Hey everyone who is reading this. If you opened this and got this far thank! I hope you like it.
Also, thanks to those to followed and favorite this. Like holy crap? I'm shocked this gathered that many favorites and follows when I am a terrible writer. Haha. :p
I hope you guys like this. There are many things I'm not sure about this chapter that makes me feel terrible and etc. Haha.
Disclaimer: I don't own My Hero Academia. All right goes to its rightful owner.
09/10/19: Edited it by fixing mistakes I missed and changed the little wrong detail about Shinso's quirk.
"Deku-kun, Iida-kun!" Uraraka's called loudly once it was lunchtime. Her eyes burning with determination she declared fist in the air all pumped up. "Let's do our best!"
He beamed at his friend's enthusiasm. "Yeah! Let's do this!" Izuku was reminded of why she wanted to become a hero.
"Let's do our best!" she screamed at Hanta, Fumikage, and others near them which they reciprocated rather awkwardly.
"You two are excited," Mina, who was sitting cross-legged and a little lax in her seat, said.
A hard smacking fist rumbled throughout the room. "We should be. The Sports Festival, one of the manliest events of UA. An event where our skills and passion would be tested. Fighting against other UA students and testing our limits!"
"The event also serves as a way for heroes to scout for their potential sidekicks," Kaminari added. "Can you imagine being a sidekick to a pro?"
Kyouka snickered. "Not if you wanna get stuck in your job forever."
"Kicking other asses to let them see who's the best." Grinned kacchan. "Not to mention a chance to take on half and half and Deku!"
A series of protests came from some of their classmates.
"Hey!" the muscular Rikido Sato reacted. "What about us."
Katsuki snorted and rolled his eyes. "What about you fuckers? I ain't got no time to play with losers."
"Kacchan," he calmly called glaring at his boastful friend. There goes his friend again, he silently sighed. "Dammit, we've talked about his."
The other simply took it relatively easy. "Look at the first training exercise nerd. I smashed those two to pieces." The blond's head motioned towards the pair of Kaminari and Kyouka. The pair sent a glare behind him.
"How come our score is tied up then, huh?" Argued Izuku. "And that was before I discovered my enhanced strength."
Katsuki deftly got up from his chair without making a sound and got to his face. "Is that a challenge, nerd?"
Eyes sharp, Izuku gladly returned the favor. "What if it is kacchan?"
Grinning from ear to ear, Izuku's heart pumped faster. This was serious, yet exciting at the same time. The Sports Festival would be a perfect time. Where everything would be settled. The time to settle their tied score once again.
"Check these two out," Hanta Sero commented. "Our meek and shy Class Rep, turns to a lion when facing Bakugou."
The mutterings of their classmates did not deter him. "It's amusing isn't it? I never get tired of seeing it."
"So much manliness!"
"Izuku-chan is very contradicting, kero."
"Loser treats the winner for a month?" Kacchan grinned and held out a hand that Izuku took. Putting a little strength in his hand, his friend grimaced slightly that everyone missed. Katsuki did the same which caused his eye to twitch.
Just like that they went back to their original places like nothing ever happened.
"Hey!" Uraraka butted in between the two of them. "Don't you two forget about us. Whoever wins gets treated by the losers for a month."
Izuku wasn't sure that was a good idea for Uraraka to say and judging by the way kacchan was looking at her. It would not end well for their wallets. "Uhm, Uraraka, I don't think you should say that."
"No take-backs," Kacchan said with raised his brows at the challenge. "Winner gets treated?" His eyes roamed to the four of them as if to say "by you losers."
Kirishima chuckled putting an arm on kacchan's shoulder. "I'll take that offer. You're not the only one getting the spotlight next week, Bakugou."
"No, no, no." Iida crossed his arms on his chest. "I cannot condone this action. Midoriya-kun, as the Class Representative it is your duty to set the best example for everyone."
"Oh stop being so serious Iida," Mina fake yawned. "It's just a little bet. You know what, I'll make it even more interesting. I bet 500 Yen that Todoroki will win."
Iida stuttered trying to find words to say.
"What?" Kaminari looked at the pink girl as if she was crazy. "500 says that it's Bakugou. Todoroki may have the power, but Bakugou's a wild card. He's unpredictable" Kacchan's face twitched at that statement but otherwise said nothing.
"No," Ingenium's brother chopped the air in hopes of getting their attention. "This is unacceptable. It is unbecoming of a hero to be doing such undignified activities!"
All those who bet ignored Iida as most of their classmates' bet on who would win the Sports festival. He heard someone say, "a hot girl," no doubt Mineta. Some even bet that it would be someone from 1-B as they didn't know what quirks and abilities they have. Most placed their bets on Kacchan and Todoroki with some on him and Tokoyami. Hagakure happily listed the bets on her pink Hi Kat notebook, and quite happily so if the dancing of her uniform was to go by.
"Let them be, Iida," Izuku called giving him a sheepish smile and have his serious friend a break from his scolding. "It's not like it's against the school rules. We'll put a stop to it if it gets out of hand."
Iida hands on his chin, thought about it before replying. "I'll hold you to that Midoriya."
With that handled, he turned to his two seating friends. "We'll head to the cafeteria," Izuku said. "You guy wanna come?"
"Go on without us," Kirishima replied. He and kacchan shared a look before his childhood friend silently motioned that they would follow. The teen wondered what they were doing staying behind. Not that it's any of his business, just simply curious.
Most of them opted to stay a little longer.
Following Iida, they all headed for the cafeteria.
"Psst," someone called behind. Izuku could only look at All Might with raised eyebrows in confusion. The number one hero was comparable to a secret admirer, the bento and the gesture for him to follow only supported that assumption.
Izuku knew of admirers because for all of Kacchan's temper he was still considered "cool and awesome" by their female classmates back in Aldera High. Every Valentine's day, the blond would receive lots of chocolate from classmates, schoolmates, and most female students even when he ignores them all. Though that's not to say he didn't like the chocolates. After class, he would bring it home and share some with him.
Judging by the looks his two friends were giving the hero they must've been curious too.
"Uh," he said scratching his cheek. "You guys go one ahead." Izuku wondered about the importance of the incoming conversation if his mentor was calling for him. He and All Might spoke little last week with the investigation going on. The authorities needed all the heroes in search of the League of Villains that attacked the city and USJ. The news had reported of their ongoing investigation and the Police had considered the fact that the "League of Villains" were possibly stationed here in Musutafu.
A cheesy name, yes, he knew that, but he and the whole 1-A student had seen what they were capable of. Simultaneous attacks throughout the city and not to mention the two Noumu's or "Supersoldiers" as Mina called them.
The two shared a look before going and leaving him with All Might.
His mentor led him to his office as they ate in relative peace. For a boisterous and famous man, All Might's office was very normal. One would think there would be memorabilia or something like that. But no, it was one would normally expect. Photographs of him in his golden age suit with fans. A possibly private photo of a Toshinori-sensei with an orange-haired foreigner carrying a cute blond girl.
He sat across All Might, a steaming hot tea and two cups lay on the table between them.
"Are you all right now?" he asked. The blond hero's injury plus going beyond the time limit greatly worried Izuku. It was a good thing Vlad King, Present Mic, and Cementoss were there with him to fight those Noumus. If not, he only shuddered their chances of survival as they rescue Eraserhead and Thirteen. The fight would be one-sided
"I'm fine but my hero time was decreased to only one hour now. I am also glad that your class is fine with no severe injuries." Toshinori-sensei's shadowed eyes bore into his as he opened his bento. "I never personally thank you for leading them but," All Might stood, bowing to him. "Thank you for all of the efforts of 1-A."
Izuku flushed when All Might bow thankfully to him. It didn't suit someone like All Might to bow to someone. Especially someone like him, who only did what he thought was right. A selfish impulse to help with no care for his own safety. "You don't have to do that, sensei."
"Nonsense. " The number one hero poured tea on the cups giving one to him. "How is everyone, Izuku?"
Izuku gratefully accepted the tea given and breathed deeply absorbing its aroma. "Everyone's fine, Toshinori-sensei. Aside from the injuries received, we're all fine. "
"What about you? Are you fine, m'boy."
"Eh," chuckled Izuku awkwardly with his reply. "I'm fine."
The man blue eye bore into his and giving him a blank look that says, really? We're gonna play this game?
Izuku swallowed heavily, "what do you—"
"Then why do you have eye bags." His frail-looking mentor raised a hand, silencing him before he could formulate a reply. "You've been having nightmares, haven't you?"
His brows furrowed at being found out. Only Kacchan, aside from his mom, knew but didn't call him out on it yet. He remembered the darkness, the arms, the shadow over him that threatens to smash him as powerlessness filled him. Then, he'd wake up, sweating, and heart-thumping speed his heart would do that was faster than Iida could run.
Seeing as there was no use hiding it, Izuku blankly nodded.
The man sighed. "I know because the councilors expressed that you've been denying you're not fine. They even saw the signs of sleeplessness in you." The man set his bento down moving to his side. "I can see young Bakugou in you sometimes as I see yourself in him."
Izuku didn't speak waiting for his mentor to get to the crux of the matter, which he was curious to know. "That's a good thing, but, independence can only get you so far. Sometimes, you need help from others. You can start by admitting you have a problem."
"Mom knows," he mumbled. "I can see her worry for me, but she doesn't know how to help me."
He thought that maybe the event affected the others too despite it not being obvious. Lately, Izuku had seen a shift in Kirishima-kun, he did not know what but it was there. In the redhead's words, maybe Kirishima's not "manly enough" as he usually was.
"Talk to me. Talking to someone does one wonder you know. So, talk to me young Midoriya and I would do my best to help you," his mentor pleaded. Gentle blue eyes and soft thin smile met his gaze. "What do you keep dreaming?"
"The same thing over and over. The Noumu above me, killing me then. Sometimes it would deviate by…." He glared at his hands. "Killing my friends, then me. I would wake up feeling so useless that I wasn't able to do anything then."
"I know the feeling Izuku." Toshinori-sensei stopped eating and smiled as he picked up a single chopstick. "The feeling of being useless. Even with the power of One for All given to me, I had my fair share of it. In all my time as a hero, I was not able to save everyone all the time for I cannot be everywhere at once."
Toshinori-san looked down as a wistful expression came to him. His mentor could be dreaming or remembering the days when he was still young. A hard to believe concept with a legendary figure like All Might. "The dreams you have? We Pros have it too for all the lives we could not save. It would not stop, nor get easier with time, but you will know how to cope with the burden."
The frown turned to a smile as he picked the other setting them side by side, "That's where the others come in. For no man is an island, it is thanks to my comrades' help that many lives I could not save were saved. That is why we need to trust and have faith in others. To be there for us and to have our backs just as we do the same. That is the essence of heroism. Fighting for what is right, not through our lonesome powers, but in cooperation with others."
"You can see that in news every day. Heroes from different Hero agencies cooperating with each other to protect everyone."
All Might's words hit him. Echoed to his soul even. It was as Aizawa-sensei said, trust in your comrades.
Taking a deep breath, Izuku talked about this with his mom. His resolve. The need to be strong. If he couldn't be strong, then how could he defend everyone? "In the two weeks before the Sports Festival, I will use that time to improve. Please, I don't know whether you'll offer to help Toshinori-sensei, but." He closed his eyes and returned the look his mentor gave him earlier. "Let me do this alone." He bowed to the hero before him.
I need to do this alone.
He needed to.
Izuku was dead set on this. He needed to figure out things for himself to see how far he could reach with his strength alone. To see his limits. Only when he reached his limits would he ask for help. Was it his pride? Was it because he needed to compensate for his first failure as a leader during the USJ incident? He didn't know why yet but he felt the need to do this alone.
"There is no stopping you is there?" Yagi Toshinori smiled to which he nodded firmly. "You're right though. I was planning to take some time off so that I could give you advice on how to train with One for All. However, if that's what you want then just know I am here if you need anything," All Might pat his shoulder gently. "I guess I can only give you this advice. There is no second tail, only one. And in your training of One for All, you must have a clear image, otherwise."
He nodded at the words given. The first one was confusing, but he'll figure it out. He needed to, for all of All Might's humorous and loud nature, lies a hidden intellect and wisdom. As for the second, he'd experience the torrential storm that is the legacy of One for All. A power that demanded great responsibility and control to the user. Otherwise, it'll kill him. The words given were for him only, so he would have to figure out what they meant.
Gratefully thanking All Might, he finished his tea and let the man be in his lunch before returning to the others.
When he got to his friends' table, the redhead and the blond were already there.
"What did All Might talk to you about Deku-kun?" She asked concernedly.
Izuku smiled at her and replied, "He asked how our class was faring after the attack." Technically not a lie, but he didn't have the guts to tell them what occurred in the conversation. It was a secret that only he and All Might shared. Sorry, kacchan, I know no secrets but...
"Did he address your sleeping issues too." Once again, his cheeks turned red at being called out. By Kacchan, no less. Trust his friend to confront him about it when he least expects so.
All eyes turned on him faster than he thought. Iida's inquisitive gaze searched him like a hawk hunting its prey. Uraraka's concerned face turned more worried, and Kirishima frowned at him.
"That's not manly dude," Kirishima moved to give him space to sit. "Why'd you never told us about this."
Iida pointed at his eyes saying, "I have noticed the eye bags, but I have never asked for the sake of your privacy."
"Are you having enough sleep?" Head titled a little to the side, Uraraka looked at him curiously and patiently for his answer.
"It's not manly to keep things to yourself y'know." The redhead said as his expression turned sour for a second saying that before it was gone changed to a frown. "So, if ya want, you could tell us."
Uraraka nodded and seconding the open teen's words. "Yeah, isn't that what friends are for?"
"Please, Midoriya-kun," Iida gave him a gentle smile as he said this. "As Kirishima-kun said talking will help."
He couldn't get angry at Kacchan for being concerned and calling him out on his bullshit lest he calls himself a hypocrite. Seeing as there was no escape, he sighed. "I've been dreaming about USJ. I keep dreaming of the monster that attacked us, sometimes it kills me, sometimes the others." He shuddered to imagine the muscular man gripping his throat before crushing it. Aoyama lying helpless under its feet before crushing his classmates' skull while Izuku could only stare in silence, in shock before those blank eyes turned to him.
"The Noumu?" his zero gravity quirk friend asked.
Izuku nodded taking a deep breath. "It just keeps coming back no matter how hard I try to forget it! Sometimes." Pushing the image down, it'd do no good to be emotional. "I get killed. More often it was the others that got killed first. Then I'd wake up sweating. I feel so useless during that time."
He didn't want to see the pitying expression of his friends. He doesn't need it.
"I feel ya man," his vigorous classmate touched his chest as if he wasn't wearing a uniform. "My chest would hurt at times even when its already healed. I keep imagining it bleeding." The redhead shuddered. "I keep seeing the same person who did this to me and his blade that cut it." His brows scrunched, lips pursed, and jaws set firmly.
"But I only told myself that I wasn't manly enough to overcome such things. That's why," hardening his fist and pointing it at him, Kirishima's mellow expression turned bright quickly. "I will harden my spirit and body in the two weeks of training. I will show the world that I am manly to be a hero like Crimson Riot!"
The flames of determination greatly lit Kirishima's soul. Just like Kacchan's. Not giving a damn what the world gives him and blowing his way to the top just to show how who he was as a person and a hero. Not even the wound would stop him.
Uraraka raised her hand cheering for his friend. Perhaps not maybe understanding of his plight but willing to help nonetheless. That's why he didn't want to tell his friends. It was his burden to bear, but, what their homeroom teacher and All Might said rang in his consciousness.
Iida bowed, "I'm sorry Midoriya-kun! I do not know how to help you with your occurring nightmares. I am a terrible friend!"
"That's Okay, Iida-kun," he replied. He didn't want to drag his friends into his trivial problem.
"Nonsense!" The younger brother of Ingenium crossed his arms in front of his chest. "I wish to help you. I may not know much right now, but I will tell you that many times has my brother experienced many setbacks. I asked him once how he handles such experiences and he said "I don't look into the past for long. I set my eyes forward and think of how I can avoid the same thing in the future."
The prickling sign of tears came to him and he smiled to cover it up. "Thanks, guys."
On the end of classes, students gathered just outside of their classroom. Mutterings and rumors spread about as they exit.
"Out of the way extras."
The students gave his best friend a wide berth as no doubt glared at them.
"Kacchan! What're you doing!?" Izuku admonished.
"Stop making an enemy out of people kacchan!" screamed, or rather pleaded a rather panicking Uraraka.
He understood Katsuki but not everyone would know the whys of his actions. It wasn't of out arrogance nor antagonistic nature that he says these but simply it's his Bakugou Katsuki way of encouragement. He wanted the competition. The want of someone challenging him to test his mettle. It was ingrained in hi
"So," a smooth voice called out loudly among the crowd. A blond-haired teen came from the mass of students. "This is what the 1-A is like. Just because they fought villains and survive they think are the hot new things." The person bowed introducing himself, "Monoma Neito of Class 1-B."
"Monoma's right!" Someone followed and jumped. A light blue or maybe a grayish haired person with lighter skin around the eyes. "Don't be so full of yourself! We the class of 1-B will surpass you!"
Izuku held his breath, clenched and unclenched his fist but a hand on his shoulder knocked him from doing anything he'd regret. "Oi, you hear that, Deku. They're jealous of us." Whether his friend noticed it or not, he silently thanked Kacchan for the welcome distraction.
"Jealous," the person asked raising his brow in wonder in turn. "No. We wanted to show everyone that we, Hero students of 1-B, can be capable as the all talked 1-A students are."
"Sure," Izuku drawled, making sure to extend the word as possible, and crossed his arms. "Not jealous by comparing yourself to us who had been through a traumatic situation."
Kacchan remained silent and walked out as the students gave way. The students roared in denial, but Iida silenced them.
He met Monoma's calm eyes with narrowed and unblinkingly gaze. It looked as if Monoma had something to prove by beating them. Maybe the 1-B student did, but Izuku didn't care. He was upset by the fact they'd taken lightly the situation they were put in! It wasn't as if they wanted villains to attack them. Hell, he'd prefer it if they weren't in their whole three years in UA!
"Oi," Kirishima called. "What're you going to do with these people you got hatin' on us."
"Stop this behavior," Iida admonished angrily pointing at their 1-B aggressor. "Do you think that it was an easy decision for everyone to fight? We didn't do it because we wanted fame nor glory. We did it because the heroes needed our help. We did it because we had no choice."
Behind them, Momo came out looking livid than when their classmates did something she disapproved of. "Stop saying about subjects you know nothing about. Didn't you ever stop and realized that we," she gestured to herself and all their classmates, "risked our lives out there not for fame but because needed to. We were forced since no hero was available. If you think fighting villain is a competition, then think about why you want to become a hero."
"Whatever extra's," Kacchan said turning and Izuku couldn't look at Monoma without sneering at him. "Be jealous if you have to. It doesn't matter. As long as you rise to the top." Izuku followed him first. The steps and noise of the others followed made obvious by Kirishima and Iida's loud voice. He was glad when the noises of the crowd lessened until it became nothing.
On UA's gate, Izuku politely turned down his friends' question of going to the station with them.
"Why."
A simple question asked by Uraraka and Kacchan.
So, Izuku told them what he planned to do. "Sorry, guys. I'm going to go home late. I'm going to make full use of my time preparing."
Katsuki smirked. Iida, in his weird gesturing way, praised him. Kirishima asked for a fist bump for his manly spirit and Uraraka grabbed all of them and made them form a circle with their hands on top of each other.
Kacchan resisted, but in the end, relented to her indomitable spirit.
"On the count of three," grinned the brown-haired teen. His female friend's mood was infectious that he couldn't help but follow her lead. Kirishima obviously went along with it. Iida gladly followed her lead. Kacchan smirked his hands on the top of them all. "Say Manly spirit!"
"Manly spirit!" they chorused. Izuku felt the joy spread throughout his body like a wildfire. A force of nature ready to be unleashed.
Izuku was granted the use of Gym Gamma, or as Aizawa-sensei called it earlier; Training Dream Land, TDL for short, for about three hours. The place was said to have been created by Cementoss, and his raven-haired homeroom teacher stated that said Cement quirk teacher would be waiting for him to supervise the students using the gym.
Walking to the place, UA was a different place once the moon shined above the skies. With the expanse of land UA uses, the school felt like a huge park or a huge land owned by a billionaire. Even more so with how much forestry they have. Looking back, he may have just started and they were still first years but he was living his dream little by little. Getting to know All Might, getting into UA, then participating in the Sports Festival. It was surreal at best for him.
Izuku relished the quiet ambiance of the school as his gaze turn upwards where the luminous stars burn ever so brightly. The breeze gently blew against him as the leaves flew upwards.
He knew his friends will start their own training too. He knew where Kacchan would be training and that is why he chose to train in the school. There was not enough space in there training place. Plus, they needed to surprise each other on the Sports Festival so, individual training was needed.
Izuku brought many snacks, energy drinks. He knew this was going to be a body breaking training. The teen wasn't even sure if what be brought was enough because he knew how demanding his quirk was, couple that One for All, then perhaps he should've brought more.
Cementoss-sensei was already there when he arrived at the gym. The whole place was huge. Larger than the gym back in Aldera. In fact, it was twice as large as his former school's gym, possibly even more and comparable to a football field.
Only a lone student stretching was there.
It looks like it'll be me, the student and the Pro Hero on the gym.
Greeting Cementoss, he went to his own corner and started his stretching too.
"If you need anything, just say so. I can alter the field according to your specifications."
Izuku thanked the hero and started his routine. Slowly feeling One for All flow, he breathed deeply and formed a fist. Going through his motions, he punched the air slowly. No need to break his bones so early.
The teen imagining an opponent, moved the power to his feet as he kicked the air. The power coursed through his body like electricity as red lines glowed on his skin.
No. Not electricity. Thought the One for All inheritor. Like the sea.
Gradually Izuku does it. Each movement, to get his body used to the flowing power of the heroes who came before him. One for All surge through his body empowering his very being down to the core. Slowly he moved, and each action was a struggle of its own for the legacy given was wild, untameable, and unbending to his body's will. He cycled through the movements the way All Might taught him to control One for All. Hands close to a fist, it shook, but he breathed out and punched the air. Powerful gust blowing that came from his strike broke the silence of the gym. His arm stung and spasmed still like before.
At least my arm isn't broken, he gritted his teeth.
Izuku repeated this for about an hour, slow yet strong punches and kicks rustled in the gym from time to time before he decided to rest his weary body bit. With shaking hands, he grabbed his snacks and ate in silence watching his fellow schoolmate. The other student had started from stretching, then to basic exercises like jogging and push-ups, but from there he then moved to shadow fighting the air. It was obvious the guy was tired from the way his body wobbles. Probably not used to too much exertion of the body. A non-hero courser most likely.
"Hey," Izuku called, his voice echoed in the silence of the gym making the guy looked at him. Squinting a little, the person had shaggy purple hair, slightly lanky body and heavy eye bags that made him looked a little sleepy or tired.
Deciding to approach the other, he brought with him his snacks and threw it at his, training acquaintance?
The teen blinked at him then to the aforementioned food and back to him. Izuku breathed deeply and gathered his wits, imagining himself to be kacchan and Kirishima. "Take...," he cleared his throat, "you should, uh, take a break. You look like you need a rest."
With that dark ring around the eyes, it concerned Izuku that maybe the teen would faint if he does more exercise. He looked so sleepless. Not that Izuku would voice that out loud considering it'd make him a hypocrite.
"Thanks," muttered the other as he sat down near him.
"Uh…," Izuku looked everywhere and massaging his arm. "Name's Midoriya Izuku."
Damn it! Why am I such an awkward person!
He hoped the other teen doesn't take his discomfort as not wanting to talk to him. Because damn it, he hated starting a conversation with other people since he was bad at it! His only friend till now was kacchan.
"I know," huffed the purple-haired teen. "I've seen your name. Number one in the entrance exam right?" He didn't know how to react to that statement as he blushed. Sure, he liked that his efforts put him in number one, but it was the first time someone said that to him. "Hitoshi Shinsou."
Oh god, he was worse than kacchan in meeting new people. At least his blond friend knows how to make a strong expression. "So uh… training for the Sports festival?" Shinsou nodded. "What department?"
"General Education," his new acquaintance replied bitterly. Judging by his inflection, sour expression, and the seconds of glare sent his way he took the question personally. "Why."
Okay. Better avoid that topic then.
"Uhm, so… Physical Training," Izuku started, rather weakly. "If you need anything, maybe I can help with your physical training? Or, uh, even help with your quirk training."
The teen's eyes expression, from bitterness, turned wary with the way he narrowed his eyes and the defensive shift of his body language. Did he say something wrong?
"Why."
That was something he didn't expect. Maybe the question of how, but not why. Possible trust issues?
Clearing his throat, Izuku answered smiling sheepishly, "I'm training my quirk too."
"I just thought that maybe I could help? Maybe even, help each other train? I need a sparring partner." Izuku was unsure if Hitoshi-san minds, but for him, he had a strong urge to help the other.
The green-headed teen sipped from his drink to stop the awkward energy rolling off of him and scare the first schoolmate he met. "Why would you do that? Do you know that I have a villainous quirk." He nearly choked when Shinsou state that but quickly recovered.
Villainous quirk? A little anger burned inside him from the words of the teen before him. What would define a villain quirk exactly? More importantly, who gets to say that.
"If I can ask Hitoshi-san, what exactly is your quirk?" Izuku smiles, best as he can, to not upset Hitoshi Shinsou who look rather pissed just saying Villain's quirk. "Mine is uhm…, I have a Warp type quirk. The strength is just something I found out recently."
"Brainwashing." Plain and simple, that's how Hitoshi was said. The bored eyes of Shinsou said it all. Usually people, no matter how "powerful" or simple their quirks were, they say it proudly but for Hitoshi Shinsou? He said it without pride or happiness as if he'd rather have a different quirk than what he got. It was so unlike and the opposite of Katsuki who spoke with pride on his awesome quirk—his description, not his—, even unafraid to show the world of what it was and gloat about it. "I can control people, make them do anything if they respond to my words."
That is a villain quirk? Izuku could feel his lips quirk upwards in meeting a very awesome quirk and his energy rose in excitement at its application. "That's not bad. It's like Miss Joke's quirk then? A verbal one. So, as long as the other person answers you you'll be able to control them. Is it possible to make others do what they do not know or will the controlled person fail? How about those who heard it while the voice is amplified? Will it affect everyone and those who responded to it, like a gathered group of people? I can see it being used in a delicate situation where strength is not needed, like a hostage situation. Or even stopping a villain attack once they reply, which can all be resolved peacefully. It's a good quirk for an Underground hero."
Looking up, Shinsou's shock face. His face burned once he'd realized what he had done. Oh god. I've been muttering loudly again, didn't I? Please don't think of me as a creep. Kacchan told him many times to stop muttering to himself, but he can't. He has to process the information before he forgets all about something, like the tiny details.
"I'm sorry. Please don't mind me," he pleaded looking away in embarrassment. "It's a… uh, a habit of mine to analyze quirks."
"What did you say?" Shinsou asked slowly.
"It's a habit?" he replied unsurely, tilting his head aside. "I a-"
"No!" Izuku flinched when the purple-haired teen nearly screamed. Realizing his mistake, Hitoshi breathed deeply. "I mean you don't think my quirk is bad?"
Izuku scratched his cheek for a second still unsure while he was aghast that Hitoshi would think that he would be turned off by suck quirk. "Why would I think that?"
"You should be!" the other teen screamed this time profusely shaking his head. "It's a villain's quirk!"
Izuku, eye wide in realization, gets it now. Maybe not the whole story but Hitoshi's point. Quirk prejudice. He knew of prejudice against the quirkless by chance in the internet and tv thanks to the quirkless right activist protests, but this was the first time he encountered of judging someone by their quirk. He didn't even know that there were people who were shown in bad light aside from quirkless people.
He had seen adults praised Katsuki's quirk for its "heroic nature" for a long time. He had seen the arrogance in his childhood friend and longtime best friend as he basked in it until that one punch he sent his friend's way. It was the same with Hitoshi Shinou's case, the opposite. Maybe it was the same just different reactions? Whereas his friend's quirk was regarded positively that kacchan's ego grew, Shinsou was made a social pariah because of what he was born with.
Gathering his strength, he stood and walked towards the other roughly pulling him up through the collar of his shirt. "Never think of that," he growled, grinding his teeth in anger. Briefly, the lecture of Thirteen came to mind as he then continued. He can't stand to see people so down. "It's not the quirk that matters, it's how you use it! Do you think the fucking quirks of Thirteen, All Might or Endeavor is not villainous if they used it to hurt people instead of saving them?"
The red embers of anger exploded in Izuku's chest. He can't stand the way Hitoshi looked down on himself. No one should have that look. No one. "Is a knife naturally bad! Of course, it fucking isn't. What about All Might? Strength such as his is dangerous too."
Huffing loudly, Izuku released Shinsou and massaged his temple as he breathed deeply. Seeing the other's wide-eyed, gaping mouth, and stilled form. He surely thought he had scared expression the General Studies teen just on the expression alone. So, he forced a smile onto his face after a sigh. "I… I'm sorry. I'm just…," he paused to breathe again, "I'm so mad that you would think that your quirk is bad. Sorry for the… uhm cursing. It's a...," he said
"You don't think my quirk is bad?"
"No," without hesitation, Izuku replied. Why would he think of that? Why would anyone think that way was beyond him? There was a purpose for every quirk, even the most dangerous of quirks. He knew that others would think of that as naive, but he thought of things that way.
Shinsou bowing surprised him. "Thank you."
When the teen was right once again, his expression turned bland. Maybe it was his imagination but the person in front of him…how should he put it? Feels lighter? He's not sure but maybe it was something closer to that.
"You don't have to thank me!" Izuku flushed and gestured for the Hitoshi-san to stop it. "I'm sorry for screaming at you. I don't usually get angry. It's just...," he sighed, "I don't know what came over me."
"No," his possible new friend replied shaking his head. "I needed that. So… uh," smirked Shinsou, though a little shaky. "Is the offer for help still on?"
The week passed without anything in particular happening. Well, maybe except for the remedial Rescue Training since the first one ended in a disaster. He and Shinsou sat on a bench made Cementoss as they rest from their training.
"You wouldn't believe what happened to our training earlier," he said drinking his water.
Shinsou huffed as if saying "try me." Well, as he learned from a week of training with his new friend that he was rather awkward and silent but he let his actions do the talking like Kacchan.
What was even funny was the way All Might "surprised" them. For realism, he thought rolling his eyes at his mentor's words. He didn't believe it for a bit because for god's sake, they were all shocked when he realized that a "villain" was attacking them again. So, they did what their instincts and training told them, they fought back. Though they were barely successful even with All Might limiting himself, it was the principle that mattered.
The "villain" got a lot of backlash from the entirety of 1-A.
As for his training? Izuku found the controlling of One for All was still difficult. He nearly broke his limbs and bones when he got distracted using the inherited power. Focus, no, intense focus was the main factor in maintaining control. It was a grueling process to let the power flow in his body as he moved slowly while doing his katas.
His training was even harder to do so when one has dual quirks. So, here was Izuku now, in Gym Gamma once again to meet with his new friend. He told Bakugou and the others about him and they were excited to meet him.
Shinsou promised to meet them maybe sometime next week. Or even after the Sports Festival.
Maybe the teen was shy because they were all Hero Course students? Or was this the result of his pariah status since he was a child?
Whatever the case, Izuku was reminded by the sad fact that Hitoshi Shinsou didn't get in the Hero Course with his quirk. Only then did he realize that the entrance test was biased towards those who have physical mutations or emitter quirks. Hell, even he doubted that his warp would enable him to pass the test.
Even bodybuilders would have trouble defeating those things without a quirk, or maybe a support item.
Though, if Izuku had to admit, which he did with his new training partner. Hitoshi's physique was a little lacking. That's why they came up with a plan which consisted of stretching first, long exercises, then sparring, a twenty-minute rest, and lastly, quirk practice. Surprisingly, Shinsou knew martial arts. To what extent, he didn't know but it was good that he had a plan to get to the Hero Course.
Izuku had a theory, or maybe a plan.
While the sparring made him gradually get used to One for All in small doses, which was hard to maintain.
Quirk training had him something he saw from the misty villain that maybe he could do too. So, for now, as suggested by his purple-haired training partner that he made multiple portals which resulted in so much consumption of energy drinks and snacks as they rest. For now, he could hold two warp gates for five minutes straight, not a big improvement of his two-minute mark before.
Hitoshi, in turn, benefitted from this quirk training by running in loops around Gym Gamma through said warps and enhancing Izuku's control and endurance for the upcoming school event. Not only were they doing that, but he found out that Hitoshi's quirk cannot make a person do what they don't know and is limited by the person's knowledge and could only last for so long before it deactivates because it hurts his head. If pushed to the extreme, can make him fall unconscious. It happens when he controls many people, or so Shinso said.
Distance-wise, it works as long as he was heard. Well, depending if the recipient replies. It was a shame it could not be amplified by a microphone or anything of the sort.
And, as one constantly being under control, it was a funny yet scary feeling knowing his body moving on its own. He was conscious, aware of his actions, yes, but the teen can only watch helplessly while under Hitoshi's influence like he was a ghost of his own body.
Izuku also suggested to the brainwashing quirk teen to see if he could order him to train and bear the pain. He did, but… the less said the better. One of the worst training he had. Still, they did conclude from that experiment that too much pain would release those under his quirk's effect.
Needless to say, Cementoss could be really scary when angry when he wants to be.
While his training partner does this, he gets to use his quirk and learning control. Well, going to learn, because as of right now, he was pushing himself and testing the limits of his endurance by his quirks drain and fighting without his arm going broken.
So much to do in so little time, but he can't do anything about it. He and his new friend, side by side, stretched in silence with only their occasional grunts coming out of their mouths.
"Why'd you wanna be a hero," Izuku said as they stood, their backs arched and holding the position. He knew his training partner wanted to enroll in the Hero Course and tried, he only enrolled in GenEd studies as last resort.
He was surprised that Shinsou will be using the exam to earn his place in the Hero Course. He was shocked at that tiny tidbit of fact too. That meant that one of either 1-A or 1-B would be removed from the program. Still, he could do nothing of that fact. He respected his determination and gave himself all the more reason to help Shinsou. To help his friend show UA that he was deserving of a spot in the Hero Course. In Bakugou Katsuki's terms, not only to give a giant "fuck you" to those who said he had a villain quirk but by also showing them his worth as a hero.
Hitoshi on his left grunted before answering, "It's silly. You'll laugh."
"Try me," was all he said. He'd heard of all his friend's reasoning and he found it endearing.
His friend breathed deeply. "I like Heroes, especially All Might for obvious reasons," the purple-haired teen paused and added, "but not as a Superfan like you." This caused Izuku to lose his balance when he chuckled. "But when I was a kid, I was friendless. Villain's quirk, they would say behind me," his brows furrowed at his friend's words.
He didn't know what it felt like being judged and declared as an outcast just for your quirk but it's hard to accept. When he gained his quirk and refused to show it because he wanted people to know him first, he wasn't a complete outcast because he had Kacchan with him. "I can't remember the event clearly, but it stuck out to me. So," leaning forward now, they reached for their toes. "Once my quirk was found out, people avoided me."
Izuku said nothing but noting the sadness in his voice. "But this one time, in our old neighborhood, I was playing alone. Then this douchebag came in and pushed me out of nowhere. This kid out of nowhere defended me. He had no reason to, but he did. He said something that I may have forgotten now but it inspired and punched the bully. Even now I remember feeling good about tasting his own medicine."
"I wanted to thank him, but I never got the chance to since I ran away," Shinou sighed slouching. The teen must've felt bad. "I mean, if I could meet him again, then I would thank him because he might not realize the impact that single action made in my life. I know it was one time, but I don't know." His friend shrugged. "He was the first person to be nice to me. It kinda gave me hope that there are nice people out there aside from my parents."
"He was the first person outside of family that inspired me to follow my dream to be a hero. His actions inspired me to be a hero. To be an example to those people who are like me, to make them realize they are not alone in the "Quirk Villain" treatment. And I don't care what others say. Evil quirk or otherwise."
Izku could understand that. It was Kacchan that inspired him to be a Pro Hero, after all. He wanted to follow All Might, but his heart dreamt of making his father proud by following his path. To be a simple hero, a maskless one. "Were there?"
"Were there what?" the brainwasher responded.
"You know," he gestured. "Nice people aside from the kid and your parents."
Stretching their elbows now, Izuku turned to his friend, whose smiling expression made him smile too. "There was, but still outnumbered by those negative ones," the other stated, pleasant expression gone to become neutral.
"That's not bad. Whoever the kid was, I know he appreciates the thought." Deciding to switch to a new topic, Izuku started. "Do you think they allow students to bring support items in the sports festival?"
I'm not sure I hit my target here. I wanted to show how Katsuki influenced Izuku. Yeah, he may be still the cute and lovable guy who stammers and mutters and easily freaks out due to lack of proper interaction but. With Katsuki around and the only person he knows and is close to outside of home, I reasoned to myself that he'd bound to pick up an Katsuki-ism-ish manners. And in turn, the same can be said vice-versa.
So, if Izuku came as too strong for Shinsou, then this is my reason.
At least that was my thought. Anyways, hope you guys like this. Comment if you want to. :)
Edit 10/31/18: I added some dialogue details to make it feel natural, at least in my eyes. I also added some mini details.