Disclaimer: I don't own My Hero Academia

Izuku walked along slowly to the Sports Festival, seeing as he had plenty of time before it started.

He wore a black hoodie, trousers and combat boots. He also wore a black face mask to cover his face and red contact lenses so he wouldn't be recognised.

Sometimes when he went out, he would see his mother out searching for him. Whenever he did see her, he always felt a strong sense of guilt for leaving her without an explanation. Occasionally, he got the urge to walk over to her and come back home but always held it back after remembering why he left in the first place. That 'home' of his was part of the very society that rejected him, and he didn't belong there, not anymore.

Besides Inko was safer without him in her life, though he imagined she must be very lonely since his father went off to work in some other country for…reasons when he was a child and had not been heard from since.

'Pull yourself together. You've got a mission to do,' he thought.

Two nights ago, he was given a mission by Sensei to attend the UA Sports Festival and analyse the quirks of the students participating. According to Sensei, they were likely to become future enemies of the League, so it was best to have knowledge on their abilities beforehand, although, Izuku had a feeling they were looking for potential members or at least worthy quirks for Sensei to steal.

Izuku was surprised when he learned what Sensei's quirk was because he had never heard of someone being able to give others quirks before. He was only told about it because he needed to explain about All Might's quirk, which came from him. He didn't go into much detail about it because it would involve explaining his past.

Izuku continued to the festival with his backpack full of notebooks (seven to be precise).

He was going to be recording like crazy.

UA staff room

All Might was sitting alone getting ready for the festival. He would be expected to make an appearance towards the end to present the medals to the victors. This would also be a good chance to look for a successor.

However, his mind was focused on another matter. He had spoken to Naomasa about seeing the list of quirkless people who had promised that he would be able to see it. Surprisingly, the Government didn't place much security around or care who looked at it, which All Might found strange.

Naomasa would be coming next week to talk with him as he still had a lot of work to do. Knowing how busy his job was, All Might didn't mind.

While he didn't want to believe it, he had to consider the possibility that the boy he'd met nearly a year ago was Deku. If he was then it was possible that the boy's dark transformation was his doing, meaning he would need to be the one to fix it.

However, despite his assault on Bakugo, Deku had displayed certain qualities of a hero. That meant that there was still hope.

"I will find out the truth," he swore. "If you are Deku then I will stop you, and I will save you."

UA Sports Festival Stands several hours later

Izuku had been recording what he saw like mad.

Throughout the first and second rounds, he watched as each of the competitors used their quirks and recorded them for analysis. Thanks to the monitors he was able to keep up.

It was the rounds of combat that he watched intently. The competitors that had made it that far were the most skilled and dangerous. Most of the 1A group (not surprisingly Katsuki included) made it to this round.

Izuku knew each of them of course, he had looked at the list from the USJ enough to remember their faces. Some however stood out more than others.

Shoto Todoroki was the son of the infamous hero Endeavor and possessed a quirk that allowed him to manipulate ice. Although from what Izuku had seen he clearly had inherited his father's quirk as well, though he appeared reluctant, more like repulsed, to use it, though he didn't know why.

The other was Tenya Iida. Izuku recognised his family name as the one who embodied the Turbo Hero Ingenium, his quirk only added further proof.

As the battles progressed, Izuku recorded everything he saw, how people used their quirks and their battle styles. He watched Bakugo's first fight with Ochaco Uraraka, who he recognised as the girl he rescued.

'Kacchan's as violent as ever I see,' he thought grimly.

He watched as the girl tried to fight back with her anti-gravity quirk but was ultimately defeated. Seeing the state she was in Izuku couldn't help but feel sympathy for her, as it was the same state he'd been in many times.

The battles went on and on until it was Bakugo vs. Todoroki. At first, Todoroki seemed to have the upper hand with his ice quirk but Katsuki managed to utilise his in a way to win him the match. For some reason, Katsuki was not happy with his victory and started shouting at an unconscious Todoroki. Before things could escalate, Midnight rendered the explosion user unconscious with her quirk.

Izuku was going to leave at the presentation of medals when he noticed the position Katsuki was in. He was chained to the champion's podium where he was struggling violently to get himself free, in Izuku's mind he looked like he was about to go on a murderous rampage.

Unable to restrain himself, Izuku started laughing at his former tormenter's situation.

He also took note that Iida was not there despite having qualified for 3rd place also.

Then All Might arrived with a big entrance and catching the audience's attention and awe. Izuku however felt nothing but contempt towards the Symbol of Peace. This had all stemmed from when he learned about his quirk.

Flashback

"Passed on? What do you mean by that?" Izuku asked confused. "Do you mean by bloodline?"

"That would be the logical idea," Sensei replied. "But no. I mean it's passed on from person to person through DNA."

Izuku was very surprised. He had never heard of anything like this before.

"The quirk originally came from me when I gave it to someone. That person however stood against me and passed it on to a successor to fight against me. The process has continued for several generations. As to why it came from me well my quirk allows me to take and give quirks to and from others," Sensei explained.

"Why are you telling me this? And several generations?" Izuku asked more confused.

He couldn't understand why Sensei would just trust him with this sort of information.

"Considering everything you've done for the League I think you've earned the right to know. Besides the others know as well so there is no point in keeping it from you," he told the boy. "And as for the generation's part. Well, I simply stole a quirk that prevented me from ageing."

As Izuku processed all this information he decided to accept what he was hearing as the truth. Normally he would look for more evidence to see if this were the truth, however, knowing Sensei, he wouldn't joke about something of this scale.

Then another thought came to mind.

"What is All Might's quirk exactly? You called it One for All," Izuku questioned.

"It's a quirk that stockpiles power, granting the user large boosts in strength, speed and agility," the older man explained.

"If he inherited that quirk then what happened to his old one," Izuku asked curiously.

He had not heard of All Might doing anything other than what Sensei described, so it was either he'd lost it or just hadn't shown it yet.

"Nothing," he stated. "A quirk wouldn't be affected by getting a new one. You see Izuku he used to be like you. He was quirkless."

Flashback end

Izuku had been furious when he found out.

'That bastard!' he thought. 'Looking down on me for being quirkless when he used to be just the same.'

He could not believe his childhood idol had the nerve to say those things to him when he used to be in a similar position.

Having amassed enough data for analysis, he took his notebooks and left the stadium.

At the bar

'I wonder if Razor's back,' he thought.

She had been on a job for Sensei since his battle at the USJ and had yet to return.

Kurogiri notified him that she had watched the fight via recording. He had also been told that she would keep her part of the bargain, much to his delight.

Aside from martial arts, he had learned much from his master. Under her tutelage, he had become fluent in French and English (two languages he studied in school) and improved his computer skills by learning how to hack and use various programs.

There were now words to describe how grateful he felt towards her.

Upon reaching the bar, he was met with a disturbing sight.

An armoured assailant lay on top of Tomura holding him down on the floor with a knife in his left shoulder while holding another in his right.

Razor and Kurogiri were just standing there silently observing the scene. Razor was no surprise but Kurogiri, Izuku would have expected him to intervene, especially with Tomura's life in the balance.

The assailant leapt back with a destroyed knife (probably from Tomura's quirk). However, he didn't seem to notice Izuku. Tomura complained about his wounds.

"Welcome back Deku," Kurogiri greeted him. "I trust your mission went well."

Izuku nodded in confirmation.

The assailant turned to face Izuku, having finally become aware of his presence. The assailant had bandanas covering his face, a red scarf and wore a surprised yet intimidating expression.

"What the hell Razor?" he snarled. "You kids join this psycho group."

'He and Razor know each other,' Izuku thought.

"He's my student," she replied simply. "A runaway the League took in. I believe I told you about him Stain."

Stain examined Izuku from head to toe. Izuku felt like the man was judging him, and in a sense he was.

One could only glean so much information about a person just by looking at them, and in Stain's case, he was getting a lot. Going by Razor's words and examining his body he could tell he had been trained thoroughly (and presumably hellishly) however, his eyes told another story. There was something strong, determined, yet sad, and broken.

He was not a fake like the rest of them, however. Of that, he was certain.

Returning his attention to the man child Stain smirked. In spite of his opinion, the visit had not been a total waste.

"You! We are opposites yet we seem to have the same goal. I have seen it in your eyes. They say those at death's door reveal their true colours. Even you have a creed you follow. Like me, you are working to destroy the current society," Stain acknowledged.

Tomura glared hatefully at Stain. He didn't want this man here, or part of the League despite what Sensei or Kurogiri said. As much as he would have loved killing him then and there, he knew it was a stupid move with his current wounds.

As much as he hated Stain and what he stood for, he placed some value on his life and did not want to see it end here.

"Tomura, Kurogiri, he isn't going to join. Your ideals just don't mix. So let it go." Razor ordered.

'Something is wrong here,' Izuku realized. 'Very wrong.'

Razor's behaviour was legitimately scaring him.

Normally she would have full-on attacked a guy like this, yet here she was being reasonable. Additionally, she was smiling, genuinely. Izuku couldn't ever remember her smiling except with sadism.

"Since you're here though I have a favour to ask if you'll follow me?" she asked politely.

The villain grunted and followed her out of the bar.

"Okay, would someone tell me what the hell is going on?" Izuku demanded as he took out one of his regeneration drugs (he always kept a few with him just in case).

He then injected Tomura with it causing the villain to heal quickly. Kurogiri quickly briefed him on the situation.

Stain was the notorious hero-killer who had been eliminating various hero's he came across. Due to his combat experience, they had hoped to recruit him for the League but Stain took an instant disliking to Tomura (a mutual feeling they both shared) saying he's the type he despises most and tried to kill him.

Tomura still pissed about what Stain had said, stormed out to clear his head.

While Izuku understood the situation there was something still bothering him.

"Kurogiri what's up with Razor?" he asked. "She was acting odd. By that I mean she wasn't being violent, wasn't swearing and was smiling in a non-sadistic manner."

"I'm afraid I can't answer. She has some sort of history with Stain, or so she says," he replied honestly. "She didn't go into much detail."

Their conversation was interrupted by the two villains return.

"Well now that that's settled Deku tonight you'll be going out with Stain, and then you'll be spending the entire week with him. This will be a sort of educational experience for you as there are a few things you can learn from him," Razor explained. "Also, you could use a small break from the League."

"HUH!" Izuku and Kurogiri shouted in unison.

"But Razor I-", he started.

"Don't worry there will be no killing. Stain has agreed to put his crusade on hold for a week," she told him.

No one said anything for a minute.

"Razor just what kind of relationship do you have with this guy that he would just agree to it. A few minutes ago, he was ready to kill Shigaraki," Kurogiri asked curiously.

"Stain here's a friend of mine, something I have very few of," she replied nonchalantly.

They couldn't believe what they'd just heard. Razor had friends, actual friends. There was barely anyone she could stand being around.

"You're both wondering how this is possible right. Despite my personality, I am not without friends. Now Stain and I tried to kill each other many times in the past but eventually came to respect each other's skill and became friends through fighting," she explained.

'That's how she makes friends. Through death matches,' Izuku and Kurogiri simultaneously thought.

As much as they wanted to voice their surprise, deep down, they weren't. This was Razor after all.

"I've already gotten permission from Sensei so it's alright Deku," she told him.

"And just how did you get this permission?" Kurogiri interrogated with a slight edge to his voice.

"I asked nicely," Razor replied calmly. 'After six hours of arguing and convincing.'

Kurogiri's eyes narrowed dangerously at Razor. He was amazed she would want Izuku to apprentice with Stain considering what his training might entail or remind him of.

After all, she had argued against him going to the USJ with Sensei. Why was now so different?

Just like before, the tone of the room had shifted. It was not as tense as before but still noticeable.

Izuku wondered if Kurogiri was just worried because of what happened with Tomura. It would make sense since hardly anyone would trust someone who stabbed a colleague of theirs with another.

Izuku gazed at Stain who gazed back. their eyes locking onto each other.

"Don't worry kid. Everything is as Razor put it," he grunted. "I'll see you tonight at around 8."

Knowing he was in no position to refuse Izuku nodded begrudgingly.

"May I know what your quirk is first though? If I'm going to work with you, I'd like to know what you can do. Razor you too, you promised you'd tell me everything," Izuku stated.

"I will. However, you just reminded me of something," she said walking over to him.

Before he could react, Razor flipped and brought her foot down hard on his head. Izuku fell to the ground and just barely prevented his face from colliding with the ground.

"During your fight, you turned your back on the enemy, in doing so you almost died. Make sure it won't happen again you little shit," she scolded.

'And she's back,' Izuku deadpanned.

"As for my quirk," she said while facing Izuku.

Multiple blades of different sizes and shapes emerged from her body, not tearing her clothes.

"I can manifest blades from any part of my body. One of which is sharp and strong enough to cut All Might," she explained.

"Mine is Bloodcurdle which lets me paralyse my enemy by tasting their blood, it varies with blood type though," Stain piped in.

"There, are you happ-" Razor stopped.

Izuku was rambling like an insane person at an asylum. She, and even Stain, found it weird.

"Deku what the fuck are you doing?" she asked.

"Oh, that's right you've never seen Deku in his state," Kurogiri realized. "Whenever he sees a quirk, he starts thinking of its uses, weaknesses and ways to improve it."

"Okay, when he snaps out of this tell him to get some rest for tonight. And send Stain to where he needs to go," Razor told the mist villain before leaving.

"Fine," Kurogiri relented. "But you and I shall be having a serious discussion about this later."

Razor nodded as she turned to leave. She expected this reaction from Kurogiri, so later she would indulge him in some answers. For now, she had work to do.

Kurogiri opened up a portal to Hosu which Stain entered. With a time and place in mind, he began to make preparations for the upcoming week with Deku.

By the time Izuku had finished Razor and Stain were gone and Kurogiri cleaning out some glasses with two cups of hot tea ready.

It was going to be a long week.

Hi there. Well, what did you think of that? When I thought about Razor's quirk, I was going to have her with metallic nails like Lady Deathstrike but later changed my mind.

Now to address some things I've been asked. Izuku x Razor will not be a pairing. Their relationship is what Izuku's would have been with All Might. Also, Izuku will not get a quirk. He has reached a point where he's competent enough that he doesn't need one. Anyway, the next chapter will be Izuku with Stain. Please review.