Good In Evil
By: SomeRandomPerson648
Chapter 8: Out in the Open
Midway into yet another ordinary day the cafeteria at UA High sprung with life. In much the same way a normal school operates, the looks, sounds and atmosphere of the area was no different to any other high school, status or not. And also just as similar are the seating arrangements for the freshman classes, which were still under development. Friends old and new interconnected with each other and gave way to brand new friend groups that would last for the rest of their school lives
One of said groups was that of Ochako, Iida, Mina and Asui, unlikely and frankly unusual people that have grown fond of one another. The four sat at a table in the middle of the Lunch Rush Cafeteria, surrounded by copious loud voices
"Geez, today's as packed as ever isn't it?" The pink skinned girl complained. It was a little hard to even hear her own thoughts with the hustle and bustle of the cafeteria
"Of course. With a school as big as UA the lunches are packed with students from all courses." Iida informed
"Still, there's barely any room to breathe sometimes."
"You can say that again." Asui complained as a rowdy group continued to yell in the distance
"But the rice is pretty good." Ochako added
Ready to shift the conversation into a more interesting topic, Mina grinned from ear to ear. "Hey guys," she began, "who do you think is the strongest in our class?"
"Hm...that's not really a hard question. It's definitely Shoto." Asui answered
"I don't know, Bakugo is very tough as well. Though his attitude needs fixing." Iida argued
"That's right, didn't he take out you and Tokoyami that one time?" The frog girl remembered, making the boy sigh
"Please don't bring it up, it hurts to even remember."
"But it's not as bad as what Shoto did to Denki and Mineta! Word is that they both needed to sleep with hot blankets for days!" Mina interjected
"That's quite a stretch."
"But we all saw it didn't we! They were popsicles!" She rebutted
"I guess both of them are more or less competing for the top spot aren't they." Ochako imagined as she stuffed her face with rice
In the distance she could see both boys sitting in different spots, both with drastically different emotions. The angry blonde could only sneer as he looked ahead of him, probably eyeing Todoroki. The white and red haired boy, on the other hand, seemed as calm and uncaring as ever. It wasn't hard to see that the two had a rivalry going on, even if it was a one-sided one
"What about you Ochako? What's your opinion?"
"Me? Well...it's pretty hard to chose one. Both of them were pretty impressive on their own."
"But I say it's Todoroki!" Mina declared
"And I say it's Bakugo!" Iida countered, though it was a bit odd as to why the two were so opposed to one another
"Say, why don't we figure it out?" Asui suggested. "You start Mina."
"Huh? It's obvious! His ice quirk is just too strong to beat that's why! And that's not even mentioning his left side."
"I'll have to agree there," Iida conceded, "although he has yet to reveal it, he's most likely harboring a fire quirk as well given that his father is a well known fire user. As to why he doesn't use it remains a mystery..."
"If his ice is so powerful just imagine what he could do with his fire!" Mina continued boasting, seeing her take as the better one
"Then what about Bakugo? He's strong too."
"Of course. No matter how cruel and despicable his personality is his strength is one of a kind. The way he was able to evaluate Tokoyami's weakness and counter my strategy are two things I've yet to see from Todoroki." Iida stated his case. "His quirk is no match for his innate instincts for battle, and I doubt Todoroki's quirk alone could stop him should the two fight."
"If they fight? Ooh that's a good idea! Maybe we should ask them if they could duke it out after school." She said
"Don't, it's against school rules for students to fight unless instructed by teachers and under a controlled environment." He countered
"And you Ochako? You haven't picked one yet." Asui asked the distracted girl
"Oh! Well it's pretty hard to pick when they're both impressive." She repeated, but thinking further she decided to go with her first thought. "But...Bakugo is pretty obsessed with strength, and I doubt he'll sit still until it's settled that he's the number one of our class."
"That's true. His confidence and ego are that which I've never seen before. Even if Todoroki poses a challenge, Bakugo won't rest until his pride is satiated." Iida concluded
"Guess you're right about that." Mina agreed
"Even then, Bakugo only sees things in terms of strength too. There's probably a reason why he wants to be number one." Ochako wondered again
While the whole class chalked up Bakugo's crassness as arrogance and ego, Uraraka was the only one to see past his crude demeanor. Because as mean as he was to her, she could somewhat see through him
"If you could've used that power of yours more effectively then you would've been fine anyway. No need to waste my time."
"He's still a big jerk though." She recalled, grinding her teeth in anger. "There's gotta be more to it than just being strong, why else would he save me during the exams?"
"Still, neither of them are gonna get to be class president, that spot's reserved for Yaoyarozu!" Mina boasted for her friend, completely off topic
"Right, out of everyone she's the most collected of the class." Asui commented
"Yes, though it's a shame that I'm losing the position of class president I'm glad it's going to a person who's deserving."
"It must suck that not many people voted for you huh?" Mina added, but rather than be upset Iida only smiled
"Of course, but if it's going to be anyone that beats me it's surely someone just as intelligent as her. I myself still have lots to learn."
"Yeah, that's why you're getting Class Deputy." Asui commented
"And I shall do my best to fulfill my role with every fiber of my being!"
"That's pretty extreme..." Ochako sighed
As for the subject of the matter, Katsuki Bakugo sat alone during his lunch, away from any especially loud or obnoxious types. It was hard for him to think under all the noise. That and he hadn't developed any bonds of his own either, but it was less about circumstances and more about choice
He wasn't especially bothered by sitting alone. Back in middle school he had 'friends' to sit with but they were more cronies than anything else, none of which held the same passions or aspirations as he did. While he was focused on his schoolwork and aiming to be the strongest, the others worried more about getting girlfriends, playing video games and so on. For a kid as popular as Katsuki was, he certainly wasn't the social type
As he ate his homemade bento box in peace he was approached by a strange figure, another boy with spiky bright red hair and red eyes. Bakugo could vaguely recognize him but didn't remember from where, not that he was worth remembering anyway
"Hey Bakugo! This seat taken?" He asked, holding his tray in front of him
The spiky haired blonde looked him up and down quizzically. "Who're you?"
"What?! I'm you're classmate Eijiro Kirishima! I literally sit next to you!"
"Hmph, whatever. And no, I'd rather sit alone than with another extra." Bakugo remarked
Rather than sneer with disgust or hatred the boy only sighed before defiantly taking the chair in front of Bakugo
"I said beat it, I'm not interested."
"Come on I want to be friends! There's no harm in that is there?"
"Listen I'm not looking to be friends with anyone alright? I'm here to kickstart my hero career and that's it, no reason to be buddy buddy with anyone." Bakugo denied firmly
"Really? Sounds to me like you're only looking out for yourself."
"Damn right I am. Got a problem with that?"
"No, I guess not." Kirishima agreed reluctantly. "But you're really not gonna try and make friends? That seems pretty lonely to me."
"So what? I don't bother acknowledging anyone that's weaker than me. The way I see it, there's only one kid worth talking to in the whole damn class, and it's not you."
"Hm, oh yeah? That sounds like a challenge to me." The boy smirked
"What?"
"If you're so strong then why don't we have a fight? You and me? That way you'll acknowledge me."
"No way, you're just gonna get blown away. No need to bother." Bakugo huffed, crossing his arms
Standing from his seat and openly challenging the boy in front of him, Kirishima began to pump himself up more and more. "As if! My quirk'll keep me safe and sound! Won't even be able to feel you're attacks!"
Now more pissed off than ever Bakugo glared at the annoyance that stood just in front of him, just asking to get his ass kicked. But in his eyes was a fierce fire that raged defiantly, almost like a glint in his blood red eyes that screamed confidence, but not arrogance. Whatever quirk it was that he had didn't matter, what did was the fighting spirit that he displayed from the challenge. Of course, it couldn't hold a candle to Bakugo's strength and willpower but it at least impressed him
"Hmph, you're seriously asking for a fight?"
"From the strongest kid in our class. Tough guys like you and me are bound to fight one another, so why not do it now?" He replied without losing any bit of confidence in his voice
The two stared at each other with such intensity that it sent shivers down the spines of anyone around. Other students could feel the hostility choke them as they ate, as if danger was looming around the corner. In that moment it was uncertain as to whether or not a fight would break out in the middle of the cafeteria, but one could only guess
In the end, Bakugo huffed and went to to his boxed lunch, cutting the tension between them
"Fine you can sit down, but don't interrupt my lunch."
Taking this as a sign of good faith the teen sat back down and ate his own lunch in a proud silence. This didn't exactly mean they were friends, but it certainly meant that Bakugo would remember his face next time. In such way Kirishima smirked to himself
Elsewhere in the same Cafeteria, two third year students continued to have their own personal discussion, ignoring the noise around them.
"-I'm putting my foot down here Tamaki!" Mirio stated firmly, not backing down from his opinion. "The latest issue of the manga is clearly the best hands down!"
"That's just recency bias, it'll wear off after a day or two." His usually shy friend only waved away the strong claim. "Chapter one hundred on the other hand has the most impactful and emotional moments of the series, there's no changing my mind."
As the two best friends were in the middle of their heated debate, two girls approached them
"Hey you two, how's it hangin'?"
The two turned to see none other than Nejire Hado and her orange haired friend Yuyu Haya. At seeing the two familiar faces they greeted the newcomers with open arms
"Oh hey girls, we were in the middle of a debate between our favorite chapter of our favorite series." Mirio explained kindly
"Mirio's favorite seems to change with every new release, so it's a hassle having to fight him on these things every time." Tamaki also explained. Rather than be filled with anxiety and nervousness like he usually was he seemed more stressed than anything, probably due to the discussion that was had
"Oh wow that's pretty cool. Anyway," Nejire cut to the chase, impatient as always, "I just came by to know how the rising star of our class was getting so popular!"
"Yeah Mirio, you're kind of a hotshot now. Pretty unexpected from a guy like you but just as impressive." Yuyu complemented as well
It was no secret that Mirio had trained his heart and soul over the summer, his body was more chiseled than before and his new combat proficiency easily made him the top student of their class. While Nejire was usurped from her spot as the number one in the school, she was far more curious about the work he's been putting in
"Well if you Togata-know then I guess I'll tell you~."
"That was lame" Tamaki stated
"I know." He sighed. "To be honest it wasn't easy at all. Sir Nighteye is a pretty strict teacher, and he had set really high expectations for me once he saw what I could do."
"Sounds terrible." Tamaki shuddered
"I guess, but I was able to push through it all and grow under his guidance. That's why you see the confident guy you see before you." He grinned from ear to ear, proud of the work he's been able to do
"That's impressive. Classes have only just started and already people are calling you the best of our class. They're even changing it from 'The Big Two' to 'The Big Three' like you said." Hado added as well
"Yeah Mirio, you were able to get so strong over one summer." Tamaki complimented
"Thanks guys, really. But um...I have a question." The blonde haired boy asked nervously. "Do any of you know how to be an 'inspiration' to others?"
"...What?"
"You see Sir Nighteye wanted me to learn more about what it's like to be a hero, and one of those things I've got to figure out is how to inspire other people."
"Inspire others? Just be like All Might! He's the biggest inspiration of them all!" Nejire responded with full confidence
"Hehe, thanks but maybe some specifics would be nice."
"An inspiration huh? I dunno that's pretty tricky." Yuyu wondered. "For a hero you should be strong, confident and reliable if you want people to look up to you."
"But that's such a strange question. You sure you don't wanna ask us something else?" The blue haired girl wondered with curiosity
"That's was it really. Thanks for your help."
"Anytime!" They answered, and with nothing else to say they abandoned the table, leaving the two alone again
"She's right, what a strange question." Tamaki wondered. "Is there something else you didn't tell us?"
"Heh Heh, yeah... You see I'm also going to be a teacher aid for class 1-A in a few days, at Mr. Aizawa's request too so...I'm wondering how I can be a positive influence for the freshmen."
"A teacher aid? That's a pretty rare position, but I guess since you're the number one at the school it shouldn't be too weird."
"So...do you have any advice?" Mirio chuckled nervously, having to seek his friend's aid once again
"Sorry but I can't help you here." Amajiki admitted, deflating his friend a little. "But if there's anyone who can figure it then it's you Mirio. You've always been a problem solver, and I'm sure you'll be a good aid."
"Thanks Tamaki, you really know what to say."
"Hm, it's usually the other way around Mirio." The boy sighed, noting the reversal of their roles
Of course, Mirio couldn't outright say the full extent of his struggles to his friend, since it was supposed to be a secret that he's All Might's protégé. How can he explain that he's supposed to surpass the number one hero one day? How can he compare to someone so great like him? He was truly stuck between a rock and a hard place, and of the few attempts he's made at asking for help he's been let down for the most part
Just then, calling his attention was the obnoxiously loud blaring of an alarm. The shockingly sudden occurrence distracted everyone from what they were doing
"There has been a level three security breach. All students please evacuate promptly." Said the recognizable voice overhead
Without any hesitation hundreds of students bolted from their seats and made their way out of the lunchroom, leaving only a few too stunned to react
"Level three? That hasn't happened before has it?" Mirio asked as he observed every last person around him jolt from their seats and run away
"Could it be that a villain finally infiltrated the school?" Tamaki asked himself, his social anxiety finally returning as he saw the soon forming horde of students jam into each other as they made their hurried escape
"I dunno...I should check it out." Mirio declared as he ran towards the opposite direction from everyone else, towards the classrooms
"What? Mirio!" Amajiki hesitated before running after his friend, worried about both the situation at hand and his friend's safety
"If there really is a villain then we have to alert the teachers. Better to be safe than sorry." The boy thought as he ran down the hallway and began his hunt
*Minutes Earlier*
While half of UA was situated within the cafeteria a large crowd had gathered just outside the front gates. Reporters of various outlets big and small gathered around the front entrance in hopes of receiving a stray student or teacher. Or maybe, by some miracle, All Might himself would give them the time of day
Yet only a few feet behind them were two teenagers, both obscured by their hoodies. Izuku Midoriya, wearing his now usual dark green hoodie, followed behind Tomura Shigaraki who wore a similar black hoodie. Both of them had their faces covered as well, Tomura wearing the same severed hand, while Izuku wore what seemed to be a black bandanna over his mouth. Had any of the normal citizens paid them any heed then they'd easily assume they were villains, but obviousness aside it was more about masking their identities than anything else
"These idiots stand here in the blazing sun for attention. How irritating." Tomura commented as the two boys took a moment to observe. Not one reporter had noticed them standing in the middle of the road just behind them
"To be fair so many popular heroes and young students are gathered inside the most prestigious school around. Anything that has to do with UA would be headline news so they're probably too fixated on them to pay any attention to their surroundings." Midoriya commented, receiving a glance from the other boy
"...You're irritating...stop talking."
"R-Right, sorry." He apologized
Inwardly Izuku felt his stomach crawl as he stood side by side with Tomura, feeling his oddly intimidating presence force panic into his heart. He couldn't shake the feeling of being judged for his every action, even now he could see a glimpse of his gaze as they stood out in the open, exposed
Today was Izuku's first mission, a practical test so to speak. Originally it was Tomura's idea to cause a commotion at UA, but it was Sensei's orders that brought the both of them together. It was almost crippling how his stomach churned and twisted as he stared at the crowd of people before them, as he came to expect for his first real assignment
"It's nothing to worry about, we're just here to destroy the gate. In and out...shouldn't be too hard." He reassured him, further tightening his bandanna across his mouth to make absolute sure that his identity wasn't revealed. Despite the purpose of his outfit being to hide his identity, he felt as though he drew in more attention than before with his hood drawn and his face covered
Worse was the fact that he was supposed to be in school at the moment, another layer to stress about. Although he was somewhat certain that his teacher wouldn't notice his absence, he could only hope that the job is finished before his own classes start again
"Hey, um, Shigariki? I think it's about time we start." Midoriya stated, fidgeting as he looked around his surroundings
"Tch, don't tell me what to do." Tomura responded as he reluctantly walked into the crowd ahead
The two boys waded through the thick crowd of reporters, making each of them wonder who these two kids in hoodies were
"Hey who are you two?" They questioned aloud, but none bothered to reactivate cameras or prod any further
Upon reaching the large metal gate the two stopped and stared ahead, almost like they were biding their time
"Kurogiri said that Tomura can take care of the gate himself. I wonder what kind of quirk he has that can do that." Midoriya asked himself as his partner placed one hand on the large doors
Upon Tomura placing all five of his fingers onto the solid steel gate cracks began to form all throughout. In seconds the shiny paint withered away and was replaced by falling grey ash, making the once impenetrable steel doors into large slabs of rock that disappeared with each gust of wind. Without realizing it the crowd was now facing empty air, nothing stopping them from walking up to the front doors of the legendary school itself
For a silent second of disbelief everyone stared at the black and grey ash pile before them, too shocked to believe what they saw. That was until one man with notepad at hand ran into action, pushing past the two teens, going up to the front doors and impatiently banging against them. With little hesitation afterwards the whole crowd rushed forward, pushing aside the mysterious kids in favor of capitalizing on their opening
"That was...wow." Said Izuku, utterly flabbergasted by the display before him. Numerous questions formed in his mind in an instant, trying to make sense of what he just saw. He was even tempted to pull out his notebook then and there before he snapped back to reality
"We need to leave now before the cameras spot us." He sighed with relief, glad that the task was done for
With that the boy turned around and made his way out before noticing that Tomura wasn't actually following him. Rather, he was instead staring at the campus itself
"H-Hey we have to-"
"Shut up." He remarked
For a little while the boy seemed to blankly stare at the sight ahead of him before doing the unthinkable. Without care or warning the teen stepped forward, taking a slightly better look at the inside of the school
"Hey! We can't just walk in or we'll be spotted!" Midoriya desperately tried to argue against his partner who lost his sense. "We're just here to do the mission!"
"Quiet down or they'll notice us." He said before strolling inside, shocking the green haired boy
Stunned, Midoriya now staggered for a new course of action, either to follow his orders or to follow Tomura. Kurogiri had told the both of them to leave as soon as they could but now Tomura was just going right in!
"This isn't part of the plan!" He panicked, looking around to see if anyone had noticed the events. Luckily, there were no wanderers or cars passing by, leaving him completely exposed and out in the open
Thinking quickly he ran after the white haired boy who only walked at a moderate pace, taking in the sights around him like he was at an amusement park
"Tomura!! We need to leave before they see us!" Midoriya repeated, but to no avail
"Then be a good dog and leave. I'll go sightseeing." The boy mocked, further stunning the teen
Just behind him, Midoriya was frozen in place, still arguing within himself. He knew that he had to follow his orders and leave before he was spotted, but he also knew that he couldn't leave Tomura alone. If he were to come back with him missing then who knows what'll happen afterwards! Of course it was Tomura that was risking himself but that was beside the point
"I can't leave him alone. We were partnered up for a reason." He convinced himself as he strut forward, catching up to the slow paced teen
"So you're sticking around?" He asked, irritated
"I can't leave without you, we're in this together." Izuku replied defiantly, frustrating the white haired boy further
As the two bull-headed teens continued their walk Midoriya took a look around, realizing the position he was in. He was finally within UA's large, looming walls and got to see the school up close and personally for the first time ever. Even if he was breaking the law at the moment, a fragment of childlike wonder returned to his eyes as he witnessed the illustrious school of heroes in all of its shining glory
"It's so much bigger than I imagined. I wonder what the inside is like." He wondered, peaking into the glass to see the clean hallways inside
"Hmph, then why don't you?" Tomura mocked
Without warning he placed his hand on the window in front of them, destroying it silently and creating a new entrance from within the school
"Why would you do that!" Midoriya asked
"Don't you get it? We're villains, we can do what we want." Tomura taunted further as he continued his stroll
For a while Izuku hesitated, unsure if he should enter. Despite the position he was in it felt wrong, he wasn't supposed to be here. Sure he was aware that the operation was illegal, an idea that still hasn't caught up to the young boy yet, but nonetheless it felt like he was forbidden from going inside the school walls. Yet in seeing his partner stroll right in without a care seemed...tempting
"...We're just here to look around. In and out." He repeated in his mind as he took a step forward, breathing the air of the prestigious school
Izuku was quickly mesmerized by the sheer vastness of the school, making the two teens seem meek and small in comparison. The hallways themselves had floors so wide and long that they resembled highway roads, the large oak doors to every classroom doubled in height and width of a normal door. Walking inside the building made Izuku's heart beat just a little bit faster, his mind unable to register how impressive the school looked. Sure to anyone else (Tomura included) the school seemed rather simple, but to Izuku his long lost dreams were being fulfilled as they passed through the many empty classrooms
Yet inwardly a reserved sense of distance kept him from gawking and constrained his overwhelming emotions for the sake of the task at hand. He understood that his dreams were long lost, which curbed his sense of joy to that of minor disappointment
"Tch, how boring." Tomura complained, having expected more from the school. Maybe a little more flare was what he was looking for
"But we can't be spotted, otherwise our cover might get blown." He pleaded once more
"The point is to draw attention. And if anyone gets in my way...I'll kill them where they stand." Tomura said coldly, shocking his partner to the core
"You-You can't be serious! I mean...we're only supposed to destroy a gate that's all! We can't just-" Izuku objected before he was interrupted
"Why not? Are you afraid of the consequences?" Tomura asked, turning to face the innocent boy with a stern look. "After all you're a villain aren't you? Killing is part of the new role. What's wrong with killing one or two people along the way?"
"It's not that...but...we can't be caught on our first mission!" Izuku avoided the question. "Even if this is just a school, the most powerful hero is just around the corner. And if we're captured here then we'll ruin all of master's plans!"
The two teenagers stared off one another, subtly gauging the other. Yet again Izuku found himself having to prove his loyalty and yet again he stood his ground. He knew that he couldn't answer Tomura's question, nor did he understand why they've strayed so far from their original mission, but what he did know was that being inside the school was a needless risk, especially if their opening could close at any given moment
In response the white haired teen slowly crept up to Izuku and placed a hand on his shoulder, gripping it tightly but making sure to remove his pinky finger
"I'm having a real hard time trusting you Midoriya. You're too noble, too innocent to be working with the likes of us villains." Tomura explained. "How can we be sure that you won't sell us out to the heroes that you still admire? What use are you to us?" He asked
The menacing shift in tone stopped Midoriya's heart, his eyes staring at the hand that clenched onto his shoulder. With one finger he would turn to ash like the door from before. That alone left Izuku panicking for answers, questioning himself what Shigaraki would like to hear from him
But that was when he realized that he already had his answer, the sole reason why he was here. Time and time again he was tested, and the more he endured the more he grew closer to his goal, his true purpose in life
It was a mere idea, a dream that he wanted to fulfill. Since he was little all he's ever hoped was to save people, to impact the world as a hero. Yet with Sensei's guidance and his new experiences, he's learned that he can do much more than that. He knows now that great things await him, and it was all thanks to All for One
Standing up straight and returning Tomura's glare with equal intensity Midoriya began to speak but was interrupted by a new voice that shouted from behind them, saving Midoriya from Shigaraki's grasp
"Stop right there villains!!"
Only half turning to see the new arrival, Tomura spotted a blonde boy sprinting into the scene, and close behind him was a kid with dark blue hair and pointy ears. He couldn't recognize either of them, but Izuku could
"Crap, this is bad." Izuku panicked as Tomura let go and fully faced the new arrivals
"So the student heroes make an appearance huh? Well then by all means...capture us." Tomura taunted, outstretching his hands as if to grab the two before him
However, he was surprised when Midoriya of all people gabbed his shoulder and pulled him back desperately
"The hell are you-"
"We have to run right now." He advised, further pissing off the white haired boy
"Don't tell me what to do!"
"Please, you don't understand they're stronger than you realize. They're two of the school's top students, Mirio Togata and Tamaki Amajiki." He explained, recounting what he's learned online and on the news. "Tamaki can shapeshift into anything he's eaten recently, and Mirio can phase through anything by holding his breath."
The air between the four only got more and more tense as the stare down continued. Izuku could only return the glares he received as he hoped as prayed that Shigaraki would back down. Yet the look in his eyes was unreadable
Seconds passed in silence, both parties too tense to move until the students began dashing after the mysterious villains, forcing the two to turn around and run in the direction they came from
But making their escape harder was Tamaki, who used his quirk to conjure an octopus tentacle for an arm and use it to reach Izuku. However, turning around just in time to see the large tentacle the boy reacted by sidestepping it, causing Tomura to be grabbed instead
Trying to set himself free Shigaraki attempted to place a hand onto the large tentacle that restrained him, only to be met with a flying fist aimed straight at his face. The punch was able to phase through his severed hand and land on his face without any trouble, dazing him by the sheer force of impact
Thinking quickly Izuku ran headfirst towards Tamaki and threw a hidden knife after the boy, fully expecting the attack to work as a distraction. As expected Tamaki used his mutant arm to block the flying blade but was left defenseless as Izuku charged headfirst and jump kicked him in the chest, knocking him off his feet and freeing Tomura from his grasp
"I'll end this!" He yelled as without hesitation he placed two hands onto the ground, causing it to shake violently as cracks formed along the street-like hallway
The effect was almost immediate as Izuku leapt out of the immediate destruction, leaving Tamaki to stumble as the cracks on the floor only grew bigger. In order to avoid taking any damage Mirio phased through the floor, leaving his clothes on the floor to be swallowed by the earth
Seeing their opportunity the two villains made another break for the exit, finding the same window panel they'd destroyed and retracing their original steps. Yet the advantage was only brief as the other two boys used their respective powers to pull themselves back up and give chase, Mirio left nude by the encounter
Luckily for the pair of villains they didn't have to run far as they rounded the corner they came from and disappeared behind the press that they let in. Unfortunately for their pursuers they were caught off guard by the large crowd of reporters and cameras
"Crap!" Mirio panicked, reflexively falling through the ground to cover up his nude appearance, leaving his best friend even more exposed as the cameras turned to face him
"Hey look It's Tamaki Amajiki, one of the top students of UA!"
"Mr. Amajiki! Can we have a word!"
Stopping in his tracks the poor boy could only stutter and freeze in place as the overwhelming feeling of despair and anxiety began choking him out
Further ahead, the two boys were finally able to catch their breath as they created distance between them and the gates of UA. As the two boys huffed tiredly in the middle of the street Izuku looked back and stared at the school they'd escaped from, his eyes lingering just a bit too long
"It's all for a good cause." He convinced himself, bringing him back to the present moment as he faced his partner in crime
"Hey, Shigaraki?"
"What do you want?" He responded bitterly, holding his hand over his nose in pain
"I have the answer to your question, the one from earlier." Izuku stated, standing up straight and proud for his ally to hear. "I know what my use is...and it's to help change the world. With Sensei's help I can make the world a better place for people like me. So because of that...please, allow me to help you in any way I can! For Sensei's sake!"
...
...
"How arrogant." Was his only response, turning away and leaving the boy behind in a confusing manner, but nonetheless telling
"If I still need to prove myself to others then I'll work hard to show my worth!" Thought as he closely followed his ally
Proudly, the green haired teen strolled alongside his upset ally, eager to show his worth however he can, in the present and in the near future
Hours later Izuku returned home from school feeling about as dizzy as usual. Though he left his earlier mission unscathed he still had his daily blood draining to deal with. It was a wonder that he has yet to receive lasting damage, but his body's ability to hold out has pushed off the consequences for the time being. In the meantime, he had his diet to worry about
"I feel like I'm seconds away from becoming anemic..." He thought as he leaned against the wall for a brief second
Whether he was running his body to the ground or further harnessing his quirk wasn't his concern for the moment. Instead, he had more important things to worry about
His first mission for real mission as a villain went terribly, nearly going off the rails despite its simplicity and all because of his partner not trusting him enough. And yet, Izuku inwardly smiled at the results. He knew that it went wrong, he knew that it almost did get worse, however it was the simple achievement of pulling off a successful task for his Sensei that made the hardship bearable. And despite the challenge of proving himself further to Tomura, the challenge itself provoked a feeling of needing to improve himself
It was like he was finally living for once, like he was finally achieving his dreams and making his place in the world. Bar the fact that he had to intentionally destroy the gates of his dream school, being able to put what he's learned to practice was a feeling greater than that of being on the moon
...He had finally found purpose...
"This won't stop me from helping others...or striving to change the world!" Izuku reminded himself as he defiantly reached for a bottle of juice and supplements that he stored in his backpack. It was for that reason why he made sure his body (more importantly his blood) wouldn't fail him, among other things
Ignoring the dizziness the boy entered his apartment and was greeted by his mother, who waited patiently for his arrival
"How was your day honey? You're here later than usual."
"It was great, thanks mom. And sorry for being late, I had more things to do again." Izuku replied with a warm smile, making his mother smile as well
"Sweetie, you wouldn't happen to be talking to a girl would you?" Inko wondered, making Izuku panic and blush at the same time. How did she know? How could she tell?
"I-er-um...maybe?" He stuttered until he let out one tired sigh. "How could you tell?"
"You've been coming home a little late, but every time you do you have this big smile on your face." She stated matter of factly. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were flirting when I wasn't looking."
As much as Izuku tried to hide his private life it was easy to forget that his mother was just as observant as he was, even more so really. Nothing passes her gaze without her knowing, and yet with her reserved nature it was easy to forget this aspect of her
"I wouldn't call it flirting but...I have someone to talk to now." Izuku cleared up calmly
"Oh you made a friend! That's wonderful, I'm so proud of you!" She exclaimed, holding her son's face in her hands. She more than anyone knew what an achievement this was for her son. "I'm happy for you. I'd really like to meet your friend one day, if you ever invite them over."
"Maybe one day mom... Maybe one day." Izuku sighed, knowing that Toga wasn't quite the person he'd want to invite over
"Oh and before you eat I have something I'd like to show you." She informed before shuffling away to her room, leaving Izuku confused
In no time the kind hearted mother walked back into the room with a bag at hand and a smile on her face, further confusing the boy. She gave him a gift? Why? His birthday wasn't for a few months so why did she have a gift?
"Please open it."
Confused, Izuku opened the bag and was surprised by what he revealed. In his hands was a lime green jumpsuit with two large white stripes that rode along the edges of the suit. It also had a hoodie that doubled as a face covering, even featuring two ear-like pieces that stuck out at the head
The green haired boy was shocked to see his old dream come to life, a hero suit he fantasies about having before ultimately giving up. Part of his childhood he spent drawing his own suit for the future, creating wild and often absurd designs until he landed on a brightly colored jumpsuit, and seeing it in person made it look better than those rough drawings
"I...how did you..."
"I was cleaning your room the other day when I stumbled on one of your old notebooks. I didn't mean to pry but when I saw the design I thought that maybe you'd still like a hero suit." She confessed
Now holding her sons hands and making direct eye contact with Izuku, the boy could see a small tear form in her eye as she continued speaking
"I know that you've stopped trying to be a hero...and I know that I wasn't able to support your dream properly. But now that I'm watching you grow before my eyes I realized that I should've done more than what I did then. And now that you're focused on improving your body and getting in shape...I wanted to show you that you have my full support. Because I'll always love you...and I don't want to see you hurt anymore..."
Now fully crying and sobbing the emotional woman tried desperately to wipe the tears away, but they never stopped and only kept falling in spite of her efforts. Seeing his mom in such a state made Izuku tear up as well, tightly gripping onto the gift that once meant so much to him
It pained his heart to lie, to say that he no longer wanted to be a hero or to be someone that people could rely on. He still slept at night with dreams of him soaring in the sky, or blasting away criminals with cool powers like other people had, his childhood refused to let go of these dreams no matter how much he wanted to set them aside. But he knew that he couldn't forget such an important time of his life, his room still had a poster or two of All Might, and his computer still had All Might's premiere bookmarked onto it
However he knew that in doing so he'd be going against his new cause. In so little time his life had changed in such a way that the things he once held onto were now things he was supposed to hate, like all villains do. He had to accept it and yet as he held the suit in his hands and watched his mother bawl her eyes out he knew in his heart he couldn't abandon those dreams. Even now that his goal had changed it still was made from the hopes and dreams of that young kid he once was, the one that wanted a better life
"It's okay mom...I love it." He reassured as he hugged his mom tightly. It pained him that he held the suit he once wished to have, yet it filled his heart knowing that his mom still cared for him
And as the emotional pair held each other tightly, Izuku Midoriya had become the world's biggest hypocrite. A wannabe hero working under the world's worst villain
Under the cover of blinding darkness All for One sat in his specialized chair, resting and saving his strength. As he did so a purple shadow covered by the darkness appeared, teleporting Kurogiri and Tomura and presenting them to their master
"I take it the mission went well Tomura?" The master of evil prodded to his student, who bowed with respect before speaking
"Yes master, chaos was sown at UA. No one was able to identify us." Tomura responded with more care in his words than usual
"Of course, after all you and Izuku were able to escape unharmed despite the stunt you pulled?" He asked, freezing the boy in place
"...My apologies master, I was out of line. It won't happen again."
"It's okay Tomura, I excepted as much. Which is why I had Kurogiri oversee the whole ordeal with care. Should you and Midoriya have entered real trouble, he would've assisted in your escape." All for One explained, somewhat angering the teen. "More importantly...I suppose you and him were able to settle any doubts between the two of you?"
With the pairing that All for One had made he expected there would be conflict between the two. Both of his students were quite the contrast. Despite their relatively similar backgrounds the two had completely different outlooks on life and their society, so it was bound to happen
If anything, Midoriya reminded All for One of his little brother, so hopeful and eager to make the world a better place. Tomura on the other hand, was more similar to himself, a man who wanted to tear down the world and it's heroes. Two siblings who lived the same lives yet had opposing views on the world. It was tragic the way things fell apart between them, his brother's undying defiance embodying the very power that coursed through All Might's veins. That was a mistake that he wasn't going to repeat
Instead, he would go to lengths to make sure that the next incarnations of he and his brother won't go astray. And it starts with Izuku...
"With all due respect, I can't see what you see in that kid. So naive and inexperienced, and so quick to show his worth yet not willing to go all the way." Tomura complained, referring to his earlier unwillingness to infiltrate the school
"That is because Midoriya has different views than you do Tomura." All for One explained. "Given time you will see his worth, and you'll grow to appreciate it too. For now, warm up to him, for he's still new to our cause."
"What of the next task master? You said it would come soon." Tomura wondered, trying to change the subject
"Ah, worry not. I will explain everything in due time. You must only wait for tomorrow."