1-B filled out of the room, as Izuku was heading to the door he felt a hand on his shoulder, it was a gentle touch. Izuku turned and Neito.

"I just wanted to apologize, it was stupid of me to try and put you down for being quirkless. I would like to start over. Everything Vlad Sensei was right. I know what it is like to have people be assholes because of my quirk I can only imagine what you must have gone through. I was repeating the cycle." Nieto said with his head bowed.

"Ok," Izuku said.

"Just like that?"

"If you are lying, I will not accept a second apology, if you are telling the truth then I have someone else to hang out and train with. Everyone gets a second chance."

They walked out of the room to see Pony, Hiryu, Itsuka, Setsuna, and Reiko standing there. "Everything good?" Itsuka asked looking past Izuku to Neito.

Izuku nodded, as Neito quickly stepped forward. "I was an ass, please forgive me."

"You were an ass, but as long as you realize and I am cool," Setsuna said. The rest nodded at the sentiment and followed off after the rest of their class.

Itsuka fell into step next to Neito, "You did a fast 180?"

Neito sighed, "It was what Sensei said, it reminded me of when I was growing up. Unless I can touch someone and copy their quirk, I am effectively quirkless myself. When I realized that not only was Midoriya quirkless, but he had made it in it angered me. Not because he was quirkless, but because I know that if I were him, I would have given up on being a hero. He worked harder than me and was more determined, it just made me pity myself and I overreacted. After Sensei's speech, I felt like a total jackass, and it was either double down and make a lot of the class hate me or own it and see if can fix it."

Itsuka was surprised at the amount of self-reflection that Neito has expressed, "Well then Monoma, I forgive you as well just don't make me look foolish."

"I will do my best Kendo."

Class 1-B sat through orientation and was dispatched to their guidance counselors. They were surprised to see that a class was missing and that it was their sister, class 1-A. After they made their way back to class, they saw gym uniforms sitting on their desks and Vlad ordered them to get changed and make their way to the athletic field for a quirk assessment.

-Boys Locker Room-

Izuku stood in front of his locker after placing his belonging on the shelf. He began to shrug off his uniform, it was when they had removed his shirt that a commotion broke out.

"MIDORIYA! What happened to you?" Nieto shouted.

The rest of the class and their yelling could be heard in the girls' locker room. Causing them to pause and listen.

All the boys were looking at Midoriya then and his upper body, it was covered in scars, different sizes, and lengths, down his arms and some even on his neck. His shoulder had burn marks and his back had burn marks, then when Midoriya didn't pause getting undressed when removed his pants they were just as bad. Midoriya stopped and looked down at his body then shrugged. "Most of them are from training, some are from fights."

"That is manly as fuck" Tetsutetsu said.

"Well, at least he isn't a pansy," Togaru added under his breath.

Hiryu who was next to Izuku, "Is that why you were those compression shirts all the time?"

"No, I just like them." He responded as he started to put on his gym uniform.

"Dude, I don't know what world you are from but here we don't call that training that is fucking abuse." A boy with black hair and eyes wearing a headband said.

"Awase is right," another one of his class chimed in, with dark brown hair and black eyes. "I feel that we should let Vlad Sensei know so charges can be filled."

"That would be hard to do, he is dead." Izuku said zipping up his uniform. "I understand all of your concerns, but we should hurry to the athletic field Sensei is waiting." He closed his locker and walked out.

Sen just sat there dumbfounded. "Does he understand that is abuse?"

"Who the hell cares," Togaru said, as he carefully slipped his head into his uniform to not tear it on his mantis quirk. "If he is over, it then you all should be too."

-Athletic Field-

Unfortunately, Izuku, who had hoped that the commotion would die down only got worse when the girls came onto the field. The U.A. athletic uniforms were shorts and short-sleeved with an open collar, all the scars on his arms and legs were clearly on display. He was nearly assaulted by Pony who when she saw the scars started crying and then hugged him fiercely, promising vengeance on who had hurt him. It drew the attention of Set, Itsuka, and Reiko then everyone else. Vlad then came over and looking at Izuku told him they would address this after the assessment test.

The tests soon commenced, Izuku performed fine, he managed to land in the middle of the pack on every test except the sit-up and seated toe touch where he placed near the top. He would see Pony and Hiryu talking and then stop when he walked up, it was happening a lot. In the end, it was Setsuna who topped the charts and as they were dismissed Izuku was told to change and meet Vlad in the nurse's office.

Izuku was confused, he even stopped his group before they left the field. "Did I do something wrong? I was mostly homeschooled so if I did would you let me know? I was hoping we could all be friends."

They all stopped. It was Rieko who stepped forward and hugged him quickly before stepping back. "You have done nothing wrong mighty warrior, you simply bear marks that have startled us as we shudder to think what things have done this to you."

"You are Pony's friend, and I do like that someone has hurt my friend like this." Pony said her large blue eyes wet with tears.

Hiryu stepped forward "Izuku who did this to you?"

Izuku stopped and looked at his arm, he pointed at a long scar down his forearm, "Sensei Jax," he then proceeded to point at every scar on his arm and say mostly the same thing, "Sensei Jax," He then pointed to on his elbow, "Umpire," or someone else names. Hiryu stopped him, and the girls were horrified.

"Izuku, can you say that you can tell me where every scar on you came from?"

"Yes, I can tell you where they came from, what mistake was made that caused them, and how to not let it happen again."

Itsuka pointed at a thin scar around his neck. "That one."

"Sensei Jax, garrot, protect your neck at all times especially when entering an unknown room, neck guard or keep your blade up."

Itsuka's eyes watered. "You should hurry and go meet with Sensei."

Izuku stopped and went jogging off, but he turned to the group. "Are we still friends?"

"Of course, now hurry you don't want to be late," Itsuka said. Izuku flashed them a blinding smile and they watched the pure joy spread across his face as he jogged off. Once he was gone Pony and Reiko started crying. Itsuka looked at Hiryu with murderous intent in her eyes. "Tell me you know who this Sensei Jax is and where I can find him?"

"Izuku said he was dead, but it almost sounded like there was a hint of sorrow."

The group walked down the tunnel in silence.

-Infirmary-

Izuku walked into the infirmary to see Vlad, Recovery Girl, Hound Dog, and Midnight waiting for him. Izuku stopped at the door before stepping in and bowing to his teacher.

"I am here sir,"

"Well thank you for arriving promptly will you please strip down to your undergarments and take a seat on the bed."

Izuku simply started taking off his clothes as he walked towards the bed with little care about the assembled group.

"Midoriya, would you like some privacy?" Midnight said with a curious look.

Izuku looked at her and simply said "Why?"

"And what if we had asked you to strip completely?"

With no sense of shame or modesty. "Do you need me too?"

He could hear a low growl from Hound Dog, Midnight had a look of sadness in her eyes. "No Izuku that's ok."

As the faculty got a good look at the boy's back their anger levels began to rise, then he was standing there in his underwear and Midnight had to excuse herself for a moment. Recovery Girl told him to lie down as she began to go over every part of him. "How many times have you had a broken bone?"

"16."

"Who repaired the damage?"

"The Black Priest."

"When was the last time you saw him?"

"Last year when my Sensei died."

"Do you miss your Sensei?" she asked.

"Very much," Izuku answered. He couldn't see Hound Dog stiffen.

"Did your Sensei give you all these scars?"

"Most but not all, and we called them Lessons. A lesson etched on my flesh lest I forget."

Recovery Girl had to step away at that moment, Midnight who had entered the room in time to hear the last comment followed her out. Vlad walked over to Izuku and took in all the scars on the boy.

"Why did your Sensei teach you lessons this way?"

"Because I'm quirkless and society looks down on those with lesser quirks or those seen as villainous. If I choose to walk the path of a hero, then I need to be ready for society to forsake me. The only thing that will not forsake me is my skill. In the end, which will be all I have."

Vlad just looked at the boy, there were truths in his words, but for them to have been carved into the flesh of one so young.

"How did your Sensei die?"

"He was sick. The Black Priest took him away."

"Why do you miss him?" Hound Dog asked.

"When my mother and father died, he took me in and gave me what I needed to be a hero, for a long time no one believed in me. My mother and father told me I should do something else to find a new dream. I wouldn't be here without him."

"How do you know that? Couldn't you have trained on your own?" Hound Dog countered.

Izuku looked the man dead in his eyes. "Tell me of another quirkless hero, or tell me about the hero with the super minor quirk who came from an orphanage or the street to become a hero? This is U.A. There is not a person in my class or 1-A who made it here on luck or without some sort of useful quirk. Even if they have a minor quirk, they still had to have someone train them. You cannot be stupid as to tell me that people would be lining up to train a quirkless kid. Most quirkless are dead by the age of 16, those who do manage to live past that are 75% more likely to be a victim of violent crime. Of those 80% go unsolved. For those that manage to live, the only hope is being married to another quirkless person and living in towns in the middle of nowhere. The only thing a quirkless person in this country is good for is fucking and dying. Quirkless make up more than half the sex industry. Did you know that a bill was put before the Diet to allow the forced sterilization of quirkless people? I am doing this to show them that the quirkless of this country can be more than a body or a convenient hole. That we are people that should be treated with respect. Oh, by the way, how many quirkless people does this school employ? No offense to you Mr. Hound Dog. Why do they have you here as a therapist? Does your quirk do anything to help with your occupation? Can you tell me that there is not a quirkless therapist that is not as qualified as you? That there isn't a quirkless person that could be a janitor? You are here because you have a quirk, and you have the qualification."

"That is rather insulting," Hound Dog said.

"That is true, but it doesn't make it any less true."

"Ask the Principal, ask him when you applied if there was a quirkless applicant who applied with you as well, and ask him why he choose you over her."

Vlad opened his eyes wide at that statement, as did Hound Dog. "Why would make that claim?"

"Ando Natsumi graduated with a higher GPA, scored higher in every statistical category, and had 6 years more experience, specializing in Quirk Counseling, Greif counseling, and childhood development. You even cited one of her studies in your dissertation for your doctorate. Ando Natsumi quirkless, Hound Dog not quirkless." Izuku said his voice full of anger, he looked at Vlad "the lady who gave me the green scarf. The only job she can get despite all that is at the local quirkless clinic. She eats at a soup kitchen." Izuku wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes.

"You can tell me that the reason for my scars is terrible, that they are evil, that it is many things, but they are the length that I will go through to make sure our voice is heard. Your entrance exam is biased. All it took was a quirkless kid with a sword and more determination than anyone else to get a win. All flash no substance." He looked at Vlad, "Why am I not in 1-A, every year the top scorer in the entrance exam is placed in 1-A?"

"He didn't want you in his class."

"Did he recommend the general studies sports festival route?"

"He did."

"But you wanted me. You wanted me for all the reasons you said this morning, you want me to inspire the rest of them to go beyond. You want to see what I can do?"

"That is correct."

"Can I get dressed yet?" Izuku called out. Over the intercom came a Recovery Girls voice "Yes."

Izuku sat up and looked at Vlad. "Is there anything else sensei?"

"I want you to take therapy sessions," Vlad said.

"Not with him," Izuku pointed at Hound Dog, "I would rather talk to Ms. Midnight."

Vlad looked at the boy intensely looking him over, Did I make a mistake in bringing him in? There is so much anger inside him. "I am sure that can be arranged. But I have one more question, do you think there was a way to learn without the scars."

"I am sure there is, but not one anyone would bother to invest in a quirkless. After I graduate then maybe, hopefully, the next little one who is born quirkless that wants to be a hero, or with a minor quirk, or a villainous quirk can look at me and say that they can do it. A hero once said, "It doesn't matter what your quirk is, you desire to do good that will dictate whether or not you can be a hero." Do you know who said that?"

Vlad looked deep into those fierce emeralds' eyes. "I did."

"The only hero with a blood quirk to ever crack the top 50," Izuku said. He dressed and headed for the door. Before he stopped and looked at Hound Dog. "I am sure you are a great therapist and have done an amazing job. Goodnight."

Izuku left heading across campus to his room.

-Dorms-

When Izuku made his way up the stairs he saw Pony and Hiryu sitting outside his door with food and some drinks. Pony smiled as he walked up, Hiryu just held up the food and drinks.

"Hungry?"

Izuku nodded his head, he opened the door and the trio walked in. Izuku set his belongings down then Pony barreled into him and gave him a huge hug. "Izuku why are you hurt so bad?"

"Look man if you don't want to talk about it then we understand, but we are your friends and when we see those marks it makes us worried. The girls were worried also, if they didn't have to catch the train they were going to be sitting here waiting as well."

Izuku, who hugged Pony back offered her a smile as she stepped back, and they sat down on the floor to eat. After they finished Izuku slipped off his uniform top and draped it over the back of his desk chair, sitting there shirtless he took a deep breath. "I know this may be hard to hear but I don't regret any of these lessons upon my body. I know that because of them people may be uncomfortable, but I look at them as proof of my struggle. I know that I will get more of them, and I will look at each new one the same way. I am a quirkless teen in the hero course in U.A., I am not looking to become the number one hero, I would be impressed if I ever broke 100. I just need to graduate from this place, I need to show people that anyone can be a hero if they are willing to put in the work and sacrifice. Please don't cry for me Pony, I don't want any of you to cry for me. I want you to smile at me and laugh with me and if you want to help me, then don't treat me any differently than you would any other hero student. Put your faith in me that I can have your back and I will do the same for you." Izuku looked down at his hands. "All I ever wanted besides to be a hero was just to be treated like everyone else. To be treated as an equal and not as a lesser than."

Hiryu extended his fist towards Izuku, "Ok, Izuku, that's what I will do. Together with everyone else, we will graduate from this place. You have my back, and I will have yours."

Pony smiled at him, "I can smile for you I promise. You protect Pony and Pony protects you."

After that Izuku slipped on a long sleeve compression shirt and the trio simply talked, they talked to Izuku about movies, shows, music, and everything else normal teenagers talked about. Pony decided to share her love of American movies as they were watching it on the laptop Izuku smiled as his two friends fell asleep as the movie played. It was his first sleepover, and ignoring the fact that it was an impromptu one, he still decided to count it.

Pony and Hiryu awoke in the middle of the night covered in individual blankets, they looked and found Izuku asleep sitting on his bed, his head hanging to the side. Pony gently laid him on his side and covered him up, Izuku smiled in his sleep, and she could hear him say her name lightly, it caused the American to blush some as they quietly left the room to head to their beds.

-The next day-

Izuku had woken early, after meeting up with his two dormmates they made their way across campus to eat in the cafeteria, they were sitting eating breakfast when a girl with purple hair and earphone jacks hanging from her ears came walking over with a tray of food.

"Hey, I know you," she said as the trio looked up at her, she was pointing at her with her jacks. "You helped me out at the exam. Can I sit?"

Izuku stood up and motioned her to sit. "Yes, I remember you as well, it was cool how you just jammed your jacks into that robot and broke it. Izuku Midoriya, these are my friends Pony Tsunotori and Hiryu Rin."

The girl gave the trio a bow before she sat down, "Kyoko Jiro it is nice to meet you all. What class are you in Midoriya?"

"1-B. You?"

"1-A."

"That's nice. Hey, is your teacher any good? Ours is mean, it seems like we are bothering him just by being here. He expelled the kid who came in last in our quirk exam and threatened a few of us that we were going to take the same tests again in two weeks and if we didn't show vast improvement, we were next."

"That doesn't seem very fair. We did those tests yesterday too, our teacher told us to not become complacent and to work harder, for those that scored lower he was going to send some diet and exercise plans so they can improve." Hiryu said.

"Dude, it sucks I know we are here to be heroes but to come in day one and say get better and then not offer any support is simply wrong. That's why I am here so early so to get some exercise in."

Izuku looked over at Jiro and smiled at her, "If you like I can work out with you. Maybe show you some things you can do to improve your scores."

Kyoka's eyes widened "Really you would do that? I mean thank you, but I am not even in your class?"

"It doesn't matter when we graduate, we are going to have to work together at some point or are we going to be like no I can only work with people I went to class with." He said with a smile.

Kyoka laughed, "Yes please then Midoriya I will take all the help I can get, I don't want to get expelled." Kyoka was surprised when the other two volunteered to work out with them as well. They all agreed to meet the next morning at 5 am at one of the student gyms on campus.

-1-A-

Kyoka walked over to Toru, Sero, and Denki. "Hey, guys I found someone willing to help me work out in the mornings if you guys want to join?"

Toru immediately agreed while the boys gave halfhearted commitments.

"Who the hell is willing to help us?" Denki asked.

"You remember me telling you about the guy I met at the entrance exam, I was hoping he got in and he did he is just in 1-B," Kyoka said.

"Yea no way I am trusting that I'm out," Denki said. Sero echoed Denki's sentiment.

"Are you rejecting this just because they are from a different class?" the boys nodded. She looked at Toru.

Toru just sighed, "If you trust him then I will give him a chance, what time tomorrow" Kyoka smiled.

-1-B-

The class quieted down to a murmur when Izuku's group walked in, Izuku walked to the front of the class looking down at his watch he had a few minutes.

"Everybody can I say something."

He watched as the class quieted down.

"I know some of you are upset about what you all saw yesterday, I just want to address this so we can get it over and done with." He rolled up his sleeves showing his scared arm. "I don't regret any of these. Each one is just proof of how hard I am willing to work to be a hero. I am sure I will get more before that happens, all I want is that all of you to treat me like one of you, trust me to watch your backs as I trust you to watch mine. I know they are ugly, and I am sorry if they disturb you. But know that I will gladly get a new one if it meant that one of you were safe."

Togaru clicked his tongue. "You won't need to worry about that for me jack ass, now sit down."

Neito stood up, "I hope it never comes to that Midoriya, but I will take one as well for you."

"Me too, then I could look at all the time and remember that manly moment I saved you," Tetsu said.

"It would be a badge of honor I would bear upon my body not just for Midoriya but for any of you," Ibara said as she stood.

Kinko jumped up and her quiet voice, "Me too."

Soon the class was declaring that they would all defend each other. Izuku smiled as he made his way to his seat.

Vlad stood outside listening to his class declare to protect each other and smiled. This year was going to be interesting; he had hoped they would gel together but he never expected it so soon. And he would have never thought it would be sparked by the quirkless hero from 1-B.