Westley let out a deep breath as he stepped into his dorm room, slamming the door behind him. He leaned over his desk as his breaths became more and more frustrated. "Not worth the time, huh? What a bunch of BULLSHIT!" he yelled as he banged his fists against the desk, sending a few of his possessions toppling over.
"I busted my ass training for this course, just the same as everyone else! I spent two years running back and forth across the roofs back home. I spent months learning how to fight, how to shoot, how to chase! I WON A MARKSMANSHIP TOURNAMENT, DAMNIT!" He grabbed a small dart off of his desk, and chucked it at a target on the far wall.
The dart missed the target completely, instead burying itself in the wall almost half-a-foot to the left. Westley stood staring at the dart as he continued to pant in anger, before he felt something running down his face. Wiping it away, he saw that it was a tear. The sight of it seemed to be enough to bring him back down to earth, as he closed his eyes and tightened his fists.
"Calm down, Westley. You're starting to lose it again." he muttered as he rubbed his hands across his face. He stared at the dart at the moment, before pulling it out, and taking a seat on his bed. "This is just like what happened last time."
(3 MONTHS EARLIER…)
The rain was pouring down from the night sky, soaking the roads and the grounds beyond measure. But that didn't matter to Westley. All that mattered to him at this moment, was the crumpled letter he held tight in his grip, and the small gravestone that stood in front of him, bearing the name, "Smith, Hailey".
As the storm thundered around him, he brought the letter in his hand up to his face, for what felt like the millionth time to him.
"To W. Smith,
We have reviewed your application for our heroics course, and your performance in our practical exam, and unfortunately, we have decided that we cannot allow you into our school's heroics program. While you did score a decent score on our test, the nature of your Quirklessness, plus the fact that you chose to sneak in a live firearm onto school grounds, which we believe may have been the leading contributor to your score, we simply feel that you are not fit to join this program."
Westley's teeth began to grit as he let out a growling sound from his throat. With an enraged yell, he threw the letter down, stomping it into the rain-soaked ground several times. "SO WHAT IF I DON'T HAVE A FANCY SUPERPOWER? WHO SAYS I NEED ONE?! I WORKED JUST AS HARD AS THE REST OF THEM, BUT YOU"RE GONNA THROW ME OUT JUST CAUSE I CAN'T MOVE A MOUNTAIN?! ALL I WANTED WAS A CHANCE! JUST ONE CHANCE TO PROVE MYSELF! IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK?!"
"I don't think so."
Westley turned to see a young man, barely looking his age, dressed in a black and white suit with an orange tie. He stood a distance behind Westley, an umbrella shielding him from the downpour. "Westley Smith, I presume?"
Westley turned back to face the grave. "What's it matter to you?" he asked in an apathetic tone.
"My name is Ashton Fawkes. I'm the headmaster of the Phoenix Institute for Heroic Development." Ashton stepped up to the boy, stopping less than a foot from him. "And I'm here to offer you a place in my school."
Westley turned to face the stranger, processing what he'd just heard. He scoffed. "If this is a joke, it's not funny."
"I am many things, Mr. Smith, but a liar is not one of them. The world has abandoned its Quirkless population, leaving it to rot, and fade away into the pages of history. And yet, amongst all that, here you are, trying to become a Hero. Why is that?" Ashton asked.
Westley stared at the grave for a moment in silence, before he let out a sigh. "Because no one came to save us, in that alley. When that bastard had a blade to my throat, she tried to save me. He cut her down like she was nothing. And where were the heroes? Chasing spotlights and camera flashes."
"I see. So, you want to save those that others won't. The ones that actually need saving. I can give you the chance you need, Mr. Smith." Ashton replied as he came face to face with Westley. "Come to my school. Learn the skills you need…" He extended a hand.
"...to be a Hero."
Westley stared at the man's hand, deep in thought.
(PRESENT DAY)
Westley sat on his bed, staring at his hand. After a moment, he curled it into a fist, not of anger, but determination.
"Fine. I've already busted my ass to get here." He stood up, walked over to the dart in the wall, and yanked it out. "And if I have to bust it again to stay here…"
He walked back across the room, looking over his shoulder for a moment, before turning and throwing the dart dead center. A perfect bullseye. He smirked.
"...then so be it." He walked to his door, pulling it open, only to be startled by the sight of…
"Izuku?!" The Japanese student fumbled around, trying to find something to say.
"I'm sorry, Smi- I mean, Westley-san, I mean Westley, I didn't-I wasn't, uhh…"
"Hey, hey, hey, breath, pal!" Westley interrupted, bringing his classmate to a standstill. "I'm not mad that you listened in. I did get kinda loud back there. I'm sure you were just curious."
Izuku lowered his head in shame. Westley couldn't help but chuckle, and ruffle his classmate's hair. "Hey, don't worry about me. I'll be fine. We got 4 years here. I'll catch up eventually." he said as he began to walk towards the elevator.
"I-I, uhh…" gulp "I, was, Quirkless, too." Westley stopped, keeping his back to Izuku, who still had his head down. "A-A genetic, hiccup kept my, Quirk factor from forming, until I was, a lot older, than normal. I-I was clinically Qu-Quirkless, for most of my life."
Westley's expression grew somber. "Then, you know what it's like. For people like me." Izuku nodded.
Westley pressed the elevator call button. "You're one of the lucky ones. At least you eventually got a Quirk." Izuku stiffened up at that. The elevator doors opened. "Some of us have to get through the hard way."
Izuku's gaze darted up, but it was too late. Westley was gone. Izuku stood there, staring at where his classmate once was. His fists were shaking, but they quickly relaxed. The 9th bearer of One For All let out a somber sigh.
"If only you knew…"