No One's POV:
It didn't take Izuku and Minoru long to get to the training spot Stain used to train Izuku. Izuku was excited to face his quirks polar opposite. Minoru on the other hand not knowing Izuku's power true origins was nervous not only cause he had multiple quirks but because it was just Izuku he was facing in general.
When Izuku and Minoru met again at UA's gates, Izuku had already guessed Minoru had One for All. The first moment he met him he could just somehow...sense it within him. Seeing him in action at the entrance exam, his power felt so familiar. Like he had felt it before.
To be honest, when Izuku had told Minoru his quirks real name it was to test to see if he would react to it. Based on his reaction he honestly had no idea about it. So All Might must not have told him about it yet. Which was a shame because Izuku really wanted to talk to Minoru about it. Izuku was seriously pondering on whether or not he should tell Minoru himself, maybe All Might hadn't told Minoru yet for a reason.
The green haired boy didn't want to ruin whatever plan All Might had for Minoru but...he really wanted to talk to his counterpart about this. So he only hoped All Might would forgive him.
"Hey, Minoru-kun?" Izuku called out to the boy as they were doing warm up smaller boy looked over to Izuku with a raised eyebrow.
"Be honest. When I told you the name of my quirk the first time. Did it mean anything to you?" Izuku asked with a straight face.
Minoru tilted his head and shook it. "No. Not really. Why? Also when you told the others it's name you called it something else. Wassup with that?" Minoru questioned his freckled friend.
"Well, my reasoning for that is because my quirks true name is a secret only a select few can know. You and All Might are one of them." Izuku replied back.
"Okaaaay? But why though?" Minoru shoved his hands into his pockets.
Izuku sighed and decided that he would just be honest with him. Minoru is intertwined in this long red string fate, it's only fair he knows the truth.
"Minoru-kun. I know about One For All." Izuku said fatly catching Minoru completely off guard. He was shocked beyond belief. How did he know?
"U-Um heh, no idea what that is dude…" Minoru smiled nervously trying to play it cool.
"Stop. I know All Might passed his power onto you. You have One For All inside you. I can sense it within you." Izuku stepped closer to the shorter boy who was still in shock and nervously smiling.
"H-How? How do you know?" Minoru said through a shaking smile.
"Because. I have your quirk's counterpart. I have All For One. The quirk that made the creation of One For All possibile." Izuku looked deep into Minoru's eyes with serious and stern eyes to show this was no joke.
"I...don't understand." Minoru shook his head confused and lost.
"Sigh...All Might really hadn't told you yet had he?" Izuku sat down on the grass with his legs closed.
"Told me what?" Minoru sat down with his friend.
"The origins behind One For All and my quirk All For One. The story of two brothers." Izuku held out his arms and took a deep breath. "Listen well Minoru-kun. This is a very intense tale." Izuku looked at Minoru with stern eyes. Minoru said nothing but only nodded ready to hear the story…
And heard it he did. Everything. Izuku had asked his father to tell him all the gruesome details. Izuku did not hold back a thing. As Izuku told the story Minoru could feel a dread creep up from the depths of his heart...hearing the haunting tales of the past wielders of One For All being hunted and slaughtered like animals. It made Minoru's very soul chill to the core...Izuku's father...really did all of this. No words could leave his mouth, he didn't dare interrupt. The poor boy sat there and listened as Izuku finished up the horror story that was the origin of both One For All and All For One.
"Sigh...Sorry you had to learn like this. I'm sure All Might wanted to tell you, but just never thought of a good time." Izuku sympathized with Minoru.
"I….I dunno what to say dude. You kinda just dropped a MASSIVE bombshell on me." Minoru hung his head, his mind and thoughts were scattered like raindrops. He had no idea how to respond.
"I know this probably worries or scares you...but you don't have to worry. My father has changed. Truly and I'm not following in his footsteps of villainy and I SURELY didn't bring you out here to try and take One For All from you." Izuku smiled warmly at Minoru hoping it would calm him down.
"Y-Yeah thanks. Heh...I know you wouldn't do that." Minoru nervous smile appears again. He trusted Izuku, but even so this was just a lot to take in at once.
"Besides. I couldn't steal it anyways." Izuku admitted.
"What? Really? Why?" Minoru tilted his head in confusion.
"Let's just say…" Izuku then placed a hand on Minoru's heart. "You've got friends in high places." Izuku smiled warmly.
Minoru didn't really understand his vague words but given how it's Izuku, there was probably nothing to worry about. Taking a big breath Minoru put his mind at ease.
"Well Izuku, woah. That...was one HELL of a revelation." Minoru placed his hands on his hips taking a big breath.
"Hehehe, I could guess by your face." Izuku smiled and placed a hand on Minoru's shoulder. "You okay? I hope this doesn't change anything between us." Izuku said.
"Oh it does change things...BUT in a good way." Minoru smirked. "It just means you and I really were destined to be partners." Minoru chuckled.
"Hahaha! I'm happy to hear that! I was afraid you might become afraid or weary of me. Hehehe, silly me." Izuku looked off smiling to himself, feeling a bit silly for worrying so much.
"Ah, it's okay. If I were in your shoes, I'd feel the same way." Minoru sympathized with the green haired boy.
"That's relieving to hear. So, you're really okay with all this?" Izuku asked just to be sure.
"Yes, I am. As long as you keep being the best pal ever. Then sure!" Minoru smiled ear to ear.
"Hehehe, deal." Izuku placed his fist on Minoru's chest with a warm smile.
"Deal." Minoru smiled and did the same to Izuku.
In this very moment. They could feel All For One and One For All resonate with each other and for a brief moment...they both saw something they couldn't quite explain. Izuku's eyes looked past Minoru's and standing behind the short boy were these shadowy figures. 8 of them all with yellow glowing eyes and one oddly resembled All Might and as for Minoru, as he looked past Izuku he saw one figure behind him. This one wasn't a shadow figure but his face was shadowed out, he could really only see his mouth that was curved into a rather ominous smile. He had hair like Izuku's but it was black, and he had one a black suit and he had this red and black static around him. As astonishing as this moment was, it quickly ended leaving both boys at a loss for words.
They both look like they had just seen ghosts or something. Both stared at each other in silence for several seconds, wondering if the other witnessed the same thing. Izuku was the first to speak up.
"Um. Did you…see something odd just now?" Izuku questioned his smaller friend with a cocked eyebrow.
"Uhuh…" Minoru nodded with a rather lost look.
"I see...well um. I'm pretty sure I just saw some shadowy figures behind you. They all had yellow eyes and one even looked like All Might." Izuku admitted out. Minoru was very taken back by this.
"Huh...well I saw a man behind you. Had on a black suit and had hair kinda like yours only black. I couldn't see his face though and he had that static that forms around you whenever you use your quirk." Minoru also admitted. That seemed to get Izuku's attention.
"Yeah that was without question my dad you just described." Izuku scratched the back of his head.
"Oh wow, but who were those people behind me?" Minoru questioned while crossing his arms.
"I really don't know Minoru-kun, but if I HAD to guess I'd say maybe...The past wielders of One For All. The ones who wielded the quirk before you. It would make sense due to All Might being there with them." Izuku tried his best to explain.
"Oof...ghosts. Wait. But All Might aint dead. Why is he there?" Minoru looked even more confused.
"Hmmmm...maybe One For All just links you all together." Izuku shrugged, rolling his shoulders.
"Huh...so we're connected?" Minoru tilted his head still trying to process this.
"That's what I take from it and I guess my quirk links me and my father together too since he passed it down to me." Izuku explained to his friend.
"Your power was passed down to you too? Huh. We have A LOT in common dude." Minoru smiled ear to ear.
"That we do. I guess it explains why we click so well together. We're both two boys learning and growing to become better heroes and better people." Izuku smiled back.
"Yeah and I'm glad we became pals. I really will do my best to hone this power and keep up with ya buddy!" Minoru gripped his fists with determination.
"You better! Hahaha! Okay back to it! Fight me!" Izuku flipped onto his feet.
"Oh yeah...totally forgot we came out to do that." Minoru nervously said as a smile crept on his face as he stood up.
"You're doing it again." Izuku spoke out.
"Doing what again?" Minoru seemed lost.
"That thing. Whenever you get nervous or scared you start smiling. What's with that?" Izuku put his hands in his pockets.
"Oh...well I guess it's sort of a defense mechanism for stressful situations I've developed." Minoru looked off shrugging his shoulders.
"Hmm. I see. Just like All Might. Heh, he's really rubbed off on you." Izuku said softly.
"Yeah...I caused him SO much trouble when he first started training me. What with my perverted habits...he really should have given up on me. Found someone else. But...that ONE action of me selflessly risking my life to save another convinced him that there was a hero inside me. A hero that he could reach if he just stuck it out. We had a few falling outs I really don't wanna talk about right now…" Minoru placed his hands in his pockets.
"I understand. Don't feel like you have to talk about it." Izuku said comfortingly.
"Thanks man, but long story short I started to shape up. Seeing All Might believe so hard in me after all the things about me he's seen first hand. It really made me believe in the hero that he truly believes is truly inside me." Minoru gripped his fist near his chest. "I really wanted to find that me."
"I think you already have." Izuku said with a confident tone.
"Yeah, I think so too. Or at least I've got a good start on finding it." Minoru said with a smile.
"You know. Despite my father's past. I still see him as my dad. My own personal hero. Yes who he was...was just horrid beyond words but, who he is now isn't a facade. His love for me and my mom isn't pretend. He would give the world for us, he gave up all he created as the infamous symbol of evil All for One for true love. Dad had more humanity in him then he really knew." Izuku looked off with a solemn expression.
"That's wholesome man. Does it...you know. Get hard to think about it? Knowing all he did?" Minoru raised an eyebrow curiously.
"A little but, he's put it behind him and is focused on being a good father and husband. That's all me and mom can ask for. I won't judge him on past actions, instead I'll judge him on his actions here and now and now...I'm proud to be his son and to call him dad." Izuku smiled with a blush.
"...Hehehe. I'm jealous kinda. Must be nice. Having a good father figure. I never knew mine you see." Minoru said looking down at his feet.
"Yes, I recall you mentioning this once before." Izuku placed a finger to his chin.
"Yeah, he walked out on my mom before I was even born. My mom cheated…" Minoru's voice became a little grim.
"So he left in anger and heartbreak and you resent him for it." Izuku took an educated guess.
"Uhuh, look I'm not angry at him for being angry at my mom okay? What she did was effed up and he had every right to be upset with her and to leave her. What I'm angry about is that he completely abandons me. I didn't do anything, I didn't have a hand in it. Why shun me too? I'm his son...you'd think he'd at least visit me and be my dad. But no he pretty much went screw both of you." Minoru's voice became rather harsh. Izuku in response put a hand onto his shoulder.
"Sigh...Sorry. But whatever. Screw him too, the jerk. I'm going to show him he missed out. I'm going to master One For All and become a great hero. Then maybe when he sees me saving lifes and inspiring other losers like me to become stronger he'll see that he missed his chance." Minoru clenched his fists.
"Minoru. I understand your feelings. But please don't mix up personal grudges with your overall goals. They will cloud your judgment and visions." Izuku advised and warned his shorter friend.
"Right, right. Sorry. I just get emotional talking about em...I try to forget it really. Sometimes it just slips." Minoru admitted.
"Well that's what you have me for now. After all….we're going to be a hero duo right?" Izuku smirked.
"Wha?" Minoru looked up at Izuku with a shocked look.
"Uhuh! Come on! Think about it! All For One and One For All working together as partners for the greater good! What could be better than that?!" Izuku smiled ear to ear with joy in his eyes.
"..." Minoru was silent for a few moments. He was really serious, the purple haired boy couldn't help but chuckle. "I'm down with that!" Minoru smiled as well.
"Then it's a promise. From here on out. We are a team. A duo. Through thick and thin, through joy and woe, through hardship and peace. We will face it all together. Side by side." Izuku held out his hand.
"Back to back. Always." Minoru smiled and took his hand.
"Always ready when we hear the call." Izuku nodded and gripped his friend's hand tightly.
"I promise." The two boys said together in unison and shook each other's hands.
"Heh, then so it shall be." Izuku said as the two released each other's hands.
"You bet! Now I REALLY wanna get the hang of One For All so I can stop using my dad's quirk." Minoru smiled.
"Pardon?" Izuku titled his head.
"Ya know, Pop Off? It's my dad's quirk." Minoru informed him.
"What do you mean stop using it?" Izuku questioned him, crossing his arms.
"Like I said dude...I wanna forget about him. That goes for his whackass quirk too. I only still use it cause I don't have full control of One For All yet but once I get decent control I'm ditching Pop Off. You can have it or something. I don't care." Minoru scoffed.
"Wasteful." Izuku said suddenly.
"Huh?" Minoru tilted his head a little surprised.
"That's such a waste Mineta." Izuku gave a stern look that gave Minoru a chill down his spine and the fact he just switched back to using his last name unnerved him more. "I understand your resentment to your father but don't squander the gifts you were born with because of it. Pop Off isn't a WHACKASS quirk. Thanks to it, you were able to stick robots in place at the exam, you were able to defeat Kaminari and Jirou and help defeat that Nomu thing as well as stick up the villains you, me and All Might after to clean up the USJ." Izuku lectured the boy.
"It's not the quirk that makes the person but the person who wields it and you wield Pop Off righteously. Hell it would even be good for rescue situations too. Don't let your father's actions make you waste your potential. Wield that quirk with grace you hear?!" Izuku stomped his foot.
"Y-Yeah man!" Minoru flinched and held up his hands a bit shaken. He never really saw Izuku act like this.
"Good. Thank you. I just want what's best for you and believe me. You won't get that with that kinda mindset." Izuku shook his head.
"I get it...sorry for being all angsty." Minoru rubbed his arm looking off a little bit embarrassed now.
"Hey, all teens are a little angsty from time to time. No worries." Izuku patted his shoulder.
"I hear ya there brother." Minoru joked with him.
"Hahaha!...Now then. Back to what we're here for…" Izuku gained a crooked smirk and his nails grew into claws and he sprouted a wolf tail and sharp fangs. His eyes became wolf-like as well and red and black static formed around him as he got into a fighting stance. "READY?" Izuku said with anticipation.
Minoru's nervous/scared smile crept onto his face and took a stance entering OFA Shroud. "Bring it." He managed to speak out.
"Consider it brought!" Izuku lunged forward at Minoru on all fours.
"Let's go!" Minoru charged forth at Izuku ready to spar and train with his destined partner.
To Be Continued.