Chapter 1. Emergence
Serenading chirping filled the air with the soft hum of vehicles traveling past the unassuming apartment complex. Its outward appearance seemed utterly ordinary, blending seamlessly into the urban landscape. A crack of light seeped through the window curtains, gently coaxing the green-haired boy from his slumber. As he stirred, he instinctively tried to avert his gaze from the sudden and intrusive glow, turning his attention toward a clock resting atop a nearby desk. The digits read 7:00 AM, marking the start of a new day.
A gentle feminine voice called him from downstairs. "Izuku breakfast is ready."
Izuku climbed out of bed, his movements sluggish from sleep, and stretched his limbs before donning his school uniform. His room was a haven of all-might geekdom, a vivid display of his deep-rooted fandom and admiration for the symbol of peace. Larger-than-life posters showcasing the mighty blonde-haired hero in action decorated the walls of his room. A riot of colorful figurines and plushies adorned the shelves of his bookcase, each capturing a different heroic pose. It was a space where the boy had grown up his entire childhood, a testament to his unwavering admiration for the Symbol of Peace.
The green-haired teenager sluggishly made his way to the kitchen, seeing a minimalistic view of the kitchen revealing itself before him. A familiar aroma wafted through the air, signaling the morning meal. The scent of rice and fish greeted him, bringing a contented smirk to him as he took his place around the table. A dark-haired and slightly plump woman sat opposite him with a beaming smile dancing on her lips.
"Morning, Mom," Izuku greeted with a relaxed grin.
"You appear to be in high spirits today," Inko inquired with a soft smile, observing the green-haired boy swiftly devouring his meal before nonchalantly nodding. "Slept like a log, Mom. Today, we're supposed to fill out forms outlining our future career aspirations. I'm thrilled to begin my journey toward becoming a hero." Izuku nodded joyfully, concluding his meal before heading to the apartment entrance to put on his shoes.
"I see. Have a nice day, sweetie."
"Thanks, Mom. You too!" the green-haired teenager quipped before the creak of the door announced his departure.
His day in school began with an unusual tranquility, a stark change from the usual torment he endured during and between classes. Typically, Izuku would find himself the target of relentless taunts about his quirklessness, orchestrated by his former best friend, Katsuki Bakugo, and his entourage. However, an unexpected twist revealed itself—complete indifference. Strangely, the absence of their usual ridicule kindled a sense of relief in Izuku, sparking the hopeful thought that maybe, just maybe, they had grown tired of messing with him.
And so he spent all his time scribbling into his hero notebook until time for a homeroom class came around. A lankily built teacher appeared at the entrance, moving to the front of the class before going into a long tangent about quirks and their history. It was a mind-numbing monologue not only to Izuku but to every other student in the class.
"In other words, you are now in the most important parts of your life to think of your future," he explained before grinning. "I'm sure most of you have ambitions to enter the field of heroics?" he finished.
The classroom erupted with exuberant cheers, each student enthusiastically showcasing their quirks in a playful competition, attempting to outdo one another. The air crackled with the energy of their abilities, creating a lively and animated atmosphere.
"Well, well, it seems everyone here has good quirks. Make sure not to use them outside educational establishments, alright kids?" the teacher pointed out, his tone lighthearted. However, the atmosphere took a turn when a blonde-haired boy at the back of the class suddenly began barking.
"Kaneko-sensei, please don't compare me with other losers. I don't intend to associate with the background characters in this lot. Ya hear?" he spat out with a sneer.
The teacher maintained his composure and responded calmly, "Ah, yes, you aspire to enter U.A. High School, correct?"
His question triggered an uproar from the rest of the students, excluding Izuku.
"The national high school requires a minimum of 79 points to enter," one boy gulp§ed.
"I heard their examinations are brutal. Some people even get hurt during them," another girl exclaimed nervously.
"I'm not surprised secondary characters like you posers are shitting your pants. Listen up, you shitty bastards, I will surpass All Might and become the highest-ranked hero. And before you go blabbing your mouths, I scored an A on the exams, which means I will be the only one to attend U.A. from Aldera Junior High," Bakugo boasted, a wicked grin on his face that made it clear he held himself in very high regard. Even an ant would consider it an honor to be crushed by him.
"Speaking of which, I believe Midoriya also wishes to enter U.A.," Kaneko pointed out, causing everyone to turn their heads to cast intense gazes at the freckled youth. Izuku wore a petrified look as he tried to make himself small, but soon enough, the entire classroom would erupt into a boisterous roar.
"Are you kidding me, Midoriya!? You can't enter without a quirk." One of Bakugo's lackeys snorted.
"B- But they got rid of that rule, a-and there is no precedent—" Izuku started to explain before a loud bang erupted from the side, cutting through the laughter like a knife, causing everyone to feel disoriented for a moment before glancing at the heated blonde-haired boy. His palm pointed at the ceiling while the heat and orange glow faded off his skin.
"Hey, Deku. You're a quirkless nobody. What makes you think you can stand to compete in the same race with me, you moron!?" Bakugo smirked, his arrogance on full display.
"W- wait, Kacchan, I'm not trying to compete with anyone. It's just that it has been my goal since I was little, s-same as you. So, I don't know if I can unless I t- try, right?" Izuku pleaded, his voice wavering but determined.
"What do you mean, 'try'? Are you taking this test for fun, huh?" Bakugo shouted definitively. Izuku couldn't make him or anyone else see things from his perspective. It hurt him, making him feel meaningless and weak in the face of their mockery. The green-haired boy silently turned his attention back to the notebook and attempted to distract himself for the remainder of the class.
Other students would throw glances at him during the class, but Izuku would try to ignore them, keeping his nose in the book and scribbling down the newest entry of his notebook in the form of Mt. Lady. Izuku found himself marveling and fanboying over his observations, caught up in the excitement of his discoveries. Unbeknownst to him, he began muttering, expressing his awe and enthusiasm for the subject. As he immersed himself in his fascination, he failed to notice the piercing looks directed his way as everyone else turned to gaze at him, a bit bewildered by his animated reactions.
Shortly after the class concluded and the room gradually emptied itself of students, Bakugo and his entourage positioned themselves by the classroom exit. They then approached Izuku with malicious smirks adorning their faces, except for Bakugo, who maintained a bereft expression. As Izuku neared the completion of packing his belongings and was about to stow his notebook in his bag, he was abruptly interrupted by Bakugo and his lackeys, who seized his hero notebook from his hands.
"Hey, Katsuki, what is that?" one of the lackeys snorted with curiosity.
"Hero analysis for the future. Huh? Are you kidding me?" the second boy bellowed in laughter. Bakugo's eyes twitched, and his jaw tightened in response. Without any time for Izuku to react, he lit the notebook on fire before tossing it out the window.
"W- Why, Kacchan!?" Izuku exclaimed, his voice trembling with anxiety. Bakugo grabbed his shoulder, sending searing heat coursing through the green-haired boy's shoulder, causing his clothes to smolder.
"Don't even think about applying if ya know what's good for ya. I want the spotlight as the only one accepted at the U.A. from this school. It makes my profile all the more enticing when they write stories about me, like the other top heroes," Bakugo declared with a sinister glint in his eyes.
Bakugo began taking his leave, followed by his lackeys. The last of his friends stopped by the door before turning casually and flashing a malicious grin over his shoulder. "If you want to be a hero so badly, there's one method that might work for you. Pray that you're born with a quirk in your next life before leaping off the roof. Deku." Hearing those cruel words shattered Izuku's spirit. He had known Bakugo and his friends could be mean, but this crossed a line that made him reel.
When the figure disappeared from the entrance, Izuku found himself clutching the fabric of his uniform, his eyes closed in frustration.
"You idiot... What if I did commit suicide? That would mean you instigated it," Izuku muttered.
The air hung heavy in Izuku's lungs as he forced one foot in front of the other. He painstakingly mustered steps while accompanied by a perpetual inhaling and exhaling motion. The color that had been there at the beginning of the day was now just a distant memory, replaced by a blank look in his eyes that even scared some people walking past him.
He had reached his breaking point, the absolute depths. This time, he did not know if he had it in him to keep chasing his dream. After all, what purpose could he serve if he didn't even possess a quirk? Bakugo and his friends had a valid point. His trying to pursue a career as a hero would only end bitterly. It was a harsh reality he couldn't deny, yet despite it all, Izuku couldn't abandon his aspirations.
Eventually, Izuku stumbled upon a park. As far as the eye could see, there were towering trees whose leaves rustled with a whispered invitation and lush, emerald grass that beckoned for its observers. Amidst this scenery, a striking contrast emerged. Seated on a bench amidst a sea of vibrantly blooming flowers was a young girl with striking short purple hair, her ears adorned with plug-in-like jacks that hung from her earlobe. She wore a Deep Dope branded t-shirt and black jeans, completing the slightly tomboyish look. The image was breathtaking, a masterpiece that painted life in its most simplistic essence.
For a moment, it left the green-haired boy entirely speechless. He had halted his movements only to stand still and bask in the ethereal sensation.
"Excuse me, but what are you staring at?" The slightly annoyed tone of the girl cut right through Izuku's trance, leaving him a mumbling mess.
"S-sorry, I did not mean to! It's just that I have never seen such a pretty view," Izuku stammered before realizing that he had voiced his thoughts out loud. The purple-haired girl's eyes widened as her features caught a rosy tint.
"I-I mean the park! N- Not that you are not pretty, because you are– Argh! What am I doing," The panicking boy held his head in his hands in embarrassment before hastily launching into a run, which inadvertently caused him to get his foot stuck on a small rock before being sent head first on the grass.
"Ow.."
The purple-haired girl erupted in vibrant laughter, punctuated by the occasional snort, as she watched the green-haired boy fumbling his words. Unlike how Izuku had been treated before and laughed at, this laughter didn't carry any malice or seem directed at him; instead, it was a reaction to the absurdity of the situation itself. It washed over him like a wave of relief, soothing his nerves and leaving him feeling oddly comforted.
"Okay, broccoli head, let's take a couple of deep breaths before ya seriously hurt yourself."
"B- b- broccolihead?" The boy repeated as if not believing what he had just heard.
"Well, I don't know your name, do I? Besides, it kind of fits well for you. Curly green hair and all." The girl giggled before the green-haired teenager shot up and started furiously bowing.
"M- My name is I- Izuku Midoriya".
The purple-haired girl's voice hinted at a friendly warmth as she spoke, her deep onyx eyes locking onto Midoriya with genuine interest. "Kyoka Jiro. It is nice to meet you, Midoriya-san," she beamed at the green-haired boy before continuing, 'I don't think I've seen you around this part of town before. You don't attend X Junior High, do you?
Midoriya's response was hesitant, his voice carrying reluctance. "Ah, N-No," he stammered, "I am attending Aldera Junior High." Izuku somberly finished, his thoughts briefly drifting to the events of that day. He wore an empty look in his eyes for a moment before trying to shake it off with an awkward smile, meeting the now-curious girl's gaze.
The purple-haired girl, keenly observant, noted the subtle shift in the boy's demeanor, even if it was barely noticeable, her gaze lingered on his eyes, where she detected an almost imperceptible hurt. The boy might have been trying to convey happiness, but his eyes betrayed a different story, one that Kyoka couldn't help but feel weighed him down.
"Spill it out," she asked, her gaze steady.
"W-what do you m- mean?" Izuku stuttered, completely frozen after being called out by the girl.
"Look, I've seen that look before. Holding it in won't help, so why don't ya just let it out? We are strangers, anyway," the girl suggested, a warm smile curving her lips.
Considering her words, Izuku decided he had nothing to lose anymore, so why not just come out with it? The girl had reached out to him, offering an ear in kindness, something Izuku hadn't experienced from anyone other than his mom. With newfound determination, he decided to ask the question that had haunted him throughout his life, one that no one had ever responded to in the way he had hoped.
"D-Do you think I could ever become a hero without a quirk?" Izuku questioned, his grip on the fabric at his hip tightening in a desperate plea. The green-haired boy kept his gaze on the grass, his figure standing still. It was all out there now—his hopes and dreams hung in the balance of this single question.
Standing up from the bench, the purple-haired girl took a few hesitant steps toward the boy. "Of course, you can dummy. All you need is this," she replied, managing an upbeat grin before her hand extended in a fist, and then she gently patted Izuku's chest. She observed closely as the once-composed greenette's demeanor shifted, finally revealing strain in the corners of his eyes. A heavy moment passed, pregnant with silent gasps, before a couple of silent tears raced down the boy's cheeks, tracing the path of his cheeks.
"D- Do you mean it?" The boy struggled to wrench the words out, his voice quivering with uncertainty.
"Of course I do. I don't go around lying or giving false hopes to people, you know?" Kyoka responded with a confident smirk.
In that fleeting moment, if time could have frozen, Izuku would have been content. All the torment he had endured before stumbling upon the park now felt like a distant memory. As he slowly inhaled and exhaled air, he couldn't help but sense a serene peace settling within him.
Before he could immerse himself in newfound peace and tranquility, sudden murmurs and gasps of shock emanated from the nearby store. People were grimacing, their expressions unfolding in terror, as the news broadcast boomed from numerous television screens. From them, a familiar anger-induced scream reverberated.
"Fuck! Just wait until I get off you, ugly bas–!" the voice thundered, sending a chill down Izuku's spine, prompting him to turn around and begin walking towards the huddled group of people with a quickening pace. The purple-haired girl sported a look of curiosity and decided to follow him as he made his way through the dense crowd. Izuku's eyes locked onto a blonde boy trapped within the clutches of a menacing black sludge, his airways constricted. In his former best friend, now turned tormentor's eyes, Izuku could unmistakably discern an expression of terror—a plea for help.
Izuku's eyes widened, his posture buckling, and his lips quivered as he witnessed Bakugo's body contorting in response to the dark liquid slowly strangling him. Robotically, he turned his gaze to lock eyes with the purple-haired girl, her expression a mix of curiosity and mild shock. In that moment of suspension, time began stretching for Izuku, a hint of electric spark dancing in his irises and fingertips tingling with quickening breaths.
The words shared between him and the purple-haired girl replayed in Izuku's mind, swirling in his thoughts like a prickling nail. The hinting sensation erupted into a crackling surge, coursing from his fingers to his spine and then finally to his legs, lighting up his eyes briefly, shocking Kyoka. Her hand shifted slightly, reaching out to Izuku with a hint of worry in her eyes. However, before her hand could touch the green-haired boy, an explosive gust of wind sent her and other nearby observers tumbling. A green blur shot forward, vanishing into thin air, with only a broken sidewalk to show for it.
Izuku, fueled by a surge of newfound energy, charged forward with an intensity that made his body feel like it was on fire. Every sense became numb and dulled as if his very existence was distilled to a singular purpose—moving forward. The world around him gradually decelerated, and his surroundings morphed into a distorted, unrecognizable space where the horizon and space seemed to mesh.
In this altered reality, he felt a singular privilege—the ability to experience the flow of time while everything else stood still. The desperation within him pushed him onward, making his body move in a perpetual sprint, each step guided by an instinct that had taken complete control of his actions.
Izuku recognized his friend's struggling form nearing in the distance. His senses sharpened, and his expression took a twist. In the final stretch of his desperate race, Izuku channeled everything within him before throwing himself at the black sludge. While in motion, his eyelids remained closed, and upon impact, the world around him shifted from distortion and blur into a clear view of an explosive crescendo. Within a few meters of the collision point, the immediate area vanished into a blinding white abyss. The shockwave shattered the surroundings, causing the black sludge to disintegrate into a formless puddle.
In the aftermath, Izuku felt his body flaccidly hurl forward before experiencing the impact of his back against the pavement. He could feel the cold touch of rough pavement scratch his skin as his body grazed against it. When his body finally came to a stop, the sparking electricity around his form slowly sizzled. He felt himself losing consciousness, his world fading to black with screams reverberating around him. But before darkness could claim him, he glimpsed Kacchan's form next to him, unconscious but seemingly unharmed. A faint, serene smile graced his lips. "Everything was going to be okay," he thought before his senses surrendered him into the void.
Author's Notes:
Heya there dear readers! Thank you for taking time out of your presumably busy days to read my fanfiction. This is the first time I have written anything resembling a novel or literature. With that in mind, I do want to ask you to keep an open mind and forgive me if the story gets cluttered at times.
EDIT: One of you had graciously noted a glaring issue in the pacing of this chapter. To remedy this I decided to revise the section where Izuku hastily spat the question to something that should feel more natural and faithful to his and Kyoka's characters.
EDIT 2: Minor grammar/typo fixes in addition to changing the end a little bit to fit better for what I had in mind for Bakugo's character.
I need to get someone to read my works before posting them, so if you are willing to beta-read chapters please feel free to reach me via PMs.
EDIT 3: I felt a need to slightly clean up this chapter to reflect my ongoing journey of improvement.