Chapter 2

Choices, Training, and a Mad Inventor

Got a question. How much do you know about All Might?

"..."

So basically, you know fuck all about him… I have never been so disappointed in you in my life.

Ease up, Ariden. It's not their fault. That stuff hasn't been relevant in a long time, as much as that pains me to say.

Well, it's relevant now! So here's the gist of it, All Mi-

Woah, woah, woah! Dude! you're just going to give them a cursory explanation about All Might?

…Yes?

I can't believe this. You! My own brother! Would have the gall to try and just skim over the glorious history of All Might! Especially when I am present in the room!

Dude, we will be here a while telling this story anyways. We don't need to add the entire history of All Might to that run time.

All Might, when we were young, was the Number One hero in the world!

And… you are ignoring me. That's nice, really mature of you, Izuku.

His Quirk and Age were unknown to the general public.

He always struck me as being at least 50 years old.

Ever since he showed up on the hero scene, he had been at the top of the charts in Japan and The World!

You know there is no ranking chart for the world's top heroes, right?

Every year he had been active, the crime rate drastically decreased. His very existence was a natural deterrent to crime!

Yeah, yeah, and thanks to that, the entire world gave him the title that people still use to this day. A Pillar of Society: The Sy-

The Symbol of Peace!

You done? Can we finally get back to the story?

Don't be in such a rush all the time, Ariden. I am telling them all this for a reason.

Because you'll take any chance to talk about All Might?

…Maybe. But also to ask, put yourselves in our shoes at that moment in time with the information you have now. The World's greatest hero, The Pillar of Society, The Monolith that everyone looks to in times of need, All Might, That man… he told us that we could be heroes.

Ariden and Izuku

"Boys, You can be heroes." Toshinori said as he looked at the boys firmly and nodded.

His words rang like a bell in the young mens' minds as they knelt there on the ground. Memories of all the times they had been told that they would fail came to the surface of their thoughts.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but there isn't any hope for them."

"The Midoriyas! You gotta be joking!"

"You idiots wouldn't last a second as a hero without a quirk, and yet you have the gall to try and take a spot at U.A.?!"

The boys wept at the memories, not because they were a harsh reminder. No, they cried bittersweetly, knowing how wrong everyone was about them.

To this day, I still have trouble believing that moment actually happened.

It is hands down the best moment of our lives. Like, holy shit, man, I was on cloud nine for at least a week.

I agree entirely, and honestly, if he had just said that and left, I would have been fine. We couldn't have asked for more!

I mean, we could have…

"And I believe one of you is worthy of inheriting my power!" Toshinori said almost reverently as he outstretched his arms and raised his hands skyward like a priest.

But I wasn't actually expecting to get something more. But hey, never look a gift horse in the mouth.

The Boys' heads snapped up, and they both looked at Toshinori completely puzzled, faces stained by tears and runny noses.

"What?" They both asked at the same time.

"What's with those faces? I did tell you I also had a proposal to give!" Toshinori said as he laughed heartily, "Now listen closely!" He said, "I'm asking both of you if you want to try and inherit my power!" Toshinori exclaimed as he glared and pointed at them. A geyser of blood bursting from his mouth.

"Inherit his power?" Izuku thought as he wiped the crud from his face

"What the fuck is All Might talking about?!" Ariden thought as he cocked an eyebrow.

"This involves my quirk, boys," Toshinori said, exhausted, as he wiped the blood from his mouth. "The tabloids like to guess that it's "super strength" or "Power Boost." And I avoid the question whenever someone asks me by cracking a joke." He said as he smoothed back his disheveled hair. "I do this because All Might, the 'Symbol of Peace,' has to come off as a natural-born hero. But…" Toshinori paused as he turned to face the setting sun and outstretched his arms to bask in its warm glow. "My quirk, it was passed down to me. Like the Olympic torch is passed from runner to runner."

"Passed… down to you…?" Izuku repeated the words out loud, his eyes wide in shock.

"Really?!" Ariden asked.

"Yes," Toshinori said, a soft smile on his face. "And now it's one of your turns."

"Hold on a moment!" Izuku said as he grabbed Ariden by the back of his collar.

"Hey! What the hell, man!?" Ariden shouted as he struggled in Izuku's grip.

"We need to debrief this."

"You could have just asked man."

"And now I have. So! What do we know so far?"

"Well.."

Toshinori watched the two boys huddle together and discuss everything that they knew. Toshinori's injury, his true form, and his proposal. He had to admit he was impressed and a little creeped out by how they managed to keep up with each other, even though both were mumbling almost incoherently. He was also a little proud that he managed to make out the conversation clearly.

"To be sure, All Might's quirk is one of the world's greatest mysteries! There has been an endless debate over it ever since he showed up! A day doesn't go by without a new theory being shared on the internet." Izuku mumbled as he gesticulated his hands in a wild manner. "I should know. I've posted quite a few theories myself."

"And now he says he can pass it on!? Is he for real? How? Who passed it to him? Is that even physically possible!?" Ariden asked as he twirled his hair in his fingers mindlessly.

"In all fairness, for all the time quirks have been around, we still don't know much about them."

"True. I mean, they are called quirks in the first place because they are unique to the individual. But we haven't seen previous heroes like All Might."

"These two really are something else," Toshinori said as he shook his head. "Boys, you have no reason to doubt me!" He interrupted. "I may have secrets, but I don't lie! I can transfer this power I have. That is part of the quirk I inherited. It is called One For All!"

"One for…All." Izuku repeated out loud.

"That's one hell of a name," Ariden said

"The first person cultivates the power." Toshinori said, "And then pass it on to another and they refine and cultivate more power and pass it on again. And so on." He continued. "Until One for All is a network of power connected from one person to another spanning the generations with the sole purpose of saving those who cry for help!"

"But why us?" Ariden asked as he knitted his brow together.

"I've been looking for a successor for a while now, and not only have I found one." He said as he pointed to Ariden, "I've found two." He gestured towards Izuku. "You two may be quirkless fanboys, but what I saw back there…" He said as he closed his eyes in remembrance. "You were both more heroic than anyone else, and that is all the proof I need."

Toshinori opened his eyes and looked at the boys. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose between his forefinger and thumb.

"And now I'm afraid this is where I have to give the bad news," He frowned. "I can pass my quirk on, but I cannot split it between you two even though I wish I could."

"So what are you going to do?" Izuku asked

"It wouldn't be fair for me to pick, So I will let you two decide. I trust you can come to a decision amicably?" Toshinori asked

"Of course," both boys nodded.

The brothers walked a few feet away so they wouldn't be overheard. They stood there in silent contemplation, each not wanting to break the tense silence between them. So much had been laid at their feet, and now it was up to them to decide who got to achieve their dream and who didn't. In the end, both boys knew that there was only one answer.

"I think you should have it!" Both boys said at the same time.

"What!? No! You take it." Both said in perfect synch

"Alright, stop. This isn't getting us anywhere." Ariden said as he held up a hand to stop Izuku from speaking.

"You're right. So you should take it so we can move on!" Izuku said as he crossed his arms and frowned.

"Why?" Ariden asked, "You deserve it more than I do."

"No, I don't. You tried to save me when I got captured and were far more effective in the second fight. You were far more heroic than me."

"No." Ariden shook his head, "The only reason you were captured was 'cause you sacrificed yourself for me, and even then, all I did was get myself captured. And without your help in the second fight, I wouldn't have been able to hit the guy."

"But you-" Izuku started.

"Look," Ariden said as he put up a hand to interrupt Izuku. "You and Mom have helped me my entire life, and I owe everything to you two." He smiled warmly at Izuku, "Think of this as me repaying the favor. You can live our dream for both of us."

"But-"

"Nothing you do or say is changing my mind."

"I…" Izuku paused, reluctance written plainly across his face. "Okay, you win."

Ariden smiled and pulled Izuku into a tight hug.

"No hard feelings?" Izuku asked

"None whatsoever," Ariden answered.

Izuku smiled a little, a weight he hadn't known was there lifted from his shoulders.

"Well…" Ariden started, "Not unless you fuck it up." He laughed

Izuku punched him in the shoulder.

They returned to Toshinori, who had watched them with a fond smile. He looked at Ariden and gave him a nod of approval. He then turned to Izuku and looked at him firmly.

"So what is your answer, young man?" He asked.

Both boys looked at Toshinori in surprise.

"What?" He asked, "Even though I couldn't hear you, your actions spoke for themselves." He laughed. "Now then, your decision?"

"I accept!" Izuku said instantly

"Not a moment of hesitation!" Toshinori smiled, "I expected no less."

He then turned to Ariden.

"Don't think I've forgotten about you. You will receive the same training as your brother," He explained. "I won't let such potential go to waste! I will be with you every step of the way! You'll be as much of a hero as your brother will be!" Toshinori said as he smiled fiercely.

"Thank you. Truly thank you." Ariden said as he bowed his head. "But it's a bit early to start comparing me to Izuku." He mumbled to himself.

Izuku overheard and looked at Ariden sympathetically.

"Hey." Izuku whispered, "At least Mom doesn't compare the two of us."

"Oh, she does." Ariden whispered, chuckling, "But only when we are being a pain in her ass. God, I can only imagine what she'll say when she… sees… the news…."

A sense of dread seized both of the boys as they realized something.

"Oh Shit!" Ariden swore.

"What!? What is it?!" Toshinori asked as he looked around in alarm.

"The villain attack, has it made the news yet?!" Izuku asked frantically

"Yes, just about an hour ago. Why?" Toshinori asked.

Both boys looked at each other, fear clear in their eyes.

"We are so fucking dead," Ariden said as he grasped his hair in his hands

"Why? I don't see what the issue is." Toshinori frowned and folded his arms as he looked at the boys in confusion.

"Our mom watches the news," Ariden explained. "Guess whose faces will show up all nice and crystal clear."

"Okay, and?" Toshinori asked.

"Add us being quirkless, plus us rushing into a villain's attack, plus our mother seeing that, and what do you get," Ariden said.

"You get…" Toshinori paused to consider Ariden's words. "An extremely overprotective mother…" Toshinori sighed. "I think I am beginning to see the problem."

"She is going to ground us for the next two years!" Izuku lamented as he buried his face in his hands.

"Calm down," Toshinori said as he touched Izuku's shoulder. "Take me to your mother. I should be able to fix this."

"Godspeed to you if you can," Ariden said.

The Trio then started heading toward their destination. Ariden and Izuku raced at the front while Toshinori tried to keep up in the back.

Inko

Inko Midoriya was an average stay-at-home mom. She spent most of her busy time doing chores, running errands, fretting over bills, the typical life of an adult. Though that all changed when her two sons were deemed quirkless. Most of her friends considered her the unluckiest woman to have lived. Many thought she'd spiral downward, having to raise two quirkless kids, but they didn't give her enough credit. Nor did they know Mitsuki Bakugo.

Inko had weathered the years with a certain grace and dignity. The only way one could tell time had touched her would be the slight wrinkles around the eyes and the slight weight gain from a mostly sedentary life. She stood at five foot three with shoulder-length forest green hair that she kept part of in a ponytail and vibrant green eyes. She had a rounded face with a smooth chin. All in all, she was in relatively good health.

That is until she had seen the evening news that day. She felt like she'd have a heart attack when she watched her sons rush toward a villain that had held Mitsuki's son hostage. And then she almost had another when her sons came home and brought in a stranger who towered over her by at least three feet and explained his request to her..

"You want to do what?!" Inko shouted as she held both of her sons tightly to her sides.

"To uhh... Train your sons to be… heroes." Toshinori said sheepishly as he watched Ariden and Izuku struggle to breath

"He… c-can be… trusted…" Izuku wheezed out as he struggled to break Inko's hold.

"Y-yeah!" Ariden croaked out as his face started to turn a shade of blue. "He works… for… All Might!"

Inko looked at her sons in surprise and quickly noticed they had gone limp in her arms. She let them go instantly. As soon as she did, the two boys coughed, sputtered back to life, and greedily inhaled air as if it were their last chance. Inko looked at Ariden and Izuku apologetically, a sheepish smile on her face.

"Sorry boys…" Inko meekly said.

"This is like the second time today we've been strangled." Ariden feebly mumbled.

"I hope this doesn't become a running theme." Izuku groaned.

"Now," Inko said as she turned to look at Toshinori with a slight glare. "Why do you want to train my sons?"

Toshinori raised his eyebrows at the sudden shift in Inko's demeanor.

"I was there at the villain's attack." He said.

Inko instinctively grabbed the two boys and hugged them in a death grip again. Ariden and Izuku looked at Toshinori pleadingly as they tried to break free. Toshinori raised a finger to point out that she was choking her sons out again, but he reconsidered when he saw the glare in her eyes. Instead, he opted to simply cough into his hand and ignored the betrayed looks in his hopefully future disciples.

"What I saw there was nothing short of heroic." Toshinori continued. "Your sons rushed into the line of fire without a second thought to themselves because they saw someone in need of help," he said as he locked eyes with Inko. "If that isn't what true heroes are made of, I'll quit my job here and now!" He said as he slammed his fist into his palm. "And my boss thinks the same. Which is why he asked me to train them, and I am more than glad to do so."

"Just like that?" Inko asked as she examined Toshinori closer.

"Just like that." He nodded. "Both I and All Might see a spark in them, and we would love to do nothing more than nurture that. I firmly believe they could become some of the world's greatest heroes if given a little help."

Inko's expression softened as she looked at her sons oddly, as if she saw them in a new light. Ariden and Izuku had stopped struggling, also captivated by Toshinori's words. They turned to look at her with determination written on their faces and a fire in their eyes. Inko released them from her grip, got up, and started pacing the living room, deep in thought. The three men sat silently for a long time as they watched her pace. Finally, Inko stopped in her tracks and turned towards Toshinori.

"Mr. Yagi, I just…." Inko hesitated for a moment. "I can't decide." She shook her head in frustration.

"Mrs. Midoriya, I know this is not an easy decision to make," Toshinori said softly. "Especially given all that has just happened, and the fact that this is coming from a complete stranger," he chuckled. "If you aren't comfortable making this decision now, we can wait for your husband to return. That way, you two can discuss it at greater length."

Inko's expression soured, and she glared at Toshinori

"I'm not married." She said with an icy glare.

Toshinori immediately bowed low.

"I am sorry. I briefly noticed all those family photos in the entrance hallway and assumed you were still married."

"It's alright, you didn't know." Inko sighed exhaustedly. "I haven't been married for a long time and just haven't found the time to take those photos down."

"Ignorance is not an excuse for assuming," Toshinori said, still bowed low.

"Thank you, Mr. Yagi."

Toshinori righted himself and straightened his shirt.

"You'll have to forgive me as well for sounding rude," Inko said with an embarrassed smile. "May I ask if you could step out for a moment? I wish to discuss this with my sons."

Toshinori nodded and got up, and made his way toward the door. Inko waited till the door closed behind him and turned and focused on her sons. She sat there silently for a while, a troubled look on her face.

"Is this really what you want?" She asked, concern in her voice.

"Yes!" Both boys said excitedly.

Ariden put a hand on her shoulder and fondly squeezed it.

"This is our chance to make our dream come true." He smiled, "We'd be crazy if we didn't take this opportunity."

Izuku then gave her a warm hug.

"Please, let us at least try." He pleaded. "We will make you proud."

Inko had to blink back tears as she scooped her sons into a hug of her own.

"Oh, my darling boys. You've already made me proud." She sniffled. "Especially today, I am so proud of you for trying to save Katsuki."

She released them and wiped her eyes, and turned towards the door.

"Mr. Yagi, you can come back now."

Toshinori was silent as he made his way back to the living room.

"Please have a seat." She said as she gestured to the chair across from her.

They sat there quietly. All three men watched Inko with rapt attention. They perked up as she opened her mouth to speak, but Inko quickly closed it and shook her head in frustration. More time passed, during which Inko tried to give voice to her thoughts but couldn't seem to find the right words. Finally, Inko cleared her throat and focused firmly on Toshinori.

"Thirteen years ago, when my sons were declared quirkless, I told them that life was unfair." She said as she grimaced at the memory. "I have felt guilty ever since. I should have encouraged them to keep going instead. This is my chance to atone for that mistake."

Inko then reached over and offered her hand to Toshinori, who took it and shook without hesitation. Both adults nodded to one another in silent agreement. Then Inko pulled Toshinori in close.

"I accept your request to train my sons." She said, "But I do have one condition."

"Yes?"

"Do anything to hurt my sons, and not even All Might will be able to save you. Got it?" Inko said with a soft smile and piercing eyes.

Toshinori felt a quiver of danger in his soul at that smile.

"G-got it." Toshinori gulped.

Ariden, Izuku, and Toshinori

It was decided that Ariden and Izuku's training would start a few days later so that everything could calm down from the incident. It was a crisp Sunday morning, the sun had just begun to rise, and a few stars still glittered in the dawn sky. The road of the commercial district Ariden and Izuku walked down was littered with small puddles with snowy slush in the middle.

"Wonder why All Might asked us to come to the beach instead of a gym?" Ariden said as he strolled along, his hands clasped behind his head.

"Well, think about it," Izuku said. "People would swarm him if he just showed up at a gym."

"Yeah…" Ariden nodded. "And people would ask questions if he took us to his office to train there."

"You know, for a guy with such a huge secret, he doesn't have that much privacy."

"So why did he ask us to come to the beach then?"

"He uhh… I'm sure he has a good reason."

"Kiss-ass."

"Hey!"

All Might hastily scribbled the finishing touches to what he considered the best training regiment ever created. And no, he wasn't saying that because he wrote it and would deny any accusation that said otherwise. He put his pen down and looked at the two packets of paper with pride.

"These will surely do the trick!" All Might smiled to himself. "If this doesn't whip those two boys into shape, I'll eat my socks!"

He slipped the two dossiers into his jacket pocket, examined his surroundings, and frowned. There were mountains upon mountains of trash no matter what direction he looked. The only sand that could be seen was beneath his feet.

"I wonder if they've figured out why I brought them here yet." All Might thought as he walked towards the entrance.

As he reached the top of the stairs that led down to the beach, he saw the boys standing under the entry archway. They were busy looking all around at the trash. As All Might got closer, he looked at them, specifically their attire.

Izuku wore one of his All Might Brand tracksuits, based on his golden age hero outfit and its classic look of red, white, and blue with some gold around the ankles and wrists... It was a bit baggy on Izuku's scrawny frame, but he looked so happy to wear it. The kid was a complete fanboy, without a doubt.

Ariden's attire was equally interesting, not because it was bright and colorful like Izuku's but because it was lacking. He wore a simple T-shirt and gray track shorts. Normally All Might wouldn't think twice about it. However, it stuck out because it was a January Morning, and he looked around and saw bits of snow still on the ground.

"Wasn't that a limited run?" All Might asked Izuku, his signature smile on his face. "That couldn't have been cheap."

"I know, but I wanted it so badly!" Izuku smiled brightly. "I had to save up 4 months of allowance just to get it."

All Might couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle at how dedicated a fanboy Izuku was.

"And aren't you cold?" He asked Ariden

"Eh." Ariden shrugged, "Always been a fan of the cold."

"I won't say anything if you're alright with it." All Might nodded. "But please do bring a jacket and long pants just in case. I'd rather not have your mother skin my hide if you got sick under my watch." All Might said and shuddered at the thought of an angry Inko. "Now! Here we are, so focus up and let's get to work!"

We had finally started our path to becoming heroes, and each step brought us closer to our goal.

Hey, I am just surprised that Mom even let us step foot out the door to begin with.

That was the first trial we overcame. This training would be our second.

The sun had climbed a little higher in the sky, though the dawn had yet to fade. The ocean glittered and sparkled as the sun's rays danced along its surface. Waves lapped upon the shore and carried more detritus and flotsam for the beach's already large collection. The salty sea air mingled with the scent of metal and rust leaving a briny acrid smell. All in all, it was hell for the two young men.

"This fridge makes for a nice seat!" All Might said as he watched the two boys strain against ropes wrapped around the fridge. "A little movement would make it a lot better!"

"Christ, All Might! You alone weigh 600 pounds!" Ariden said as he strained against the ropes.

"Nah, I've actually lost weight! I'm only 560 pounds."

"Hey, why are we dragging this garbage across the beach anyways?" Izuku asked

"Because!" All Might chuckled as he took photos of the two with his phone. "You're not ready to receive my power!"

"WHAT?!" Izuku cried and tripped over himself, slamming face-first into the ground. "But I thought you said that we were worthy earlier." He said in a muffled voice, his face buried in the sand.

"Your body, kid! I meant your body wasn't ready yet." All Might said as he got down from the fridge, taking photos the entire time.

Both boys gave him a questioning look.

"The power of One For All binds the physical strength of many people into one. That scrawny body of yours ain't ready for that kind of power! Those limp noodles you call arms and legs would pop right off if I gave it to you now!"

"My limbs!" Izuku said and flailed wildly in horror.

"Woah! Okay! I think I made the right call letting you have it!" Ariden said as he threw up his hands and backed away from Izuku as if he would explode that very second. "But that didn't really answer the question. We are here so that we can train our bodies. By hauling trash?"

"Correct!" All Might said and gave a thumbs up. "But that's not all." He said in a more earnest tone. "I did some research yesterday. This beach has been like this for years."

"Yeah, I read about this place before. All I remember, though, was that the tide washed junk ashore, and people started dumping stuff here after that." Izuku said.

"The new generation of heroes these days only want fame and glory." All Might said and rested his hand on top of the fridge. "That's why I brought you two here! To teach you that being a hero is all about volunteering yourself! No matter how unglamorous it may seem!" He said. "Now, let's bring back that beautiful ocean view!"

Without any effort, All Might pressed down on the fridge. With a loud crunch, it crumpled as easily as a tin can under a boot. The wind blew in all directions as the fridge flattened, throwing junk and debris aside. A clear patch of the beach was visible. The white sand, the blue water, and the bright sunrise gave the boys a vision of how the beach used to be and what it could become again.

"This is your first step towards becoming heroes."

"So our first step… Is cleaning up all this!?" Izuku said with a worried look as he gestured all around him.

"Boys. Ariden. Izuku. You want to get into U.A., right?" All Might said, dusting off his hands.

"Well yeah! Because you went to U.A., I want to go there too!" Izuku said

"Of course. It's where the best of the best went. What other option is there?" Ariden said, nodding towards All Might

"You're fanboys through and through!" All Might smiled briefly before his expression turned dour. "But like I've said before, it's impossible if you don't have a quirk. It's sad, but it's true. Not to mention U.A. has the toughest hero course in the world."

"This is all nice and dandy for Izuku since he is getting a quirk. But where exactly do I fit in this picture?" Ariden asked.

"I haven't forgotten about you, young man!" All Might beamed. "You'll be aiming for the support course!"

"As soon as he said I needed a quirk, I should've known. So much for wanting to be a hero, I guess." Ariden thought to himself with a sigh...

All Might's face softened as he watched Ariden look away from him and try to hide the look of disappointment on his face.

"Young Ariden, I know how this may look. But you aren't being put on the sidelines." All Might spoke softly. "This is the only way you'll be able to get into U.A. and still achieve your goal."

"It makes sense." Ariden said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Sorry, I guess I let my excitement get ahead of me and didn't really think about it."

"I probably should have explained all this when we talked a few days ago." All Might said with a shrug. "But you are still a young man! And young people always let their emotions get the better of them!" He said with a laugh.

"Is that from personal experience?" Ariden asked, cracking a small smile.

"I was a young man once as well!" All Might roared with laughter. "However, there is another reason why we are here."

All Might motioned to the large mountains of scrap and junk

"Scrap Metal and Electronics."

"What? Are we starting a grassroots salvage business as well?" Ariden smirked.

"No, no. Though that isn't a bad idea." All Might shook his head. "We will be taking them to a man named Kikai Hatsume."

"Who is he?" Izuku asked.

"He is one of Japan's best inventors and support gear creators. I made a deal with him, We bring him the scrap we collect here, and he teaches you two to create support gear."

"Not that I'm complaining, but why am I also learning to make support gear?" Izuku asked.

"Since the opportunity is there, you might as well seize it." All Might said as he held up a clenched fist. "I skimmed through your notebooks while you were out cold. Needless to say, I was very impressed with the analytical skill you two had. It reminded me of two of my colleagues."

A brief thought crossed All Might's mind, what would happen if the boys and his two colleagues met? A cold shiver rolled down his spine as he thought he heard the sound of ominous laughter coming from two different sources.

"A-Anyways! I don't want to waste either of your potentials!" All Might said as he looked around nervously in a cold sweat.

The two brothers also looked around, trying to find what made All Might nervous, but when they saw nothing, they looked at All Might curiously.

"You alright?" Ariden asked, an eyebrow raised in suspicion

"Y-yes," All Might said hoarsely. "I mean. I'm fine." He coughed. "Now then, does all this sound good to you two?"

Both boys nodded firmly.

"Excellent! Now here, take these!"

All Might then pulled out the two paper packets from his pocket and handed one to each boy.

"What's this?" Izuku asked.

"That! Young Izuku is my self-designed 'Get into U.A. All American Dream Plan'!" All Might proudly proclaimed as he flexed his muscles

"But we're all Japanese!" Ariden said, his eyebrows furrowed as he looked at the papers in his hands.

"Doesn't matter! Now listen! You will follow this program to the letter for the next ten months! I have written down everything in detail, including what you eat, how you spend your time, even when you sleep, and for how long."

"So thorough!" Izuku looked at the packet in awe.

"Wait, Ten Months?" Ariden said. "All Might, we are both in the 11th grade, and according to this, we'll have four months left in 12th grade when we finish."

"You are correct." All Might nodded in confirmation. "Those four months will be spent learning to fight and for young Izuku to acclimatize himself to One for All. That way, you'll have a better chance of passing the entrance exams come Mid-January."

Both boys looked at their packets in quiet contemplation.

"We've chit-chatted long enough! It's time to get back to work!"

Ariden and Izuku looked around at the mountains of junk and looked back at each other with fire in their eyes.

"Let's go!" they both said at the same time.

One day down, Ten more months to go. And day one was the easiest.

Well yeah, that's because we met Mei on the second day, and it all went to hell from there.

Inko

When Inko received the training plan Mr. Yagi had given the boys, she was determined to help them follow it to the letter. What she didn't expect was how hard it was going to be. Inko stood in the doorway of her sons' room. The sun had barely risen from its own bed as she looked at Ariden and Izuku in the deepest sleep she had ever seen them in. And they showed no signs that they would wake soon.

"I know they are training to get into U.A., but what is Mr. Yagi making them do that tired them out so much?" Inko thought as she looked at the boys.

As if on cue, there was a knock at the door. Inko looked at the clock in the hallway and looked back at the door with puzzlement.

"It's 4 A.M. Who would come knocking at this hour?!" She thought as she approached the door.

She peered through the peephole and was surprised at who it was. Inko unlocked the door and opened it for Toshinori. A cold wind blew through the entryway as the man greeted her with a smile.

"Good morning, Ms. Midoriya. Would you mind if I came in?" Toshinori said with a slight shiver.

"Of course, please enter. I don't want you catching a cold."

Toshinori graciously nodded and entered without another word.

"May I ask what brought you here so early in the morning?" Inko asked

"I assume the boys are still passed out?" Toshinori asked with a sheepish grin as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Yes, I take it you had something to do with that," Inko said, a little heat in her tone.

"Apologies, when I told them the plan yesterday, they got a little… over enthused." He said with a small chuckle. "I figured they'd work themselves till they were dead tired. So I decided to come by and see if you needed help waking them up."

"And what exactly are you having them do that made them so tired?" Inko asked, "And do you plan to let them overexert themselves again?"

She must have accidentally let a little worry leak out with that last sentence because Toshinori seemed to grow more serious.

"No, the last thing I want them to do is overexert themselves. It'd be counterintuitive for them to do so." He said, "As for what they are doing. Do you know Takoba Beach?"

Inko's face involuntarily wrinkled in disgust

"My thoughts exactly," Toshinori smiled. "I am having them clean it up."

"Oh! That is wonderful. I know many people will be happy to have the beach back!" Inko said and beamed with pride at her sons' efforts to help the community. "But…" She said, her expression turned more concerned. "Isn't that dangerous? They could get crushed! Or get a deep cut on rusted metal! Or get sick from-"

She was interrupted by Toshinori's hearty laughter.

"It's always a mother's job to worry." Toshinori smiled at Inko. "If you'd like, you could come with us and watch over them if you feel the need to."

"Thank you, but no," Inko said, her eyes downcast. "I lost my right to be at their side as they achieve their dream."

Toshinori frowned as he looked at Inko with an expression she could only describe as pity. He opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by the sound of shifting bed sheets. Ariden and Izuku had woken up and looked bleary-eyed at Inko and Toshinori. They stared at the two adults until realization sparked in their eyes.

"Oh, crap!" Both boys said as they scrambled out of their beds.

Inko and Toshinori watched the mad rush as the boys prepared for the day. Inko had to admit she was impressed. This was the fastest she had seen them get up in the morning. Now if only they'd do the same when she woke them up. She couldn't help but glance at Toshinori with a bit of jealousy.

"We're so sorry!" Izuku shouted as he rushed out of the bathroom, toothpaste still on the corner of his mouth. "I hope we aren't too late!"

"Yeah! Completely our fault!" Ariden said as he finished putting on his workout clothes. "Won't happen again!"

As soon as they got their shoes on, they rushed to Inko, giving her a quick hug and a garbled mess of a goodbye. After that, they grabbed Toshinori and hauled him towards the door. Toshinori gave Inko one last look of complete bewilderment as the door closed behind him. Inko just stood there in silence for a while. Then she laughed.

Ariden, Izuku, and Toshinori

The truck drove down the mountainous dirt road in the late afternoon, the back piled high with scrap metal and other various parts. Ariden and Izuku sat quietly in the back as Toshinori drove them toward what they could only assume was the Hatsume Workshop.

"So, how well do you know the Hatsumes?" Izuku asked.

"I haven't had that many dealings with them, but I've met them enough to know they are a good bunch and are second to none regarding support gear," Toshinori said. "Most heroes have been their client at one point or another."

"Really? If that's the case, why aren't they more well-known?" Ariden asked

"Most support gear businesses also manufacture gear for everyday use. The Hatsumes make almost entirely gear for the hero industry. So they aren't well known to the civilian population." Toshinori explained as he steered the truck around a bend. "But they are well known to most heroes."

"What makes them so special?" Izuku asked.

"Everything they make is custom made. They keep a record of all their clients and their quirks and make the gear according to the client's request while keeping the client's quirk in mind. They could make two pieces of gear that serve the same function but are completely different in how they work."

"Did you say they have an archive of quirks?" Ariden said, a glint in his eye.

"Yes, I did." Toshinori nodded. "I've had the pleasure to see it. It was one of the most thorough records I've seen."

When Toshinori didn't hear any further questions, he looked back into the rearview mirror. He saw the boys muttering up a storm to each other.

"Wonder if we'll be able to look at it," Izuku mumbled. "Maybe they'll even give us a copy!"

"Just think of all the things we'd get to learn!" Ariden muttered excitedly, "We have to see it! This is a golden opportunity for us!"

Toshinori felt a sense of foreboding and wondered if he should turn the truck around while he still had the chance.

They arrived at the Hatsume's shortly after. The building was nestled deep in the forest with trees and mountains surrounding all sides, save for a wide open field off to the right of the building. The area was littered with scorched earth, craters from explosions, and bits and pieces of twisted metal.

The building itself was out of place, as if someone had grabbed a standard suburban two-story house and an industrial warehouse, fused them, and put them in the middle of the woods. The Residential part was ordinary, but the warehouse was far more interesting. Smoke rose from different-sized pipes and chimneys on the warehouse's roof, and the sound of refinery equipment echoed from it.

As the boys got out of the truck, they noticed Toshinori walk behind the vehicle until he could no longer be seen from behind the large pile of scrap still in the back. They heard a brief grunt, and from the other side, All Might walked out.

"They don't know about my condition." All Might explained when he saw the looks on the boys' faces.

They nodded in understanding and walked towards the building.

The boys scanned the warehouse for an entrance but were stopped when they watched All Might walk toward the residential portion of the building. The boys just looked at each other, shrugged, and followed the hero into the house.

They were surprised when they got inside. The room they stepped into was a reception area. Chairs lined the wall to one side of the room, and a coffee table with nondescript magazines and books stood nearby. On the opposite side from where the three men stood was a receptionist's desk, a small bell on one corner of it. There was a metal door directly behind the desk. The sound of refinery equipment came from beyond its threshold. The room was empty. Not even a receptionist manned the desk.

The still air and the faint sound of clanging metal would have made Ariden and Izuku think twice before entering. But their fear was quashed as they watched All Might stride confidently into the room. He walked straight to the desk and rang the bell once. A high, piercing chime sang out into the empty space.

The note hung in the air for a while, but no one came. All Might rang it again, adding a little strength to it. The bell belted out an even higher but shrill chime that painfully rang the boys' ears. They waited for a minute, but no one answered the call.

"Maybe they aren't home?" Izuku suggested.

"Nonsense! I know the Hatsumes well enough to know they barely leave home." All Might said as he crossed his arms indignantly.

"Maybe this is one of those times," Ariden said.

"No, no, maybe they just can't hear it!" All Might said with a dismissive wave, "You know what they say! The third time's the charm!"

All Might slammed his hand down onto the bell. It rang one last sharp note, but the sound was engulfed by a loud metal crunch that could have been heard a mile away. All Might lifted his hand and looked at the bell. It had been flattened completely. There was a slight crater under the bell, splinters, and chips of wood spread out from the impact area.

All Might turned around sheepishly. Izuku looked at him wide-eyed in complete awe. Ariden, on the other hand, had turned away, a hand over his mouth, his whole body shuddering as he fought to not burst into laughter. He failed.

"Third time's the charm indeed!" Ariden laughed. "You really showed that bell whose boss! Hey, I think they had some wind chimes out front. Want to show them you mean business!"

"Now tha-"

A loud explosion roared from beyond the metal door and interrupted All Might as he opened his mouth to say anything. Without another thought, he put himself between it and the boys. Another explosion caused the building to tremble. The cacophony was unending, each explosion coming closer to the door until the thunderous racket suddenly ceased, and silence fell. All three men sat in tense silence for a long time.

"Hmm. maybe I should go back there and see what the situation is." All Might said as he stretched his neck in preparation.

The second he took a step forward, another explosion went off. The metal door flung open, and a man flew out. The man rolled across the floor and stopped in a tangle of limbs. The boys stepped towards him to see if he was okay, but All Might put a hand on each of their shoulders to stop them. After a moment, the man got up and dusted himself off.

The man was covered in soot, and a few stray hairs glowed as they burned. He was an older man. He stood shorter than the boys at about 5'4" but was far more built than either. He had tanned, callused skin, with scars and burns covering his body. The man had shoulder-length scruffy pink hair tied back in a half ponytail and a big bushy beard just as pink with flecks of white and gray scattered throughout. He wore a pair of oil-stained blue coveralls.

"Dammit, Mei! I told ya that was Helium! Not Hydrogen!" The man drawled in a Kansai accent.

"Kikai! It's wonderful to see you! I hope you are well." All Might said a bright smile on his face.

The man looked at All Might momentarily before turning back towards the door.

"You're early." He said gruffly. "Say…" He said as he turned towards the desk. "What happened to the bell?"

Another explosion rumbled through the building, and Kikai turned back towards the door with a scowl. As Kikai started to turn back towards the three men, Ariden grabbed the bell in a flash and hid it in his pocket.

"What bell?" Ariden asked as he tried to look nonchalantly. "You alright? Didn't hit your head, did you?"

Kikai glanced back over to the desk, blinked, and shrugged.

"Bah, it doesn't matter. Mei probably grabbed it for one of her inventions." Kikai said, "So, why ya here? Don't 'member you orderin' anythin' All Might."

All Might sighed in relief.

"Need to thank young Ariden later." All Might thought. "I have the scrap as promised. It's time to hold up your end of the deal."

The pink-haired man looked at All Might confused and stroked his beard in thought. After a moment, he perked up.

"That's right." Kikai snapped his fingers.

"Ah, good. I was worried you had forgotten for a second."

"About that. What was my end of the deal again?" Kikai said as he scratched his beard without a care.

"You're supposed to be training these two young men I brought with me." All Might said as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

Kikai looked past All Might and raised his eyebrows in surprise when he saw Ariden and Izuku.

"Huh, didn't see 'em there."

"I just talked to you!" Ariden said

"I'd 'member if I did, kid." Kikai sniffed and crossed his arms defensively. "Though you two are 'bout the most unremarkable people I done did see. Ain't my fault I didn't 'member you."

Both boys hung their heads in despair at the old man's harsh words but quickly tensed nervously as Kikai approached them and examined them closely, a bit too close for their comfort. Their nervousness turned into abject horror as Kikai felt their muscles and studied their faces when he was nose to nose with them. After the longest few seconds of their lives, Kikai backed up and gave a grunt.

"Nope." Kikai shook his head. "I ain't trainin' 'em."

All three men looked at Kikai, their mouths gaping in shock. The old man looked at their expressions momentarily and bursted into laughter.

"You should see the look on your faces!" He chortled. "It's not that I won't train 'em. It's just that I can't."

"What do you mean!? We had a deal." All Might said, a slight twitch of irritation on his brow.

"I know, I know," Kikai said, hands held up placatingly. "It's just that I just received a commission that requires my full attention."

Another explosion thundered throughout the building.

"I swear that girl…." Kikai said in annoyance.

Then a wicked gleam came to the old man's eyes. He looked at the two boys and smiled.

"That girl…" He mused as he stroked his beard. "I think I've solved our lil' problem."

Kikai walked back through the metal door and closed it behind him. After a few moments of silence, they heard Kikai shouting at the top of his lungs.

"MEI!"

"WHAT!? I'M BUSY!" came a shrill but husky feminine voice.

"I GOT A JOB FOR YA! SO GET YOUR BUTT UP TO THE FRONT DESK!"

"WHAT PART OF I'M BUSY DID YOU NOT GET!"

"IT WASN'T A REQUEST; IT WAS AN ORDER!" Kikai shouted angrily, "NOW GET YOUR ASS TO THE FRONT DESK OR ELSE YOU'RE BANNED FROM THE WORKSHOP FOR A MONTH!"

"FINE! BUT THIS BETTER BE WORTH IT." The woman shouted spitefully.

A few moments passed, and Kikai stepped out into the waiting room.

"She'll be a moment." He said with a pleasant smile.

"G-good." All Might said with clear apprehension.

A Minute or two passed in silence, then the sounds of approaching boots filled the air. As soon as all four men turned to look at the door, it flew open, and a woman stepped out.

"Gentlemen. Meet my daughter, Mei Hatsume." Kikai said as he gestured toward the woman.

She was young looking, almost the same age as Ariden and Izuku. She was also the same height as Izuku, standing at 5'6". She had a muscular build, her body lean and firm, but it did nothing to offset her mature figure. She had salmon-pink hair in dreadlocks that rolled down her shoulders. Her eyes were bright yellowish-green, with sniper crosshairs on each of her irises. Her face was rounded and ended in a pointed chin, which was only made sharper by the wild smile she had on her face.

She wore a simple form-fitting black tank-top that made the boys blush, much to their embarrassment, and dark green coveralls for pants, the torso tied around her waist like a sash. The most eye-catching thing about her attire was the gadget she wore on her head. It was a pair of red and gold goggles, the same crosshair pattern etched into the lenses. A red and gold headband was attached to the straps of the goggles, and from it sprouted curved pipes that resembled the antlers of a deer.

"She's gorgeous." Both boys mused independently of each other.

Both boys blushed madly at the unbidden thought.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Hatsume." All Might said with a courteous bow.

Mei ignored the greeting, instead rushed over to Ariden and Izuku and looked at them intensely, her mad smile never disappearing.

"Too close, too close, too close!" Izuku thought as he wilted underneath her stare.

"Oh god, She's fucking crazy!" Ariden thought as he inched backward in fear.

The looks of discomfort did nothing to dissuade the young woman. She circled them like a wolf circled its prey. She gave a curious hum and inched closer until her body, and Ariden made contact. Then she started to grope his muscles and chest. The young man's discomfort turned into horror.

"God on high, hear me now!" Ariden silently prayed. "Don't let me make a sudden move!" He whimpered as he felt Mei's ample chest brush rub against his.

Mei finished after a moment, apparently satisfied with her examination results. Then she turned towards Izuku and did the same.

"Wait, what is she-" Izuku thought.

He passed out as soon as Mei pressed herself against him.

"Dammit, Mei!" Kikai shouted as he grabbed her by the arm and dragged her away. "How many times do I have to tell ya to stop doin' that?!"

"You two aren't much, scrawny as you are," Mei said as she looked at the boys. "But not to worry! I'll make you plenty of babies that I'm sure you'll just love!"

Ariden looked up from his brother's passed-out form and stared at Mei, then he blushed so hard he looked like his skin was crimson and promptly passed out.

"Shit! Shit! Shit!" All Might thought and clutched his hair in dismay. "Their mother is going to kill me!"

"God dammit Mei, how many times have I told ya to stop callin' your gadgets 'babies'!" Kikai scowled.

After a few seconds, the boys rallied and rose to their feet mechanically, each with a completely blank expression as if they had turned into dolls.

"Boys? You… okay?" All Might said hesitantly as he approached them slowly.

The two boys blinked their eyes and shook their heads as if pulled from a trance. Ariden and Izuku looked at All Might in confusion.

"Yeah, we're alright. Don't see why we wouldn't be." Ariden said as he looked at All Might oddly.

"Are you okay?" Izuku asked worriedly. "You look pale."

" Y-yeah" All Might meekly coughed. "Yeah, totally a-okay, just forget I even asked." He said as he quickly wiped the sweat from his brow.

"Now Mei, the job I need ya to do is to train those two greenhorns over there," Kikai said, gesturing to Ariden and Izuku. "I want ya to teach them all you know about the art and science of support gear engineering."

"I'll do it!" Mei said, an excited gleam in her eye.

All four men looked at her with surprise.

"But!" She said and held up a finger. "I have one condition."

"What is it?"

"I want those two…." Mei said and pointed at the boys. "To be my guinea pigs when I test out my babies."

"Your…what now?" Ariden asked incredulously

"She gets a little attached to her inventions. She calls them her babies." Kikai explained. "Even when I tell her not to." He grumbled to himself.

"It seems only fair," Izuku said as he pondered the request. "We are taking up her time, might as well pay her back somehow."

"I guess," Ariden said and rubbed the back of his neck. "It's a fair trade if I've ever seen one."

Mei rushed towards the two and scooped them into a big hug, a wide smile on her face. Izuku turned cherry red and passed out. Ariden looked at All Might pleadingly, but the tall man gave him a thumbs up and a sheepish grin. The moment passed, and Mei dumped them onto the floor unceremoniously.

"We've wasted enough time!" Mei said, a crazed smile on her face. "Come, my minions! We have work to do!"

Mei then grabbed Ariden and Izuku each by a leg and started to drag them towards the metal door. The boys struggled and clawed at the floor, trying to get a grip. When that didn't work, they tried to pry open her hands, but her grip was made of steel. In a last-ditch attempt, they turned to All Might.

"HELP! ALL MIGHT!" They both cried as they stretched out their hands toward him.

The metal door slammed behind them.

"This is for the best. This is for the best." All Might repeated to himself.

Then he heard Izuku scream.

"Their mother is going to kill me."

That was the true start of our ten months in pure hell. Also, complete dick move on All Might's part. He heard us cry for help and did fuck all.

I'm just glad we survived intact. I still have nightmares from that time.

Authors Notes

Hey all! It's been a bit since I've posted but what can you do? Stuff happens whether you want it too or not. But rest assured I have no intentions of giving up on this anytime soon. Most of my absence was due to me actually planning chapters in advance. I think I'm starting to get a knack at this whole writing thing, even if my process right now is extremely convoluted. But hey whatever gets the job done. In any case, you've made it this far so thank you for reading whether you enjoyed or not, though I do hope you enjoyed it. Please do be sure to share your thoughts in the Comments, I relish reading through them. Until next time, take care

-TheWritersApprentice