Once he arrived home, Izuku made a dash for his room. There was something he really needed to do, something that has been on his mind since Aizawa sensei erased his quirk during the quirk apprehension test.

He plopped his bad next to the door, and jumped to his desk, opening the third drawer. For an outsider, it would have seemed like a normal drawer filled with books. But Izuku wasn't going for the books now. He took them out, putting them on the desk in hurry. Then he slightly pushed the left corner of the bottom of the drawer, just to have the wooden board pop out, so Izuku could take that out too.

Under the fake bottom, there was a simple, black notebook titled notebook number 0.

Izuku slapped it open, skipping through the pages that had notes on them already.

When he finally reached the empty part, he grabbed a pen, and on top of the next page he scribbled:

"Ability number 3"

The notebook had been in the making since Izuku was five. He couldn't even write back then, so it started with sloppy, badly drawn sketches, that slowly escalated into words, and now it was a full blown analysis on his quirk, everything he had discovered so far was written down right there.

Half of it was Izuku coming up with plans, thinking about ways to use his quirk as a hero, and while he never really could come up with a decent solution, it was still important to him.

Which is why this was so flabbergasting. He has been trying to figure out his quirk for so long, spent so much time pondering on it, how the hell did he never notice?

Why did it have to be taken away before he could realize it was there at all?

Izuku supposed it was sort of like that buzz in one's ear. You don't notice it's there right until its gone. But it wasn't quite the same, since it was a whole new sense right there, so much more than a simple buzz.

Izuku always knew that people around him were alive, some full of life, some less lively. But he never, ever realized just how much he knew all that. He didn't just know it. He felt it.

To him, it was always natural that people felt alive. He never knew it was something you aren't supposed to feel, just know.

And yet he did. But can you blame him for not noticing? It wasn't something as obvious as seeing a color or hearing a voice or music. It was just so… natural.

He quickly ran through his thoughts, and the information he collected on the train. As far as he could tell, it wasn't that much of a feeling, or a power really. Just a sense of people being there, living, breathing, generally alive. It wouldn't help him in a fight or anything, and even though there was a difference between people who were strong and healthy and old and sickly people, it wasn't much.

But it wasn't supposed to be there at all.

His quirk was getting weirder by the moment. What did it do exactly? He already knew it was more connected to death itself than to skeletons, but this, this was new and unexpected.

He stared at his notebook, biting his lip. He needed answers. And he needed them yesterday.

Next day was not fun. If Kacchan was mad before, he was furious after their battle, and he didn't even know half of it. One day, he would probably find out about Izuku's other quirk too. Oh boy. Izuku could already feel the dread.

But he went against Kacchan, and he won. He could barely believe it himself, and yet, the results didn't lie. He beat Kacchan, and even though it wasn't a victory without a price, he couldn't find it in himself to regret what he did. He won, and he did that without using Gates of Hell. But then again, in that situation, unless he was willing to summon a small army of skeletons, he couldn't have used it anyway.

And he wasn't about to do that. Especially not now that it seemed that he had friends now. If Iida found out about his quirk, there was no way he would talk to Izuku ever again. The boy could barely imagine the situation. Iida was uptight, righteous and had morals that were unmatched by any of their classmates. He would be no less than utterly horrified by Izuku's quirk, and that was the best case scenario.

Izuku felt a shiver run down his spine, as he hurried towards the gates to catch Kacchan.

He was furious with him, and rightly so. He thought Izuku has been keeping One for All a secret from him. And he wasn't wrong, exactly, Izuku did keep his quirk from him, hell, he was still keeping that secret. He had no right to even apologize to him, and yet, Izuku still found himself running after Kacchan, hoping to catch him before he left. if anything, he could at least try to explain…

Turns out, he didn't have to run, because as soon as he left the building, he was met with a fist in the face. He fell back with a pained thump. Kacchan was standing there, waiting for him, looking down at him with an angry expression.

"What's wrong, not so tough now, you pathetic wimp?" Kacchan asked, his voice filled with rage. The intense fire of hatred that was burning in his eyes made Izuku gulp.

"I'm here to explain." Izuku uttered, looking up at his childhood friend (later bully) with determined eyes. "I owe you that much."

"What, you don't think I knew?" Kacchan laughed, but there was no happiness in that. "For years you have been looking down on me… ignoring me… acting like you are better just because you have a cool quirk, and I'm fucking sick of it. You have never even dared to show it to anyone. So fucking pathetic. And now it turns out it has an added bonus of super strength too? You got to be fucking kidding me."

"Wait…" Izuku felt like his heart just stopped. Everything around him got so silent, he could hear the blood rushing in his ears, and his heartbeat was so strong he felt like it would break his chest. "You… you knew about my quirk?"

Kacchan's eyes flared up with hatred, and he hit the wall next to Izuku. "I was there that day dumbass. What, did you fucking think that I would just go and forget a freaking skeleton climbing out of the ground? Is that how stupid you think I am?"

Izuku stared. And stared some more. "You've never… you've never said anything." He was shaking now, his stuttering coming back with full force. "You… you called me quirkless..."

"I was waiting for you to get your fucking head of your ass and own up to your quirk, but you have always been a damned coward. You still are." Kacchan turned around. "You are nothing but a fucking Deku, who doesn't deserve the awesome quirk he has. You think just because you have super strength, it's all fucking okay now. Well guess again. You are still a pathetic wimp who can't stand the sight of his own power. With or without superstrenght."

"The superstrenght isn't mine." Izuku said, before he could stop himself.

Kacchan turned around abruptly, staring down at him. Right, he was still on the ground, Izuku remembered. Oh well. He hadn't had much pride left anyway.

"What are you trying to say, you fucking nerd?"

"You are right. I am pathetic. I really can't use my own quirk. But this power… It has recently been given to me. I can't tell you how or why. But with it, I'm going to prove myself to you." He stood up. "I'm going to take this power, and make it mine, more than my own quirk ever has been. Just you wait Kacchan! I'll catch up to you!"

Bakugou Katsuki already knew he was special before he developed his quirk. But when he did, that was when he truly understood.

He was truly the best. And everyone else? They were below him. Pebbles in his path. But they were nice to have around, so they could follow him around if they wanted to, he supposed. It was nice to have admirers.

Especially Izuku. The wonder in his friend's eyes, it was the real thing. Izuku could see him for what he really was.

The best.

And Izuku was okay, too, Katsuki supposed. He wasn't as annoying as the others, and they shared the same dream of being heroes like All Might.

But then Izuku failed to develop a quirk. And at that moment, Katsuki realized. His friend wasn't cool at all. He was even worse than the other kids.

He was lame.

And yet, Katsuki would still let the quirkless boy hang around him. Izuku still had those wonder filled eyes every time they were playing together, and it made Katsuki feel proud. But then, the skeleton happened.

To him, it was obvious from the beginning. The skeleton had the same eyes as Deku had, and he was the first thing it saw. And it had the same annoying way of saying 'protect' too.

For an adult it may not have been important, but to a child, it was blatantly obvious how much the skeleton belonged to Deku.

But what really gave it away was the change in Deku's behavior. Kacchan may have been four but he wasn't stupid. How could they not see? Were they all stupid? Deku didn't have those void filled eyes anymore.

Instead, he looked scared. Katsuki didn't understand why. He had a quirk after all! And it was so cool!

So why didn't he say anything? Why did he let the others mock him about being quirkless?

Katsuki was fascinated. So he kept observing.

It wasn't until later that he realized: Deku was ashamed of his quirk. He didn't want anyone to know about it. Katsuki thought that was the lamest thing ever, but he played along, because he was curious. For how long would Deku let them hit him before he admitted he had a quirk?

And with every month that passed without Deku uttering a single word about his quirk, Katsuki got more mad. He was looking down at him. Maybe he didn't say anything because he felt superior. Deku simply didn't feel like he had to share that information. Why would he want to share it with anyone? Deku thought he was better than them. Better than him. Because he had an awesome quirk.

He could see it every day in those bright green eyes, looking down on him.

As they got older, it only got worse. Katsuki was more and more convinced: the stupid Deku enjoyed the superiority the fact gave him that he knew more. Maybe he did actually use his quirk. Maybe he was strong enough to beat all of them, but they weren't significant enough to waste the energy on.

Maybe stupid Deku was better than him.

But even though he would never admit it, on some level, he knew. He knew it was just his own insecurities talking. Deku really was afraid to use his power. He hated it. And that option was just as bad, because then he wasn't just useless, but pathetic too.

So Katsuki pushed. He went farther each time, trying to get a rise out of Izuku. On some part, he just wanted to find out if Deku was just looking down on him and that's why he didn't tell him, or Deku was simply a pathetic coward.

He needed to know.

But Izuku never protected himself. He never used his quirk. Not even once. Not even when Katsuki just had enough and told him to jump off a roof, because Deku had to realize it by now: he would never get in to U.A. So Katsuki took his notebook and burnt it, watching Deku curiously.

But he just sat there, all pathetic and useless. As always.

Katsuki didn't care anymore. He couldn't care. Izuku was never getting into U.A. He just didn't have the guts to do what it takes.

And then suddenly, it all changed. He was captured, and he couldn't move and he couldn't control his own body and god damn it he couldn't breath, and he didn't need anybody's fucking help but please somebody, help him already, please help.

Izuku was there. When no-one else was, not even the pro heroes, he was there, that stupid shit with those stupid honest eyes.

"You looked like you needed help!"

For the first time in his life, Katsuki experienced the feeling of gratefulness. And he was angry at himself for that, but he couldn't help it, because even though Izuku was too much of a coward to use his quirk, he was still here, helping him, when nobody else would.

Why? Why was he so fucking heroic?

And more importantly, why did he make Katsuki feel like he was less? He wasn't. He was way better than that quirk denying coward. And yet, every time he looked into Deku's eyes before, he felt it. Izuku was better than him, and he knew it.

He was angry, because Izuku thought he needed help, but on the other hand, he was grateful, because that stupid Deku came to help when nobody would. He didn't know what to feel, or how to deal with his feelings, and that made him altogether furious.

He considered confronting Izuku about his quirk. It was about time. After all, he had been keeping that fucking secret for long enough.

But he just couldn't find it in himself to approach Deku. He felt ashamed and angry. He would just get rid of that shithead when he went to U.A. All he had to do was to avoid that stupid shit, wait it out. Get rid of those stupid eyes.

Imagine Katsuki's surprise when the principal congratulated both of them for getting into U.A.

Both of them.

He wasn't even sure how it happened, but the next thing he knew, he was holding Deku against a wall by his neck, unable to contain his anger anymore.

"I told you to stay out of my way!" He growled, his hand sparking. "It was supposed to be my origin story."

It was on the tip of his tongue. To tell Izuku he knew about his quirk, to tell him that he knew how pathetic he was.

But before he could say anything, Deku did something he had never, ever done before.

He fought back. Stood up for himself for the first fucking time in his life. But why the fuck did it have to be this time?

"Somebody told me I can be a hero!" The stupid shit shouted at him, and those disdainful green eyes were screaming at him with determination now. "And I'm going to prove them right! I've never believed in myself because…" His breath hitched. "But this time, I won't back down Kacchan. I am going to U.A. I will be a hero!"

Deku turned around and walked away.

A thousand thought were burning and burning in Katsuki's mind now. Firstly there was anger. How dare he? How dare that stupid shit oppose him? Doesn't he know his place?

Secondly, there was fear. Did Izuku finally learn how to use that creepy quirk of his? Because if he did, he could pose a real competition to Katsuki.

In the end, he calmed himself down with one thought: It didn't matter. It didn't matter, because fucking Deku was just a pebble on the road, just another extra he had to crush.

But he never quite could silence that traitorous feeling at the back of his mind.

He felt threatened.

Aizawa had his eyes on all the students in his class. They all had potential, and that never happened before, so he was just kind of waiting for the other shoe to drop. It would, eventually. Starting with that Midoriya kid. He obviously had some kind of connection to All Might. Their quirks were similar, and he had seen them interact before. He couldn't help but frown at the thought: That man had barely been teaching there for a few days and he was already playing favourites.

But there was something about Midoriya that got his attention too. Besides the obvious lack of survival instinct, of course, because that boy seemed to destroy himself on a daily basis. Recovery girl sure as hell was grumpy about it, and Aizawa didn't much like it either. Being self-sacrificial is good and all, but rationality is not a trait to be dismissed so easily. How could someone think that it was alright to just go and break their hands?

But as much as he wanted, he couldn't expel him. Not because of any rules, not even because of All Might. He couldn't care less what the Number one hero thought or wanted. If he wanted to mentor that boy so much, he could do it outside of U.A. too.

But no, he couldn't expel him because that would have been a stupid decision. Midoriya had so much potential, and the determination to become a hero. With hard work, and enough scolding, he could truly become something great.

But there was also that other thing. The thing that bothered Aizawa more than he would have liked to admit. Midoriya was hiding something. His quirk was more than just raw power and breaking bones like it was a pastime activity, but the boy just wouldn't show it. And Aizawa checked. He reviewed the tapes on the hero lessons that All Might taught, but even there, Midoriya broke his arm rather than shoving his other quirk.

And that, that irked Aizawa. Because so much potential right there was wasted away just like that, and also, because he was curious. Maybe. He never would have admitted it though. But he had decided. After the surprise rescue training, he would question Midoriya about this quirk of his. Everyone here gave it their all, and Midoriya was expected to do the same.

And there was also that feeling of uneasiness that has been with Aizawa whenever he met the student. There was something about Midoriya, something that made him want to take a step back and prepare his defenses. The boy didn't look like a threat. Wasn't a threat.

Why did he feel so threatening then?