Well its been quite a while. Sorry I haven't been updating anything. I don't really have anything to say other than I don't own MHA.
AmayaDelaw: Thanks, I also feel like this story starts off more reasonably than ADD. And I'm glad you like my style. It's probably changed due to lack of writing, but who knows?
Izuku and Stain, perched on top of a decommissioned tower, silently took in the cool breeze and the shining lights from below. The two had been together for years now, living on the run and making do with whatever fate handed them.
Stain side eyed Izuku for a few seconds. There was no longer any visible trace of the scared little boy he met in the alleys all that time ago; he had grown strong and brave. The masked killer diverted his eyes back down.
"You're absolutely sure about this?" he asked, finally breaking the silence between the two of them.
"Yes. I know you don't like it, but part of me has always wanted to be a hero. I'm sorry, but this is what I want." Izuku's voice was determined and without conflict.
Stain let out a hefty sigh. Not more than a month ago, the teen had declared he wanted to attend UA. He had been collecting and saving every bit of money he could safely get his hands on and could afford at least the first semester at the prestigious academy without any financial aid.
"You're right. I thought by now you would have realized that the hero system is corrupt. Besides All Might, there are few heroes that are worthy of their status. And seeing you eager to join them…"
Stain pinched the bridge of his nose. He felt conflicted; something he was not used to feeling in regards to his mission. Izuku, ever patient, remained beside him.
"But I know I can't change your mind once you're set on something." The man stood up. "You can stay with me until I leave next week. The two months until the entrance exam should give you plenty of time to scour the area for somewhere to hide. But I must continue purging the fakes. I will not be in this city for much longer." Stain leapt to a nearby rooftop below and quickly disappeared into the night.
Izuku stood up as well and followed. But instead of heading right back to the apartment complex they had found that was still awaiting demolition, he simply began walking the sidewalks once he was on the ground.
He had been expecting Stain to put up a fight regarding his application to UA. He had known the man was not going to approve immediately, yet he gave in faster than expected.
Now he had work to do; Stain was still busy with his mission and had already done so much by taking him in and all the responsibilities that came with it. It was his turn to take care of himself.
"Thank you for coming, everyone! I trust you already know what this meeting is for?"
"Aizawa filled us in. You want us to act as villains in the entrance exams this year?" Midnight responded.
"Yes. As you all are aware, your peer has had many complaints regarding the use of robots as the only opposition in the practical. And seeing how many heroes, some of you included, have quirks that are useless against the robots, I started thinking. 'How many potential heroes have we lost?' That being said, I have some suggestions for the new practical exam layout this year and would like your feedback."
The principal tapped a tablet at his seat a few times, and the teachers' tablets soon lit up in unison. Thoughtful murmurs and hums came from all as they read through the proposals.
"Personally, I don't like this second one. You want to use the robots for the beginning of the test but have us join in with three minutes left. By that time many of the applicants will already be tired and might underperform against us, which means we won't get an accurate taste of their abilities." Cementoss stated.
"There's also the fact that there's so few of us compared to the hundreds of applicants we get each year. Having only one or two of us in each testing zone would put us at an unfair disadvantage. Even if we're all well trained, I doubt any of us besides All Might can take on however many dozen wild kids will be in the testing zones. Unless we stagger the practical exams instead of having them all at the same time." Ectoplasm added. "That way we can have five or more of us at a time, then swap out between."
"Interesting suggestion. Any more?" Nezu asked.
Each teacher had opinions to voice, which the principal noted down to take into consideration. In two months, he would see just how well the changes work out.
The train ride was uneventful. Izuku leaned his head against the glass window and watched the buildings they passed. Idle conversations fell deafly on his ears.
"Pardon me, do you mind if I take a seat?"
Izuku looked up and was greeted by someone that barely looked capable of standing. Dark, hollow eyes bore into his own. The man's long blonde hair jutted in collections of strands that looked overdue for a cut. The finger, which was pointing at the empty seat next to Izuku, almost shook with the effort needed to keep it in position.
"Sure," Izuku said with a shrug. The man gave a quick thanks and sat down with a grunt. A newspaper that had been rolled up in his pocket slipped out. As it fell and opened, Izuku caught the headline.
All Might Victorious Yet Again!
But beneath the picture and article about the number one hero was an article about Stain. Izuku quickly grabbed the paper off the floor and skimmed the piece.
"Interested in the Hero Killer's work?" the man beside him questioned, watching the teen scan the paragraphs about one of the most famous serial killers in the history of quirks.
"Not interested in his work, per se," Izuku responded. All in all, the article was rather bland. It just went on about how the man went from city to city and killed three heroes that he deemed fakes each time. It had also brought up his cult following and how there had been a handful of impersonators arrested after trying to kill heroes.
"So, if I may ask, what do you think about all…" the man began, then pointed at the article and spun his finger in a circle around it. "This?"
Izuku folded the paper and returned it to the man, who returned it to his pocket. His eyes were still on the boy; a bit of curiosity leaking through the shadows.
"I think he has a point. There are a lot of heroes out there only doing what they do for fame, money, or other rewards. But there are a lot of good heroes too. All Might is the only one he looks up to, but is he really all that good?"
The man titled his head. "Yes, I have heard about his…fascination…with All Might. You seem to have other thoughts though. Care to explain?"
Izuku shot the man with a side eyed glare. Something about him was familiar, yet nothing gave his identity away. And why was he asking a stranger so many questions?
"Well, All Might is still human. He may be good, but he's not perfect. I think that's what heroes should strive for; to be the best they can. And even if there are 'fake' heroes out there, aren't they still helping others? Even if it's for selfish reasons, a person saved is a person saved. A villain caught is a villain caught."
The man beside Izuku rubbed his chin in thought then suddenly coughed up blood. Izuku leaned away as the man pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped away the red liquid on his lips and chin.
"Sorry about that. It's a health problem."
"I'd suggest a new doctor if your current one hasn't prescribed you anything for that," Izuku replied sarcastically. The train came to a stop and announced its arrival to Musutafu as many of the doors opened.
"Well, this is my stop. It's been a pleasure talking to you," the frail man offered as he stood up.
"I'm actually getting off here too. Have a good day," Izuku replied before effortlessly melting into the crowds and disappearing.
"What an interesting boy," the blonde man thought to himself as he too made his way through the crowds. In the distance, the large building known as UA Academy stood tall and mighty. The man picked up the pace, taking the shortest path to the prestigious academy lest he be late for a meeting.
The city had barely changed. The playground he had only visited a handful of times was filled with children, happy and carefree. Mothers and fathers littered the nearby benches, talking amongst each other or on their phones.
He remembered the first time he visited the playground. It was shortly before his mother's diagnosis had thrown everything upside down. He remembered seeing his mother smile at him when he played with Bakugo. The blonde had been just as assertive as a child, but much less violent.
The emerald-haired teen forced himself back to the present before scouring for apartments for rent. Many were out of his price range, and the few that he could afford looked ready to collapse overnight.
Nearly an hour later he found a building within walking distance of UA. It wasn't the cheapest option he'd seen, but was definitely affordable for the first semester and had everything he needed.
"And this is the bathroom. Nothing special but it has been renovated semi-recently."
Izuku barely skimmed the bathroom. Toilet? Check. Shower? Check. Sink? Check.
The woman giving him the tour had already moved back into the connected bedroom and awaited his approval.
"I like it. It'll do for a few months at least." Izuku offered.
"Great! We can get the paperwork signed in my office and it'll be held until you're ready to move in. You said two months from now, correct?"
"Yes. That's when classes start," Izuku idly replied as the two walked down a set of stairs to the bottom floor of the complex.
"I take it you're going to UA?"
"Yes."
"Hero course?"
"Hopefully."
The dry conversation was thankfully cut short by the arrival at the woman's office. The two took seats on opposite sides of a desk and spent a good while going through paperwork and finer details. Once they were finally finished, the woman handed Izuku a keycard for the door that would not be active until the scheduled move in date.
"I need a coffee" Izuku thought to himself as he walked away from his future residency. By the time he got on a train to take him back to Stain's hideout, the sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon.
"So where exactly are we going?" Izuku asked. His mentor, dressed in casual clothes and lacking his mask, walked a few paces ahead.
"You get your background checked when you apply to UA and need to send in costume blueprints. You have neither, so I'm calling in a small favor I'm owed from a few years ago." The man stopped, then brought his hand up to knock on a rusty door. "We're here," was all he offered before knocking.
Soon, the door opened just enough for a short and plump man to look through. "Hows can I help ya?" he asked.
"If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to speak with your boss," Stain replied. Izuku noted the unusual politeness in his tone.
"I dunno if he's in. Is you worth his time?"
"As much as a stain remover on a muddy day," the man replied.
Izuku noticed the short man's eyes widen momentarily. "Yes, of course. Do come in please," he offered, opening the door all the way.
The two accepted the invitation and stepped into what appeared to be a former bar. Broken glass glittered on the counter and several smashed tables were piled in a corner. Aside from the two newcomers and the doorkeeper, it appeared to be empty.
"Wait just a moment please. I'll get him."
Izuku and Stain watched the man speedwalk to a door labeled "Employees Only" behind the bar counter and disappear to the other side.
"Was that some kind of code you were talking in?" Izuku questioned.
"Of course. You can't just announce you're looking for a black market dealer. Even in what looks like an abandoned alleyway."
"Well that whole stain remover line was kinda obvious," Izuku replied.
"Only because you know me."
The door behind the bar opened again. This time a taller man with gray hair, glasses, and a cigarette in his mouth walked through. There was an air of confidence in his stride, and he took his time to pull a chair up to the booth his customers were seated at.
"So, the infamous Stain has finally decided to call in my debt," the man casually stated. "Who's the kid?" he asked, not even looking at Izuku.
"This is Izuku Midoriya. Izuku, this is Giran," Stain answered, giving the two a quick greeting. "Anyway, I'm here because he wants to go to UA and needs a fake file that'll pass a background check and blueprints for a hero costume."
"My my, using your favor for someone else? You truly are too generous, Stain. I can get your issues settled no problem." Giran took a drag on his cigarette and blew the smoke upwards, using the last bit of smoke to make a ring in the air.
"Gimme a sec. I'll grab some paper to start the blueprints."
"Tell me, All Might. Why should we hire you?"
"Well, you and I both know that I don't have a lot of time left as the top hero. I would like to train as many heroes as I can for the future."
Nezu clasped his paws together and sized up the frail man before him. Very few would believe that the man sitting across from him was the very same All Might that has saved countless lives and defeated hundreds of villains.
"I appreciate your desire to help, but we already have teachers that can train the children. What I'm asking is what makes you more qualified to teach the children? Especially given your lack of a teaching license."
All Might sat stunned, realizing he did not have an immediate answer for the question. He knew Nezu was willing to wait for him to come with a reason though.
"I suppose I'm not as qualified as I initially thought. I'm not the only available hero with experience to pass on, nor am I the smartest. Most of my job is just punching things harder than they punch me."
"But deep down, you're sure you want to add being a teacher on top of your list of responsibilities?" the chimerical creature asked.
"Yes. As I said, chances are I'll have to retire within a few years tops. Probably shorter if we're being honest. But if I can help to raise the future of heroes, then maybe the world will be prepared for a world without me."
"Great!" Nezu replied. The white mouse-like creature whipped a sheet of paper from a desk drawer and signed it, then slid it to the man across from him. "Sign here and you'll be ready to go," Nezu stated, seemingly excited for something.
All Might took the pen and signed at the bottom, legalizing his employment at Japan's top hero school.
"Now that that's all set, we still need to get you a teaching license. So, until classes start, you and I will be having one-on-one lessons everyday at five in the afternoon. Starting tomorrow. Have a good day, and I'll see you tomorrow, All Might."
All Might simply shivered. "Uh…yes, see you tomorrow, Nezu." The skeletal man stood up and left, regretting everything from the moment he reached out to the principal about becoming a teacher.
"Annnd, that's everything." Izuku slid the blueprints to Giran, who looked the design over.
"Very well. I'll have these sent in to the school by a third-party. I'll have a prototype ready in two weeks. Drop by then and you can try it on and give me some feedback. Anything else?"
"I don't believe so. We'll be on our way once he decides on a codename."
"Ah yes, that would make things easier. So, kid. How much are you worth my time?" Giran and Stain both looked at him, awaiting a response to the key phrase.
Izuku thought it over for a second, but for some reason he could not come up with any good replies. Then, suddenly, one came to him.
"As much as a smear resistant pen on a quiz?" he replied, already feeling like his choice was inadequate.
"It'll do. So, 'Smear,' I'll see you in two weeks. Take care, both of you," Giran replied before quickly making his way back to the room behind the bar counter.
"C'mon, let's go," Stain said with a gesture to the door. Izuku nodded at the short man, who had returned to his position by the entrance, as he made his way back into the alley.
"I'll race you back to the shed," Izuku taunted, then took off to the roofs.
Stain just rolled his eyes and followed, always gaining but never completely catching up to his apprentice.
Well here we are at the end of another chapter. I hope you enjoyed. If you could leave a review, that'd be appreciated. Either way, have a good day and be safe. Later y'all!