Son of a (Spirit) Gun!
It's Been One Week

[Great Naruto Bridge - Musutafu, Japan (Nighttime)
POV: Midoriya Izuku]

Standing on the edge of the Great Naruto Bridge was a young woman of average build with dark hair with ear-length bangs that arched slightly up before they came down, which was styled into a set of low, curved pigtails, and thin, stern-looking eyes with notable lower eyelashes.

She wore a simple black tank top, gray pajama pants, and pink slippers. Izuku could see that the girl's expression was sullen and he could see tears flowing from her eyes.

Floating behind the girl, Izuku stared with a small frown on his face.

"At the height of someone's grief, they sometimes can see a ghost," Hinageshi said from beside him. "Now that you've done a few assignments, I can feel that your spirit is strong enough to allow this. It can only happen during a night like this…with the moon full and high in the sky…"

Izuku nodded.

It had been a week since the labors to get his body back had begun and things had been…hectic to say the least. All of his life, he wanted to be a hero like All-Might but doing so many of these labors, he realized that being a hero meant so much more than defeating the bad guys.

It was about bringing that person peace by showing empathy and compassion. It had rocked Izuku a few times, and he even failed once or twice, but this was the first assignment he'd had where someone's life was at stake.

He hoped he could succeed here. Slowly, he floated beside the girl and stepped on the beam.

"It's a nice night, isn't it?" Izuku questioned.

The girl turned around with a gasp. "H-How did you get here?" she stammered.

"I've been here for a while," Izuku sincerely answered as he slipped his hands into his pockets. "It's a nice night, isn't it?"

"It's decent," the girl replied.

"My name is…Ukuzi," Izuku introduced. "What's yours?"

"….Chikuchi," the girl answered.

"If you don't mind me asking, what are you doing up here? Chikuchi-san? The Great Naruto Bridge isn't open to tourists. Especially at this height and this time of night," Izuku said, hoping to keep the conversation light.

"Gee, what a question, Ukuzi -san," the girl dryly said. "What would I, a girl standing atop the Great Naruto Bridge at night, doing here? Are you truly that oblivious?"

Izuku frowned and answered, "No, I'm not…But I thought it would be easier to speak to you like a normal person…and not like someone on the edge."

Chikuchi stared at him for a moment, her eyes wet. "Tch, well, you're doing a crummy job so far, Uzuki-san," Chikuchi stated.

Izuku let out a nervous laugh and replied, "I guess I am…But, allow me to rectify that…Whatever you're about to do…please don't do it." Chikuchi looked away from him and stared ahead at the glistening lights of Musutafu. "I can't presume to know what has made you decide on doing this but…maybe if you talk about it…perhaps I can help…"

"You can't help me," Chikuchi whispered.

"I can try…" Izuku told her.

Chikuchi grew silent as she continued to stare ahead. After what felt like hours to Izuku, the girl asked, "Aizawa Shōta…You know of him, don't you?"

"Aizawa Shōta aka the Number 11th hero, Erasure Hero: Eraser Head," Izuku recited. "His Quirk is Erasure. It holds the ability to nullify another person's Quirk by looking at the user. The effects of this Quirk can still last even if his line of vision is out of range."

Chikuchi let out a tiny laugh. "You sound creepy rattling off that way," she commented.

Izuku rubbed the back of his neck as he replied, "I've been told that a lot."

"But yeah…He's my…well…he was my home teacher at U.A," Chikuchi revealed.

Izuku remained silent.

"It was my first day at U.A. and everyone was so excited. The minute he walked into the room, he expelled all of us," Chikuchi revealed. "Says that we didn't have potential. Can you believe that? He took one look at us and expelled us! Do you know what happens when a student is expelled from U.A.?"

"No, I don't," Izuku answered.

"We're given a black mark on our permanent records," Chikuchi revealed. "Do you know what a black mark does to anyone, especially someone who gets it from U.A.?" Chikuchi balled her fists as more tears fell from her face. "It makes it downright impossible for people looking to be Pro Heroes to get into any sort of Hero Agency. They wouldn't take them seriously. It gets better! If someone tried to get a job outside of heroics, they had to deal with a black mark and the fact that they hadn't been trained for anything else!"

Izuku stared at her with horror.

"The minute I got home…My parents were so angry that I got expelled but they tried to get me into another school. They saw that I had a black mark on it. I tried to explain what happened but they ushered us out. Day after day, no matter how far they searched, no one would understand. Finally, earlier this week, they kicked me out! Wearing just this!" Chikuchi screamed. "And no matter where I went…No one would help me!"

Chikuchi began to openly sob at this point.

"All we did was greet him…and he ruined our lives…" Chikuchi weeped. "What hope do I even have, Uzuki? What hope do I have to survive in this world without my parents?! I don't…I don't have any…."

"Chikuchi-san," Izuku whispered. "I'm so sorry…" Izuku was truly stunned by what he was hearing. He had read on various forums that the Pro Hero was pretty stern but to do something like that? It was harsh. Far too harsh.

Uzuki narrowed his eyes in thought.

What could he say?

What could he do?

"I don't know what to say, Chikuchi-san," Izuku whispered. "But I do know what I can do…"

"What? Give me some empty platitudes like "You know how I feel," "Never Give Up," and "Life will find a way?" Because if you do, I'm jumping here and now!" Chikuchi shouted.

"I wouldn't," Izuku said. "My Mom, Midoriya Inko, she can help."

Chikuchi turned to him. "What?" she asked with suspicion in her voice. "How? Can she erase the black mark Aizawa gave me? Can she convince my parents to take me back? Can she?!"

"No, but she can give you a home," Izuku offered. "A warm bed to stay in. Some food to eat. Something that can give you even just a little bit of hope…"

Chikuchi frowned.

"My mom is the kindest person on earth," Izuku continued. "I know that it's hard to believe, but it's true…" Izuku stared out and took a deep breath. "I was born without a Quirk…"

He saw Chikuchi stiffen beside him.

"Shocking, isn't it?" Izuku observed. "Having a child being born without a Quirk is a terrible misfortune. I've heard that a lot of parents would disown their child for not having one. I-It's terrible but it's true. I never knew that until…" Izuku sighed. "…My friend…My old friend…Kacchan told me."

"I-I'm so sorry," Chikuchi apologized.

"Don't be," Izuku replied. "I never knew something l-like having a Quirkless child could reflect poorly until he told me in his s-special way…But despite that, she kept me and rooted for me and said that I could still be a hero, even without a Quirk…" Izuku looked back at Chikuchi and smiled. "If my mom could do that when she had every right to abandon me…she would be more than willing to take you in."

"S-Say I believe you," Chikuchi whispered. "Where I can find your mother?"

"At the Nara Apartments, just tell her that Izuku sent you!" Izuku said with a smile as clouds moved across the full moon.

"Izuku?" Chikuchi repeated. "I thought your name was…." Chikuchi blinked and looked around. "Where did you go?!"

Izuku turned to Hinageshi, who gave him a sheepish smile. "The moon is covered, that it is," Hinageshi explained. "Which means our connection is gone."

"No!" Izuku exclaimed. "I was so close!"

"No…you did it," Hinageshi revealed as she pointed to the ground. "She's on the ground."

Izuku blinked and then sighed in relief. "Interesting, she must have some sort of teleportation Quirk." Izuku smiled. "Well, another happy ending."

[Midoriya Residence - Musutafu, Japan (Nighttime)
POV: Hagakure Tōru]

"Hello, Midoriya-san!" Tōru greeted as she gave her hero's mother a bow. "I've come to visit Izuku-kun again."

Midoriya Inko smiled in response and said, "Good evening, Tōru-san. Please, come in. I'm sure Izuku will be grateful for your visit."

Tōru slipped off her shoes and stepped into the apartment. It had been one week since she had that strange dream that led to the discovery that her hero was still alive. It was rather awkward when his mother saw her weeping over his body, but after a deep explanation and conversation, things were going pretty smoothly.

It was the only thing in her life lately that had been smooth…

"Have you eaten today, dear?" Inko inquired while the woman escorted her to Izuku's room.

"Nah, I haven't had much of an appetite lately," Tōru admitted with a sheepish tone. "I'm sure it'll come back soon. I just…"

"I understand," Inko kindly replied. "I haven't been able to keep anything down since Izuku was hurt. But I know he wouldn't want either one of us to suffer because of him."

Tōru frowned, not that the woman would see it, and asked, "Do you really think so?"

"I know so, Dear," Inko answered. "My son has always been an empathetic person. If he saw you cry, he would cry. If you hurt, he would hurt. It's just who that boy is."

"Oh…" Tōru breathed.

The two stopped in front of Izuku's room and Inko opened the door. "I'll make us something light to eat. Until then, stay as long as you'd like." Tōru then heard the doorbell. "I wasn't expecting visitors this late other than you," Inko said with a puzzled expression. "I'll go see who that is."

"Thank you, Midoriya-san," Tōru whispered with a bow before she entered the room.

Midoriya Izuku lay in his bed with his All-Might covers up to his chest and tucked around him, giving her a small chance to see his All-Might pajama shirt. Tōru placed a hand on his forehead and felt the faint warmth against it.

"Hi, Izuku-kun," Tōru softly greeted.

[Human Realm – Above Japan (Nighttime)
POV: Midoriya Izuku]

Izuku floated upside down over Musutafu, his eyes focused on the golden egg that pulsated in his right hand. It had been three days since he had spoken to Tōru and his mom through Mina and so far, things have been…slow.

He spent those three days helping quite a few people but there was no change to his egg. "Am I doing something wrong?" Izuku questioned.

"Hi, Izuku-kun."

Izuku gasped and looked around.

Was that…Tōru?

No, he must be hearing things.

He turned his attention to Hinageshi, who lay across her oar with a book in her hands. "Hinageshi?" Izuku floated to her side and poked her cheek.

Hinageshi shrieked, causing her book to fly into the air as she exclaimed, "Midoriya-san! How long have you been back?!"

Izuku caught her book and answered, "I never left." Izuku glanced at the book and noticed that Hinageshi was staring at a single image of an orange-spiky-haired boy with brown eyes being embraced by a purple-haired girl with amber irises and a red ribbon in her hair.

These two people….

They seemed…happy.

He wanted to ask more about them but he wouldn't pry. They had only known each other for a short time. When she felt that she could trust him, maybe then Hinageshi would tell him about them as well as herself.

He closed the book and handed it to a relieved Hinageshi, who said, "I am very grateful, that I am."

Izuku nodded with a friendly smile. Putting aside his thoughts, Izuku held out his egg and asked, "It seems like no matter how many good deeds I'm doing, it hasn't much. What should I do?"

Hinageshi observed the egg and then replied, "Hm…I know you've helped quite a few people, that you have, but why are you helping them?"

"I know the goal is to get my body back," Izuku began. "But I truly want to be able to help them as best as I can. Is that n-not what I'm supposed to do?"

Hinageshi took his egg and held it in both hands. "It has gotten a fair bit of spirit energy since we've started," Hinageshi explained before she opened her eyes to look at him. "But it is still a ways off, that it is. Perhaps we should—"

A violent roar filled the air, followed by screams of civilians, prompting Izuku to look down.

His eyes widened.

"What is that?" Izuku gasped.

A large blob of darkness was moving through the streets below, knocking over vehicles and civilians.

Hinageshi flipped open her book and answered, "That is the Quirk of Tokoyami Fumikage called Dark Shadow. An emitter quirk that grants the user a shadowy, monster-like being from within their body that they can materialize and de-materialize at will."

"Fascinating," Izuku whispered. "Does its power change depending on light or lack thereof?"

Hinageshi nodded and answered, "Its offensive power, as well as its personality (Izuku: Personality?), depends on the surrounding brightness levels. Under strong light, Dark Shadow is small in comparison to when it is engrossed by darkness, In the light, it's docile and weaker. However, in the darkness, it's far more powerful, unruly, and vicious while attacking anything that moves or makes sound indiscriminately. In this state, it can defy its user's commands and gradually take over their body with its expanding darkness."

Izuku's eyes widened and shouted, "We have to help him!"

HInageshi nodded and together, the two of them flew down to the city.