Chapter 1

'And go!'

Freefalling for a moment, Takeshi Shimada popped out of the evacuation chute, howling in pure ecstasy. His shaggy golden brown hair dishevelled as he sprung to his feet.

'Keep moving, you idiot! There are still students up here!'

A handful of chuckles came from the remaining students as the teen froze in his movement at the voice of their homeroom teacher. While Inui sensei was actually quite a nice teacher, you didn't want to get on his bad side. Not only would he start growling and talking gibberish like a feral dog, his whole demeanour would turn feral. And no-one in their right mind wanted to be the receiving end of his wrath.

But otherwise Ichika found him to be quite a nice puppy - not that she would ever dare say so straight in his face!

'Midoriya, your turn!'

'Yes sir!'

Ichika immediately sprang into action at the barked order. One thing she had found out about the hero course, was that there were actually a lot of practical classes which were quite fun actually. Like freefalling from a building with the help of an evacuation chute, like it was a playground slide. But from a building. Sure, at first the thought was terrifying. But after having done so a couple of times, she actually started to enjoy this exercise - though clearly not as much as Shimada. That boy lived for the thrill!

Once the freckled girl touched the ground below it was Daisuke Tanaka who stood before her, holding out his hand for her to grab. But she just rolled her eyes at this and smirked at him.

'I thought you were wiser now, Fox-Boy,' she said as she got up on her own and moved to the side. 'You do remember what happened last time when you played with fire.'

'Hey! That was months ago,' he barked in embarrassment, his white fox ears shifting back. 'How was I supposed to know you were actually a decent fighter!'

'Her fighting skills are nothing to brag about, Tanaka,' Mirio mused as he walked over to the pair, his arm slung over the slightly shorter female. 'No offence.'

'None taken.'

'It was her quirk that burned your furry ears to crisps.'

Tanaka glared at the boy, crossing his arms in annoyance for reminding him of that embarrassing defeat. How was he to know his Artic Fox quirk wouldn't stand a chance against Ichika's fire. All he knew was that she could create fire from her body. Not that she could control fire as well! That he found out the hard way, when she raised the temperature of the arena by raising the fires on the pillars, giving his ice no chance to form.

But then he started laughing, knowing it was just friendly teasing as Ichika and Mirio joined in on his laughter. They three of them had started off on the wrong foot during the first couple of weeks of their first year. With Tanaka having found out about Ichika's secret of not even wanting to become a hero. Calling her a fraud. And Togata, who thought her action was admirable and heroic, stood up for the girl as she felt even less comfortable with her secret out and others siding with Tanaka.

She had agreed silently with them when they called her a fraud and if it hadn't been for Togata and his ever present smile, her first couple of months at U.A. would have been dreadful. It had been Mirio Togata who had tried to keep her spirits high and was always by her side. According to him, heroes helped others, not bring them down. That was what villains did.

Though after the sports festival Tanaka had begrudgingly agreed that Ichika had earned her place at the hero course after she had placed fourth. Having taking the ice user out in their first match with ease.

'Yeah and if I remember correctly, Togata, you have nothing to brag about either.' Daisuke Tanaka smirked playfully as he straightened his back. 'As soon as your clothes fall off, you lose focus and slam into a wall.'

Mirio chuckled sheepishly at this.

'Hey, I don't want anyone to see my willy.'

'Yeah, no thanks. If anyone should be flashing, it should be one the girls. Midoriya perhaps you'd like to volunteer?'

In an instant the girl's green eyes widened in shock, before she glared at him. Her face red from both anger and embarrassment.

'You perv!'

Without a warning, Ichika smacked him on the head. Then she walked off with a scoff, her hands smoking as she clenched them into fists.

'You really should watch what you're saying, Tanaka,' Mirio chuckled as he watched Ichika literally blowing off some steam. 'You're pressing her buttons way too much lately.'

Tanaka just shrugged, as the boy watched her with a lopsided smile on his face. One hand gently rubbing the spot she had hit him.

'Yeah, she's a feisty one, that one,' he chuckled, not even caring whether or not the boy next to him could hear him. 'Which makes it so much more fun.'

After school was over, Ichika walked home still in her uniform. She never changed before going home, mostly because of her younger brother who was always fan-boying over her outfit. Even if he was quirkless, the boy still dreamed of becoming the greatest hero ever. Just like his favourite hero; All Might.

Though his own personal hero was still his sister. He had told her so himself when she went for her first day at U.A. He knew she didn't want to go there, that washis dream. But without a quirk it was hopeless. Which is why she was his personal hero - even if she dismissed the idea, for she was no hero! It was because of her, that he once again held hope that he could go to U.A. the prestigious school for heroes.

And while Ichika couldn't care less about her title, she did find pride in the fact that her brother looked up to her. And enjoyed the look of admiration he gave her whenever he saw her in her uniform. That was the one thing that had never changed over the years. From the moment he was born, he adored her and the other way around. And after he started dreaming about becoming a hero, he admired Ichika. Stating he hoped his quirk would be just as cool as hers and fuelled her pride.

Which was probably why she had felt guilty when he was diagnosed as being quirkless. Their father could breathe fire, their mother could move small objects telepathically and Ichika inherited a combination of both. Creating and controlling fire. Years she had blamed herself for Izuku's lack of a quirk. Wondering if he would have one, if she didn't get a combined quirk. Which she now knew was ridiculous of course. But as a child it was a heavy burden.

'Ichika! You're home early! I thought you said you were going to be studying with a friend?'

The girl snapped out if her train of thoughts at the sound of her name. Running towards her was a short freckled boy with big green eyes. His unruly mop of green hair swaying in the wind as he ran, his smile bright enough to lighten even the darkest day.

'Yeah, Nejire forgot about her dentist appointment, so I came straight back home,' she replied as the boy stopped in front of her. A mischievous look suddenly spread across her face as she spotted something in his hand. 'Why? You don't want me back yet?'

'N-no! That's not it!'

'Uhuh.' The fifteen year old crossed her arms, looking at the thirteen year old, a playful smirk on her lips. 'Because you always greet me like this. Outside. So… what're you hiding? Your girlfriend?'

Izuku gasped in surprise, his cheeks burning up in embarrassment as he shouted out in surprise.

'Ichi!'

'Just kidding,' Ichika laughed as she continued walking towards their apartment, not even waiting for her brother to follow. 'Relax. Now throw the trash in the container and get back inside before you catch a cold.'

With that, she walked inside with Izuku following soon after. While climbing up the stairs, the younger Midoriya sibling started rambling about his day. How he had once again witnessed a hero in action and then proceeded showing her the notes he had made.

'You're such a hero fanatic, Izuku,' Ichika chuckled as she took off her coat. Though upon seeing his frown, she quickly added; 'Don't ever dare change!'

That brought back his smile.

'I'm home!'

A greeting came from the kitchen, acknowledging her arrival. Unlike Izuku, Inko was aware of her daughter being home early. With the latter having called in advance so her mother knew she would be home for dinner. Grabbing a freshly made cookie, the teen called for her mother that she was going to her room to study. With or without her friend Nejire Hado, she still needed to study for the upcoming test.

While the periwinkle haired girl was a student from class 1-A, the two of them quickly became friends after Mirio introduced Ichika to his friend Tamaki Amajiki from 1-A. And the bubbly Nejire Hado had decided to sit with them during lunch, as there were 'so few girls to hang around with' as she had put it. And with their first year coming to an end, the four of them had become quite close. Even after they discovered Ichika's lack of motivation of becoming the next pro hero.

With her nose in Modern Art History, Ichika started taking notes. She liked Midnight as a teacher, but man, her classes were so boring! The theoretical part that is. Art class itself was great, even if Ichika was nothing more than an average artist.

'Bleagh, why did she have to choose cubism,' the girl muttered in herself als she watched the painting of La Femme au Violon by Pablo Picasso.

It was because of the title that she knew what she was looking at. Even if she couldn't actuallysee it. Where was the girl and where was the violin? What was she even looking at? At least with pointillism she knew what the artist had drawn, even if it were just a bunch of dots put together. And it was actually quite beautiful to look at. But this? This was just so weird!

'Well, let's just get this over with…'

And with those less than encouraging words to herself, she started on her homework. At least it was for just six weeks. One test, a couple of sketches and the final product. Then this school year would be over already.

A sudden knock on her door, snapped her attention away from her book. Was dinner ready already?

'Yes?'

The round face of Izuku popped from behind the doorframe as he peeked inside. A nervous look on his face as he looked at the ground.

'What is it, Izuku,' Ichika asked, slightly annoyed by the disturbance. 'I'm trying to do my homework.'

'I know,' the boy exclaimed as he remained where he stood. 'I was just… Well, you see…'

He was trailing off. His eyes remained lower to the ground as he rubbed the back of his head nervously.

'Well, spill it out, Munchkin,' Ichika chuckled softly, using the nickname she had given him due to their height difference. 'It can't be that bad now, can it?'

Izuku vigorously shook his head. His green curls even messier than normal when he started stammering again. His attention not at his hands as he bumped his index fingers against one another, before he finally looked up at Ichika.

'Well, there's only a couple of weeks left, before I'll be a third year,' Izuku started once again. This time his voice eager and his eyes determined. 'I know you are busy and you'll be even busier next year. But I was hoping you could help me prepare for the entrance examination of U.A.!'

It took Ichika a moment to collect herself after her younger brother's sudden outburst. Then a smile started to spread, before she clasped her hands over her mouth. Her shoulders shook as she tried to suppress her laughter. But after a moment she just bursted out in laughter anyway.

Surprised by her reaction, Izuku began to stammer again. Telling her he was serious, which caused Ichika to begin laughing even harder.

'I'm sorry, Izu,' Ichika said as she wiped away a tears, calming herself down. 'I'm sorry. It's just, I was expecting something way worse with the way you looked nervous. But this is what you wanted to ask?'

Izuku nodded his head.

'Really? That's all?' The boy nodded his head once again in confirmation. 'Well in that case, yeah sure! I can help you for the written exam, but I'm afraid I can't help you on the practical part. That you have to do by yourself. Or find another tutor.'

Upon hearing her reply, his green eyes lit up.

'Thanks, Ichi! You're the best!'

'Yeah, yeah,' the girl waved dismissively, 'I know I am. Now get out and let me study, before mom has dinner ready.'

Sending the boy one last smile, she turned around to try and focus on her book again. But before Izuku closed the door, she called for him.

'Oh and Izuku? Try working on your flexibility. You'll need to be flexible and agile.'

A/Nand here's Chapter 1 of Arising from the Ashes. thank you so much everyone for the favorites and follows. And of course for all the reviews. I hope you will keep enjoying the story as it progresses.