Chapter 5: After a Month at Irohama
Disclaimer: I own nothing
It had been a little over a month since Izuku and Katsuki had become students at Irohama Military Academy for Boys.
Katsuki had finally served all six Saturday detentions that he had received the first week of school. Surprisingly enough, Katsuki hadn't gotten any additional detentions since.
When his fellow students smugly asked him why he had started behaving better, he replied with crankiness, saying "I just don't want to see that devil documentary any more times than I already have to."
Izuku had gotten Saturday detention a couple of times for referring to Katsuki as Kaachan, rather than calling him Cadet Bakugo, and once for using swear language. Izuku definitely wasn't going to make those mistakes again.
Regarding the seven essays, both boys had recently finished their respective third essays and had just started on the fourth book.
Where were they reading these books you ask? The were reading the books in the Irohama middle school first year student lounge.
Each year at Irohama had their own student lounge, located in the three school buildings, one lounge on each floor.
For now, though, let's just focus on the middle school first year lounge where Izuku and Katsuki are now.
The lounge was a large room, easily capable of comfortably accommodating more than 60 students. There were couches, chairs and fairly low tables all across the room. On each table were a few decks of cards, as well as chess sets.
On the far side of the lounge, opposite of the door, were three large bookcases. The first bookcase was full of classic novels, such as 'Frankenstien', 'Romeo and Juliet', and 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. The second bookcase was filled with the autobiographies of historically significant individuals, along with books detailing notable historic events. The third bookcase was stacked with books about science, mechanics, and world culture.
On one side of the room was a large flatscreen television. The speakers were set up so that one could only hear the television if they were close enough, so as not to disturb anyone who might be doing something else. The television only had access to credible news channel's.
The student lounge is where the students usually spent their scheduled free time.
As I was saying, Izuku and Katsuki were both just starting their respective fourth book. Izuku had already read "Three Strategies of Huang Shigong", "Wuzi", and "Six Secret Teachings". He was now reading "The Methods of the Sima". Katsuki had read "Wuzi", "Questions and Replies between Tang Taizong and Li Weigong" and "The Art of War". He was now reading "Wei Liaozi".
Izuku and Katsuki didn't hate these essay assignments as much as they first thought they would. The "Seven Military Classics" were actually really good reads, and the essays were among the least difficult of the school work they've had to do at Irohama.
"Hey, Cadet Bakugo?" Izuku asked after finding a stopping point.
"Yeah, what is it?" Katsuki asked with minor annoyance as he tried to find a stopping point of his own, sensing that this interaction might take a while.
"You know Cadet Kyubi Kurama?" Izuku asked.
"The Quirkless guy from class C with the red-pink hair?" Katsuki guessed.
"That's the one." Izuku clarified.
"What about him?" Katsuki questioned.
"Well, last Saturday, while you were serving your last detention, he said something that got me thinking." Izuku stated.
(((Flashback, Last Saturday, just after Lunch)))
Izuku had just finished lunch and was leaving the Mess Hall, unsure of what to do with the rest of his day. He had already asked every student and faculty member at school about their Quirks, and it would still be a few hours before Katsuki was done with detention.
The green haired boy thought of furthering his reading of the "Seven Military Classics". He had done so a couple of times already, trying to break the "shackle" that Cadet Hitomaru Yohina and Cadet Inari Momoyui had pointed out to him a few weeks prior.
Izuku felt… wrong when he did so. When he them asked about it, Hitomaru and Inari stated that such a feeling is normal when trying to break an unconscious habit. They're advice was that Izuku should just power through the bad feeling.
Izuku still wasn't sure he was ready, though.
Another thing that Izuku could do to pass the time was to the P.E. grounds and do some physical training. He certainly wouldn't be the only person doing some extra exercise on the weekend.
When he first came to Irohama, he really struggled with the physical aspects of Irohama's curriculum, but now, he was starting to see real results. His muscles were beginning to see some real definition, still pretty lame when compared to the rest of his class, though.
As Izuku ponder how he should spend his time, he felt a hand grab his shoulder from the back.
"Cadet Midoriya, a word if you don't mind, man?" Asked the owner of the hand.
Izuku turned to see Kyubi Kurama from class C, one of the students at Irohama who, like him, was Quirkless.
"Cadet Kurama, is something wrong?" Izuku asked.
"Let me ask you about Cadet Bakugo." Kyubi requested.
Izuku nodded, waiting for the questions to come.
"The first week of school, Cadet Bakugo got six Saturday detentions." Kyubi stated.
"Yeah, today is his last one." Izuku added, not sure where this was going.
"Every time he got a detention, it was because he angrily lashed out at you." Kyubi stated.
"So?" Izuku asked.
"So, the person with the powerful Quirk instinctively lashing out against the person who's Quirkless?" Kyubi elaborated. "Tell me; were the two of you friends before his Quirk manifested?
"We were, why?" Izuku confirmed.
"Cadet Midoriya, I think there's a reason your friendship fell apart, and it's not because Cadet Bakugo sees himself as being above you." Kyubi claimed.
"Then why?" Izuku asked, genuinely curious.
Kyubi put a hand to his chin and said "I think it's because…"
(((End Flashback)))
"Cadet Bakugo, have you always belittled me, discouraged my dream of being a Hero because… because you genuinely care about me? Because you don't want me to get hurt?" Izuku asked.
Katsuki's eyes widened at that. Before he could give his response though, they were approached by a fellow member of their year.
Cadet Azaku Uchigo from Class B. His Quirk, 'Analysis', allows him to learn all the details of a person's body upon eating a clipping of their hair.
"Cadet Midoriya, Cadet Bakugo." Azaku greeted.
"Good morning, Cadet Uchigo." Izuku greeted.
"Is there something we can help you with?" Katsuki asked. Not to be polite mind you. He was simply asking, 'the hell do you want' in a way that wouldn't get him another Saturday detention.
"Yes actually, the pipes in the laundry room are clogged. I was hoping Cadet Bakugo could use his explosion Quirk to unclog them." Azaku answered.
That request irritated Katsuki to no end. At his old school, people only thought of heroic applications for his Quirk. Here at Irohama, however, his Quirk was being thought of as a plunger.
"Can't they just call a plumber?" Izuku asked.
"Yes, but it would take a lot longer for one to get here." Azaku explained.
"Huh, fine, I'll take care of it." Katsuki conceded, only because he was planning to do a load of laundry later and didn't want to wait while other did the laundry that they could have done sooner if not for the clogged pipes.
As usual, Izuku decided to tag along behind Katsuki.
After exiting the middle school building, they saw Principal Koyu in the courtyard talking to someone. Someone that both Izuku and Katsuki immediately recognized.
Standing there was a muscular man standing seven feet tall whose blonde hair had bangs that pointed upward.
"No way!" Katsuki uttered in disbelief.
"It that…" Izuku asked in Astonishment.
"All Might?" They finished together.
"Hm? Oh, that's right, you two are still new here. All Might happens to be an old friend of Principal Koyu. They went to middle school together before All Might went on to U.A. and Principal Koyu came here to Irohama for high school. Now, All Might comes to chat with the Principal every once in a while." Azaku explained.
"Seriously?" They both asked in unison.
"If you want, you go meet him." Azaku suggested. "All Might is always swarmed by elementary school first and second years whenever he comes here, so I don't think he'll mind."
"I-I can't just walk up to him." Izuku stuttered.
"Well, that makes one of us." Katsuki stated. The blonde ran up to the No. 1 Hero and the Principal, excited at the opportunity to meet his Idol.
"Woah, you really are All Might." Katsuki stated once he arrived within a few feet of his idol.
"Hm? You're a little older than most of the students who usually swarm me when I come to visit." All Might laughed.
"Toshinori, this is Cadet Katsuki Bakugo. He only came to Irohama this year." Principal Koyu introduced.
"Genuine interest or problem child?" All Might asked, referring to the reason why Katsuki was in military school.
"He got six Saturday detentions in his first week. I think that's a record." Principal Koyu answered.
Katsuki would have retorted, but talking back to the Principal probably would have gotten him another Saturday detention. He did NOT want to watch that snail documentary again.
"So, problem child then?" All Might guessed.
Hearing his idol refer to him as a "problem child" struck Katsuki like a dagger.
"You don't need to worry Toshinori. After the detentions that he's already served, I doubt he'll ever break the rules again." Principal Koyu assured. "In fact, I've already spoken with his teachers and they all claim to see improvements in his behavior as of late."
"All Might!" Katsuki uttered, getting the attention of both adults. "My heavy detention record aside, I've always wanted to be a Pro Hero, just like you."
"Ah, so you wish to join the noble profession of heroism? That is an excellent goal for the future." All Might stated. "Tell me, young Bakugo, what grade are you in?"
"Middle school first year." Katsuki answered, not really sure why All Might wanted to know that.
"Oh, good. Then you have almost three years until high school. That's more than enough time for Irohama to remove all the problem child from you." All Might laughed.
"You underestimate my school, Toshinori. I expect the 'problem child' will be gone by this time next year at the latest." Principal Koyu claimed.
Katsuki was getting really annoyed with this 'problem child' stuff now, but he couldn't very well show it with the Principal standing only a couple of feet away, lest he end up back in Saturday detention.
"All Might, I swear, one day, I'll take your place as the No. 1 Pro Hero, because like a real Hero, like you, I'll always win. That's what being a Hero is all about after all." Katsuki vowed proudly.
"Always win?" All Might questioned.
Katsuki nodded his head with a "Hm!", expecting the No. 1 Hero to praise him for his desire to continue down the same path he did.
"Where did you get that nonsense?" All Might questioned angrily.
Katsuki's little world was shattered just then, not understanding why his idol choose to ridicule him, rather than praise him.
All Might knelt down and put a hand on Katsuki's shoulder.
"Young man, if you truly wish to become a Pro Hero one day, then I suggest you listen to what I'm about to tell you and take it to heart." All Might instructed.
Katsuki nodded silently.
"While winning against Villains is certainly a very important part of the job, it's not what being a Pro Hero is about." All Might explained.
"Then… what is it about?" Katsuki asked, feeling confused as his idol told him that the ideology he had lived by his whole life was wrong.
"Think for a moment, young man. Why do Pro Heroes fight Villains in the first place? It's definitely not to prove our strength; there are many more, far less dangerous ways to do that. The whole point of being a Hero… is to help the people who need it. Helping others is what being a Pro Hero is all about." All Might explained in a gentle voice.
All Might stood back up, content that he had put an aspiring hero on the right path.
Katsuki stood there for a moment, his eyes hidden by his hair and the shadow of his student cap.
"I understand." Katsuki said quietly before he turned and walked away.
Izuku, having heard the entire conversation from behind a nearby bush (not because he was stalking All Might or anything), followed after Katsuki, who was walking back towards the Irohama middle school building.
Izuku eventually found Katsuki, who was sitting at his desk in Major Fusaki's history classroom. Save for Izuku and Katsuki, nobody was in the room. Katsuki just staring forward sulkingly.
Izuku walked to his own desk, which happened to be the one next to Katsuki's. Izuku pulled out the chair and sat down. Katsuki had yet to show any acknowledgement that he was there.
Izuku wasn't really sure what to do here. They sat in silence for over twenty minutes. Eventually, Izuku decided to just go for the direct approach.
"Cadet Bakugo, are you okay?" Izuku asked.
At first, Katsuki didn't answer, but after a few seconds "Cadet Midoriya, tell me… Why do YOU admire All Might? What about him inspires you?"
Izuku was a bit confused by the question, but answered nonetheless. "For me, it's because he's always saving people with a smile on his face. He's able to give people hope, no matter how disastrous the situation."
Katsuki felt a breath get caught in his throat before speaking in a hollow voice. "My whole life, I respected All Might for his strength and how he always won. It's what made me want to be a Pro Hero like him."
Cadet Midoriya could only sit and listen, feeling worried for the boy next to him.
"One day, I get to meet All Might in the flesh. I tell him about how I want to be just like him… and I find out that I've been admiring him for all the wrong reasons." Katsuki choked out as tears started to leak from his eyes.
"Cadet Midoriya, earlier, you asked me if I always belittled and discouraged you because I care about you." Katsuki reminded. "The reason is because you were always trying to help me."
"I don't understand." Izuku confessed.
"All those times you offered your help; it was like you were telling me that I couldn't do it on my own. That I wasn't strong enough." Katsuki admitted.
Izuku's eyes widened upon hearing that.
"I always wanted to be like All Might, to be the strongest. I didn't need any help. I was strong enough to do it on my own. That's what I always though." Katsuki cried.
"And the day I meet All Might, I find out that I've been all wrong in how I try to be like my Hero, and the one who's really been just like him and admired him for the right reason... is you." Katsuki cried bitterly.
Izuku couldn't stand to see Katsuki in this sorry state, and so, he did something that he never imagined he'd do in a million years.
He raised his hand… and he slapped Katsuki in the face.
Katsuki put a hand to his cheek, a look of disbelief on his face.
"Cadet Bakugo, I never once thought that you were weak. The reason I always followed after you, despite how you would always bully me, was because I knew that you would be a great hero someday, and I wanted to be there in person for all the great things I knew you would do." Izuku explained hastily.
Katsuki tears stopped for a moment as the green haired boy continued.
"The reason I was always offering you help, it wasn't because I thought you couldn't do something on your own. Why would I think that? You've always been better than me at everything we tried." Izuku admitted.
Izuku grabbed Katsuki by the Gakuran jacket and pulled him forward.
"You wanna know the real reason I was always trying to help you? IT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE MY BEST FRIEND." Izuku stated loudly without even a single hint of uncertainty.
Katsuki couldn't believe what he was hearing. First, Izuku was actually standing up to him. Second, it turns out that Izuku had always acknowledged his strength, despite Katsuki thinking otherwise. And third, the most surprising thing of all, Izuku still considered them to be best friends, despite all that Katsuki had done to him.
"Don't you dare feel sorry for yourself. That's not the Katsuki Bakugo that I've always admired." Izuku demanded.
The tears began falling from Katsuki's eyes again, and then, he did something that shocked Izuku to his core.
Katsuki wrapped his arms around Izuku's torso, his head resting on Izuku's left shoulder. Katsuki was giving Izuku a hug.
Izuku was surprised, of course, but that didn't even come close to stopping him from returning the hug in kind.
"I haven't been a very good best friend, have I?" Katsuki asked rhetorically. "From now on, I promise to be the friend that you deserve." Katsuki vowed tearfully.
Izuku gave a small smile, happy that he and Katsuki could finally be friends again. And to think, he had actually dreaded that the two of them were being sent to military school.
Unknown to the two boys Mikadai was right outside the door, leaning up against the wall, listening to their whole conversation.
'Cadet Midoriya assaulted a fellow student with that slap, and Cadet Bakugo showed a physical act of affection with that hug. Both are grounds for Saturday detention.' Mikadai thought.
After a moment to think, Mikadai decided 'Nah, I'll let them get away with it, just this once. After all, a moment of personal growth shouldn't be interrupted.'
Mikadai walked away, making sure to keep his footsteps as quiet as possible, leaving Izuku and Katsuki to begin rebuilding their friendship.
(((Late Afternoon, right out front of the administration building)))
"It was good to see you again, Toshinori." Principal Koyu said as the No. 1 Pro Hero was taking his leave.
"Thank you for having me, Ganhibi." Toshinori, now in his true form, replied.
"So, did any of the students I recommended stand out to you at all?" Principal Koyu asked.
Toshinori put a hand to his chin and answered "All the students you pointed out to me were very exceptional, the class reps. especially. I have no doubt that they will all go on to be model members of society."
"But?" Principal Koyu asked.
"But none of them really have the true heroic nature that I'm looking for in a successor. All of them are disciplined and diligent like soldiers. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, far from it. The thing is though; I want my successor to be someone naturally heroic, not someone who learned to be heroic." Toshinori replied.
"So no military school students will fit your standard? Is that why you plan to become a first year teacher at U.A. in a couple of years? So you can find someone who's heroic even before any hero training?" Koyu asked.
Toshinori's eyes widened. "How did you?"
"I'm a former Admiral of the Japanese Maritime Forces, that's how I knew." Koyu answered.
"You high ranked military people, you're all way to nosy." Toshinori argued pathetically.
Koyu pinched the binge of his nose and shook his head. "Look Toshinori, I have no shortage of students here at Irohama who are interested in transferring to Hero schools after completing their junior high education. Surely you could see yourself passing One For All to at least one of them."
"I hear what you're saying, but this is a big decision. You know how powerful my Quirk is." Toshinori rebutted. "I want to give it to a hero, not a soldier."
"At least consider giving it to one of the Quirkless students. The whole reason most of them are in military school is because they plan to join the military, hoping that they can be heroes, even without Quirks." Koyu suggested. "That sure seems like the natural heroism you're looking for. But what do I know, I'm just the guy whose strategic genius won almost every one of the oceanic battles during the war with Australia fourteen years ago."
Koyu returned inside the building, looking forward to a relaxing evening in.
As Toshinori walked back to his car he thought 'Hm, you know, I never considered a Quirkless successor before. Maybe there is someone at Irohama who'll become the next Symbol of Peace.'
Okay, the student lounge, that's the thing I kept pushing back the last couple of chapters.
Those of you who read this story, you were probably thinking things like: "Izuku won't meet All Might. He won't get One For All. He will join the JSDF instead of becoming a hero."
That's what you were thinking, yes?
Real curveball on that one, am I right. Bet you never expected Toshinori Yagi and Ganhibi Koyu to be old middle school classmates. And the former Admiral turned Principal knows about One For All and All Might's injury.
Those of you who think that Katsuki is acting way out of character, keep in mind that the person he idolizes, the person he's always tried to imitate, just told him that the ideology he had lived by his whole life is wrong.
How would you feel if that happened to you?
Not to mention that Katsuki has been at military school for more than a month. And let's not forget the effect of multiple viewings of the snail documentary.
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