Good In Evil
By: SomeRandomPerson648
Chapter 4: Hopeful Futures
A few days had gone by for the young Bakugo, and his self-training was only just beginning. With school now out and over with he could finally focus on himself for a change. For the next few months he planned on training his body relentlessly until he was at his peak condition, a baseline requirement to get into UA. His parents sparsely care about what he did in his free time, though his mother was the most motivated to make sure her son was training, to which he was
As the blonde haired boy sprinted at full speed one evening he stopped to catch his breath, panting as he leaned against a bench beside him. It was only his second day of self training and already he was improving, able to run a bit longer at full speed than when he started, though how far that took him from home was the least of his concerns
As the boy sat down he removed his black jacket with red flames to reveal his black tank top underneath. It felt like he was giving off steam from his body as he removed the jacket and wrapped it around his waist
The boy chugged a small portion of the oversized bottle he had with him and took a second to recover his body, tired from the constant running. By what he could tell he was a few miles away from his home, just beside an abandoned beach
In his pocket he stored a small rubber ballon that he kept around for a small experiment, a way of testing his power. Inside was a small bit of sweat that he managed to store from his palms, concentrating enough for it not to explode. Carefully, he opened the balloon again and poured some more of his sweat into it before tying it, creating what was effectively a gross concoction of his imagination. But secretly...the ingenuity behind it wasn't something all of too common
When stared at the ballon he realized that not only was his 'experiment' far too tedious and time consuming to make, but also very hard to use in public, prying eyes
"I can't test this damn thing anywhere." He complained as he carefully set it beside him, placing a hand over it so that it doesn't accidentally activate
He looked around his environment to suddenly notice the large trash mound that loomed a small distance away. Far inland of the beach there laid a staggering amount of trash that was simply collected for no one to care about it, polluting and ruining the otherwise okay-ish atmosphere of the beach
"The hell? Where did that thing come from?"
Quickly he made his way towards the trash mound to see its full scale and length. It took up a sizable portion of the beach and consisted of varying types of trash from broken refrigerators, coolers and general electronics to entire car parts, car frames and tires too. It was an extremely hard to miss sight that, most likely, resulted from this area of town being more unkept than anything
Of course it wasn't rare that certain parts of town were more rundown than others, in part because of hero activity being lower in certain places than others, resulting in a small rise in underground crime. This trash mound, seemingly, was a result of not only the poverty of the area but the lack of people caring enough to take care of their own property. Quite messed up that people could be so uncaring, but equally screwed up that no one cared to clean it
The boy wandered into the area with a general curiosity that attracted him to the place. He knew that he was in a bad part of town but to think he'd find a sight like this was really telling. It wasn't really his intention to run into a place like this or even clean it up, but it did have some...promises
"This damn dirty trash dump, how the hell can people be so disgusting? Clean your own damn trash!" He complained as he found himself staring down a rusted chasis of a car. In being surrounded by useless junk that people could only ever want gone...he got a bright idea
With little further thought he placed the liquid filled balloon in the middle of the chasis and walked a few paces away. He assumed, seeing that no one was around, that no one would stop him or even care that he destroy a few things. He grinned wildly at the thought of getting away with what he was about to do
"DIE!!!" He yelled as he threw his right arm forward and created a large explosion with his quirk, shooting sparks out that detonated a little late
Unsurprisingly, the explosion immediately pierced through the concentrated ball of sweat and activated it, creating a violent explosion that blasted the car into a million flying pieces of scrap metal
With a malicious grin he witnessed the rubble disappear before his very eyes. He could use this place for training! While it was so far away and isolated that he could train to his heart's content, he was simultaneously doing the damn city a favor! They should be paying him by the end of this!
"Now this is what I mean by training!" He thought as he cockily slammed his fists into each other, creating a puff of smoke as his quirk activated unconsciously
In the short span of time that had passed since his training began Midoriya was already improving his body, pushing himself daily in order to meet and even exceed the expectations placed on him. As of yet he's only been doing basic strength and endurance training with Kurogiri, running laps, lifting weights and doing other common yet heavy exercises in order to temper his body
Already the boy has been able to improve his capabilities a little, going from fifty laps around the warehouse to sixty, and soon sixty-five
In the same breath he was able to meet his limits. In the current moment Izuku laid shirtless over the bench, his pale, skinny and sweaty body didn't seem to be making any progress in its growth, but it was only the first few days after all. In his arms he bench pressed a seventy pound barbell, huffing a little as he did so
"5...6...7...8..." Kurogiri counted for him as he observed carefully. When Izuku started he was most comfortable with the total of sixty pounds, but for some reason he wanted to add ten more pounds
Midoriya was able to complete his set of ten bench presses but he struggled to lift the barbell for the tenth and final time, his hands and arms shaking from the effort and fatigue. He was able to do it, but not without expending himself
"Ten!" He exclaimed, setting the piece of equipment back into its stand and sitting up to catch his breath. Not only were his arms on fire, but so were his legs and chest. Less than ten minutes ago he ran several laps, and without hesitation he set himself on the bench for more
"If you find yourself unable to continue, Midoriya, then you must take a short rest, we still have the whole day to continue." Kurogiri suggested, but the tired kid only shook his head
"It's fine...the point of the exercise is to strain my body...so that it grows stronger." He huffed, analyzing as he usually did. "So the more effort I put in...the stronger I'll become!"
"That's one way of putting it." Kurogiri agreed, though it was a question of how sound those tactics were. To anyone else they were quite self destructive, but to Izuku they were the most logical course of action, regardless of his physical capabilities
"He has plenty of room to grow before Master can give him a new quirk." Kurogiri thought to himself
The dark purple shadow still had no clue what quirk Izuku would receive in the near future, an emitter type, a physical type, or maybe a mutant type too. But what was more confusing was the way All for One presented the idea. If not to take control of him then why go through such trouble of training him too? And how was he going to influence the young mind with a quirk alone? The questions were numerous, and even as All for One's right hand man he still wasn't told much else
But for now, he did what he was told. He began their first training session by making Izuku do a plethora of push-ups, sits-ups, etc. While he was being soft for the moment, he was instructed to push Izuku as far as he could, for whatever reason. Not that he had to anyway, Izuku was doing that last part himself
"And what of your diet? Have you made the recommended changes?"
"Of course." Izuku stated. "My mom was able to change my diet since I'm exercising so much now, I'm eating nearly twice as much as before!"
"Good..." Kurogiri stated before he watched as Izuku laid back down for more exercises, unrelenting as always
He saw as the boy struggled to lift the thing back up, but with sheer will alone he was able to trudge through half of his set before his shaky hands started shaking a little too much
Without a second thought Kurogiri used his teleportation quirk to remove the barbell and set it aside harmlessly, thumping violently as Izuku pulled his hands out of the portal
"Sorry..." He huffed as he let his arms hang to the sides, burning in an unrelenting pain. It was like they were going to snap if he hadn't stopped in that moment
"That's alright young Midoriya, but it's not healthy for you to push yourself so far." The shadow man advised. "Your will to break your limits is strong, but your body can't keep up with your expectations."
"Right..." Izuku huffed, sitting up and drinking more water
In watching him develop rather quickly Kurogiri could only wonder about the boy's tenacity and sense of will. Even for a hormonal teen with the need to prove himself, this was an unnatural amount of inner strength that he had, especially for a kid like himself
"Might I ask why you are so eager to prove yourself?" He asked the exhausted teen
It took a while for the boy to think of a proper answer, both out of fatigue and his complicated feelings. But in the end he had only half of an answer to give
"...It's because I want to be stronger...to save people..." He huffed, only taking a moment to catch his breath.
"Oh?"
"Well..." he thought back, "Sensei became my master because he can see my potential too. And since no one else has done that before... I guess I want to impress him too." He spoke honestly
"Interesting." Kurogiri contemplated. "You know, you're a very special case young Midoriya. As a villain, you strive to become a hero that saves others."
"Yeah...does that seem stupid?" Izuku asked, doubting himself for the validity of his position
"It depends. Are you willing to follow master's orders?" He interrogated. "At the end of the day you are still a villain breaking the law, and by no means a hero. If and when master asks something of you...can we trust you enough to follow through?"
These hard hitting questions needed to be asked now more than ever, answers to the inconsistencies Izuku has. He wants to save people, yet can he truly be trusted to stay on their side?
Midoriya thought clearly and deeply about his answers, knowing that what comes next could either doom him or save him from his predicament. He was going way too far for a normal person to see through his dreams, especially for a kid his age
And yet he still questioned the backwards logic that came with him joining of the villains. He wasn't going to become a cold blooded killer or hardened crook like other criminals, yet he was learning under one of the evilest men known to history. With a promise of strength and a new perspective on society...was he really willing to accept these new conditions?
"I...still don't know." He answered honestly. "But Sensei says that he can see something in me, the ability to change society. I still don't know how or why...but maybe it's because I can save people, even as a villain."
"How so?" The man pried further
"All my life people looked down on me for trying to be a hero, and because of that I was cast away for who I was. So...if Sensei himself says that I can be myself...then I'm willing to follow him! I want to help the people that the heroes can't save, even if that means I break the law to do it!"
The man was impressed with his answer, shocked even. To think that someone so passionate and simultaneously determined could exist was surprising. Even given the conditions of being outside the law, the world protected by those heroes he still admires, his motivation to help others is too great
"It's a wonder how master will bend him to his will. His ideals...they're almost exactly the same as All Might's." Kurogiri observed. Though he's more than willing to follow him to the darker side of the law. Whether or not he'll be accepting of people like Tomura, or accepted by him for that matter, was still a great question
"I'm not sure why Master wants the boy to break his limits or join his side with starkly contrasting views...but the only thing I can do is follow his orders to the best of my ability."
"I see." He responded, changing the subject again. "Why not finish the exercise later? For now I'll occupy you with a few sit-ups since that's more your speed." He stated
Midoriya, not seeing any way he can finish the exercise without a proper rest, agreed as he sat on the floor and immediately began his exercises more than willing to break his body if it meant he'll achieve his dreams
Elsewhere, in an underground training facility, Mirio trained to his heart's content
In no time at all he took up his position as Sir Nighteye's pupil with a powerful enthusiasm that impressed those around him, spending very little time to himself and devoting all of his efforts into both school and his hero work
Likewise Sir Nighteye diligently oversaw his training, and at the current moment he fought with the teenager inside of an underground facility under his agency. It was a plain white room made of solid concrete, only a little larger than most office buildings
"You're attacks are still sloppy, adjust them." He ordered as he avoided yet another right hook
With little to-no effort he avoided the quick flurry of bland and pointless attacks from Mirio by dodging, and it wasn't until the barrage was over did he throw his own strike. He made a chopping motion after Mirio's neck, but in the same instant he activated his quirk, making the attack pass through him and countering with a punch to Nighteye's exposed side
Yet in a swift motion the clairvoyant hero sidestepped outwards, avoiding the attack and using his leg to quickly sweep Mirio from his feet. This time he was too off guard to activate his quirk on time, making him fall onto his back
"Gah! Damn, I thought I had you." He chuckled as he jumped back to his feet
"You know that's not the true objective of this task." Nighteye lectured. "If at any moment I decide to counter, you should be ready to activate your quirk and avoid my attack."
"Yeah...but the problem is I can't react so fast..."
Tiredly the man sighed to himself, his lesson still not synching in with the teenager. "Then predict their movements. Anticipate their attacks and stay on your guard at every moment."
"I still don't get it..." He admitting, only making Nighteye angry
"Then learn!!!" He shouted, only to catch himself in his frustration and put a palm on his face
"I don't understand. All Might chose him to become his successor, yet he still can't even fathom the idea of predicting an opponent's attacks during combat!" He ranted to himself
It was needlessly frustrating on his part to teach Mirio. The boy, well meaning as he was, couldn't grow at the rate that he expected from the golden child, the supposed prodigy. Like All Might he needed to be strong, intelligent and kind and while he was perfect in the last quality he sorely lacked the first one
But in the end it was his own expectations that weighed down his patience. His teachings were meant to craft the perfect vessel for One for All, and if things don't go as perfectly as they need to then the bright future he witnessed would come much later then sooner
"I need to temper my own expectations, as hard as that is." He admitted to himself. "The legend of the number one hero wasn't grown overnight. The boy's still learning..."
"Hey...Sir?"
The man, upon realizing that he stood still for too long, looked up at his student with a blank expression to see the hopeful boy. Rather than hurt him, his outburst seemed to have motivated him further, giving him an energy that wasn't there before
"I want to go again now. I still don't understand a few things but...I swear that I'm not gonna let you down!" Mirio declared proudly, placing his full confidence in his abilities
"...Then show me!" Nighteye declared as he suddenly threw a fist at Mirio
Rather than use his quirk, however, Mirio instead shifted his head and dodged the attack, as well as the following string of clearly telegraphed punches
"Restraining the use of your quirk? A bold strategy, and one that won't take you far!" Nighteye declared as he continued with his string of attacks
Slowly he ramped up the speed of his attacks, throwing punches with lightning fast precision. Though Mirio was able to react fast enough to avoid the attacks he soon started to backtrack as Nighteye's attacks got wilder
Eventually Mirio was met with a powerful swinging fist that he blocked and tried to counter with his punch, but as usual Nighteye avoided the attack by shifting to the side and sweeping the floor with his leg. Surprisingly, Mirio instead opted to use his quirk to disappear into the ground, allowing Nighteye to recover from the floor
"He's going to use his quirk to propel himself from the floor and fake a strike, leading into a well timed kick." He predicted as he stood completely still
Soon enough the future he saw happened as he back stepped out of the way of a rising fist coming from the ground. Whilst suspended in the air the naked Mirio shifted in the air and launched a backwards kick aimed straight at the man's head. Luckily for Nighteye he saw the move coming and rather than block or much less receive the attack he instead ducked and used his intense flexibility to send a lariat kick that passed through the boy with ease
Seeing his opportunity, Mirio attempted to use his fall to strike his mentor, extending his arm and swinging it downwards as he fell. In response the exposed Nighteye was somehow able to hop with one foot and crane kick his student with a speed and agility that far trumped his student, almost inhuman were it not for his decades of training
It was only then that Mirio was caught off guard, his punch missing it's mark as the kick struck his chin and sent him flying a few feet away. When he fell Togata wasn't able to use his quirk on time as his back struck hard onto the concrete floor. The brutal strike left him a bit dizzy as he gripped his head to stop it from spinning
"I wasn't fast enough..." Was the thought he had as Nighteye soon tossed his pants onto his crotch to cover his exposed privates
"You did better, but realize that your speed isn't the true key to your strength, it's your ability to defend while attacking." He lectured with much less disappointment than before. The boy's ability to avoid so many attacks without his quirk was impressive, and the movements he displayed were admirable, but his own ability to see the attacks coming only highlighted the mistakes that were made
"Still, it's better than before." He admitted as the boy rose to his feet yet again. Though he still gripped his head in pain, he chuckled light heartedly as he put on his pants
"But you gotta admit, I'm getting better!" He smiled, not allowing Nighteye's scathing negativity from before to wear him down
Mirio knew where he was going wrong, hell he's far harsher on himself than Nighteye is. Yet he knew that he still had lots of room to grow. Even if he struggled he was confident that he could grow under Nighteye's direction
Seeing his attitude, Sir Nighteye only smirked. Even with the hell that he's put the boy through and the hell he has yet to endure, he's able to face it all with a smile and good spirits. Much like All Might...
"That's true. You're doing far better than before." He admitted rather reluctantly
There were still at least a few more months of training before classes start, but in that time Mirai Sasaki was intent on pushing the boy past his limits and into the future that he not only expected, but hoped for more than anything...
With newfound determination, the three boys continue their training through the summer months, growing even stronger until they were finally recognized by both themselves and others around them
*FLASH FORWARD*
Months passed like water for many, especially for a boy like Bakugo who's relentless and constant training led him to live out the same day over and over again
Compared to others his training was much more improvised, having the basics like cardio, push-ups and sit-ups but also mixing in other forms like carrying a refrigerator a couple of feet, lifting copious amounts of trash from everywhere and, his favorite part, blowing up junk for the sake of it
For months Katsuki ran straight into the abandoned beach and played around with the mountains of trash, cleaning it as part of his training. It wasn't for any real goodwill or moral standpoint that he cleaned the beach, but instead it was so that he could train his quirk more without getting finned or worse going to jail. He was indeed able to grow his body and his quirk, but not to the degrees that he expected or wanted. As of yet he's learned how to concentrate the blasts of his attacks into more precise ones, but he still doesn't have the hang of it
"Fuck!" He cursed himself, fully aware of his own shortcomings in growth. "This'll have to do for now."
He looked around his surroundings to see the semi clean beach around him. While it wasn't as massively dirty and trashy as before, there was still a sizable amount of trash around him either in small, untraceable pieces or large metal/general objects that even he wasn't able to lift, though he damn will try in the future
Around him he saw what was the physical proof of his growth, a tattered ruin that was left so because of his sheer determination. He was able to remove what was likely years of neglect to the beach by cutting the subsection of trash into a small, ruined wasteland full of dead appliances, shrapnel and scrap metal
Yet it wasn't gone entirely...and that's what irked him the most. To see that he wasn't able to grow fast enough or strong enough to wipe the beach clean only ever upset him, like the world was mocking him
Suddenly pissed off the boy walked towards a large, dense metal box and angrily blasted it apart with a bombardment of his quirk, shrapnel flinging every which way. In a minute or two the dense metal box was instead a bundle of scrap
As he huffed a little he heard his phone ring in his pocket, forcing him to answer the call
"Who's this?"
"WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU!!" His mother yelled at him so loudly that he could feel his ear sting
"DON'T YELL AT ME BITCH!!!" He responded instinctively, but was met with equal hostility
"WELL THEN GET YOUR SORRY ASS OVER HERE THE TRYOUTS START IN AN HOUR!!!" She finalized before she abruptly hung up on him
"Fuck off!" He exclaimed angrily, though when looking at his phone he realized that it was surprisingly late by now
"Guess I'll cut it short today." He thought as he looked out to the semi clean beachside. It was through his efforts alone that the place has been looking better, and it would be through his continued efforts that the place looked perfect, free from the garbage. Because very soon he'd find the strength to clear the beachside out. And afterwards, he'd move on to bigger things. Though now he cleaned the beach, soon he'll clean out the entire competition!
Quickly he went back to jogging out of the beach, sending his mother his current location through text messaging. It wasn't much of a distance, only a few miles out from the more abandoned side of town, she'll make it to him easily
In the sidelines, a tired blonde man wearing a blue, yellow and red tracksuit bore a wide grin as he stared at the young boy leave the area. It was none other than Toshinori Yagi who secretly kept track of the progress the kid was making, slowly observing over the course of the past week how much the beach has been cleaned out
"Looks like that kid used this place as his training grounds." He noted to himself. "Crafty. I'm guessing he's heading out to attend the UA tryouts...I'm sure I'll see him again..."
"Crap, I'm gonna be late!" He realized as he continued jogging in the same direction
In the months that Mirio had spent to train both his body and his mind he made astonishing progress in both fields. With strict tutelage from the former sidekick of the legendary hero the teenager was able to learn much more about what it was like to be All Might, always cheerful and calm along with powerful. He was even taken to certain hero missions throughout the summer break, and by the end he'd spent his entire vacation working, training and learning
And when there were only a few weeks until school started all over again he was called into the same old training room for one final test, an overview of his newly acquired skills
He donned his hero suit yet again, a skin tight suit with a cape that made him look more like a comic book superhero than anything. His outfit consisted of a bright white, long sleeved shirt with the number one million embedded into it. There was a maroon red cape attached it that matched his maroon red gloves and he wore a blue set of pants that was mostly covered up by thigh-high boots in the color white. Lastly he wore a mask with a transparent yellow covering that both protected his eyesight. Due to the nature of his quirk the entire outfit was also made from fibers of his hair in order to prevent him from losing his cloths mid fight, saving him from much embarrassment
"What's taking Sir so long. He should've been here by now ." He wondered, checking his phone to see the time
It wasn't until a few minutes later that Sir Nighteye entered the room, but leaving the door open behind him
"I'm glad you were able to arrive on such short notice. It's a bit unexpected that I summon you in your free time but this is important." He apologized
"It's alright, 'cause I'm sure you saw it coming anyway!" Mirio joked, as bad as the joke was
"The point is," he cut to the chase, "today I have a special guest here, one that's been eying you for some time now. He's seen your growth and asked to meet you today for an evaluation of sorts."
Just then a tall, buff figure entered the room, shocking Mirio to his core. Hulking his way towards him was none other than the esteemed All Might, number one hero and legendary defender of good!
"I...am here!!" He boasted proudly, standing directly in front of the impressionable young man
"A-All Might! Holy crap you're here!!" Mirio exclaimed out of excitement and shock. In working under All Might's former sidekick he never expected to actually see the legend in person. It was like meeting a fictional hero in real life!
"My my, so you must be the young Togata! I'm glad to see you've grown a lot. Just look at those muscles!" He exclaimed proudly, placing a hand on the boy's extremely well defined shoulder. Compared to his former, somewhat modest build his body had undergone a drastic transformation, gaining more definition than before
"Thanks! I'm so glad you noticed! I-I just can't believe it, you're here!!"
"That I am!"
"All Might has been keeping a close eye on you, since you're not only sporting a noble goal, but because you're already growing to become a professional hero. In fact, if you weren't still in school you'd be better than most pros nowadays."
"Really?!? I know I got strong but...that much stronger really!?" He asked himself
"And since you've gotten so strong...how about a quick spar?"
"...A spar?"
"That's right! Not that it should be too hard for you, with that power and all." All Might smiled confidently, like he wasn't already anyway
"Take on All Might alone?! That's crazy!" Mirio thought. "Even if I can phase through his punches, how am I gonna deal any sort of damage to him?"
With the amount of power that All Might had, Mirio was far from intimidated, he was horrified by the thought. Someone like him couldn't stand up to All Might even if he didn't try, he was too tough and strong. In no time at all he'll lose with just one punch
"Then again...that's only if he hits me." He tried to rationalize. Maybe he could hold his breath for long enough to outlast All Might, if only a little bit
"Even then I can't back down now, I have to prove myself this time. Show both Sir and All Might what I'm made of!"
"Okay...I'm ready then!" He eventually smirked, raising his fists against the walking tank of a man
"That's the spirit! Here I go!"
In the blink of an eye All Might was already jumping after the boy with such speed that he left a deep imprint on the concrete. Instinctively Mirio used his quirk to avoid the attack, watching as All Might missed his grand slam and instead vault against the wall he was headed towards
In the span of two seconds All Might sent himself flying from one wall to the next, attempting to land two devastating punches but missing as Togata sunk to the floor
"His reaction speed is impressive, already capable of avoiding my attacks." He observed as soon Mirio popped from the ground
"My turn!" He yelled, charging straight after All Might with his right fist cocked back
Easily All Might held out his arm to effortlessly block the attack, but to his surprise the fist went through his hand and at his face, landing a powerful punch that made All Might to reel his head back a little
"So he's finally trained well enough to pull stunts like that. This'll be much harder than I thought."
Feeling a bit more cocky, Mirio sent out a barrage of high speed punches at All Might's chest, none of which did remotely any damage but were at least chipping away very slowly
In the middle of the assault All Might attempted to swing for an attack, but he was unable to hit Mirio as he activated his quirk in certain places to avoid the attack altogether. For a small while the two were at a stalemate, one landing every hit but not affecting the other so much, and the other unable to land a single attack
"I can't hold my breath for that long." Mirio thought to himself as he continued the string of attacks, feeling as a greater barrage of punches passed through him unfazed. If at any point he received one of those attacks then he wasn't going to last a second, each and every one that passed through him had the swiftness of a speeding car and most likely had the force of one too
Eventually Mirio disengaged by sinking into the floor again, and without a proper counter All Might could only wait for the boy to pop up again
In that instant he flew back into the room to land a mean uppercut to the chin, forcing All Might's head to jolt backwards. He followed this with a string of two attacks, twisting in the air to deliver a sweeping kick to the jaw and a right hook to the face, both of which only did minor damage to All Might
As Mirio fell through the floor again and tried the same attack he was surprised to see that All Might was missing, nowhere to be seen. Yet that was only a trick as a strong gust of wind struck his back, launching him headfirst into the wall
"You can phase through anything so long as you're concentrated, but sometimes you're unable to breath as a result." All Might reiterated what he read about Mirio's quirk. "So in the moments that you need to recuperate you're completely open to any attack."
"Guess he already found out." Mirio thought, getting to his feet and only smiling painfully
"You got me, but that doesn't mean it's over!" He boasted confidently
In response All Might held out his arm and flicked two of his fingers, creating a strong gust of wind that knocked Mirio out of balance and allowing All Might to rush after the boy yet again
As the hero attempted yet another rush-down style attack the teen sunk into the ground yet again, popping up a few feet behind the man. But surprisingly All Might followed the same attack pattern again, flicking two fingers and jumping after the off guard Togata but disappearing again
"He's not letting me catch my breath. The second I try to he knocks the air out of me and attacks. It's no wonder he's the number one hero." He observed in a state of panic
Unbeknownst to All Might and Sir Nighteye, Mirio was enveloped in a pitch black darkness that covered his eyesight. The air inside of his lungs was nearly gone and he was unable to breathe, giving him the sensation akin to dying while buried alive. He could feel the horrifying sense of falling that came with using his quirk, and yet as he moved his body he was thrown deeper into the depths of the Earth at a faster and faster pace
But instead he pushed through, forcing the fear out of him for only a few moments as he made up a strategy in his panic. By this point the second he deactivated his quirk he'd be unable to permiate through the following attack. Unless...
"I gotta try something at least." He finalized, the lack of air finally forcing his brain into action. Through his own will he could only hold back the fear inside of him for a few seconds, but the sensations and lack-thereof were so detrimental that he found it hard to ignore it
Soon he found himself being flung back into the room at high speeds, due to the amount of time he spent falling now being launched in an instant like a trampoline. He easily collided with the roof, flipping in the air, landing on his feet and using the roof as a springboard to jump down at the symbol of peace for a desperate last attack
Instead, All Might quickly grabbed Mirio by the chest and slammed him violently into the ground, preventing him from breathing for just long enough that it felt like his heart was going to explode. The teen finally gasped a pained breath into his hurt lungs, feeling the pain surround his back. He knew that he had to move out of the way. But in his current state his heart couldn't keep up with the breakneck fighting pace they were going at. He actually dreaded the use of his quirk again, huffing for air yet unable to stand from the floor. Instead the boy gripped at his thumping chest
"You did well, but your strategy couldn't compensate for the gap in power." All Might approached, looming over the defeated Togata. His pained body couldn't match the agony his heart felt for nearly exploding with the lack of oxygen, leaving the teenager with a panicked expression that sort of surprised All Might
"...Thanks..." Was all he could muster, taking deep breathes to both calm down and absorb more air
All Might kneeled beside the young boy and stared deep into his eyes, only able to guess what's going on
"If he's unable to breathe while using his quirk, then the deprivation of oxygen can put a great strain on his heart." All Might observed
And yet despite the horror that came with choking himself to near death, the young Togata was still able to formulate a last ditch effort of an attack. Even while laying on the floor he wore a meek smile covered by weak chuckling
"And he still wears that smile..." He observed as well, laughing proudly at the boy. So young yet already so daring, mirroring himself in more than one way. Guess he really didn't make a mistake after all in choosing a new student...
"It seems you've been able to prove yourself to me. Even when facing an opponent ten times your strength you faced me head on without hesitation. For that I can truly call you...my pupil!"
"Hold on...pupil?!"
"You see," Sir Nighteye explained from the sidelines, "the reason for this assessment was for All Might himself to see what you've learned. That way, he'll be more inclined to teach you more about heroing himself."
"Teach me? So that makes me-"
"My star pupil is what!" All Might exclaimed rather proudly, almost yelling to the world what happened, declaring the new event with a daring sense of pride
It all felt so surreal to Mirio. He just became All Might's pupil! Is this secretly why Sir Nighteye sought him out? Because he knew that he had the potential to get here?
"This...this can't be true! Am I really his pupil now."
"Hold on. Why are you doing this? It's so sudden that you'd find me now and to just start training me all of a sudden. Is something going on?" He asked, making All Might chuckle
"I'm glad you ask. Because I'm here to make sure my legacy lives on. I want the new symbol of peace to carry on what I've created. And you, Le Million, are just the aspiring young man to do it!"
"That's because you have the conviction of a true hero, one that will uphold society as I have. You can save people by keeping the peace the same way I've done it, by giving hope to others and aspiring them to do great things!" He exclaimed, outstretching his hand towards the boy
"So, what do you say? Are you ready to accept your future?"
Mirio could only freeze for a second as he stared at the hand that reached out for him. He could feel an immediate wave of self doubt plague his mind, holding him back from shaking that hand as his heart often did force him out of permiation. He wasn't anywhere near as strong or as popular as All Might was, and filling his enormous shoes was a gargantuan task in it of itself. He just...doubted if he could ever reach that level of greatness to become the next symbol of peace
And yet his motivation kept him in check, not just his unstoppable need to do good but also to grow as strong as he could. It wasn't for the glory that he want to save a million lives, to spend endless days practicing his quirk and confronting that everlasting nightmare everyday. It was because he wanted to become his best self for others. Tamajiki, some members of his class, his father, they all looked up to him because he strove to be his best self, and in doing so he motivated others to do the same
And to be recognized by a man like All Might, the person he strove to be like everyday, even going as far as taking lessons from his former sidekick...it was all just too much
With a small tear running down his eye and a wide smile, Mirio shook the hand of All Might himself. In the sidelines, Sir Nighteye hid a sly smile from the other two, elated by his own efforts in growing Mirio as well as witnessing the true passing of a new torch
"Here's to a grand future..."
Much like Mirio, Izuku too made lots of progress on himself. Through the hard work of Kurogiri and himself his body was much tougher than before, sporting a set of soft abs that, although not much, were still a great accomplishment for the young kid
And though there was still plenty of work to be done, this was the moment that Izuku had been waiting for. The day he would be truly initiated...
One morning Izuku awoke and began the exact same schedule he always followed. He jumped out of bed, ate his breakfast, donned his light green tracksuit and made his way out the apartment for 'jogging'
Thus he made his way to the hideout for the league of villains. But when he arrived, instead of seeing the usual warehouse with gym equipment he was at the bar. Before him stood All for One and Tomura, who wasn't gaming for a change
"Oh! Sensei!" Midoriya bowed respectfully. "I'm glad to see you again. Did something happen?"
"Nothing to worry yourself with my student. Only, I have a special offer for you, Izuku." All for One cut straight to the point. Beside him Tomura was actually fully attentive, a scary change that told Izuku there was something important going on. Something he wasn't aware of...
"As you may already know you're high school days are fast approaching, meaning that your training time will be cut short for a change." All for One stated. "But that also means that the U.A tryouts are occurring today, and soon after the school for heroes will resume operations again."
"Of course. Bakugo is definitely going to ace the exams, and get into UA like he always dreamed." Izuku thought, clenching his fist a little
Even though he wasn't going to tryout himself, not after what happened with his turn to villainy, the nervousness that came with the fast approaching day hit him as well. It was like unconsciously he was still holding out hope that he'd go to UA, and though he tried his best to ignore it he could feel the last of his hope of becoming a hero die inside
"Because so it's only fitting that you too prove yourself to our cause." He said, surprising Izuku. "After all, there's a specific reason why I've had Kurogiri train you so heavily for these past few months. It's because I'm going to distribute the ultimate test. Pass it and your position as my proper pupil will be cemented. Fail it and...you may very well die."
"Die?!?" He asked himself. What kind of test was he going to give out?!
In his shocked state of being he saw Tomura give a sly smile. It was near unnoticeable really, but as he lifted his head up Izuku could see the smile that he hid, like he was glad to see a pest go away. It was that face that horrified Izuku even more
"Of course, should you refuse the test you'll simply be sent back home. You'll hear nothing from me and you'll get to live out the rest of your days as an ordinary boy." All for One stated. "The choice is yours, and I hope you'll make the correct decision."
The green haired boy froze in place, shocked by his current position. His options were either walking away for good, or dying...and neither of them were great
On the one hand, he'd get to properly walk away from his crazy situation. It was just his luck that things were so tame as of now, but with the coming school year his Sensei implied that things were greatly going to change, maybe even get a little more hectic from here. If that was the case then now was his only time to walk away, to escape from becoming the bane of society
But to run away now, after all the effort that he's put in as of late, it seems so stupid that he give up now... Even if what he was doing might sound redundant for a boy like himself, a fan of All Might training under his greatest enemy, it was his future that he was most worried about
"I'm confident that a boy like you can change a life, not like a hero...but as yourself. So please...don't stop helping other people, be your own hero."
"Through this portal there is a man who's waiting to see you. Take it and you'll find the strength to become something more, to achive your dream. Leave it, and you'll abandon that dream you hold so dear forever."
"...You can save people by being yourself, by helping other villains endure the struggle that goes with being outcasts. You can save people from the society that we live in."
To this day those words from the people around him continued to ring, promises that helped maintain his sanity through the strange jump in logic he thought this was. As a villain, there had to be a way to make things better for everyone, to change the very core of society for those that were left out. Be it that burned man who suffered through the hands of heroes, himself who was isolated from society for having a dream, or others who couldn't rise from the oppression as he had and instead were destroyed along the way. There had to be a way to save them all...
"It's not bad to dream. But sometimes, you just have to be more realistic."
"It doesn't matter if what I dream is realistic or not..." Izuku swatted away the demeaning words of All Might himself. "What matters...is that I live up to those dreams! And if I can't be a hero...then I'll have to be a villain to see those dreams through!"
With a new conviction and confidence the boy stood straight, holding his clenched fist in front of him as he stared directly at All for One. His body still shook as he processed the thought of dying for nothing, of becoming a mere thought in people's minds...in leaving his mom alone
To Tomura's displeasure and All for One's joy they saw the boy staring down the face of death itself with the confidence to take him on. If only he knew what he was getting himself into...
"Heh, I'm proud of you Midoriya."
With little warning All for One's right arm grew a little, almost puffing up in size the symbol of evil cocked back his fist
"Then your test begins now!"
Suddenly the man punched the air in front of him with his supercharged fist, launching a powerful gust of wind straight to the young boy's chest. In the blink of an eye the wind crashed into Izuku with the force of a truck, bashing him violently against the wall and forcing him to his knees out of sheer pain
In mere second his body was enveloped in a white hot flame that was the pain of his crushed chest. He coughed up a slew of blood as he held himself just above the ground, clenching his broken ribs and possibly punctured intestines
"Your objective is to stand up before me." All for One stated as he trudged towards the dying kid
The ringing in his ears, the drooling blood falling from his mouth, the darkening of his vision, all of which Izuku had to manage with as he struggled to even stay in place without falling. His breath was labored and pained, a horrible sign to be sure and his consciousness was quickly fading away. Had he taken an attack like this earlier at any point he surely would've died, but with his trained muscles and his toughened body he was left clinging between life and death
"I...can't...move!!" He panicked, trying desperately to move a muscle, but every inch of his body was locked tight
"You know Midoriya...I'm very aware of how much you idolize All Might." All for One began, scaring Izuku further. "You and millions of others adore him for the strength he possesses to carry the world on his shoulder. In fact I too admire his strength..."
"He knows?!?"
"But there's a very specific reason why I've sought you out. It wasn't just the notebooks that you've made for me, those can very easily be replicated by my associates." He stated, frightening the boy as he loomed over him. "It's the fire that burns brightly within you that interests me. The potential that you have to change society into your image, the ability to continue dreaming when those around you snuff out every hope you have. You survived it all!"
"And yet, as you lay here broken and defeated, you continue to fight with every breath that you draw. You channel your very being into living what would've killed anyone else." All for One monologued
"So now I give you a task best suited for a dreamer like yourself. I ask that you stand up and face me, I ask that you push through all of the pain life has thrown your way, to push past those that doubt you to this day and meet your future head on. I demand that you take action into your own hands and take your place beside me. Because you're one of very few whose dreams remain untouched by the crushing force of society, who continues to fight for what they believe in."
In what has to be the pinnacle of his motivational speech, All for One held his hands up to the sky, almost yelling out to the world and to Izuku, commanding both to heed his word
"Take your place, Izuku Midoriya, and reach your future!!"
The agonizing body of Izuku could barely hear any word that All for One was saying, yet he spoke with such clarity, such confidence and arrogance that Izuku understood every word and took it all to heart. His body vibrated with such pain that it was almost mind numbing...almost
"Sensei believes in me...he can see me for who I am!" Izuku thought happily, crying tears of both excruciating pain and mild joy as a smile forcefully pulled at his lips. This was the first time that anyone believed him with such intensity, to declare to the world that he was going to change it... It was breath taking...
Whether through force, adrenaline or sheer will Izuku took back a shaky control of his body, his every muscle and bone screaming at him to stop. Yet he didn't listen to any of it. Instead, he weakly pushed himself up, slowly sitting up to his knees as the effort forced more blood out of his mouth
To Tomura's dismay, he watched the near teenage boy slowly get up to his knees and make his way off the ground, his legs buckling as his body refused to cooperate. Yet he continued, getting to his feet and soon attempting to stand
With an amazing tenacity All for One witnessed the dying Midoriya rise to his full height as he stared him down with leaking eyes and a shaky smile. In what felt like an eternity the boy was able to take a killing blow and stand up straight, staring at All for One with an unmatched bravery
"I...accept!" He stated before he lost his breath, the effort and pain finally overtaking his sheer will as he lost all sense of his body
Midoriya fell to his back, the darkness growing more as the spots in his vision became more frequent
The great All for One loomed over the green haired kid, chuckling proudly as he observed. He was exactly like his brother, down to a T...
"You pass..." He said as he kneeled over the boy and placed a hand on his head
"Your loyalty is evident and as such I see it fit that I bestow upon you a quirk." His hand began glowing a bright red as Izuku's hair shifted in place, an electric feeling running through his body
"I grant you the ability to endure everything that's thrown your way, the ability to live through anything that which may kill any other!"
"I grant you the quirk known as Survivor!"
With the fading light leaving both of their bodies Izuku finally passed out from the pain, yet miraculously he continued to breathe a labored breath, defying death itself as he slumbered
"Kurogiri, see to it he recovers." All for One ordered and without a word both Izuku and the living shadow disappeared from the room
"That was disappointing." Tomura piped up. "I thought I'd be able to kill him."
Prior to Izuku's appearance All for One ordered Tomura to witness the event unfold before them. Without the boy knowing they agreed on one thing. Should Midoriya decline the offer and attempt to escape their grasp...Tomura himself would see to it that the brat disappeared
The young man was really looking forward to it too, and he more than hoped that the 'test' would kill him instantly. Yet he saw as the kid defied his own body and faced his master before passing out
"Watch your tone Tomura, for now he's a vital asset to my plans. And he'll be your ally as well."
Reluctantly he held his tongue, yet his next words were out of genuine curiosity
"And what quirk did you give him? Can he really survive that attack?"
"It's simple really." The man said as he rose to his feet, hiding a sinister smile behind his mask, giddy that his plans went so smoothly for the first time in a while. Truly he had to pat himself on the back for that one
"From now on, what doesn't kill him can only make him stronger."