Chapter 1: Backdrops

I do not own Hajime No Ippo nor My Hero Academia.

The bell rang, dismissing the students who attended Aldera High. One student in particular named Izuku Midoriya packed up his things quickly, anxious to get home and rewind for a little before he went to go help his mother. As he prepared to leave he heard someone ask him, "Hey Midoriya, did you want to go see a movie with us later?" Izuku turned around to find a girl, who had a short brown bob cut and rosy cheeks had asked him that question.

"You really want me to come?", Izuku questioned. After all it was a fairly new semester, so to be asked so abruptly came as a surprise.

"Don't be so modest Midoriya! None of us really know each other, so it would be a good way for us to change that!", the brunette replied.

"Wow, I never thought about it that way! I would-" Before he could finish he remembered that he promised that he would help his mother once he got home. With that in mind he finished the sentence saying, "-like to but I can't. I said that I would help my mom out at the bakery, so I'll be unavailable."

"Oh, that's too bad but I understand how it is though! I work for my parents' construction company and I-"

"Uraraka c'mon! We don't have all day!", a girl with pink hair called out.

"Coming Ashido, well that's my que. Maybe next time!", the brunette exclaimed as she got up and left.

"Yeah, maybe next time…", Izuku muttered to himself. As he resumed packing up his things for the day he could hear that some of his classmates were talking about him as they walked away.

"Let me guess, Midori declined the invitation?"

"Yeah."

"Ugh, like I don't understand why you even bother. He hasn't accepted an invite yet!"

"He's just hardworking that's all!"

"Also he may be shy, which could explain why Midori doesn't come with us and also could explain why Bakugou picks on him so much."

Izuku's head lowered upon hearing his classmates' perception of him. 'Am I really that timid?' he thought to himself.

Izuku walked home feeling despondent. 'Why am I so awkward around people? What do I have to be afraid of?' he questioned himself. It was true that he had declined other invitations extended to him, even if he had nothing of importance to do. For what reason? Izuku could only wish that he knew. His trek home was interrupted when he heard a familiar voice call out to him.

"OI, DEKU!"

Izuku turned around and went pale as he saw his bully; Katsuki Bakugou walking towards him with a smug look on his face. Two cronies were by Bakugou's side as well. "If you don't want to be beat within an inch of your life, I'd suggest you move now!"

Izuku started to step to the side but he remembered what his classmates thought about him and ultimately what he thought of himself. This was an opportunity for him to prove that he didn't have to be timid all the time. Taking a deep breath, his green eyes met Katsuki's gaze and he said, "Why should I move, you could always go around me."

Katsuki sneered at him, which made Izuku lose the confidence he just had. "You're right we could go around you or we can…" Katsuki kicked him off the sidewalk and down the hill that was beside it. "Just move you outta the way!" Izuku tumbled down the hill, until he eventually reached a stop after rolling a bit. When he stood up he saw that he was surrounded by Katsuki and his lackeys. Katsuki dragged him and pressed him against the walls of an overpass nearby. "I'm going to make this clear the next time you disrespect me like that, you'll be nothing more than bloody paste! Do you understand Deku?!"

"B-but you disrespected me first!", Izuku stammered out. He saw the look of utter fury Katsuki now had, and kicked himself for not wisely choosing his next words.

"Ya damn bastard! You're in for it now!", Katsuki roared. Izuku's head sharply snapped left, once Katsuki struck his face. Katsuki didn't let up, his red eyes brimming with delight as he maliciously beat Izuku's face into a bloody pulp. After a couple more slugs, Katsuki finally let go of Izuku, the latter spitting up blood as he fell to his knees.

"C'mon Deku, you're not going to at least try to fight back? Man if you're this useless, I can't imagine what you're old man is like! You know what they say, the apple doesn't fall too far from the apple tree!", Katsuki mocked.

At the mention of his father, Izuku shot Katsuki an angry look. The red-eyed teen noticed the look Izuku was giving him and smiled wildly. "Oh, is the 'big', 'bad' Deku gonna stand up for himself?", he asked in a patronizing tone. The look of anger Izuku had prior dissipated as soon as the question was asked. "Guess not. I was hoping that this time would be different but then I would be expecting too much from a Deku like you!" Katsuki reared his foot back and launched it forwards, catching Izuku square in the chin. Izuku's body lurched backwards but before it could hit the ground a pair of hands caught him.

"It's okay, now that I'm here, you don't have to worry about these guys anymore!", a voice declared. Izuku turned around to find the source and discovered that it came from the man who had him in his grasp. The man had blonde hair which was styled as a cowlick, and oval blue eyes. A warm smile remained on his face, even as Katsuki and his cronies fumed at the fact they were being ignored.

"Oi Mullet Man! You won't talk down on me if you know what's good for ya!"

"Mullet Man? That's the first time I had someone call me that! It's kinda funny actually!", the man replied.

"Didja not hear a damn thing I said! Unless you want to be beaten to a pulp, like that nerd you're holding, you'll stop with the jokes!"

"I'm glad you have that much confidence in yourself! You gotta have something to compensate for the fact that you can't fight!"

"Ok, you've asked for it!" Katsuki rushed in and threw a right hook at the man, however the man sidestepped to avoid Katsuki's punch. The momentum from the hook made Katsuki stumble and trip over his own feet, making him fall face first into the pavement.

"Wow, you sure are a trip, huh?", the man said as he tried to hold back his laughter. One of Katsuki's lackeys rushed in with a punch of his own, in an attempt to avenge his fallen boss. The lackey aimed his punch at the man's face, but missed due to the man utilizing a headslip. The grunt's fist struck the wall, which yielded an unholy scream from him.

"You know what they say; pride comes before fall or I guess in this case pride comes before wall!", the man guffawed. As Katsuki laid on the ground and the lackey clutched his hand in pain, the third member of the group realized that he was outclassed. Using the power of discernment, he made a run for it leaving behind the other two. Katsuki, slowly pushed himself up, blood pouring from his nose as he did. Seeing that one member had already booked it and the other had a broken hand, he decided that leaving would be his best option.

As he made his getaway, Katsuki turned around and exclaimed, "This isn't over Deku! I'll come back and beat you and Mullet Man senseless!"

'Well isn't he just a big old ball of joy?', the man sarcastically thought to himself. He turned around to Izuku who had passed out due to a combination of extensive blood loss and excitement. 'Looks like he's unconscious. I can't just leave him here though. Well that only leaves one option...I'll just have to take him back to the gym with me.'

The man reached down and slung the unconscious Izuku over his shoulder. Picking him up he realized, 'He's much more solid than he looks! If he used some of that strength I'm pretty sure he could handle those guys, no sweat!' The blonde haired man whistled a merry tune as he carried the unconscious boy not paying attention to the stares and looks of horror he was being sent from various passersby.

This is just another concept I've had in my head for a little bit. I'm not sure how frequently I'll update this story. I guess it really depends on reception. I really wanted to write a Hajime no Ippo fanfic, but that community is about as sentient as a rock. Also I've read stories where Izuku remains Quirkless but learns a martial art or something of that nature, so I wanted to give my hand a try at one of those stories. I apologize for this chapter being so short but I wrote this chapter out mainly to see what people thought of the concept. I don't think I've seen a fic like this on any platform so hopefully this story comes off as a breath of fresh air. Anyways until next time guys, be safe and stay healthy!