The final bell of the school day rang, echoing through the emptying corridors of Aldera Junior High School. Izuku was packing up his bag when his teacher approached his desk with a small smile.

"Izuku, could you stay behind for a moment? I have your desired life-course form here. Your classmates already filled it out six months ago. You can fill it out tonight and submit it tomorrow."

Izuku nodded, his heart pounding slightly with anticipation. This was an important step towards his future as a hero, and he didn't know how to feel about the opportunity. As the other students filed out of the classroom, he stayed behind, focused on the form he had been handed.

When he finished, he left the classroom and headed down the hallway. However, his path was abruptly blocked by the one person he least expected to see: Katsuki Bakugou.

"Hey, Deku," Bakugou said, his tone clipped.

Izuku's eyes widened slightly, surprised by Bakugou's presence. "Katsuki? What are you doing here?"

Bakugou's expression was unusually serious. "Shut up Deku!"

Izuku glanced around. The hallway was deserted, and the quiet tension in the air was palpable. He folded his arms, regarding Bakugou cautiously. "What do you want?"

Bakugou's eyes bore into Izuku's. "Do you know what all top heroes have in common?"

"What?"

"They all say the same thing about their school years. 'I came from an average municipal school and I was the first, the only one.' You wouldn't want to spoil that for me would you? I've decided something. I'm going to be the first and only student from this school to get into UA's Hero Course."

Izuku blinked, taken aback by the declaration. "Okay, Katsuki. Do whatever you want to do but isn't that selfish? Why shouldn't other people be free to pursue their dreams?"

"Don't care about the others," Bakugou interrupted, his voice sharp. "I'm going to be the best, and I don't need anyone else to drag me down."

Izuku frowned before his face fell into a mask of determination. "Why do you always think you have to drag others down to lift yourself up, Katsuki?"

"What?" Bakugou growled, baring his teeth at Izuku. "You don't know anything, Deku. I'm just going after what I deserve. And if you or those extras are not worthy, that's your problem."

Izuku's voice was steady, but there was a hint of sadness in it. "You know, the thing is you don't have a lot to do to become a pro hero, you have such incredible potential. But you don't have to cut everyone else off to succeed. There's nothing stopping us from growing together."

"Ha!" Bakugou scoffed. "Think whatever you want Deku, just don't get in my way!" Bakugou scoffed and turned. "Just remember, I'm going to be the best," he spat, walking away without looking back.

Izuku watched him go, a mix of frustration and sadness swirling within him. Has Bakugou always been like this? Why hasn't he been able to see it? If he had missed this, what else has he missed? Is he even qualified to be a hero?

Izuku shook his head as if to dislodge his thoughts and began the long journey home.

The sun had begun its descent over Musutafu, casting long shadows across the streets as Izuku walked home. His thoughts were a tempest, wrestling with the doubts that had taken root within him. The dream of becoming a hero, once so vivid and unwavering, now felt like a mirror shrouded in fog. So hard to see.

He looked up and found himself at the park he passes on the way home. Slumping onto a bench, he pulled out the desired life-course form, a stark reminder of his aspirations. His pen rested in his hand, but his mind was anything but decisive.

"Why the hesitation?" A voice startled him out of his reverie.

Crouched on the back of the park bench was a figure straight out of a gritty noir movie. With a lean frame shrouded in a blood red cape, a missing nose and a pair of mismatched eyes - one a fiery red and the other, a chilling icy blue -, the figure looks like a villain out for some villany.

"Holy Shit!"

"Language, kid." Looking like a walking corpse with his disheveled White hair and pale complexion, the figure enunciated each word making his words linger in the air like the echoes of a forgotten oath.

"Who are you?"

"Ah," the figure vaults down on the bench with nary a whisper. "I'm a vigilante. The name's Stain."

Stain stretched a hand as his mouth twisted into a smile that made his face even more horrifying to look at.

"Nice to meet you, Stain." Izuku shook his hand warily, catching a faint whiff of a metallic scent.

"Why the hesitation, kid?" Stain's stare pinned Izuku in place.

Izuku's heart pounded. "I... I don't know anymore."

Stain studied him intently. "You wish to be like All Might, do you not? A symbol of peace."

Izuku nodded slowly. "Yes, but..."

Stain leaned in, his gaze piercing. "But why the hesitation?" Izuku swallowed, trying not to voice out the doubts he buried at the back of his mind. "What is it that holds you back?"

Izuku's voice was barely a whisper. "Failure. A fear of failure."

Stain's lips curled into a chilling smile. "Ah, the fear that lurks in the heart of every hero. It is easy to proclaim one will be the best when the odds are against them. But when power is attained, doubts take root."

Izuku stared at him, as if Stain could see into his very soul. "How... how do you know?"

Stain's voice held an edge of understanding. "I have seen it in many heroes. A once clear path becomes clouded by insecurities."

"When I had no quirk, it was easy to fight against the world. No mountain couldn't be climbed. But now that I have the power, I keep doubting myself. What if I fail? What if I'm not good enough? What if I can't live up to the expectations of everyone?"

"You intrigue me Izuku Midoriya."

Izuku shot out of his seat like it was suddenly made of hot coals. "H-h- how do you know my name?"

"It matters not," Stain smiled. "I have a test for you, young one."

"What?"

Stain pointed to a young boy playing in the distance. "That child. Your task is to save them. A simple choice, no?"

Izuku's heart raced, his eyes widening. "Save them from what?"

Stain's gaze was unwavering. "From me."

Before Izuku could react, Stain's hand drew a gleaming sword from beneath his cloak. The blade sailed through the air, straight toward the unsuspecting child.

Time seemed to slow as Izuku's mind froze. The child's laughter echoed in his ears, a stark contrast to the impending danger. His hand twitched, his instincts urging him to move, to shout, to run, to act!

A/N: Phew! You're still here? That's dedication right there man. You've got no other choice now. You've got to favorite, follow or leave a review.

We're cooking. We've added a bit of spice (The hero-killer himself, Stain!) What do you think will happen? Will Izuku save the kid? or will a pro-hero intervene? A pro-hero? Who? All Might? Eraserhead? Wooooh! This surely is fun!

Nefarious out!