AN: To answer a couple questions from last time. Izuku's teacher and classmates said he couldn't be a hero because they didn't know he had a quirk. He's been not using it because of Bakugo and so they all just assumed he was quirkless. As for those wondering how he could form a bond with Bakugo that takes a bit more explanation. In the games not everyone you form a bond with actually cares about you. I know multiple Persona games have it where you make bonds with actual antagonist murderers that you don't realize are bad guys. They hate you, but you don't know it. Izuku, even in canon, saw Bakugo as a close friend so he formed the bond that way. Plus, this Bakugo didn't sever their friendship till after that Arcana was formed.

AN2: Also, making UA a college as if you're being trained to become super soldier cops right after graduation, you should really friggin be an adult.

A Fool's Bonds

Chapter 3

-Aizawa-

"Again!" Aizawa barked at the young green haired boy, boken planted on the ground as Midoriya worked to get his breath back from where Aizawa had just tossed him.

"Yes…sir..." Midoriya panted, getting to his feet with a wince while readying his own wooden training sword. The boy had tested out of the rest of his high school year but not any of his college levels so his mother's hope of him being moved ahead and therefore missing out on a chance at a hero school was shot. Instead, the boy would spend his time on a new schedule.

During the weekdays, the young man's time was primarily divided between three things. First there was the therapy sessions Aizawa had insisted the boy go to, and even got his mother to sign off on given the Villain attack. The Therapy had been for both that and dealing with the boy's issues regarding his quirk 'Persona'.

Second, the boy would be doing various exercises to improve his body's strength, speed, and stamina. Running, pushups, pull ups, and even breathing exercises.

Finally, Midoriya would be honing his analytical abilities. It had been a shock seeing the near professional level of analytical skill in those notebooks, breaking down quirks, strategies, and gear impressively. Aizawa had even paid the kid to do analytical breakdowns of Aizawa's current homeroom class as a test.

Currently though, it was the weekend where Midoriya would come to the hero gym Aizawa trained at, getting put through his paces in various tests as Aizawa worked to turn this kid into an exemplary hero. The current exercise was to see if improving his sword skill in his untransformed state would have an effect on the sword skill of his 'Momotaro' form.

Giving a yell, Midoriya charged, his stance having improved rapidly throughout the day's training. Batting away the strike with a lazy parry, Aizawa danced around the slashes, noting the boy's eyes flitting about. The kid kept learning and improving as they worked, actually showing visual progress in a single session. Still, the kid wasn't even at Aizawa's modest level with a blade and with five motions Midoriya was disarmed again.

"Alright, we're done for today." Aizawa grabbed Midoriya's boken "Take a lap to cool down and then we'll discuss your progress with your quirk."

"Yes sir." Midoriya groaned, rubbing his newly forming arm bruise before walking off, not questioning Aizawa. Not protesting that he could keep fighting. Just nodding, accepting the word of his instructor, and getting to work. Aizawa ruthlessly suppressed a smile, once again vowing to do all he could to keep Mic and Midnight from finding out about this for as long as he could.

-Izuku-

Sitting with his mentor as they enjoyed some of the Velvet Room's amazing coffee, Midoriya's leg bounced in place. "Alright Midoriya," Aizawa took a deep pull from a coffee cup covered in small kitten stickers, the blonde waitress having a teasing smirk as she handed the cup over "discoveries made about your quirk. Go."

"Well…I can do this." Izuku's eyes flashed gold, but he didn't transform. A burst of cerulean flames appeared in his palm before fading to reveal a small bag "Kibi Dango?" Izuku offered the treat to the blinking stunned underground Hero.

"Thank you!" Margaret sing songed, snagging a dumpling from the bag as she walked past.

"Explain." Aizawa ordered before snagging a treat for himself.

"I found that I can indeed do a 'partial' transformation." Izuku explained, his gold eyes fading back to green "It lets me draw on the powers and 'gear' of my personas but to a lesser extent, and my eyes are always bright gold whenever I do it. Some things are created and stick around, like these Kibi Dango. Others only last so long as I stay 'transformed' such as Momotaro's clothes, sword, or the animals."

"Animals?" Aizawa pressed, having gotten used to Izuku going off on tangents without meaning too, often getting him back on track.

"Oh yeah." Izuku perked up with a grin "You remember those animals on my Momotaro armor and coat?"

"The dog, the monkey, and the pheasant, right?" Aizawa remembered the old urban tale, the animals that were companions of the folk hero Momotaro on his journey to go beat the clan of pirating Ogres.

"I can actually manifest them off of the armor." Izuku grinned wider "And they can act independently of me or follow direct orders as I need them to." His mother's reaction when she came home to see three animals in their living room had been admittedly less fun.

"What of the other two forms?" Aizawa pressed.

"I…haven't been using them." Izuku rubbed his arm, "I…my mom and Ka…Bakugo don't approve of it. It doesn't…it just feels wrong."

"Alright Midoriya." Aizawa's tone was gentle, and nod was understanding as he gave Izuku's shoulder a squeeze "Just think about it. A hero is to be there for the people, and your quirk gives you lots of potential to do so. Please don't squander it."

"R-right." Izuku gave a serious nod, willing to at least consider it even if he doubted he'd succeed.

"Have you been keeping up your regular studies?" Aizawa pressed, "You don't want to slack of and fail to get into UA due to the written exam."

"I have been." Izuku promised, "I've been doing independent studies during the evenings." His mother constantly talking about getting him enrolled in various, deliberately non hero, colleges early and pushed to become a doctor or lawyer or similar were becoming more and more grating as they pressed on though.

"Excellent." Aizawa nodded with a pleased nod as they continued to talk. Izuku sharing his ideas on his quirk and training, Aizawa sharing grievances for his class and students. It was a new experience, but Izuku couldn't get enough.

"I'll see you next time Mr. Aizawa." Izuku grinned as he got up, shaking hands with his mentor, the first person to truly believe in and guide him.

"I am thou, thou art I." Izuku's and Aizawa's eyes both shot open wide, cerulean flames wrapping around their joined hands, eyes glowing gold as they both heard the words Izuku hadn't heard in so long and in the new voice of his latest form "Thou hast acquired a new vow. I shall become the guardian relentless, the monster who delves into shadows to protect the innocent. With the birth of the Emperor Persona, you have obtained the power of ruthlessness that shall lead to freedom and newfound heights."

"What…what was that!?" Aizawa demanded, the man shaken at having heard the voice in his head as well, this one dark and ominous unlike the naïve, apathetic, or boisterous tones of Izuku's other Personas.

"A new Persona." Izuku gulped wide eyed, staring at the cerulean flames as they flickered away "It's…it's been so long."

"The Emperor." Aizawa's phone was out faster than Izuku had ever seen it before "Upright, it embodies Authority, Establishment, Structure, and a Father Figure. Reversed it represents Domination, excessive Control, lack of discipline, and inflexibility."

"I don't think each bond I get fits every one of the ones it can." Izuku shifted awkwardly, trying not to think too hard about the 'father figure' bit, especially given who didn't have this arcana "My mom certainly doesn't fit rebirth or absolution."

"I…I see." Aizawa didn't seem angry, just perplexed "Do your best to train with that one as you can and be ready to show me during our next training session."

"Yes sir." Izuku grinned, a new determination sparking in him. Aizawa new about his quirk, Aizawa was the first of his Arcana to not reject it.

AN: So yeah, Aizawa is the Emperor Arcana and, as you can tell from what that tarot embodies, he's going to be a father figure to Izuku. I know that it's usually the Hierophant that's the father figure or your guardian or even just an adult mentor in the games but given the actual meanings of the tarot I just couldn't see it here. That said I DO have someone specific in mind for that one, so you'll just have to wait and see. BUT, more importantly, I plan to do a DIFFERENT speech for each persona bond. And yes, I will show the Chariot and Judgement. This one did sound like the ones from five but it's just a nod to it.