A Hero to Their Core

Chapter 5

Sorry for all those who have been waiting. I needed to write up the next parts for some of my other stories. But now I can continue the Heroman saga in the MHA world. I'll be jumping into the Sports Festival arc and how the duo of heroes from Center City can shake things up. So on with the show.

(No POV)

As the helicopter was heading back towards the UA stadium, Joey was contemplating what Nezu had in mind for him to do for this sports festival. 'I'm hoping he's not just wanting to introduce me to the world. That isn't why I do what I do as a hero. I'm help people because I can and it is the right thing to do,' the Center city teen thought to himself. But as he goes over what he knows of Nezu more and more, he just thinks that the rodent like principal was wanting to do this because he thought it would be funny.

At the stadium, Lina is more than happy that her prays were answered. Joey and Heroman were fine, and they had defeated the giant they knew they had to stop. "You look quite happy miss Davis," Nezu said as he checked in with the young agent heroine. She just gave him a big smile before agreeing. Nezu's own smile grew, and he told her some of what he had planned for her and Joey when the hero boy arrived at the UA stadium.

For said boy, he decided to have a bit of fun with the fact he was on a news helicopter that was above the stadium. "This is good right here. I can take it from here." Joey said with a smirk to the reporter. She was just confused, but her cameraman had an idea on what was going to happen. He quickly turned on the camera and it was still transmitting to the stadium. The audience saw Joey Jones with a smirk on his face, and his gauntlet lit up. He then opened the door and jumped out the side of the helicopter.

At seeing this, Power Loader prepped a few of the drone cameras that would be used to observe the first event and sent them towards the falling teen. And what was shown on said cameras was Joey with a big smile, and him pulling the small Heroman from his pocket. He then tossed Heroman toward the ground and then called out, "HEROMAN! ENGAGE!" And thus the heroic robot appeared in mid-air.

Then using a combination of the electromagnetism tricks Joey had figured out and Heroman's strength to unleash punches toward the ground, they landed with a dramatic flair. With both sliding to the center of the stage Nezu and Midnight were announcing from. Before the audience could even begin to applaud, Lina ran out from one of the stadium steps. She yells out, "JOEY!" before pole vaulting at the edge of the seating. Joey's eyes open wide, and he uses a super speed leap to catch her in midair. Once she is in his arms, she winks at him, and he gets the picture of what she has in mind. He spins once before tossing her in the air again. She spins and flips around in the air again before landing on Heroman's shoulder. With Joey arriving as she landed.

What was originally an impressive landing by a pair of heroes, turned into a show of three heroes coming together. While most in the audience didn't know how to react, the students (especially the hero course), do. A few of them start applauding, with the sound growing in intensity. And in the background, you can make out the cries of "manly and epic!" from the two resident hardheads of the hero course. "Well now. That was an impressive set of entrances you two. Or three. Must be an American thing," Midnight says while still a bit wide eyed herself. Lina just gives a bigger smile before flipping down from her perch. Joey also has a smile on his face but doesn't make as big of a deal about it.

Present Mic then comes on with his own set of comments. "Now that is how you make a dramatic entrance. No wonder these three were heroes in their own world." "Jones didn't need to make that big of a spectacle with the whole matter," Aizawa said disgruntledly while still bandaged up. A few in the audience chuckle at the quick banter between the two pros. From the outside, pro heroes like Death Arms and Mt. Lady are given the two Center City heroes a once over. "That girl may not have any powers, but if her acrobatics and agility are anything to go on, she is definitely skilled. Her suit also seems to have pockets with possible hidden gadgets," the punching hero comments.

For the gigantification hero though, she was looking at a different matter. "They sure know how to draw attention and make a spectacle. Looks like I've got some bigger competition. On the positive though, seems like the two could be a couple. A rather cute pair to watch over." Mt. Lady says with a disgruntled but growing to relaxed look on her face. Both of these statements though make her fellow pros (Death Arms and Kamui Woods) sweat drop at her pettiness and gossip thinking. Though they don't disagree with the later thought.

As the crowd is settling down, Nezu steps towards the heroes of another world and introduces them once again. "Impressive. Very impressive you two….. or three. Apologies Heroman. It is hard to tell if you are alive given our own state with AI." Nezu says looking to the robot hero. Said robot nods before gaining a small smirk on his face. This amazes all the audience watching, and especially intrigues the support students and companies watching the sports festival. Nezu then turns and gives a special announcement.

"Normally we would have the top scoring applicant come up here to give the student's pledge and to speak for what our students should be striving for." Upon hearing this, Katsuki smirks but then he thinks more about what Nezu had said. The rodent like being closes his eyes before saying, "but I feel that this young man from another world would be better for that demonstration." He then gestures to the screen and a few images of Joey's heroic acts play out. As well as some of what he said during his initial training after the first Skrugg invasion. "Since the Skrugg are gone, why am I still doing this? Studying construction is more useful to the city….." was the first part that was said.

A few of the pros eyes' widened at this, as they were sure that the boy would try to be famous from stopping an alien invasion. But instead, they were shown that this boy at 13 was more concerned about helping the city rebuild rather than trying to show he was a hero. They then see an image of his teacher, Professor Denton. Who told the boy, "Joey. You are the only one who can use Heroman. If you don't do it, who will?" This again surprises people as they thought there would be multiple heroes who would be willing to use their quirks to protect the world he lived in.

Nezu then speaks up again, to say, "I should mention that superpowers or quirks do not exist in his world. In other words, this young man is the only somewhat enhanced individual in his dimension. But that begs a question itself: why do you still have the heroic will and mentality that you have?" The reveal that no superpowers exist in that world surprises most, but more (especially heroes) are curious about what the young man's response will be.

Joey looks down before stepping up to the microphone to speak to not just the students but everyone from this dimension. "I guess you could say my initial inspiration was from my father. He never had any powers, but many people saw him as a hero. He worked at a coal mine and how my parents met was when there was a fire at the mine." At hearing what was his inspiration a certain flame headed hero perked up. The young hero then continued on with some of the stories his mother had told him before she passed. "He kept running back in to save more and more from the accident. And when it was done he had more injuries than anyone else, but he still stayed strong and did all he could to save others. That was true until his dying day."

At hearing that many observing had their eyes widen further. And Joey explained that he never got to meet or really talk to his father because he died before he could really speak. "But his actions spoke louder. When the other miners were sure they were going to die, he inspired them by saying, "Don't give up!" and he lead them to their escape. Even though it was blocked he found a way to get them out and gave everything, even his own life, to save everyone else." A few tears had started to build in Joey's eyes as he said that. A few others in the audience felt the same. Even the pro heroes felt that that non-powered coal miner had shown greater courage and heroic grit than many pros in the current age.

As Joey wiped his eyes he continued on by saying, "so to you students, even those who feel like they can't win or that they may not have best powers or potential to be here or to stand with heroes I say this: don't give up! You have the potential to push past what may limit you. Don't just think with your powers. Think with your hearts. And ask yourselves this: do you have the heart to stand and fight for others? Do you have the will to put your life on the line….. so someone else's can be saved?" When he said that a few students in the general and business courses looked down. Knowing that they didn't have what it took. But others took that as a challenge.

"If you do, then show all of us what you can do and what kind of hero you can be." Joey Jones says with a determined look on his face, and equally determined gazes from Lina and Heroman. This statement shocks most but then the applause starts again from two of the strangest sources. The first is All Might buffed up and feeling the need to salute not just Joey, but his father Brian as well. The other is none other than the Hellfire hero himself, Endeavor. He agreed with Joey's statements about what it means to be a hero and how that includes putting your own life on the line to save others. And the fact he had been inspired by a father who truly embodied those traits impressed the number two hero as well.

From there the applause increased in intensity and fervor. With a few pros feeling like they can't compare to a 16 and originally 13- to 14-year-old who had a heroic heart greater than many of them ever had. But also, being impressed by his origin and source of inspiration. Not once did he talk about his power to command Heroman, or any of his own capabilities. Instead, he focused on what really made him a hero: his heart and will.

"Well said all around Mr. Jones. I had a feeling that you would be the best to inspire the right kind of heart in these young students. And with that, let the UA Sports Festival BEGIN!" Nezu announced, with the rest of the fireworks going off behind him. With that done, Joey shrank Heroman back down, and he and Lina left the stage. Once they were off, a few others were questioning if they should have the Joey and Heroman as a pair of heroes on the billboard charts or if they should be separate. And others were thinking the two could be great contenders for the number one spot if their histories and way of doing things was anything to go by.

Even more were thinking that Lina could be an interesting hero to see as well. They had all seen her impressive agility and the armored catsuit she wore. Thinking that she could be an inspiration for not just quirkless hero hopefuls, but for those who had less combat capable quirks as well. But that wasn't the focus for now. Now it was time for the students to show what they could do.