A glass of water is light but only for a moment.

If you're holding the glass of water day in and day out; the burden will soon be too much.

He'd been reading an article, an opinion piece that got taken down shortly after, about how schools like U.A and the other Hero focused academies were not schools but rather training grounds for child soldiers. The article was surprising based on facts that he had never taken into consideration until then.

The article broke down where exactly the founding for the schools was coming from. 40% was from the ministry of education; money equal to that of other secondary schools but it was the other 60% that was interesting. The other 60% was funded from the military. And they weren't trying to hide it, rather it was listed publicly with the yearly budget. The article continued to state that when inquired the funding was justified in that the schools required special facilities, maintenance and instruction that was specialised. Though the 60% was very public it was how the 60% was distributed that was concerning; "surplus" military grade weapons were provided for training purposes, but more concerning was personnel that held rank were provided for instruction, though those individuals were "retired" personnel.

These personnel had a variety of backgrounds; some had quirks that allowed them to be mechanically inclined ; engineers developing and understanding the latest in weaponry and technology. Others simply had an affinity to combat. The article pointed out that these military personnel were directly funneled into that Hero Academies as teachers of the next generation of heros. The article named even some of his teachers that he did not know was ex-military. 13, the rescue hero, was previously Major Anakuro Hirook of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Her role was rather a benign role considering her deadly abilities. Officially, she was heading up a few teams that developed aerospace technologies. Unofficially, the article speculated that she was part of a team that was experimenting with the weaponization of her quirk in a more tangible way. But this, of course, was only speculation.

It was after reading the short profile about 13 that Izuku stopped reading the article, it was no longer worth his time and didn't have any additional information that was interesting or relevant. He had never heard such a speculation before and it held no true maret.

Long forgotten, Izuku took on his greatest challenge of his young life, the UA entrance exam. It was never the attacks on his class. The stress of carrying a mantel that was almost impossible to live up to. Or the first hand experiences of their internships. Those were stresses that could be managed, compartmentalised and understood, excused, as "part of the job". It was everything else.

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In his second year, he was taking one of the few elected courses a hero student could take; Hero Work and Business. The class functioned to familiarise students with the contracts, business opportunities, and career paths that they as heroes could possibly take. As many of the students learned in their internships and placements, heroes are often contracted by agencies that are often owned by larger, umbrella companies.

It was then that the lecture turned to private enterprise. A hero Had to have their license to operate but that doesn't mean that they had to serve the public at large. Often enough, private citizens would hire hero's from their agency, rent-a-hero, for one task or another. The details of these tasks were kept confidential. It was noted that never were the tasks illegal. But that was more of a vague suggestion than a rule. Unless you really were a top ten hero, side gigs, sponsorships and affiliations paid the bills.

Ochako's keen interest in the money opportunities was endearing, and many of the teachers wanted her to find more out of being a hero, and of course she did but not enough for their liking. She was actively denied entry to this elective course, with it being cited that the course conflicted with other more important classes that she needed to focus on. And that is how Izuku found himself making copies of his notes to share with his friend who only wanted a better chance at a better life.

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"Midoriya," Aizawa sensei quietly addressed in front of the class. Izuku was getting up from his side, defeated from his match with Momo. He wiped the blood from his nose and tried to keep eye contact as Aizawa approached.

"Did you wake up today and decide to be mediocre?" Izuku turned red in humiliation. Shame crept up his spine as he heard a snigger from one of his classmates. He'd been over confident; thinking that Momo would hold back. Thinking he could out think one of the best. That was a mistake.

He bled now but he would bleed much longer then the others, he would ensure it.

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In other countries, their hero systems were being completely abolished. Rather the work was taken up by branches of police forces and volunteers. Licensing was still heavelly required but the volunteers would take up the work well after graduating school and balancing it with whatever other career they had. It was mandatory that the identities of these heros was kept public; accountability for the individual was kept in the highest regard. Heroes no longer got away with murder.

Izuku was quickly and quietly acquitted for the convenience store incident. Some signatures on the page and the problem went away. Once a year he would bring offerings to the two graves of the thieves; rice balls and cup noodles, the unpaid items found in the backpack at the scene.

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Katsuki didn't make it to 26. His file of the case he was working on had large blocks of red streaked across it. REDACTED.

Izuku tried to pull strings but even the files he was able to get his hands on; REDACTED.

He tried to call the hero liaison at the military installation Katsuki was last contracted but no one would say anything. The information was "REDACTED" they would say.

Izuku didn't have time to look further. Katsuki became the mourned forgotten; another person lost to a hazardous job.

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Third year he could no longer feel his fingers. Used to oblivion and back. It wasn't a villain attack or even an internship did them in. Rather, he was home visiting his mom, sorting through the divorce paperwork with her when he cut himself on the edge of the paper and felt nothing. No hot or cold could be felt. Soft was only a texture rather than a confronting feeling. The numb slowly moved up to his palm and during his short winter break he needed to learn how to hold a pencil again.

Izuku sent a message to his mentor, asking if he too had lost feeling in his hands after a time.

All Might responded three days later.

"Sometimes sacrifices have to be made for the greater good."

On December 25th Ochako tried to reach for Izuku's hand but the sudden pressure made him flinch almost violently. Ochako's face crumbled, not understanding where the sudden reaction came from and Izuku didn't bother explaining. In the new year they broke up. It was mutual but none the less upsetting.

It was December five years later that he saw Ochako dining at a fancy restaurant with a man old enough to be her grandfather. She was in an older, tighter version of her hero suit, the one reminiscent of her highschool days. She'd been rented out by this man time and time again under the guise of "Private Protection". She told Izuku in confidence that the man didn't need her protection, rather he liked looking at a young woman in tight clothing.

Ochako was not a classic representation of beauty and was often passed over for other opportunities, she explained, she was not sad or putting herself down, it was simply a fact. Other women at her agency would get those opportunities; because of her contact, Ochako couldn't say no to anything that came her way. At least thats how Izuku understood it.

As Izuku found that as a top 10 Hero, money came easily and frequently. This money would find its way into the pockets of companies and interest groups that suited him. For now, it found its was to the group that called "The Association for the Moral Soul of Japan." They would position politicians if they thought something or someone was being morally unsound to be banned, outlawed or discontinued. Normally Izuku would look at these busy bodies with disdain; how people conducted themselves in the privacy of their own lives was none of anyone's business, but this once he would make an exception.

Their current target was Private Hero Work; what a hero could or could not be hired for. They fought that the definition of prosatution should not be applied to heroes because they should be held to a higher standard. It was left unsaid that if any changes were made or new rules established it would affect 87% of heroes; 93% of that being women.

If they won their case and managed to implement that change, Ochako wouldn't have to do anymore Private Hero work , she could focus on rescue work.

As new legislation regarding hero work passed, Izuku got a phone call.

Ochako rarely called, as a fiendish texter, she much preferred to express herself with emojis and short blurts of sentences, for her to call it must be serious. He answered but all he could hear was sobbing and hickuping at the other end.

"Deku." she sobbed out. Izuku's heart did a little lurch, not expecting this at all.

"Deku , they terminated my contract. They fired me, Deku!"

"What do you mean they fired you? Why would they do that? Did you have a bad performance review? We have to talk to them. Tell them they made a mistake, you're one of the best rescue heroes in Japan." He spirelled before he was interrupted by a quiet sob at the other end.

"They don't "need me" anymore.

It was after her job loss that Ochako had the military reach out to her. The 'Needed' her for a special mission.

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Mirio was found with his own heart in his hand after the tabloids plastered photos of Eri and himself getting ice cream. The front page read in big letters "Lemillion Licks Ice Cream with Little Girls: his Lolicon Fetish out of Control''. Izuku was ordered by the agency publicist to not comment or defend Mirio. A hero blogger wrote an article about how it was the best choice Mirio could make.

The blogger was found hanging from an overpass bridge two weeks later. His shoes were removed and set neatly together under wear the rope was tied. It was ruled a suicide. They didn't bother looking at his snapped wrists and ankles.

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Can a hero really be a hero when they are still human? To think they would not be influenced by their own agenda and their own motivations is naive. But to think that their goals are always malice or selfishly directed is ignorance.

Izuku quit at 28. The hero Deku could do no more. There was a contract fight in court. His royalties were garnished and his image was no longer his. He was even accused of inviting criminal activity if he quit; the Hero Commissions was not happy. He surrendered his license but along with it he gave up his education, he no longer was a high school graduate, stricken from the record. It would be seven years before Japan hear of Deku again.

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"How did you get here?" she asked. She no longer bore the uniform or buns of her youth rather she dressed in the scrubs of her 'civilian' job. Toga had been clean for 15 years. She served her time in prison where she actually got the treatment she needed to control her urges and desire. Blood to her, was a drug, one that had a hold of her from a young age. Addiction is a bitch on the best days and overwhelming on the worst. After her served time she was released on permanent probation, a program meant to keep rehabilitated villains on the straight and narrow.

"Same as you, I gave up." He smiled brightly into his cold coffee. He looked different from what she remembered, much bigger and more adult. Tired. Time did that to some people she supposed. Though she almost couldn't help but want to comment on the tasteless green hoodie he sported. It was so...basic. She expected him to be all dressed up, prim and proper for a meeting like this. But then again he probably didn't want to be recognised, exhero and all.

"Opp! The meetings started." She clapped her hands excitedly once before making her way over to the circle of chairs where the rest of the attendance sat.

"Welcome back everyone! It's good to see we didn't lose anyone this week!" Toga clapped her hands once again in excitement, smiling brightly, very different from her teenage years. Genuine happiness shining from her; a far cry from the obsession that consumed her.

"Like always I'll start us off and anyone can hope in right after okay? My name is Himiko Toga and I'm an addict."

Courses of hello followed the introduction, smiling at the group she continued.

"I have been clean going onto 15 years," there were some polite claps and congratulations around the circle. She eyed deku out of the corner of her eye but he was the picture of attentiveness. He was sitting up straight and looking right at her. Not fidgeting or uncomfortable, as new additions usually acted.

"I had a hard day yesterday, I had a dream last night about one of the girls I used to have a crush on and I woke up with that feeling, you know the one, the Need. The need for that thing that could give you everything good feeling you ever wanted and more. That promise of a good day. But I did my breathing that we practised, trying to keep mindfulness in mind," she titered at her little joke. "But here I am still." The group clapped for her again as they thanked her for sharing.

"Okey! Who wants to go next?" a few hands shot up and slowly the group began to share. Some mitted to slipping others it was their first attempt at getting help and others were long time attendees of the group. There were hugs and crying, but everyone seemed to be genuinely happy to be active in the group. The meet was drawing to a close when it was Izuku's turn to say his piece.

He stood up, his impressive size towering above the sitting attendees. One hand in the pocket of his hootie and the other behind his head rubbing his neck, he was the very picture of run down.

"My name is Izuku Midoriya and I'm an addict." Again there was a course of hellos. A smile split across Izuku's face and toga felt the hairs on her arm stand on end.

"I've been an addict my whole life but it wasn't until now I realized it." a few of the attendees gave each other sideways galacess, this was strang and they could sense it.

"I didn't realize it because how can you live it everyday as though it's normal? As though having the sheer power to crush someone's skull in your hand was a normal thing to have the ability to do. I'm tired of the expectation, I'm tired of the reality that is my life and I'm tired of others. I'm just tired of it. Some people are stronger than me, they ignore their reality everyday, choosing to go and work that dead end retail job or to stair at that computer screen. The choice to go to these jobs not because they are enjoyabul or fulfilling or even to pay their bills. They go because they need the stress, they need the feeling of having their soul crushed because if you're not feeling that then are you really feeling anything at all? Does the freedom of a day to do nothing taste as sweet? But I found a way, I found a way to deal with my stress. I'm simply going to make the stress go away. I'm going to solve my problems even if some people rather I didn't."

"Arn't you the Hero Deku?" A young attendee rudely intrude, breaking one of the golden rules of group therapy. "It is you!" he gasped out. Toga jumped up from her chair as green lighting cracked around the room. The other attendees scadded, racing towards the exit. Deku had the young attendees face in his hand, holding the attendees jaw between his thumb and index finger, applying pressure to the joint. Tires and snot were falling down the attendees face.

"You are rude. You interrupted me. I thought one of the rules here was that you needed to stay quiet until it was your turn.' Deku squeezed a little harder and a cracking could be heard. The young attendee screamed out as his jaw broke. Deku dropped him, leaving him to hit the ground.

"I'm sorry Toga for interrupting; it won't happen again." Deku smiled his bright smile as though everything was right in the world. Toga had a knight in her hand ready for anything Deku might pull. Was he here for some twisted revenge? He wasn't a hero anymore and from the looks of him he didn't have much left to lose.

"Does your probation officer know you have that?" Deku asked genuinely. This was wired. He wreaked of seething anger but his body language gave nothing away.

"What she doesn't know won't hurt me." Toga replied. She felt as though they were in a role reversal. He is the villain and her the unwitting hero; as if she almost rolled her eyes at the thought.

"Are you here for revenge or something? If so I'm not going without a fight. I may be clean but that doesn't mean I've forgotten how to be dirty." She felt it, the rush of blood to her face as that joy of the fight came flooding back. Her face was getting hot in a way she hadn't felt for a long time; god she missed this feeling.

"What? Oh no Toga, you got it all wrong. I'm not here to hurt you, I'm here because I need your help." Deku waved his hands in front of him, as though he was a teen again. Toga didn't lower her weapon.

"I'm not sure what i could possibly help you with but I want nothing to do with it. I'm a civilian now and want nothing to do with heroes or criminals." Deku frowned at her statement but then signed almost in a dramatic way; it reminded her of one of her companions back in the day, they were also so dermatic.

"That's too bad. I could really use you. You'd be a hero in a ll this, once it comes out of the wash. Plus," Deku pulled a vile out of his hoodie pocket. A gnawing feeling began to form in Togas stomach. In his hand he held a vile of dark blood, thick and looked warm. Toga took a shaky breath in.

"What is that?" she asked quietly. It was a stupid question.

"You know what this is Toga. The question you should ask is Who's blood is this?" Togas hands began to shake. She was better than this, it didn't matter whose blood it was.

"Doesn't matter." She tried to reply back with confidence she did not have. Her knight was still held up.

"That's too bad; I was really hoping you'd agree." It was not even a second later with a crack of lightning Toga found herself on her back and Deku sitting on her chest, knees firm pinning down her arms. Above her head Deku held the vile in his hand. Toga clamped her lips shut in anticipation.

"I am sorry about this."Deku had the nerve to actually look like he meant those words. He brought the vile down quickly, smashing it right into her lips and hard enough to crack her front teeth. She gasped. And it was done.

She felt it. That sweet tinggul in toes that rose up all the way to her face. The euphoric smell and toast coughing her insides, satisfying her in a way she had not felt for so so how'd she missed this. Her pupils were blown wide as she let out at loud moan, she knew this blood, she new this person so intimately, she desperately wanted to become her, consum her in every way possible.

Deku leaned down beside her ear breath hot as he whispered.

"You know this blood. It is the only one that can undo you. And I have more where that comes from. I can saplie it forever if you wish. You can drawn yourself with it if you help me, not that you have a choice now. It's just nicer when they say yes" Deku knew he was talking to person who was deep in their high. It didn't matter what he said now. Once she came down she would agree to anything he sai d to get her fix.

He learned back up and patted toga on her bloody cheek. She only giggled daliruslly as the contact.

"Now that that is done; we have work to do."