"So tomorrow is the big day?" Toshinori asked Izuku as they had a small break. "Yes" Izuku replied. "I remember the night before my exam. Have never been more nervous in my life" Toshinori said. "So how do you feel?" He added. "It's hard to describe. I'm both nervous and confident. Insecure and proud. It's the one thing I have been preparing for most of my life. If I fail, I don't know what to do and if I pass. Well, I would have become the world's first quirkless hero" Izuku said. "I see" Toshinori said "Now, wasn't there one more thing you wanted to teach me?" Toshinori asked after a moment of silence. "Right, I almost forgot" Izuku replied and quickly got up. "I have showed you all the settings on the odm-gear except the one I told you not to use. Pus Ultra mode. It pushes all of the equipment beyond their limits, giving you immense speed and strength. However, it is almost impossible to react fast enough, and the incredible speeds puts a lot of strain on your body and can lead to severe injuries and blackouts. This is especially true for you because of your medical condition. The equipment will also start to malfunction after a few minutes. The multi-spectral goggles will fall off, parts of the exoskeleton will lock up, the odm-gear will fall apart and in the end the protective shield will activate to protect you from the hard landing. This is why you only use it when there is no other way, but when you use it, there is very little that can stand in your way" Izuku explained, before activating said mode. "This is how it looks" He said before seemingly vanish and reappearing behind Toshinori, making the hero flinch. "Now you try it" Izuku said. Toshinori activated Plus Ultra mode on his odm-gear and tried it. He immediately crashed into a wall, knocking himself out.
"What the hell were you two doing!" Recovery Girl yelled at Izuku, while hitting him with her cane. "I-I tried to learn him a n-new setting on the odm-gear" He replied while protecting holding up his arms as protecting. "Well. Tell him to never use that setting again! He broke several bones and worsened his own condition from the impact" She scolded Izuku and pointed towards Toshinori who was lying in bandages on a bed. "Of course" Izuku replied. "Good. Get back to your dorm now, it's an important day tomorrow" Recovery girl said as she walked over to Toshinori. "I know" Izuku said and left.
The next night
Loud music could be heard from the dorm of 3-A. The entire class had passed the final exam and they were now certified heroes. Which of course meant having a big party. After a while Izuku needed a break from the party and took a walk around the UA campus. That is when he ran into someone. "Midoriya. Aren't you supposed to be with the rest of the class?" Aizawa asked. "I know. I just need some time for myself" Izuku answered. "Then you wouldn't mind me joining, would you" Aizawa stated.
After walking silence for a while Aizawa let out a small snicker, making Izuku confused. "Kind of funny that almost every time we have an important conversation, we have it while walking around the campus" Aizawa said. "Let me guess. You want to talk about the exam?" Izuku asked. "Yes" Aizawa replied. "I'm not supposed to tell you your score yet, but just between us" He said before making sure no one was around. "You had the highest score out of everyone" the teacher whispered. "What!?" Izuku exclaimed. "B-but I was sure Bakugo did the physical part better than me?" He stuttered. "It is true that he did do better than you physically" Aizawa acknowledged "There was a secret criteria, much like in the entrance exam. There is a reason UA produces so many great heroes. And that is because we measure people based on heroism, not pure fighting abilities, like many other schools" Aizawa explained. "Okay" Izuku responded. "You should go back to the others now. I'm sure your girlfriend is waiting for you" Aizawa suggested. "I'm sure she does" Izuku answered slightly flustered and began heading back to the dorm. "And Midoriya?" Aizawa called out. "Yes?" "I'm proud of you" said fondly. "Thank you" Izuku replied and walked away before Aizawa could see him starting to tear up. "You will do great things problem child" Aizawa said quietly to himself
A few months later
"This house is so big!" Ochako exclaimed in awe as she and her now husband Izuku entered their new home. "How did you even afford it?" "Well I saved up a lot of money and I got some from a friend" Izuku answered. "Who?" Ochako asked. "Toshinori" He replied. "That's so nice of him. We need to give something back" "Like what?" "How about inviting him over for dinner. I'm sure he gets lonely sometimes" Ochako suggested. "Not a bad idea" Izuku acknowledged "And I think I know about a perfect date" He quickly added. "When?" Ochako asked. "The..." Izuku began before he was interrupted by his phone ringing. "It must be my parents. Go and check if everything is here and I'll tell you afterwards" Izuku said before taking the call.
"Hey Izuku, have you moved in yet?" Hisashi asked from the other side of the call. "Hi dad. We just moved in actually. Me and Ochako are just making sure that everything is here" Izuku replied. "Good to hear. How is it being a hero? Must be quite hectic being number 87 and all" "I'm doing just fine. I already have quite the fanbase in the quirkless community, no surprise there. People are also more accepting than I thought they would be. I haven't got anyone protesting against me being a hero. I also feel like I'm making a change. The number of applications to hero schools from quirkless people this year has increased tenfold" Izuku said with pride "How are you and mom doing?" He quickly added. "We are-" Hisashi trailed of as he started talking to someone else. "Sorry, your mom really wants to talk with you. Have a great day. Goodbye" Hisashi blurted out before Izuku could properly react. "Izuku, it's been to long since you last called" Inko complained as he apparently took the phone from Hisashi. "Sorry mom, have been busy with hero work and the moving process" Izuku apologized. "How is your vacation going?" He asked. "Just wonderful. I can't remember the last time me and Hisashi actually went on a vacation outside of Japan together. And Ochako's parents are very nice, they seemed like they really needed this" Inko beamed. "Also, when will I get grandkids?" She asked. "Grandkids!?" Izuku exclaimed in surprise. "Yes, grandkids. So that I can spoil the beyond belief" Inko explained. "I think Ochako needs me now. Nice talking to you mom and goodbye" Izuku blurted out before his mom could say anything and ended the call.
3 weeks later
"Ready Toshinori?" Izuku asked as the two stood on top of a building. "Ready as I'll ever be" came the reply from Toshinori. "You know why I chose this date for your re-debut as Whirlwind?" Izuku inquired. "No, not really" Toshinori replied. Just then the duo noticed two trucks driving way to fast in the streets bellow. "Guess I'll have to tell you later. Now we have a job to do" Izuku said and jumped of the roof and started falling towards the streets bellow, Toshinori following suit. As they approached the ground bellow they used their odm-gear and started chasing the two trucks. It wasn't difficult to catch up to them and after short a few seconds they had entered a truck each. Izuku entered the rear one and Toshinori the front one.
Just as Toshinori entered the rear of the truck he was attacked by villains. "Which hero is this!?" One of the villains yelled. "I don't know, just protect the load" Another villain replied and tried to attack the hero. Toshinori dodged the attack and quickly knocked out the attacker. He then threw a smoke bomb and started knocking out the other villains while they couldn't see. Once all the villains were taken care of, Toshinori went into the front of the truck and kicked the driver out the door of the truck. This led to the truck swerving sideways and falling over, stopping just in front a crowd of people. Toshinori went on top of the quirk just as Izuku came up behind him and was met with a cheer from the crowd. While the duo flashed a reassuring smile to the crowd Izuku leaned in and whispered "It is the anniversary of All Might's debut" before going back to smiling at the crowd. "How could I forget that" Toshinori mumbled. "I don't know. But me and Ochako haven't so we have prepared a dinner for you at our home. If you would like to come of course" Izuku suggested. "I accept the invitation" Toshinori replied.
2 years later
'I'm so dead!" Izuku panicked as he went at full speed through the streets and towards a very specific hospital. "Idiot, Idiot! Why did I decide to take such a mission so close to her birth? I could have given it to Toshinori, he's more than capable enough. And if my agency hadn't done it I'm sure Kacchan's or Todoroki's would be more than happy to do so. Stupid!" Izuku muttered quite loudly, catching some weird look as he passed by at an incredible speed. Izuku took a glance at all the messages he had received and continue to curse himself for his stupidity.
Almost an hour later an exhausted Izuku came barging into a hospital room. "Ochako I'm so-" Izuku started shouting, but quickly stopped at what he saw. There in the hospital bed was Ochako holding two new-born babies. Izuku quietly took of his gear and walked over to the side of Ochako. "Don't worry about it Izuku, it's fine now. We are parents" She said fondly, trying not to wake the twins. "I'm... a... father" Izuku said slowly, trying to process the information. "I'm a father" He repeated. "What should we name them?" Izuku asked. "His name is Yuuto" Ochako said while lifting one of the kids. "You can name her" She said and lifted the other baby. "Yuriko. Her name is Yuriko" Izuku said. He then hugged Ochako as they looked fondly on their children
4 years later
Izuku was eating dinner with his wife and two kids, when Yuuto accidentally dropped his knife. Izuku tried to grab it when it suddenly stopped moving. He looked up and saw that Yuuto had his hand extended towards the knife, with a confused face. "Yuuto! You got a quirk!" Izuku exclaimed, scaring Yuuto so that he lost control and the knife fell on the ground. "Brother got a quirk?" Yuriko asked. "I got a quirk!" Yuuto exclaimed. "It seems similar to your mothers quirk. But you didn't seem to touch it with all of your fingers, like Ochako does. So maybe you got some of the abilities from my mother's quirk which could also mean-" Izuku began muttering when Ochako interrupted him. "No muttering when eating. Let him find out about his own quirk" She scolded him. "S-sorry" Izuku nervously chuckled. "Well Yuuto. Try it out" Ochako said. Yuuto walked over to one of his toys and tried out his quirk while the others watched in anticipation. The toy slowly started to levitate of the floor as if it had no gravitation. "I wonder" Yuuto mumbled. The toy then started falling towards the floor at an unnaturally high speed and started to get squished once it hit the floor. Yuuto then stopped using the quirk and the toy went back to normal. "Gravity manipulation" Izuku muttered. "That's an awesome quirk!" He exclaimed and picked up his son. "You can become such a great hero with it" Izuku said and gave Yuuto a big hug. "When will I get my quirk?" Yuriko asked asked. "You know what? Tomorrow we visit the quirk specialist and see when you'll get it" Izuku replied and put down Yuuto.
The next day
The day hadn't quite gone as planned. Izuku and Ochako had taken their balls of sunshine to the quirk specialist to see when Yuriko would get her quirk. It didn't take long for them to get an answer. She would never get a quirk. Yuriko was just as quirkless as her father. And once she got the news she didn't seem to take them very well. She didn't talk afterwards and went into her room once they came home.
"I think you should talk to her. She hasn't come out to eat and I'm worried that she-" Ochako trailed off. "Don't worry. I'll take care of it" Izuku said and gave Ochako a reassuring smile before entering Yuriko's room. Izuku started tearing up at the sight. She was sitting in a chair watching a video of Izuku's debut as Dekiru. He could hear quiet sobs coming from the chair. Yuriko slowly turned around and faced Izuku. "D-dad. I can s-still be a hero, right?" She asked with a trembling voice. Izuku immediately ran over to her and embraced her. "Of course Yuriko. Everyone can be a hero" He said. "Aren't I quirkless?" He asked. "Y-yes" Yuriko replied. "And aren't I the number 5 hero?" "I know" Yuriko said with a small smile. "So, either everyone can be a hero with or without a quirk. Or maybe I'm just delusional and my entire life has been something in my imagination" Izuku concluded making Yuriko laugh. "Don't let anyone stop you from doing what you want to do. You can and will become a hero as long as you set your mind to it. It will be difficult, trust me. You will have to overcome so many challenges, but as long as you keep pushing onwards. Nothing will be impossible. And luckily for you, me and your mother will be there for you, every step of the way" Izuku said as he looked her in the eye and smiled. "Now, let us get something to eat. If not, dinner would get cold and that would make mom angry. Not even I can stop that" Izuku joked and carried Yuriko out towards dinner.
A few months later
Izuku was working in his office at his agency, when the emergency line started ringing. Izuku quickly activated the message and his face went pale. "Calling all available heroes and all top 10 heroes, no matter current situation. There has been a massive incident at Tartarus prison. Situation unknown. League of Villains have been seen in the area. Possibility that All for One has breached containment along with other maximum-security prisoners. This message will now repeat" Izuku didn't bother to turn off the message. In a matter of seconds, he had put his entire agency on high alert and was on his way to Tartarus Prison.
To be continued in the final chapter of Pushing Onwards