhausting day, both physically and emotionally. He was suicide baited, attacked by a Villain, found out a huge secret about the Number One Hero, and then was told he couldn't be a Hero by said Number One Hero. And yet, with so many ups and downs, the highlight of his day, other than meeting All Might because come on it's All Might, was that finally there was one person who believed in him. Stain may not be the ideal person to use as motivation, but knowing the Hero Killer's convictions, Izuku couldn't help but be determined to prove himself to the man.

Tomorrow he would continue pursuing his dream. Perhaps finding new ways to help him reach it. Something to give him an 'edge' as the Hero Killer said. But for now, he would sleep.

...

Blog name: ja0-s-blank-canvas-fic

Notes extension: post/626547951580413952/chapter-3-what-makes-a-hero