The Fallen Hero

by CosmicLazarus

It was all a game. At least it was supposed to be. Exposed lies, true faces, hidden natures all revealed. To protect he would corrupt himself and use any means necessary to succeed.

1. Prologue

I could feel the harsh almost sandpaper-like carpet scratch my face. A knee planted into my spine while my hands were bound in material I could not break. I was helpless, relentlessly tormented by the yelling around me.

"Stay down Midoriya!" Aizawa's voice called to me trying to halt my struggle.

I moved restlessly trying to claw out of my confines, my eyes sharpened into a glare. "Let me go!" My voice raised, tearing through my throat. The fire that raged within my blood neared its boiling point as i saw them grab her. The quirk I worked so hard to improve failing to activate in the presence of a pair red gleaming eyes. I was helpless hearing her haunting screams.

"No! Stop! Your hurting me! Deku!"

"Stop!"

Her cries deafening every noise around me. I could no longer hear the insults hurled at me. Traitor, monster, villain, those words lost meaning in the face of her pleas. "No! Please!" Her small hand reached towards me. A gesture I wasn't able to return...

.

How long had it been since that day? '3 months.' I recalled sitting on my bed. Three months since they had taken everything. Three months since they had tarnished my reputation, since they diminished my achievements, since they took her away... I could not help myself from sniffing the air. There was a putrid odor that reached my nose. Suffocating me much like always.

"Ngh..." It was a sharp inhale, my hands shaking. A numbing pain had turned my thoughts into a haze. I could feel my heart pounding within my chest. A week without rest had taken it's toll on my body. The pain in my hands worsening with the symptoms. The bones of my hands, prodding, pinching, grinding, a constant revolving process. The nerves of my hands being stabbed.

My only remedy? Painkillers, a drug i was now craving for. The sweating and chills running over my skin evidence of my addiction. Should I take the drugs, I would only be feeding my addiction, the pain would lessen but only temporarily. If I don't i will continue to be plagued by the symptoms and the feelings overriding my senses.

What of sleep?

That too I avoided. 'I don't want to relive them.' I didn't want to see Inko. I didn't want to go back to that apartment. I don't want to look through the keyhole of a locked door anymore. It was then my vision cleared and my eyes drifted to the remains of what might have been skin. My arms, legs, chest, thighs, abdomen... All i could see were thick gouges of discolored tissue. Faded pink slashes decorating every inch. My back was far worse if my memory served to tell me. Skin melded together, having been melted into an amalgamation of flesh.

Even if I avoided sleep I could not escape the reminders that were permanently driven into me. My thoughts were only interrupted by the blaring sounds of my alarm clock. I looked reading that it had barely turned 7:00 am. "That's right." Class was going to start soon, and again would I have to go under the name Deku.

A patronizing title that had become more common than my own name. Used by the people who had turned their backs towards me. The memory of their betrayal still fresh and their attempts at ignorance still ever so pathetic. "Traitor. Villain." when the accusations first started they didn't hesitate to spit out these words. Even worse was when my innocence had been proven.

Many seemed to have erased the incident from their memory completely carrying on as if they hadn't made ever sacrifice I had done worthless. I tried to ignore the shivers running down my spine as I stood. My bones groaning in protest at the movement. Wiping the sweat off my forehead i moved to my closet grabbing my uniform fitting it over myself. "Ahem." I adjusted my tight fitting collar to cover my neck hiding the scar that sat just below my jugular vein.

A lips twitched into a large smile. I had to maintain the illusion, not that they would notice if the opposite was true.

*Knock*

*Knock*

"Deku. Are you up we have to get to class."

A sickeningly sweet voice came from the direction of my door. It carried a tone that had my jaw tighten. "I'm up! I'll be right there!" I left to my door grabbing my backpack and slipping my shoes on before opening the door. My vision was overtaken by the sight of Ochako Uraraka. The brown-haired girl once a target of my... affection. Her smile now irritating to look at.

"Deku... your tie is messed up."

I forced myself still, Uraraka leaning to fix my tie, her permanent blush growing darker as she used the tips of her toes to close the difference between our height. I held my tongue my mind preoccupied by the foul smell emanating from her. Again too familiar for my liking.

"There!" Uraraka's expectant eyes turned to look into mine. A smile on her face.

"Thanks Uraraka!" My throat ached and a vile taste coated my tongue speaking the words.

"Hehe!" Uraraka giggled before turning with a bounce in her step. Each of her mannerisms serving to wind my jaw tighter. After all nothing was wrong in her eyes.

I had no choice but to follow after her. "So Deku what do you think we'll learn in class?"

I scratched the back of my head eyebrows furrowing before my smile grew excited, "I don't know but hopefully something about all might!"

Uraraka giggled her hand touched my arm. "You're such a fanboy!"

I fought the disgust and the temptation to claw the skin from my own arm. "I just..." My right index finger scratched my cheek, "He's just so awesome!"

Uraraka laughed once more and our walk devolved into insignificant and wasteful chatter. Had the option arisen I would have silenced her vocal cords and relieved myself of this endless torment. 'She would make a great villain.' Her chatter was more than enough to cause many to go insane. That being said, appearances, his appearance, needed to be maintained.

Our walk only ended once we reached the main campus of U.A and entered the classroom belonging to 1-A. My nose burned as soon as I entered the room and if that wasn't enough the loud boisterous voice of Bakugou overshadowed the idle conversation among the other classmates drawing all attention towards me.

"Look who decided to show up!" I watched Bakugou smirk, "U.A's traitor!" His remarks causing the atmosphere to go heavy and despite the lack of comfort not one protested this remark.

"W-well we should get to our seats right Deku!"

Uraraka pathetically attempted to switch the conversation quickly leaving my side. "Sure!" I nodded the smile on my lips still strong as I went to take my seat. Setting my backpack to the side i waited for Bakugou. The boy having stood up from his seat a cruel smile stretched across his cheeks.

"Decided to get some more info for your buddies over at the league huh?!"

Uraraka's stench was nothing compared to the one i faced now. I couldn't help but wrinkle my face slightly. "Hey Kachan!" My right hand waved while my left held the metal bar supporting the wood top of the desk in a tight grip.

Bakugou's face twisted in irritation and without warning I felt a glob of spit land on my face. My backpack lifted into the air before Bakugou emptied the contents over my desk. "Come on do something you fucking Deku!" The explosions in Bakugou's left hand increased their intensity masking the creaking of metal from my palm. "Do something! So i can take your villain ass down!"

I didn't fight him, not even after his hand grabbed my mouth, his fingers stabbing into the soft flesh of my cheeks. 'Nothing has changed.' U.A might as well have been named Aldera. None of my classmates stepped in, their faces screamed that they were upset at the view but their inaction told me otherwise.

"Tch!"

My head was forcibly pushed back, my mouth freed from Bakugou's grip. The boy left my desk returning to his, teeth grinding against each other in agitation. Had this been a months ago I would have cowered in fear perhaps even cry. Now I couldn't find a reason to fear Bakugou.

A minute after Bakugou had taken his seat the door to the classroom opened and in stepped Shota Aizawa. The "rational" and "logical" hero's tired gaze sweeping across the room only to rest at my desk. "*sigh* Problem Child pick up your mess."

Problem child...

"Heh..." I couldn't suppress my chuckle, my hands shifting to grab the papers, pencils, and notebooks that had spilled over the floor and onto my desk. I hadn't even taken the time to organize the materials and instead resorted to stuffing everything in.

Aizawa's watchful eyes kept their stare pointed at me until i had effectively picked up the mess I had made. When i was finished Aizawa finally spoke, "Now that this room is back to order, i have something to share with you all. In a few minutes Nezu is to make an announcement so class for today will be canceled and we will be going to the auditorium so pack up your stuff and get going."

The class knew not to ask any further questions as they would likely not receive an answer. Packing our belongings the class followed Aizawa who had already began to leave the class. Walking down the halls curiosity took hold.

"I wonder what Principal Nezu is going to announce?" Uraraka being the first to blurt out searching for the opinions of her friends.

"Yeah, me too. Well, we are going to find out soon. It's got to be important though." Mina Ashido another one of Izuku's classmates laced her pink skinned fingers behind her curly hair. Her carefree and energetic attitude one of the highlights in class 1-A's otherwise dreary class

I tuned out their conversation and instead tried to control the craving. I wanted the numbing of my senses, rather my body called for it. I knew that giving in would only cause adverse effects which was why I had stopped taking the pills for over a week now. Yet the more my skin itched, the more sweat formed on my, the more the hunger grew.

"Oh, Kendo!"

I blinked hearing Yaoyorozu's words and the thudding of footsteps to my right. Tearing my eyes away from the floor I saw class 1-B and at the head of the sister class was Itsuka Kendo. An athletic tomboy who prioritized both smarts and combat ability. Her orange hair styled into a side ponytail which was accentuated by her teal blue eyes. Any prospective hero could see through the U.A uniform she wore that the girl trained her body tirelessly. Attraction however was not something I felt.

My interest on a purely analytical level ended there. Her quirk easy to counter, her fighting style simple, her strength far from remarkable.

There was only one other person in the class that had garnered my attention. Ibara Shiozaki, a blank slate. No predispositions, no biases, her only flaw being an overzealous faith in her morals which weren't even her own.

"I don't suppose you know what this assembly is about, do you?"

"Sorry but I don't have a single clue. Vlad-sensei didn't tell us anything about it."

"Isn't it obvious. Principal Nezu has finally seen the superiority of Class B over that 1-A scum."

'Neito Monoma' Another narcissistic asshole with a god complex. The smug and condescending tone from his words making the air stagnant. His manners common and as such I wasn't surprised to see him clash with Bakugou. The two each thought they were superior over the other when neither were superior in any way.

"WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU SAY YOU BLOND COPYCAT EXTRA! YOU AND YOUR CLASS OF NOBODIES CAN'T BEAT ME!"

"What a big ego for some-" getting chopped in the neck Monoma was knocked out by Kendo who apologized as both classes made it to the assembly hall.

.

As I entered the large auditorium my gaze looked to the large white screen that hung above the stage. Below it the U.A staffexcept for Aizawa and Vlad waited clearly stalling until the students found their seats. The message had been clear enough that it warranted no instruction. The students one by one took their seats while I was forcibly placed between Iida and Uraraka. My hands weakly laying atop the armrests.

"Welcome students! I am glad that you all could make it to this incredibly special announcement!"

'Special announcement?' A knot formed in the pit of my stomach, twisting uncomfortably. Sweat collecting on my forehead, something was wrong, horribly wrong. My vision getting blurry, whether it was from pain, tiredness, or this wasn't clear anymore. Hands clutching onto the arm rest tightly.

"Now before you all assume the worst. This announcement is not because of a villain attack." There were small gasps of relief in the crowd but that all stopped once Nezu continued. "No instead I bring news of a once in a lifetime experience for a U.A student. This year we will be bringing back a long-standing tradition. That is the HERO VS VILLAINS' WARGAME!" The screen above Nezu lit up with large text displaying an image of All Might and Endeavor clashing, both noticeably younger. "The last time this game was held was when All Might himself was but a first year in U.A. Now it is time for this generation to bring it back! You see this exercise will give not only us the teachers valuable information about your progression in heroism but it will also give you all a chance to see the areas that you need to improve upon. Combat, rescue, leadership, those are just a few of the areas that this game will allow you to improve!"

I could only shake my head in amusement, 'Stop with the pedantic speech.' This wasn't for improvement, Nezu was just bored. The cruel sadistic animal just wanted to use us for entertainment. It wasn't the act that was sickening it was the thing that conceptualized the idea especially after the recent mistrust surrounding me.

Seeing all the shocked faces Nezu spoke once more, "Alright students, on the large board above us we will randomly select two leaders. One for the villain team and one for the hero team, after that the rest of the students will split away from the leaders and choose their team the villains on the left and the heroes on the right. Now let's see who the leader of the hero team is." pressing a button a long list of names and pictures spun in random order for about a minute until it stopped.

"Hero team leader... Katsuki Bakugou!"

"See that you shitty extras! I'm the leader!" Bakugou cackled excitement running through his bones.

It was pointless to acknowledge the irony of the situation. Still I couldn't stop my open hands from balling into fists. A part of my mind told me to scream but it was lost in a deep fog so I steadied my hand.

"Interesting! Now it's time to determine the villain team leader!"

"Please not me..." was a phrase that slipped from every student's tongues. Some even having their hands clasped together in prayer.

Soon the roulette ended and I nodded seeing the name. "The villain team leader is Izuku Midoriya!"

'It was always going to be me.' There was never a chance that i was going to become leader of the hero team. Nezu had rigged this outcome. Why wouldn't he? Everyone already viewed me as a villain so they would have no problem imagining me as one.

"HA! It's only fitting that the traitor would be the villain! I'm going to have fun killing you Deku!"

I wasn't even bothered to look Bakugou's way, the teachers would not reprimand him. They were not the first and they certainly wouldn't be the last. I had come to accept this but that didn't make it easier. Nails digging into the armrest, the feeling of overwhelming strength as OFA coursed through my body, only for it to stop and for my back to stiffen at Uraraka's hand on my back.

"It's alright Deku, I know you wanted to be a hero."

I didn't need to turn my head. I knew that if I did all i would be met with was stares of false pity and sadness. They act like prey when they're really parasites, leeching me of everything I had. I was tired of that stare, that tone of voice. The foul stench from earlier had gotten unbearable, the bastards around me no better than Inko.

"Now that we have our team leaders it's time for the rest of you to pick teams, Katsuki Bakugou, Izuku Midoriya please come down and wait for your teammates."

I followed the instructions given to me, ignoring the jeering of Bakugou as I stood on the stage. After 10 minutes of choosing every student went on the right side meaning they were a part of the hero team, whether it was a game or not they didn't want to be a villain so obviously, they chose the heroes.

I hadn't held any expectations but I was still surprised they had managed to lower them even more. It had proven that everything I had done as a friend was meaningless, that every visit to the hospital i endured for them meant nothing.

"W-w-wait Deku is all alone, this can't be fair principal Nezu! what can Deku do to all of us by himself!" yelling out in protest about the teams, Uraraka turned to principal Nezu.

Her protest is what i had expected someone of her integrity would say. 'She claims this is unjust...' It was hypocritical the way she looked to her friends as if she were trying to garner support without being the first to take a step forward. I looked to my hands wondering how long it would take to strangle Uraraka into a painful slumber. I also wondered how it would feel to tear out the eyes of the rest. I wonder how they would squeal the truth when I broke their bones.

"Oh my, it seems some rearrangements in the teams are in order." saying that most of the hero team complained. BeforeNezu could explain to them that it would only make things fair I opened my mouth.

"Keep the teams as they are."

My interruption had attracted the concern of the teachers, their faces laced with shock. "Are you sure? Surely we can balance the teams."

"I said keep them as they are."

They looked to me as if I was insane, "Problem Child think about what this means."

"I know what this means. I'll be by myself, acting as a single villain against an entire team composed of 39 heroes."

"Then you can see that thi-"

"What I see is an opportunity. Principal Nezu said this game was to improve the qualities we lack. With my lack of control over my quirk I already find it difficult to face large numbers of attackers. This game will give me the chance to rectify that. Better to do it in a controlled environment than in the field."

I could see Nezu struggle to find his words, his face furrowing. "Nezu you seriously can't be considering this?"

"Quiet." Nezu looked to me searching for something before nodding, "U.A was built to challenge and nurture future heroes. As such i will not take a learning opportunity away from one of my students. If Midoriya says he wants to attempt this on his own i have no choice but to oblige him."

The teachers' protests died and the fight left their body. Nezu seeing this nodded, I will hand out rule books to the leaders, and I will call each leader one after the other so they can ask any questions about the rules. Bakugou make sure you read the whole rulebook and after you are finished be in my office in one hour, you are next after him Midoriya. Now classes will be suspended until the game is over, so you are all dismissed back to the dorms. Prepare yourself you all have 5 days before the game begins."

"Prepare? Why should we?" With a snicker Kaminari walked off resting his hands on the back of his head. Along with his comment were small murmurs about a lack of a challenge.

"Now here are the rule books, I'll give each of you an hour to read them over and then I will call you to my office. Bakugou I suggest you start reading because you will need to share this with your team."

"Whatever, fucking rat..." Bakugou grabbed the book from Nezu roughly all while glaring at me.

Grabbing my own i sat down on the edge of the stage my eyes reading each and every word carefully. Knowing Nezu their were bound to be hidden layers and i wanted to shed every layer. Sure enough once an hour had passed Bakugou's name came over the loudspeaker. It was easy to tell what Bakugou was going to ask. The entire hour he only sent glares towards my direction along with the occasional insult.

.

Another hour passed and by then I had memorized every rule given in the book. As I thought there were loopholes in almost every single rule, though unless you were willing to actually question your morals you wouldn't find them. That or you're too idiotic to analyze simple text.

My thoughts were cut short when Nezu's voice reverberated throughout the auditorium. "Midoriya come to my office when ready."

Closing my rule book I made my way to the auditorium's exit, my destination being Nezu's office. It was a short walk only taking 5 minutes to reach the doorway. With my knuckles a knocked on the door twice waiting to hear Nezu's approval.

"Come in."

Entering the office I sat in the seat across from Nezu. "Midoriya. I do hope to have an intelligent conversation this time. It only took a third of the allotted time to answer Bakugou's questions. Curious as to what they are?"

"No not really. Besides that I'm confident i have more exciting things to ask."

"Well then the floor is yours."

I wasn't going to ask everything, only narrowing down the long list into three questions. If the three questions are answered the rest will fall into place. "In the rule book there is a specific guideline stating that neither team can interfere with the other. I would like to know the extent of that rule, and more specifically what would happen if I sought say the support course for assistance?"

"Hmm... As long as the support course in not in allegiance with the other team there is no rule against seeking outside help."

"Second question. To what extent can I hurt those on the hero team?"

"As long as there is no permanent damage anything is allowed."

The next thing was a longshot but if it worked... "May I use guns and explosives during this game?" A look of confusion that came across Nezu's face, the animal dumbfounded at the request.

"May I ask why?"

"My quirk is limited. If I were to go beyond what i was capable it would take one attack to cripple me. Besides there are no rules explicitly stating we couldn't use those weapons."

Nezu pondered my reasoning before eventually responding, "I don't see a reason to decline your request, however due to the nature of what you're asking I am requiring you to train with Snipe starting tomorrow morning. If you prove you can handle those weapons before the game starts there will be no problem."

"That won't be an issue."

"Well is there anything else?"

I had barely used up any time and by the curious gaze in Nezu's eyes i decided to bait the animal a little further. "Actually, I would like a civilian identity."

"That can be arranged."

"Perfect." There was no longer any reason to stay. Standing from my seat I moved to the door. "We're done here." I hadn't even given Nezu a chance to speak before i left the room. I knew the animal was more than suspicious of my questions but without any solid evidence indicating a change in my behavior he wouldn't be able to sic Hound Dog on me. Not that Nezu would, rather i think I gave him a reason to be excited about the game

Alone in the halls I kept the smile on my face as I walked to my oasis. One of two places in this God forsaken school that allowed me to retain my sanity. The support studio was that safe haven and hearing the loud deafening sounds had brought me a sense of peace. Without any indication I opened the door to a familiar sight.

Mei Hatsume, an eccentric, blunt girl who was undoubtedly the best inventor I had ever had the pleasure of knowing. Her salmon-pink hair fashioned in dreadlocks falling just below her collar bone. Her apparel the same as always, a black tank top and overalls tied around her waist. Just staring at her back had caused the wide uncomfortable smile to contort. A much smaller now adorned my face. I shook my head ridding the thought from mind. Still I could not help but notice.

Despite the environment the air somehow smelt pure, sweetening. A drastic change from the outside. Due to the noise of her work my entrance had gone unnoticed, "Mei!" Yelling over the noise her name flowed off my tongue smoothly having become familiar to me.

My yell attracted her attention finally allowing me to see her face. Her golden eyes with their unique cross-hair pupils were mesmerizing, and despite the grease covering it, her face was both soft and delicate. Her body was eye catching as well but her outward appearance was miniscule to who she was. Her honest nature, her unbiased view point, her bluntness.

Endearing.

"Muscles!" I stood strong feeling her try to tackle me into a hug, a gesture of which I fail to return. Our height difference becoming clear as the top of her head was 8 inches below my own. "So what are you stopping by for?! Not that I mind! Oh is it for babies?!" Mei had a dust of blush come across her cheeks as she looked up and towards my face her body still pushed against mine.

"Yeah, I need your help making a few babies."

Mei smiled brightly before letting go of the embrace hands behind her back as she swayed on her feet. "This is about the wargames right? Powerloader-sensei told me all about it."

"He told you to help if the hero team came to you."

Mei smiled, "Yep! But I rejected it!"

I chuckled glad that Mei did so. Walking past her I moved to her workbench sitting on a lone stool momentarily resting my hand on my head. Mei followed after me taking a seat across a look of concern on her face. "Hey Muscles... you look like shit. Have you been sleeping?"

"No. Not lately."

Mei grabbed my right hand holding it gently her body scooting forward until our knees touched. "It's because of the pain isn't it? What about the painkillers?"

Mei knew about my pain. She was one of the few who really knew. Why she cared? I had no real idea. "I stopped taking them. I keep getting the shakes."

"Have you seen Recovery Girl yet?"

"I will."

"You know my babies wont work properly if your body doesnt right?" Mei looked doubtful, she paused briefly awaiting my response.

"Yeah I know." *Ahem* "Anyway i was thinking, surveillance drones small enough to not be detected but with the ability to record voices. I'm also going to be needing a villain suit and mask." I changed the subject, trying to steer the conversation away from my condition.

"I can do that!" Mei understood and adopted her inventor side, taking out a pencil she had already began drafting an outline. "So video recording is an obvious choice, and a microphone for the voices. For the villain suit is there anything you'll like?"

"Erh" my left eye's vision blurred slightly the iris and pupil burning. Putting my left hand over my left eye, I felt OFA activate for a second, lighting crawling up my arm.

"Muscles?"

"Sorry, light and durable. If you can, resistant to extreme heat and cold temperatures. The mask..." The burning in my eye got worse causing me to hunch over.

"Muscles?!" Mei grabbed my face her hands cupping my cheeks trying to actively look for my injury, "We should get to recovery girl!"

"No..." My hand left my eye allowing Mei to get a good look.

"Your eye..." Mei cupped my face her nose nearing mine as she analyzed my eye.

"What?" Mei searched grabbing the nearest invention moving to where the metal showed my reflection. My left pupil had gone slit, the emerald color brighter than before "What the..."

"Izu... Muscles you should go to recovery girl, please let me handle this. I'll make everything you'll need. Please."

"Ok, I will." Her pleas were both earnest and genuine. So much so I was forced to relent.

"Sure thing! Listen, tomorrow you can drop in and check the progress but i won't make the babies if you don't go to recovery girl and I'll ask her!"

"Alright, alright. You've got a deal."

Mei let out a giggle her eyes looking once again at my eye. "I know I shouldn't say this before you get it checked out but that eye is pretty badass. I think i got an idea for your mask!"

"Glad you can find some use for it." Standing from the stool I looked at Mei the girl buried in a pile of blueprints already drafting her ideas. I moved to the door leaving without so much as a thank you. Only a simple "See you then."

"Yep!"

.

Walking down the halls I had to keep my promise with Mei. Not that there was an issue in doing so, rather I would like to see Recovery Girl. Thankfully the distance between the support studio and the nurse's office was short. Entering the nurse's office I saw the elderly hero sitting at her desk. My arrival unlike the time with Mei had been noticed immediately.

"Sonny, what's brings you in today?"

"Mei had me come. I'm having some trouble." Sitting on the nearest examination bed i waited as Recovery Girl moved closer.

"Seems as though only she can get you in this office without hitting you." A small smile came across Recovery Girl's face, "Ah, young love..."

"Stop..."

"Oh please deary, I know romance when I see it. Take the advice of a woman whose been down this road."

"No. That's not what it is." I cradled my head, the headache returning full force. "Just stop it." Although my words were harsh, it didn't seem to have any effect on Recovery Girl, the woman placing a hand on my knee.

"Sorry Sonny. I didn't want to overstep. Just point out what I see. I know things have been tough since Eri was taken. I just, I've seen you in this room too many times. The pain that constantly affects you, the pressure mounted on your shoulders."

"I get it. Thank you but lets not do this, not now."

Recovery Girl nodded. "Have you been taking your medications? Are you sleeping properly? Have you been having nightmares again?"

"No. No. Yes. But that's not what I came here for. My left eye, it's blurry, it briefly burned and as far as I can tell my pupil became slit. Painful at first but now it's kind of hard to focus."

Although wanting to address the other issues, the woman picked the highest priority problem. "Let's see."

My chin was grabbed and a light flashed in my eye. In recovery girl's left hand she held a small penlight. "The pupil is dilating, no sign of any damage. No red in sclera, other than the pupil shape and color there's no discernible changes otherwise. Was there a trigger?"

"No... I..." I tried to recall when it happened. "OFA."

"A response to your quirk... For now i think it would be best to observe it. If your vision worsens i want you to come straight to me. If you don't..." Recovery girl pointed her cane towards my head.

I could only nod.

Silence fell for a minute before Recovery Girl nodded. "So are you going tell me how long you've gone without substantial sleep?"

"10 days. I stopped taking the painkillers since then..."

"I see." Recovery Girl stared at the bags underneath my eyes. "I'm going to give you some sleeping pills."

"I don't need them." I shook my head, i refused.

"You say you don't need them but you do need sleep. I'm sure Hatsume told you the same thing and knowing how many times Powerloader brought her in here for exhaustion I can only imagine how bad she thinks this is. If you aren't going to do it for yourself do it as a favor to me. If that's not enough, think about Eri, how she would feel seeing you like this."

"..."

Taking my lack of response as an answer "Good. Now being that its noon, I want you to take the pills as soon as you get to your room. You'll be dead asleep until the next morning."

"Ok." I watched Recovery Girl moved to the medicine closet sifting through the shelves of medication before bringing out a small bottle. Waiting she then dropped the bottle into my open hand.

"Take two and only two. Do not combine these with the painkillers."

"Got it."

"Now get out. I gotta prepare for your next visit."

I couldn't help but chuckle. I left, finally heading to the dorms. It didn't take long to reach the entrance. Opening the door I saw all my classmates laughing and hanging out. Going to the stairs I was stopped by Uraraka.

"Hey Deku!"

"Hey!" I responded in kind already missing the sweet air of the support studio.

"So um..." Uraraka pointed her fingers together clearly nervous. "I know we aren't supposed to be... you know with the wargame and all but I was wondering if you would like to hang out."

"Sorry Uraraka, maybe another time. I actually have somethings to take care of before the game."

"O-Oh, sorry for asking maybe next time."

"Sure thing." I didn't give Uraraka any more time and climbed the stairs to my room. Arriving in my dorm I set the pills given to me on my desk. My eyes drifting ever so slightly to the painkillers. Reaching I grabbed the bottle tightly before going to the balcony door. Once the outside world was in full view I activated OFA throwing the pills out the window and into the nearby woods.

I watched the bottle disappear into the thick brush of the trees completely vanishing from sight. I stayed at my balcony for several minutes in complete silence. Stepping back I stopped.

'Wha...' My feet shuffled unevenly my vision swimming. OFA wouldn't stop as full cowling cloaked my body the lightning sparking in intensity. 'TRAITOR! VILLAIN! BASTARD! PROBLEM! QUIRKLESS! DEKU!' Those words screamed in my head.

My chest becoming inflamed, my teeth grinding together subconsciously. Anger, rage it all flooded my system. Scenes flashed before my eyes, 'Eri!' More and more attacked, 'INKO! BAKUGOU!' I held my head falling back onto my bed.

'9th... come to us...'

Before i could regain control my consciousness faded.

.

"9th..."

A voice called to me, my view taken up by a familiar black void. 'The realm of OFA.' My body was wrapped in a black mist keeping me from moving. In front of my eyes were the past users. The first to speak being the 7th, Nana Shimura.

"9th before we begin, I would like to apologize to you on behalf of Toshinori, his actions were misplaced. While Toshinori's intent was good he lost sight and I ask that you forgive him."

"7th that is not what we are here for."

"My apologies 1st." Nana cleared her throat, "9th we have observed you for quite some time. We've seen the trials you have endured and as such we offer you a choice. The true purpose of OFA was to pass on the quirks of the past users as they accumulated power. We now give you the opportunity to inherit one such quirk. 5th?"

"My quirk is black whip is dangerous but since it's fully augmented with OFA it's going to be harder to control, now this wasn't how you were supposed to receive the quirk as such there may be changes in your body. Your eye was an example. Even without our influence your body was trying to inherit the quirk. This was the safest way we could think. You'll experience pain but should you wait for your body to naturally accept it, there may be adverse effects."

The 1st user took center stage, "So 9th will you accept the quirk?"

Much like before my body was covered in a thick shroud of black mist. Only my left arm free and capable of movement. Despite the influx of information the choice was rather simple. Power or nothing? Though from their words I didn't doubt I would have gained the quirk regardless, this path was faster. However... 'They saw what I've endured.' How much of it? I didn't know but if they called him to inherit the quirks due to that, then maybe...

I nodded.

The 5th user walked towards me in his hand a pure black star. "Your output of OFA will increase, use this responsibly and train diligently." The star moved from the 5th's hand and plunged into my chest. As soon as it entered I felt the left side of my body burn as if I was submerged in fire. My eye burning hotter than before.

I didn't know how much time had passed when I awoke in the morning. My mind was too preoccupied relying purely on instinct as I opened my uniform throwing the clothing off my body. Looking into the reflection of the glass balcony door I noticed the changes the past users mentioned.

the left side of my body up to the base of my neck was covered in elaborate black markings. The patterns intricate and vaguely alluring. There I noticed the skin around my left eye had cracked and my hair had gone through a drastic change.

No longer did it sit on my head in unruly locks of green hair, rather its color darkened and the style straightened. The most notable change being the large patch that had been bled of all color.

The new appearance seemed rather fitting, 'A villain...' Looking to my clock I saw the early time of 4:00 am, the preparation days were officially starting.