Chapter 7: Try Hard

After a long, deep sleep, Izuku awoke with a start to his alarm blaring. Switching it off, he rubbed his eyes and let out a long sigh. Today was going to suck. Gallivanting around school like nothing was wrong while recovering from a gunshot wound sounded like Hell, but what other choice was there? He couldn't exactly tell Mr. Tamanegi he'd been involved with a convenience store robbery and ask for the day off. As much as he'd rather stay home and rest, he'd have to try and make due.

Carefully climbing out of bed, he preemptively winced in anticipation for the stabbing pain in his gut he was sure to feel, however to his surprise he hardly felt more than a twinge. Confused, he rose and went over to his mirror. Lifting his shirt, he braced himself for the worst and gingerly peeled back his tiny bandage. To his amazement though his wound had completely scabbed over. Poking around his abdomen, he felt surprisingly little. He was shocked. Even though he'd only been hit by one shotgun pellet, he had still been shot. Shouldn't he be half dead?

As he prodded his stomach, he stared at his reflection in bewilderment.

Did I really almost completely heal with just a half night of rest? I guess I can add an enhanced healing factor to my quirks list. Still I shouldn't push my luck. After school today, I'm going to take the night off. I think I've filled my injury quota for the week and I need to mend my costume anyhow. Besides, I should probably start studying for my exams too, I guess.

After eating a light breakfast, he grabbed his things and went to school. As he was making his way to homeroom, he felt his spine tingle. Someone was coming for him. Glancing back down the hallway he saw the squat, red faced gym teacher Mr. Ijime approaching him. Izuku groaned.

Mr. Ijime had always had it in for him. In contrast to his subtler co-workers, he proudly wore his prejudices against the quirkless on his sleeve and he seemed to delight in tormenting Izuku at every available opportunity. Whether it be by structuring his gym classes in such a way as to humiliate him for his "impediment" or by turning a blind eye to Bakugo's favourite gym pastime, he never seemed to tire of bullying him.

'Deku! Principal Sasaina tells me that you're retaking the fitness test.' barked Mr. Ijime.

'Y-Yes sir.' Despite himself, Izuku couldn't help but stammer slightly.

'I'm told you're trying to get a special fitness recommendation for UA? Well I've seen you run, and I can tell you that's not going to happen.'

Izuku swallowed.

'Well, uh, I've been wor-working out a lot and-'

Mr. Ijime waved his hand and scoffed, 'We'll see, won't we? After school today, meet me at the baseball diamond. I want to get this over with as soon as possible.'

'Oh!' exclaimed Izuku. Mr. Ijime turned and started off down the hallway. Izuku's mind raced.

He wants to meet today? I haven't practiced yet!

Composing himself as best as he could, Izuku called out after him.

'Mr. Ijime!'

He turned and looked back at Izuku with an impatient sigh.

'Um, do you think we can do this another day? I was hoping to-'

'No.' Mr. Ijime spat, 'You're on my time Deku, so I say we do it today. Don't keep me waiting.'

Great. Thought Izuku bitterly as he watched the man disappear down the hall.

Muttering to himself, Izuku walked into class and settled into his desk. Even though he was no longer the weakling he used to be, for whatever reason he still hadn't gotten over his fear of confrontations with people.

As class started, his thoughts were filled with petty revenge scenarios against Mr. Ijime. It would be so easy to blow through the test and watch Mr. Ijime be put on his backfoot for a change.

He thinks he's so much better than me. I could fold him in half If I wanted to. Thought Izuku bitterly as Mr. Tamanegi tried and failed to explain quadratic formulas.

Him and Bakugo are the same. They think that just because they were born with some meagre power they can do whatever they want! If I wanted to…

Izuku shook his head. Intoxicating though his revenge fantasies may be, he could never let himself forget what he had almost done to Bakugo.

If my fight with Bakugo has taught me anything it's that no matter what I can't let anyone get to me. If I lose control, I'll only hurt myself.

Looking away from the floundering Mr. Tamanegi, he glanced over at the clock. It was over an hour until his first break. Sighing, he flipped through his textbook. It was going to be a frustrating day.

After what felt like an eternity recess came and Izuku ran off to the field to work on his timing.

For the 100m dash I need to finish as close to eleven seconds as possible. As for the eight-hundred-meter run, I just need to pace out two minutes. If I run any faster, I might break some sort of record and I don't need that kind of attention.

Pacing out some distances, Izuku ran and timed his performance. He found that if he just concentrated on his counting and ignored his surroundings, he could set a reasonably consistent pace. However, try as he might, he was still much too fast.

Before he knew it, the recess bell chimed. Izuku briefly considered skipping class to work on his running but he didn't want to risk detention and miss his meeting with Mr. Ijime entirely. Izuku doubted he would let him reschedule.

Sitting back in his desk, Izuku impatiently watched the minutes until his next break creep by. It seemed as though every teacher was spending the lead up time to the Entrance Exams going over the coursework. Though most of his classmates were grateful for the extra study time, Izuku found the review periods maddeningly boring. As he waited, he couldn't help but obsess over his situation.

I should have thought about getting into UA sooner! Why did I insist on the fitness recommendation without setting a date or anything? How can I possibly set my pace correctly?

Izuku continued to practice over his lunch break and afternoon recess. However, try as he might he couldn't get his time to within an acceptable margin of error. Finally, he had to give up and head back to class. While his classmates were sweating over their geometry homework, Izuku was panicking over his upcoming race. In less than half an hour he would have to impress Mr. Ijime.

I'm doomed! If only I had someone to race against this might be easier! Someone to set the pace! But I don't have any friends…Unless…

Izuku scanned over his classmates. With the exception of himself and Bakugo, they were all likely to suffer intensely during the exam. It wasn't that they were all stupid necessarily, just that they'd had the misfortune of having Mr. Tamanegi as a teacher. For them the situation was dire indeed, as for the first time in their young existence they were encountering a barrier that could decide the outcome for the rest of their lives. Their parents, their teachers, everyone was telling them that if they wanted to be successful they had to do well. To say that tensions were high would be an understatement.

Of all the students in Izuku's grade, there was one in particular who looked especially worried. The violet haired socialite, Ruriko. Academics had never been Ruriko's strong suit. She got bored with the subjects quickly and when she wasn't texting or surfing the internet on her phone, she was talking, doodling, passing notes, and whatever else as long as it wasn't school related. The only thing that she cared about near as Izuku could tell were the clubs she belonged to.

But for all her disdain for academic pursuits, even she had come to realize that this was one test that she couldn't afford to fail. Now that there was less than a week until the Entrance Exams, she had entered full crisis mode and for the first time in as long as Izuku could remember, she was actually trying to pay attention.

She's the perfect candidate. All I have to do is convince her that I can help her study and maybe she'll agree to help me. I just have to…actually go over there…

Izuku gulped. He was never any good at dealing with girls. For some reason he always tripped over his words and never knew what to do with his hands.

Get over yourself Deku! You're a vigilante for God's sake, grow some backbone! You've stormed buildings and-

'Stop mumbling, Deku!' hissed Bakugo from behind.

Izuku froze. He had a bad habit of talking to himself. Turning, he stared back at Bakugo in horror.

'W-What?' Izuku said nervously, 'I-I didn't say anything!'

Bakugo rolled his eyes and went back to his worksheet. Izuku gulped. Bakugo and everyone else had gotten used to his mumbling by now, but who knows what they might hear him say? He would need to control himself better in the future.

Taking a deep breath, he stood up from his desk and walked over to Ruriko. She sat all the way at the front, right beside Mr. Tamanegi's desk. Moving around to her side, he stood beside her and cleared his throat.

'Um, hey, Ruriko…'

She didn't seem to notice him. She was mouthing the words of her geometry problem, brow furrowed in intense concentration.

'Hey, Ruriko…Ruriko!'

Her eyes turned from the page and she looked up at him open mouthed. Her look of numb confusion gradually changed to one of surprise as she realized that he was talking to her.

'Deku? What do you want?'

'Hi, Ruriko. I-I have a proposal for you…'

Izuku and Ruriko stood side by side in their gym uniforms by the baseball pitch. Izuku was awkwardly swinging his arms and muttering to himself. He had never spent any time with any of the girls in his class before and he was unsure if he should attempt small talk or not. Ruriko was busily texting on her phone, completely oblivious him. If she found the moment awkward, she didn't show it.

Just as he was about to say something a door on the far side of the yard opened and Mr. Ijime came striding out. Scowling, he started to march his way over, a whistle around his neck and a clipboard in hand.

'Ah! Here he comes!' Izuku breathed his voice breaking slightly, clearing his throat he turned to Ruriko, 'So, do you remember the plan?

'Yeah, yeah. Just run as fast as I can and beat you. No problemo.' Ruriko said, tapping away at her phone.

'R-Right. Just try your best okay?'

'Uh-huh.' she said, tossing her hair.

Izuku took a deep breath and watched as Mr. Ijime approached. As he got in range, Ruriko dropped her phone down on her backpack and started to do some stretches. Izuku watched as she started to stretch her legs before quickly looking away.

I guess I should go through the motions. This'll probably be suspicious enough as it is.

Emulating her, he quickly began to hop and skip around, trying his best to make it look like he knew what he was doing.

'Ruriko! Why are you here? Did you want a fitness recommendation too?' asked Mr. Ijime.

'Um, I wouldn't say no to one! I was told to come here and be a pace setter for Deku.'

Mr. Ijime frowned, 'So will you be doing the entire fitness test or-'

'No!' Izuku squeaked, the pair looked at him. Clearing his throat again he continued 'No, she just has to run the one-hundred-meter and eight-hundred-meter tracks. That's all.'

Mr. Ijime shrugged, 'Fine, whatever. So, are you two ready?

The two nodded.

'Okay. See that orange flag along the foul line? I paced out a hundred metres earlier today. Go stand by it. On my whistle, run from there to home plate. I'll be waiting with my stop watch.'

'Uh, okay do I-'

Mr. Ijime let out an exasperated sigh, 'Just stand by the flag and run when I blow the whistle, Deku. Get your head out of your ass. Go! Hustle up!'

Slightly frazzled, he turned and started to jog to the flag alongside Ruriko. As they neared the starting line, she turned to him.

'Mr. Ijime is such a dickhead, hey?'

'Y-Yeah.'

'You know, I've never really noticed before but you're actually pretty built Deku. When did that happen?'

Izuku felt his face go pink.

'Oh, y-you know, I've been training for the last year or so. Running and-and swimming.'

'Huh. Well it won't matter cause there's no way you're beating me.' she said teasingly.

Izuku couldn't help but grin. 'We'll see.'

Arriving at the flag, Izuku and Ruriko turned and faced the baseball pitch. Mr. Ijime held up his watch to his face and placed the whistle to his mouth. Ruriko got into her sprinting posture and Izuku copied her.

A second passed. Izuku could hear Ruriko steady her breathing as she tensed herself.

Just don't screw this up, Deku!

Suddenly from across the pitch he heard the shrill note of the coach's whistle.

At that the two classmates took off down the pitch. In the corner of his eye, Izuku watched as Ruriko inched ahead of him. He kept his pace.

I should try to win by around a half second or so. That should give me a good enough advantage.

In his head Izuku tried his best to count out his seconds.

Seven…Eight…

The diamond was coming up fast, Izuku looked over, he and Ruriko were neck and neck.

Nine…Ten…

Izuku put on a burst of speed, swiftly passing her. Crossing the homerun plate, he jogged to a halt. Turning around, he saw Ruriko cross the finish line herself. Her face was red and her chest was heaving. Putting her hands on her hips, she slowly walked around in a wide circle, her lungs gulping in air.

Izuku tried to look fatigued as he trotted over to Mr. Ijime.

'Time?' he asked.

Mr. Ijime looked up from his stopwatch. A deep frown on his face.

'10.54…that can't be right…'

Uh oh. Slightly too fast. This is no time to hesitate though. Thought Izuku, sweating slightly as his back tingled softly.

'Woohoo!' Izuku said loudly, trying his best to sound jubilant, 'A new personal best!'

'A new school best, Deku. Hell, maybe a new record for your age group! Something must be wrong here. There's no way you cleared that time!' Mr. Ijime growled, scowling over at Izuku as though he had tampered with the watch somehow.

'We-Well I told you I've been training-'

'Shut it, Deku. You two stay here. I'm going to go grab another watch and see if this one's busted.'

Mr. Ijime turned and started off back to his office, muttering darkly under his breath. Izuku did his best to ignore the various insults he heard and instead turned to face Ruriko. She was now laying in the grass, recovering her breath.

'Good race!' he said chipperly.

Ruriko looked up at him and shook her head incredulously.

'Why aren't you in the track and field club Deku?' she said panting. 'Seriously, that time is incredible! Even without a quirk you could qualify, no problem!'

Izuku smiled uneasily but said nothing. Turning away from her, his expression quickly turned to one of worry.

I'll need to slow down for the eight-hundred-meter run.

Eventually Mr. Ijime came striding out to the pitch. His scowl still firmly affixed to his face.

'Okay. I got a new watch. See the three flags?' He pointed to three separate orange flags across the baseball field. 'Those are paced out one hundred meters each. Run past each one, then pass across home plate. You have to run two laps. Are you two ready?'

Izuku and Ruriko nodded. At the blast of the whistle the two took off. Running alongside Ruriko at first, Izuku slowly pulled out in front of her.

I'll just maintain this pace. This seems fast enough.

As he passed the first flag, Izuku heard Ruriko's breathing become more and more distant.

She's just getting tired, don't slow down. If you start hovering around Ruriko as you run that would be really suspicious too.

Rounding home, Izuku looked over at Mr. Ijime. His expression of dull anger hadn't changed for the worse so he kept his pace the same. Before long finished his second lap.

'Woo!' said Izuku nervously between deep breaths, 'Well I feel pretty good about that one. Time?'

'158.43.' said Mr. Ijime growled. Izuku clapped his hands and whistled.

'Fantastic! I'm on a roll today.'

'Oh, really? A roll are you? Tell me: exactly when did you start training Deku because last year when you took this same test, you took over four minutes!' Mr. Ijime put his hands on his hips, slapping his clipboard against his knee.

Izuku started to fidget.

'I mean I've been, like, running every day and I, you know, I've been really consistent with my training, good diet, uh, yoga what-have-you.' he finished nervously, wiping his brow. He had started to sweat again and it had nothing to do with the run.

'What training? Be specific!'

'What training?' Izuku repeated weakly.

'Yes! What training did you do to become as fast as you are in just one year!'

Izuku gulped, wracking his brain for some answer. Suddenly it came to him.

'I used the All Might guaranteed zero to hero workout regime!' Izuku said, pounding his fist into his palm.

'What in God's name are you blathering about?'

At that Izuku started to recite the core tenements of a healthy body as outlined by All Might in his various interviews and appearances. After less than a minute of lecturing, Mr. Ijime threw up his hands.

'Fine! Whatever. Just shut up! Holy shit, you do go on, don't you? Let's just hurry up and get this over with. We still have the other courses to complete and I'll be damned if I'm missing the baseball game because of you.' he paused and looked behind Izuku, 'Ruriko, are you alive?'

Ruriko was sitting on the grass as she recovered her breath. Grimacing, she nodded weakly and got to her feet.

'I'll see you later Deku. Don't forget about our deal.' she said as she aired out her collar.

'Okay. I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay?'

Ruriko gave him a thumbs up. After gathering up her backpack and phone she made her way back to the school.

That wasn't so bad. Thanks to her, I set a much more realistic time. I just hope the price I paid wasn't too high.

'Deku! Push-ups! Let's go already! shouted Mr. Ijime behind him.

Obediently, Izuku dropped down and started doing his push-ups. Every once and a while he would let out a grunt of effort or pause for a half second break, but considering how much he could lift he might as well have been lifting a pencil. Still, he had to keep up appearances. No doubt Mr. Ijime was suspicious enough already and he wouldn't put it past Mr. Iijime to test for steroids or something if he did too well. However, despite the glowering gym teacher looming above him that was audibly grinding his teeth in incredulous rage, Izuku couldn't quite suppress his rising sense of excitement.

The hard part is over. That recommendation is as good as mine!

Meanwhile in Tokyo, Dr. Akatani was sitting bolt upright in his chair as he read through the medical report. He had read it a dozen times already but he wanted to be sure there wasn't some sort of mistake. Apparently, an anomalous blood sample had been recovered at a convenience store in Musutafu last night. According to eye witness testimony, a vigilante had shown up to stop a robbery and suffered a chest wound in the process. Before police could arrive, he had fled the scene.

He looked over at his other monitor where the surveillance camera footage was playing on loop. The blue and red figure was moving too fast to capture on the poor-quality CCTV footage, but he could see enough.

For the past two and a half months he had been under constant strain. Despite the assurances of the budgetary committee to avoid restructuring until after the fiscal year, when the modified arachnid specimen hadn't been recovered he had his staff gutted. Nearly the entire science team was reassigned. As if that wasn't bad enough his lab was repurposed to different projects. For all intents and purposes, he was on paid suspension until he could be fired. But now…

Dr. Akatani opened his desk drawer. With trembling hands, he grabbed a bottle of fine scotch and poured himself a drink. The appearance of the arachnid blood signature was nothing short of miraculous. Somehow the spider must have escaped from the labs and bit a person. And of all the people it could have bit, it bit a quirkless individual. And of that minuscule percentile of the population, this person did not succumb to horrific bodily mutation, brain death, or any of the other grievous side effects of genetic modification, but had survived unscathed. Survived and manifested new quirks patterned after the insect.

I've finally done it. I've created quirks! After all these years, I've finally done it!

Downing his drink in one gulp, Dr. Akatani let out a satisfied burp before pouring himself another. He had some news for the budgetary committee.