- A/N -
Hello!, welcome to the third part of this fanfic
I hope you enjoyed the last two. If this story overall does good, I might consider a full-on series at this point
Anyways, for the third time:
Questions?:
Ideas?:
Criticism?:
But overall, I hope you like this one!
"…I believe that you too can become a hero,"
As the words echoed in her mind, she remained on her knees, tears streaming down her face.
It felt surreal, as if she might awaken from this emotional turmoil at any moment.
But reality persisted, and she found herself sobbing tears of joy, akin to any Midoriya would.
Insults and doubts about her quirk vanished from her thoughts.
"You... You, girl, are worthy of inheriting my power." Skyward proclaimed.
Confused, inko exclaimed, "Ah?... Aaah... huh?!"
'We are like 30 feet away from my home while all this is happening... this is too much!' she thought, overwhelmed by the situation.
"Wh-what? Inherit y-your power?" Inko asked staring in disbelief.
Skyward chuckled, "What's with the face, young lady? It was just a suggestion; the real show hasn't even begun!"
"Listen, you are going to have to decide if you want to accept this power or not," Skyward explained patiently.
As the words of Skyward echoed in their mind, inko just pondered, 'Just what is Skyward saying?'
"...and just so you know, I'm talking about my power," Skyward stated.
"Alright, sure. You and everyone else know it's called 'float.' I can suspend myself in mid-air, blah blah blah, yeah... but," Skyward added at the end.
"That's not all. Those with keen eyes might have noticed my increased physical strength... and that itself is a quirk given to me like a sacred torch," Skyward explained.
"It was g-given to you?" Inko stated, attempting to comprehend what she was hearing.
"That's right, and now it's your turn," She stated with a wider smile.
"W-w-wait a second!" Inko exclaimed with doubts in her mind.
"...it's true that everyone knows of 'float' and what you can do with it, but a second quirk to explain your strength? And you can pass it on?" Inko started.
"I-I don't know what you mean by inheriting it or passing it on to someone. As far as I know, no such quirk has ever existed! How is it possible?…"
"Then again, quirks are pretty much known to be weird and break a few laws of physics..."
"B-but it's never been confirmed! No study shows that it's existed! And in the first place..." she tried to continue as Skyward simply laughed.
"Haha, you always start with denial, huh? That's a bunch of nonsense!" Skyward chuckled.
"Huh?!" The greenette exclaimed with confusion
"I may have hidden a lot of things over the past decade or so, but I am never one to lie... the power to transfer power itself..."
"…That is the Quirk I've inherited," Skyward declared, her hand glowing with a brave light as she spoke.
"I was given, crowned, placed... with One For All," She whispered.
"One For All..." Inko echoed softly.
"That's right. One person cultivates the power and passes it on to the next generation, and they do the same and pass it on," Skyward explained.
"It's a crystallization of power that brings together the voices of those who need help with a courageous heart," she continued.
"W-why... why are you giving something so great..." Inko began, tears threatening to spill.
"Come on, can it with the waterworks, alright? I've been looking for a successor for years now, and I knew from the moment you ran to save her that you were perfect! You were more heroic than anyone else back there," Skyward said warmly.
Tears welled up in her eyes once more, a mix of emotions swirling within. "Ah... agh..."
"Hey, what did I say?" Skyward interjected, concern evident in her voice.
"…But well, it's up to you... What will you do?"
Clutching her fist tightly, inko reminisced, 'She said so much... to encourage me... she even shared a long-held secret...'
'Is there one? Maybe there isn't... then there's no reason for me to turn her down!'
And finally for the longest time Determination sparked within her as she gazed at Skyward, a newfound resolve igniting within the greenette
"I-i'll... I'll do it," She declared, her face now dry of tears.
"An immediate reply! To be honest, I wasn't expecting this from you, but it doesn't matter. I'm glad you accepted this power," Skyward remarked, her voice tinged with satisfaction.
But as I expected, receiving her power proved to be no easy task…
- [Far from Inko's Home] -
Two days have passed since that encounter, and here I am, at the crack of dawn, using my quirk to lug around a pile of hefty rocks.
Each one feels like a ton, and I struggle even to lift a single pebble.
"Ngh! Urgh… Grrr!" I grunt, exerting all my strength to move the rocks with my quirk.
"Come on now! They can't be that heavy, right? You've got more muscle than that!" Skyward encourages me.
I take a quick breather, panting heavily. "Ah…ah…" I gasp out.
"If you could just move them a few centimeters, this would be a lot easier, you know?" Skyward suggests.
"Yeah, but all of these together weigh like…220 kilograms," I reply, trying to catch my breath.
"Nope! These aren't regular rocks! They weigh 270 kilograms altogether! You're basically carrying around six gallons of water." Skyward clarifies.
"…I could use some water… Anyways, why am I trying to lift rocks twice my weight?" I ask, feeling a bit confused and frustrated.
"Sorry for saying this, but… well, it's because you're not a proper vessel," Skyward explains, giving me a reassuring smile.
"Huh? W-what you're saying now is the opposite of what you said before!" I protest, feeling even more perplexed.
"Am talking about your body," Skyward interjected.
"Huh?" I stated, puzzled.
"My second quirk, One For All, encompasses the fullest physical abilities of six others within me," Skyward explained.
"But with an unprepared body, you cannot inherit it fully. Your limbs will come off, and your body will explode!"
"My limbs will what!?" I exclaimed, concern evident in my voice.
"...then I guess I'll be lifting these to train my body…" I stated, realizing the gravity of the situation.
"Correct! But that's not all. On top of your quirk, you'll receive OFA, meaning your original quirk will skyrocket in power," Skyward elaborated.
"That means we must train your quirk before you inherit OFA," she emphasized.
"And besides, a majority of these rocks came from some battle years ago, and heroes are all about showy stuff," Skyward said as she grasped a rock and compressed it, her muscles flexing with the effort.
"Back then, being a hero meant doing volunteer service, even if people called that boring," she continued, reminiscing.
"Ah," I remarked, watching Skyward's display of strength.
"...you must not waver from those roots," she stated firmly as she crushed the rock within her palms.
"So... my first step... is to carry these rocks?" I asked, eyeing the heavy load in front of me.
"That's not all... you'll carry those rocks... up there!" Skyward stated, pointing towards the daunting peak of the nearby mountain.
My eyes widened in disbelief. "W-what? H-how-" I stuttered before Skyward interrupted me.
"You want to go to UA, correct, young Midoriya?" Skyward asked
"Well... I originally wanted to go somewhere else and become a lawyer... but yeah, sure, it's where you went, right?" I replied.
"Yes…But sadly, with a quirk like yours, you probably won't be able to get in... that's the reality... but it doesn't have to be that way," she stated, taking out a stack of papers.
"The UA entrance exam is in 10 months, and I have to complete my vessel," she continued, handing me the papers.
"This is the 'Aim To Pass: Only Up Plan!' It's a training plan to help you finish this task, and I'll have you follow this in every aspect of your life!" She declared.
I looked through the plan,'Even sleep time is included...' I thought to myself.
"Frankly, it's a pretty hard schedule to follow. Think you're up to the task?" she questioned.
"O-of course... I have to work harder than anyone else, or else I can't do it!" I replied, determination gleaming in my eyes as we both shared a wide smile.
And so began my ten months of hell...
The days ahead proved arduous as I diligently worked to move the rocks
"Grr!" I grunted, exerting myself as I painstakingly moved the pile, employing both my arms and my quirk.
"Keep going! You're making progress, just one step at a time!" Skyward encouraged.
As the next day dawned, I found myself finally making headway up the mountain, the burden of rocks in tow.
'The muscles I'm utilizing for this task... they feel different' I thought to myself.
"Pull! Don't slow down now! Time flies, and in 10 months, you'll see the results," Skyward urged.
Yet, despite my efforts, I stumbled over a mere twig, highlighting the familiarity of my own body.
"Get back up! We're striving for athleticism here," Skyward's voice echoed.
With my resolve I rose to my feet and resumed my task, gathering the fallen rocks once more.
- [Unmei Junior High] -
I sat in school, my mind consumed by thoughts of training. Unknowingly, I muttered about how I would use my time.
As the teacher droned on about the revised Building Standards Act, I half-listened, feeling the weight of the ten months ahead.
'This is tough' I sighed internally.
'Ten months of this, huh? It'll be challenging if I don't finish studying at least a week before the exam'
Calculating in my head, I pulled out a notebook from my bag. 'That means there are 294 days left. If I rest for two days in between, that gives me…' I paused, mentally crunching numbers.
'I can fit in about five hours of training each morning and night, totaling 490 hours…'
'But I need to ensure I work out my whole body equally; otherwise, there's no way I'll make it'
I then realized Skyward couldn't accompany me throughout my entire training regimen.
Suddenly, my friend Mitsuki shopped my head, pulling me out of my thoughts.
"Hey, Inko-chan!" she exclaimed, ruffling my hair
"What's with all the mumbling? You usually don't do that. If you're going to become a hero, maybe don't mumble your plan?"
Her words hit me, and I nodded sheepishly, realizing I had been lost in my thoughts.
'And don't forget about the written portion of the entrance exams' I reminded myself
- [Just 3/4th's Of The Way Up The Mountain] -
The days pass by, and I find myself struggling to stay awake. Mom had to adjust my diet because of the plan's requirements.
Despite the challenges, I push through, even resorting to lifting weights at home and carrying Skyward herself at one point.
It's been the toughest journey I've ever faced.
As I run and climb the mountain, Skyward levitates next to me. Eventually, I reach my limit and collapse from exhaustion.
"Hey, what's wrong? There are only three months left!" Skyward urges me on.
"You won't make it! Wanna give up? Wanna take it easy and rest today?"
I attempt to get up, using my arms to lift my body off the ground.
Skyward sighs, "Here you go," she says, tossing a water bottle at me. I catch it just in time as some rocks fall around me.
"You've been sticking to the plan. It's been seven months of nothing but hard work from you, huh?"
"Well, my father always told me to work hard for anything I set my eyes on," I reply. "Just not to go overboard or worry my mom."
"…but I've been thinking about pushing myself a bit harder in training... because, well, I want to be like you, the greatest hero," I confessed.
"I understand... but don't you think you're looking too far into the future?" Skyward replied.
"Well, we definitely don't want you to overwork yourself. It might have the opposite effect of what you want, and we can't have that," Skyward added reassuringly.
"Yeah... Maybe we should adjust your plan. My school work hasn't been doing great," I admitted reluctantly.
"Oh, well, of course! You have to pass the written exam as well, after all," Skyward said with a smile, which mirrored my own
- [The Peak Of The Mountain] -
As dawn broke on the day of the entrance exams, I found myself standing atop the mountain, facing Skyward. The weight of anticipation hung heavy in the air.
"I felt great... I felt wonderful... I felt like crying," I admitted, overwhelmed by emotion.
"Hey now, don't start crying. I haven't given you OFA all just yet," Skyward reassured me from behind.
"But would you look at that? You carried a massive pile of rocks almost twice your weight... and we kept adding more as you got a good handle on the first 10," Skyward remarked, pride evident in her voice.
I simply stood there, feeling drained…
And I fell…
"Woah there! You alright?" Skyward exclaimed as she caught me mid-fall.
"...good work," she acknowledged.
"I did it... I actually did it." I started taking a breath
"Yeah, you did! You're quite the entertainer! Man, wait until Torino hears about you! Teenagers are amazing," Skyward exclaimed with a smile.
"Here, take a look at this," she said, pulling out her phone to show me a photo of myself struggling to carry a few rocks.
"This is you 10 months ago! Man, you did it! The change is barely visible, but I'm sure you're more than suitable as a Vessel."
"Ah... I feel like I'm cheating," I confessed.
"What? What do you mean?" Skyward asked
"You... you did so much for me... all of this... for me," I stated, my voice wavering as tears threatened to spill.
"I'm too blessed..." I trailed off, overwhelmed by the enormity of the situation.
"Hah, all of this was your work. You've had the will to go through this, and the determination to prove the doubters wrong... you chose to become a hero," Skyward affirmed.
"We should probably fix those eyes of yours... or are they genetic? But anyway, this calls for a ceremony! Inko Midoriya!" Skyward declared.
"Yes, ma'am!" I exclaimed, eager to follow her lead.
Skyward pulled out a strand of hair, her expression serious. "This is something I'll tell you now, and I'm sure you'll do the same."
"Something that you receive because you're lucky and something you are given because you are recognized are different in essence," she explained.
"Ah..." I nodded, taking her words to heart.
"Take that to heart, young Midoriya, because this is the power that you earned because of your own effort," Skyward concluded, emphasizing the importance of my journey and hard work.
It was then I found myself clutching something entirely unexpected in my hand. "What is this?"
"Eat this," she declared, her expression serious, causing my confusion to deepen.
"Huh?" I blurted out, utterly bewildered.
"H-hair?" I stammered, unable to comprehend the situation.
"It doesn't matter what it is, as long as you absorb my DNA!" Skyward explained urgently.
"This is nothing like what I had in mind!" I exclaimed, my mind struggling to catch up with the surreal turn of events.
"But there's no time! You'll be late for the exam! Let's go!" Skyward insisted, seizing me by the waist and whisking me down the mountain at alarming speeds…
- [UA: Campus] -
As I walked through the UA campus, surrounded by students all hoping to pass the Entrance exams, a wave of nerves washed over me.
'I made it...' I muttered to myself, my heart racing.
But then, a troubling thought crept into my mind.
'In the end, I didn't have time to test out the power I received from Skyward…'
I remembered her words: "Eat this."
'Did swallowing the hair really grant me her power?' I pondered silently, lost in my thoughts until I heard someone call my name.
"Yooh, Inko-chan!" Mitsuki-san exclaimed as she swung her arms around my neck.
"Mitsuki-san?!" I exclaimed, surprised to see her.
"Ha, I knew you wouldn't chicken out! Just wait until Tomato Hair hears about this," Mitsuki-san said confidently.
"Tomato hair?" I wondered, puzzled by the nickname.
"Oh?~ What's this? Did these grow again, Inko-chan?~" Mitsuki-san teased, her voice causing my face to flush with embarrassment.
"M-Mitsuki-san!" I stammered, feeling utterly mortified.
"Haha, it's just a joke, Inko. Relax. But hey I'll see you later. See you there!" Mitsuki-san said cheerfully before walking away.
"See you..." I replied
"I've been through so much over the last 12 years... I can't let Skyward down!" I thought, mustering up confidence as I approached the front building.
"I'm a different me from 10 months ago! It's time to take the first step!" I thought optimistically, determined to become a hero. But my determination faltered as I tripped over my own feet.
"Nevermind..." I thought, resigned to my clumsiness, only to be saved from a face-first collision with the pavement by someone grabbing my hand.
"Whoa, you alright?" the person asked in a surprisingly kind tone.
"O-oh..." I stammered, regaining my balance and letting go of the person's hand. Taking a closer look, I noticed the stranger had a short mop of fluffy black hair that curled up at odd angles around his head, casting noticeable dark shadows onto itself.
"He looks cut—what? No, keep it to yourself!" I scolded myself internally.
"This really is nerve-racking, huh?" the guy remarked, breaking the awkward silence.
"Y-yeah, it is... I've been waiting months for this," I admitted, feeling a little shy.
"Me too…Oh yeah, my name's Hisashi, Hisashi Haruto," he introduced himself.
- [A/N: Apparently it means "Light, sun"] -
"U-um, I'm Inko, Inko Midoriya. It's nice to meet you, Haruto-san," I stammered.
"Oh, please call me Hisashi. All my friends call me that," he suggested with a warm smile.
'Am I his friend!?' I wondered silently.
"Well, I've got to go. I hope to see you there!" he stated cheerfully as he continued walking ahead.
'Did I just make a new friend?' The thought lingered in my mind.
As time passed in the exam hall, a dark blue-haired man strode confidently to the center of the auditorium.
"Hello, everyone, and welcome to the entrance exam. It seems you're all here, so let's not waste any time," he announced.
"Wow, he's like 20 seats away, yet it's as if I can hear him right next to me," Mitsuki-san whispered
"As it states in the application requirements, you guys will be conducting ten-minute mock urban battles after this," The pro hero explained.
"You can bring whatever you want with you. After the presentation, you'll head to the specified battle center, okay?" he added.
"YEAHHH!" exclaimed a particular blonde, prompting the teacher to use his quirk to shut him up.
"If I remember correctly… he can alter soundwaves, right?" Mitsuki-san remarked
"The Soundwave hero… Salem," I replied, surprised to learn he was a teacher here.
Me and Mitsuki-san were handed cards displaying our names, photos, ages, examinee numbers, and battle centers.
"So they won't let us work with our friends? Damn it!" She nearly yelled,
"Well, I hope you make it, Inko-chan. Hell, I know you'll do great!" She encouraged me with a grin
The rules were laid out before us: "Three different types of faux villains are stationed in each battle center. You earn points for each of them based on their level of difficulty."
I realized this would be more challenging than I thought
"And don't you dare complain about a 'Misprint'," the Soundwave hero interjected firmly, "we already got that last year, and I don't want it happening again."
He continued, "Let me explain. There is, in fact, a fourth type of villain, but that one is worth ZERO points. In other words, it's an obstacle."
"There's one in every battle center. It's an obstacle that will rage in narrow spaces," he elaborated,
"It's not impossible to defeat, but no one's crazy to do so. I recommend that you try to avoid it."
"I see... It's like the obstacles you avoid in video games, huh? The whole thing is like a video game!" Another blonde stated.
"And that shall be all. Now for something The hero Napoleon Bonaparte once said this...
"A true hero is someone who overcomes life's misfortunes." So... Go beyond... Plus Ultra," the teacher said with some enthusiasm.
"Good, now I wish you all the best of luck... You're going to need it," he finished.
.
.
.
I'm at battle center B as me and the other students were gathered at the entrance.
'It's time to do it. It's time to give everything I've got from my training with Skyward these past ten months... and become... a hero!' I thought with enthusiasm as I slapped my face to focus…
- [Word Count: 4216] -
And End...
I sure hope you enjoyed!
If these three chapters do any good I might as well make a fourth one