Good to be back! Here's another chapter of The Mamodo Hero! It took me a while to write this down properly in a way that felt satisfying, but I finally did it. THis chapter will be focusing on the rest of the first chapter of the manga, although there will be a few events here that will seem minor but eventually change the way the story develops in the future!
Also, as for those of you wondering if there are gonna be other Book Users, then the answer to that is a resounding yes. Are some of Class 1-A going to have Mamodo's? I already have three of them planned for good, and I'll keep it as a surprise for the both of you! For now, let's just jump into the story!
I hope you all enjoy!
"Without…a Quirk?"
All Might mumbled under his breath, hearing the young man's honest question. Despite the fact that he was in a rush, the sudden realization that this young man could be Quirkless was enough to make him stop in his tracks and think. The Symbol of Peace began thinking in that brief moment about why this kid was so insistent on asking the question. How much courage it could have taken to ask such a question. What kind of answer All Might would give, even if it would be harsh.
There isn't…an easy answer for this after all—
Like a jolt running through his body, All Might felt his body steam up and let out clouds of steam as he grabbed his arm and tried to exert as much power into maintaining his current physique. However, it was useless.
"Holy shit…Goddammit…!" All Might cursed under his breath, the clouds of steam covering his entire body at the moment.
"It might've been because I don't have a Quirk, but…I'm always made fun of. Even so, I…I still think saving people is super cool." The young man's voice sounded honets and vulnerable, but he started picking up some confidence. No, not confidence, but courage. "Saving people with a fearless smile…I really do want to be a great hero, like you!"
Like…me, huh?All Might wasn't sure he hated the idea of someone aspiring to be like him, but…he knew very well the consequences of such a mindset. And it doesn't help that the steaming louds revealed him in all of his true form. He stared at the young verdant-haired young man, and the golden-haired child next to him.
They both slowly realized with a bit of shock, that the number 1 hero All Might had deflated right in front of them.
Well…All Might wasn't much of a swearer in front of kids, but he could only imagine a couple of words in his mind right now.I've been exposed.
Ugh…Sounds of chatter, public traffic, along with stalls promoting their merchandise permeated the Tatooin Shopping District. A district of Musutafu that is a market for groceries, miscellaneous items, and even some fashion. For the most part, it sounded rather peaceful.
And the Slime Villain felt very,verystifled and claustrophobic right now. As his eyes opened up, he found himself stuffed into the water bottle, and next to a trash can in some alleyway. However, the Slime Villain needed to remember just what happened, how did he end up here?
Right…that bastard…How could he not remember being caught off guard and defeated by All Might. The Symbol of Peace came to save those two brats, and ruined the Slime's escape plan. Not to mention that kid was way too strong for a 6-year-old. Was that his Quirk?
Regardless, what do I do now? If I just get out of this bottle right now, I'd just be making myself a target for him again…but then again, how long has it been? It seems to me that All Might must have dropped me or something…I dunno how, but it doesn't matter…!
As the slime villain started repeating and trying to come up with a plan in his head, he heard chatter. From deep in the alleyway…and he couldn't help but feel ecstatic and…joyful at what the chatter was coming from.
More meat shields.
"Katsuki, correct me if I am wrong, but aren't you and Midoriya supposed to go a long way back?"
"It's surprising that you went so overboard with him today."
Katsuki Bakugo couldn't really care about the two extras that followed him after school. Not like he knew their names to begin with, and didn't really care to. They had the right idea that he was special and a lot more gifted, but Katsuki didn't really have them around for any good reason other than to just waste and kill time when he isn't studying.
No, the only reason they hang out around him is because he was special and awesome. Extras are meant to be in the supporting role. No, not even that. Katsuki doesn't need a supporting character, or an extra. All he needs is his Quirk, and his own grit. He's a shoe-in for U.A. when the time comes.
Which is all the more reason why the two extra's questions were bothering the hell out of him.
"It's his fault for getting in my way to begin with." Katsuki chuffed with a rather annoyed expression, kicking at a bottle that happened to be in the way.
"Hey, Hey, what's it matter if he does? You'd just blow him away, wouldn't you?" One of the extras that grew long fingers seemed very confident about that.
And why wouldn't he? They were right, Katsuki could just blow away Deku in anything he does. Whether it be studies, as a hero, or even in the mere fact of having a Quirk; Katsuki always had the benefit and the earned merit to blow away Deku. What was Deku going to do about it? Nothing, and certainly nobody at that average school of extras.
I-I won't know unless I try…
Those words bothered Katsuki still. Because that meant Deku truly considered himself able to do anything against the reality that he's Quirkless. That a Quirkless loser likehimcould be a hero like All Might.
"That loser is still dreaming like a kid after all this time…" Katsuki grips the cup of soda he had already emptied before, and lets out a minor explosion to burn it. He had been miffed, and especially with thatdamnkid! What was his deal!? "It pisses me off the more I watch him!"
"Yeah, well, I'd be pissed too if I got head butted like that by Midoriya's little brother." Katsuki snapped a glare to the long-fingered extra who said that, making him flinch with an uneasy smirk. "W-What? I-I wasn't trying to insult you or anything!"
"Then don't remind me of the fact that golden puppet just slammed his head at me! My forehead's still sore!" Katsuki shouted, pissed beyond belief. Even now he still doesn't get how a 6-year-old like that had so much force in his head.
And that shit head's words to him were all types of aggravating. The kid knows about Deku's Quirklessness, and hestillthinks Deku's more capable of a hero than him?
The hell does he think he is!?Katsuki grit his teeth even further, a snarl almost forming on his face as he looks down on the floor. He turned to the two, his glare still strong. "Tch, talking about that kids pissing me off now."
The two extras took a moment to think before they came across an idea with a smirk. "Well, then why don't we head to the arcade for a change of pace? You don't mind coming, right, Katsuki?"
"…yeah, so what?" Katsuki didn't have time to think about shit that didn't matter, so he agreed regardless. The arcade sounds like a good place to waste time for now.
"Then how about the one in front of the station? Lots of prey there, if ya get what I am dropping." The extra snickered with a bit of confidence.
"Geez, you're terrible." Sardonically, the other extra smirked with a bit of nonchalantness.
"Like hell! If we get caught it'll end up on my record!" Katsuki snapped while wondering why the hell are these guys even suggesting such a thing. Before he could snap at them even further, the two of them started looking behind him…and they looked stupidly anxious.
"W-What the…d-dude, look…!"
"Huh?" Katsuki raised an angry brow, before turning behind him. What he saw briefly confused him, surprising him rather suddenly at the same time.
"A useful Quirk, and a new body to use…?" Theslimein front of Katsuki whispered, its eyes manic and malicious with opportunistic drive. "Lucky me!"
"Izuku! What am I even looking at!? Mr. Shiny Teeth transformed into Mr. Boney Face!" The young Zatch Bell was, quite frankly, shocked and admittedly terrified with the sudden replacement of what happened to Mr. Shiny Teeth! Since when did this happen, and why did it happen the way that it did!?
Where there once stood a tall but muscular man, now stood a shorter, messy-haired blond man with a chin so sharp it looked like a V! Not to mention, that to Zatch's confusion, his eyes were a clear blue, but the illusion made it look like he had bags under his eyes.
"Y-You…YOU DEFLATED!" Izuku pointed at the bones-and-all man in front of him, the steam dissipating into the air. Zatch's brother looked surprised and all around confused and shocked as well. "A-Are you All Might?!N-No way, you got to be an impostor!"
"Young Man…I am All Might—" 'All Might' coughed up blood as if he was spewing ketchup. Zatch didn't understand why he had such a painful look on his face, but he also seemed very tired at the moment. Less…shiny and smiley, and more…thin and out of energy.
But, he's Izuku's number 1 hero!Zatch thought with hope, a bit of a tentative smile despite the fact that All Might looked like a skeleton, the young Zatch couldn't help but still be excited all the same.
"N-No way, that can't be!" Izuku exclaimed as if in shock and complete flabbergasted, although Zatch didn't understand why as he turned to him.
"But Izuku, he says he's All Might, right? Why does he look so…different now?" Zatch asked, even though just a few seconds ago he had called 'Mr. Shiny Teeth', Mr. Boney Face.
"You ever heard of the expression of 'holding in your gut'?" All Might rubbed the blood that was coming out of his mouth with his wrist as he stated that. "It's basically that."
"But there's no way!" Izuku shouted again with disbelief and a bit of a disappointed, but also honest admiration for the All Might he knows. "It doesn't make sense…All Might is fearless, and saves everyone with a smile…he's practically mighty…"
"Unu! Izuku, don't feel too bad! You asked him that question right?" Zatch asked with a rather honest smile, and why wouldn't he? Izuku and him are going to become heroes thanks to the ally of justice plan! "If he's the greatest hero like you say he is, than he'll tell you that you can be a hero! Ain't that right, Mr. Boney Teeth?"
"…" The man known as All Might looked down to the floor, and his expression turned downwards. Sad, Zatch thought, but it didn't really make him understand the more he saw. "A fearless smile, huh? Listen."
The two of them looked towards All Might with confusion, and Zatch could tell that Izuku had rapt attention to his idol.
"The truth is, both of you saw me like this now…so I can only make a request that you don't ever talk about this online, in real life, or anywhere. Not even on accident." All Might's voice was different from his boisterous persona from before, and Zatch could tell the difference even at his age. However, what surprised him was when All might crouched down, leaning back on the bars behind him and lifting up his white shirt.
What Zatch saw almost made him pale and flinch in a recoil. There was a massive scar, or rather… an injury that looked to be to the middle-right of All Might's chest. It was an ugly shade of red, and clearly scarred all over that Zatch knew it was a deep wound. A wound like that made Zatch confused.
"This scar is from an injury I suffered from an enemy, 5 years ago." All Might spoke, and the reality of it thick with a bit of cold truth. "I survived with only one lung, and I lost my entire stomach. Due to the surgeries to survive and the after effects, I've become…well, likethis."
All Might gestured to himself, looking at Izuku and then to Zatch as if with concern over the truth of it all. Zatch saw that the number 1 hero was being truthful, but he regretted telling this while a child was present.
"As a result of all that, I can only work as a hero for three hours a day. My time is short, and I can't do much without becoming like this again." All Might spoke with a grave certainty. "Unfortunately, that means I can't save as many people as I wish I could."
"T-That can't be…" Izuku stared at All Might with a sense of concern, and disbelief. Along with confusion, which Zatch shared in spades. "But…wasn't that when you fought against Toxic Chainsaw?"
"Well-informed, I can see." All Might nods with understanding. "But some villainous punk like that wouldn't be enough to hurt me."
"Wait…" Zatch hummed, with confusion, asking All Might a sincere question. "But what does that mean?"
"…" All Might remained silent for a moment, before explaining. "It means that the truth is hidden. That fight that put me like this is kept secret from the public. I asked for it to be kept a secret. Because I truly believe that I can save people with a smile. A smile that is the Symbol of Peace's statement against evil. I smile to show the pressure of heroes, but also to trick the fear inside my heart."
"…" Zatch blinks at that, but he found a good amount of respect and admiration for the hero. If only because, Zatch felt empathy for the hero. Feeling fear is normal, but Zatch is confused as to where this was all leading. After all, the one who wanted to hear this is Izuku. The young boy turned to his older brother, and Izuku stares at All Might with some hope in his eyes.
"Pro heroes are always risking their lives for the people around them. Because of that," All Might looked to Izuku straight in the eye, and spoke his next words. "I can't simply say 'You can be a hero without a Quirk."
The words spoken felt like a knife cutting Izuku, but to Zatch, the young boy widened his eyes in shock. A lot of thoughts were running through his mind all at once.
What did All Might say? Did he say that Izuku can't be a hero without a Quirk? But why would he say that?! He's the number 1 hero, right? Why is he saying that like Izuku can't do it? Izuku can become a hero, same as me!
The thoughts from Zatch slowly gave way to righteous frustration, as he frowns and grits his teeth. Even more when he notices Izuku's…crushed expression, and hopeless look. The young man looked devastated to hear that not even his hero would consider him being a hero without a Quirk.
"Y-You…you big jerk!" Zatch exclaimed with a sudden but rather loud shout towards All Might. The shout surprised both Izuku, and All Might. The Hero in particular looked towards Zatch with a look that the young kid didn't know how to feel about. "Why would you say that to him!? After telling you that he's been made fun of, and laughed at, I was expecting you to try to raise him up! Give hope!"
"…boy." All Might seemed to speak low, but also in a sympathetic tone. "Is he your family?"
"Of course, he is! Izuku is my big brother, after all! I was just recently adopted!" Zatch nods with a firm expression, his seriousness shining through despite his silly words.
"Then I am sorry, but it is the truth. Being a hero in this world is mroe than just saving people or fighting villains. You put yourself on the line for civilians who need to feel safe." All Might stated slowly, standing up from his position and looking a bit resigned to saying it. He looks down at the palm of his right hand. "I understand you must have a Quirk, but…your big brother shouldn't be risking his life when he doesn't have the power to save people."
"But that shouldn't matter!" Zatch exclaimed while he took a step forward and clenched his hands. "Izuku is trying his best, he looks up to you, and he wants to be a hero regardless!Iwant to be a hero with him! And I won't let some bully tell him otherwise, not even if its you!"
"Z-Zatch…" Izuku looked down at Zatch with a look that told he didn't know how to respond or react.
All Might, on the other hand, looked down at the floor and seemed to be…contemplative. Unsure, from what Zatch could tell, but he then spoke.
"You really are a good boy, aren't you?" All Might began walking to the side, although his steps were slow. "But you can't do much without a Quirk these days. And it wouldn't be safe. I don't want you're brother to lose a dream, but…he needs to think about reality."
"…" Zatch grit his teeth, looking down, but clenching his fists. "You're his hero. He talks about you as if you are the most amazing person, and the kind of hero who would say the most inspiring words to anybody in need! I guess he and I were wrong…"
"Zatch, don't—" Izuku whispered.
"You're a hero aren't you!? What kind of hero just tells someone in need that they should give up, just because other people think so!?" Zatch shouted out, his golden eyes square on All Might's expression, who seemed surprised…if not regretful. "You…You're just a big uggo! A big jerk, and a meanie-bo-beanie!"
"Zatch!" Izuku's voice was sharp there, but Zatch winced and turned to Izuku with a concerned but serious expression. Izuku looked down at him, but his expression didn't seem to be as sharp or angered either. In fact, th expression seemed that of almost resignation. That look made Zatch hurt. "I-It's fine…"
"But Izuku, he—"
"It's fine, Zatch…" Izuku spoke with a look of resignation. "He's…He already said his piece."
Zatch stopped, but threw a childish glare at All Might all the same. Although that glare softened when he noticed…a sympathetic, almost pensive expression on the hero. However…he still felt a good amount of anger. Izuku's hero basically crushed his dreams. And Zatch wasn't going to let that stand.
"…I'm sorry." All Might mumbled under his breath, but he then opened the door to the building stairs, closing the door behind him, leaving Zatch and Izuku alone there on the roof.
Toshinori Yagi, All Might, the Symbol of Peace, couldn't really agree with his own words. The young boy with the golden hair seemed vehemently defensive when All Might said those words, and that surprised him more than anything else. The amount of faith the young man had for his brother, no matter how different they were, was clear for Yagi to see. It almost reminded him of his early beginnings, and the person who put her faith in him.
Which made his words from before, in hindsight, very cruel to say. All Might shouldn't have been so harsh on Izuku, but he didn't want the young child to grow up with false expectations or to be crushed under the weight of reality. So instead, Yagi did what he thought wasn't best but was a soft blow. Remind him that other jobs are worthy of respect and where he could also save lives.
The Symbol Of Peace looked down as he kept walking down the stairs, although his thoughts turned to the devastated look on that young boy's face. He felt like a joke, and a liar at that. It didn't matter who he was, the truth was cruel and harsh. And Yagi knew that, and felt ashamed.
However, now all he had to do was to return the villain to the officers at the station. Yagi moved his hand to his belt, and—
What…?
He didn't feel the bottle, so he then dug into his pants pockets…and felt nothing either. However, the immediate panic and shock came as quickly as it disappeared, because he heard a boom from out the window. Off in the distance, and deeper into what he figured to be the shopping market…was a cloud of smoke rising to the sky.
…no, don't tell me.Yagi widened his eyes and immediately began dashing down the stairs in a hurry. It can't be!
Izuku felt as crushed as he had been his entire life, but nothing about this felt as despair-inducing as Izuku thought. The truth of what All Might told him really sunk in, and yet all he could do was stare off in the horizon. A stream of thoughts ran through his mind.
The truth. All Might's shut-down, Zatch's defense, and All Might's apology. But the last thing he thought, was the…cloud of smoke off in the distance. There was a faint smell of burning off in the distance, and Izuku stared at the cloud for a second.
"H-Hey…what is that?" Zatch stared at the cloud as well, pointing at it with some concern.
"That's a villain attack, probably!" Izuku finally spoke out with some understanding, but he began to walk a pace. "M-Maybe if there's a hero then…"
Wait…what am I doing anyway?Izuku stopped, but he turned to Zatch who was still staring at the smoke in the distance…and he had an expression that made Izuku feel almost concerned.
"Zatch…w-we need to go, we need to get the Yellowtail, remember?" Izuku spoke uneasily, trying to get Zatch's attention. However, Zatch kept staring at the smoke and he turned to Izuku with a frown and a serious one at that. "Zatch?"
"I'm frustrated! If that Uggo won't accept you as someone who can be a hero, than we need to prove it to him!" Zatch moved his fists up and down with a bit of childish frustration. But he was genuinely serious, and it concerned Izuku.
A lot.
"You're…not suggesting what I think your suggesting, right?" Izuku stammered with a look of confusion, and fear for Zatch. After Zatch confirmed it with a nod and an 'Unu', Izuku exclaimed immediately, "N-No! No, Zatch, we're not doing that! We can't just insert ourselves into the attack!"
"Why not? I'm sure if we put our heads together, than we'll be able to save somebody and beat the villain too! Quirk or no Quirk, I'm going to prove that jerk wrong!" Zatch stated out loud, and began walking towards the door and down the stairs! Faster, than Izuku was used to seeing.
"H-Hey, wait, ZATCH!" Izuku called out to the young child, as he ran towards Zatch and tried to catch up to him.
W-What is he doing? I-I know how much you want to help but…I knew this from the very beginning! I always knew! I…I knew and I still chased for that dream desperately…Izuku's thoughts turned downward, but he kept trying to catch up to Zatch, as the young child seemed intent on helping and running forward.
The chase would be a while, and even a bit longer than expected. Something that Izuku had no idea would take so long.
However it suddenly came t0 a halt when a crowd of people were forming around the entrance to the shopping market. Izuku noticed Zatch was hopping to try and get a good look at what was happening, but Izuku managed to grab him before he could do anything. "Zatch, you can't just run like that!"
"But Izuku, now's our chance! We can do this together—"
"B-But, Zatch!" Izuku exclaimed with a small concerned but scared frown. "W-We…I-I can't do anything. You're just a kid, and I am…I don't even have any Quirk to speak of!"
"But…you can't be okay with just letting people get hurt, right?!" Zatch responded with a serious expression of his own.
Izuku would have responded, if it weren't for an explosion bursting some wind to the crowd and the two brothers. Izuku turned to see what was going on, trying to get a good look.
When he realized he was looking at the same Slime Villain from before. How…How did he get there? And was he holding a hostage?!
"Why aren't the heroes doing anything?"
"They can't. Apparently the villain caught a junior high schooler. It's been that way for a while now."
Izuku gasped out a bit in concern, and as his eyes traveled towards the horizon where the villain was…his eyes widened in horror as he clapped both hands over his mouth to hide a croak.
Kacchan!The same bully from before, the one that Izuku admired and yet so much feared at the same time…was being stuck int he same situation as before where Izuku had been an hour ago. Choking and trying to break free from the situation. The heroes were already on the scene as well, and yet Izuku didn't see much hope until another hero arrived.
Death Arms is there, but the hero didn't look like he was in good shape. The Slime Villain was too strong and had a hostage on top of that. Not to mention the Slime's body made it impossible to get a clean hit in.
There was also Kamui Woods, the hero from earlier this morning. He was an up and coming rookie hero who had debut the same day along with Mt. Lady. However, with all these flames, and not to mention that Kamui Woods is essentially made out of wood…he can't properly do anything other than save the civilians in trouble.
The hero's on the scene are trying to save civilians and douse the fires, but at the same time there was only so much they could do with a rampaging villain on the loose!
…t-this…t-this is all my fault…A traitorous, but loud thought hit Izuku like a train, drowning out any and all voices. In fact, not even Zatch's exclamations and concern broke through.I-If I hadn't clung to All Might like an idiot…t-the villain wouldn't have escaped and…caught Kacchan!
"Izuku! Izuku! What's going on?" Zatch's voice caught him in surprise, but he turned to Zatch, who looked at him with concern.
"K-Kacchan…h-he's…" Izuku only got those words out, before Zatch realized who he was talking about. And without a moment's hesitation, Zatch looked to Izuku with a serious look that Izuku didn't know how to respond to.
It was intense, and seriously imposing and demanding. However, the truth was that Izuku seemed to understand what Zatch wanted him to do. He wanted to save Kacchan. And Izuku wanted to save Kacchan as well…make up for this wrongdoing and his stupid mistake.
But how am I supposed to do that…Izuku turned to see Bakugo, his former friend, and current tormentor…struggling to breathe and struggling to break free from the slime. In that very moment, a red glow was faint from Izuku's back-pack, which Zatch noticed briefly, before turning to Izuku.
"Baka-go may be mean…but you're not okay with just letting this happen, right?" Zatch stated with a serious tone to it, but Izuku kept staring at Bakugo's struggling.
For a brief moment, there was something alien and confusing to Izuku in that very moment. A look that Izuku had never seen Bakugo make ever.
Terror, fear, and pleading.
As if he was hoping in that brief split-second for someone to save him.
…!
In that moment, Izuku burst forward, cutting through the crowd, ignoring the red book that fell from his back-pack, and the hero journal that fell next to it. He broke through the crowd, and through the heroes that were keeping the civilians away. In that very moment, Izuku moved with no hesitation, and with no thought either.
Izuku was so focused on reaching Bakugo, that even with hi spoor constitution and stamina, he was running through the fire and towards the Slime Villain with nothing but a single question.
W-What am I doing? Even if he knew the answer, Izuku never stopped running, and yet he heard his own panting as he ran tirelessly, and behind him was another pair of steps.
"DAMMIT, WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING?! STOP! STOP!" Izuku recognized that voice to be Death Arms', but he widened his eyes as he turned to look at his side, and saw Zatch running with a determined serious expression on his face. Along with that, he held the Red Book, and from its pages a red bright glow started being explicitly brighter the more Izuku ran.
"Z-Zatch?!" Izuku widened his eyes, but panted heavily as he kept running. "W-What are you—"
"I told you didn't I?! We're going to be Heroes together!" Zatch stated with a determined smile, turning to Izuku with a huge grin on his face. One smile that made Izuku nod hesitantly, however, he also felt a huge amount of support.
"Those brats…!" Izuku heard the Slime Villain, and he noticed that it saw them. It began rearing up a slime hand to attack them. "Die in flames!"
"…" Izuku widened his eyes, but grit his teeth and kept running regardless. "W-We…we need to get Kacchan out of there!"
"What do we do then?!" Zatch asked, and Izuku panicked for a moment before he remembered immediately what he needed.
Page 25 of his Hero Journal. On Kamui Woods…make the opponent flinch back, and use that opportunity to exploit an opening.
"Take," Izuku grit his teeth, taking off his pack-pack and taking a moment to rear his back-pack before throwing it with all his strength right at the villain. "THIS!"
The force of the throw was haphazard, but it was enough to land a good amount of school supplies on both eyes of the Slime Villain, causing it to flinch back and scream out in pain. This left Bakugo a chance to push his head open and out of the slime's body.
Now…wait, Zatch has the most strength…!Izuku thought immediately back to when Zatch managed to pull Izuku out with just his strength, and he figured out that Zatch could do the same with Kacchan. "Zatch, grab him and pull him out!"
"You got it, Izuku!" Zatch grit his teeth, throwing the red book in Izuku's hands, leaving the verdant-haired young man to look at the book glowing a red. However, it looked more specifically like something within the texts started to glow, and so Izuku opened up the book…and he flipped it to the glowing letters that he could read.
What…these same letters are glowing…and what is this…burst of energy I am feeling?Izuku widened his eyes, although in his mind he remembered the blast of the Quirk that Zatch used before during the house a day ago. Izuku didn't really know why in that moment, but he didn't have enough time to think when he heard shouting from in front of him.
Izuku turned up to see Bakugo's head being clenched by Zatch, his fists grabbing Bakugo's hair and head with a grip that was followed by Zatch's shout. Despite his feet dangling off of the air, the young child pulled back harder and once again demonstrated the same strength needed to pull a fully-grown teenager out of the slime's body, and onto the ground pavement with no issue. However, Bakugo coughed out a lot as he gasped for air considering the fire and flame made it so much of a problem to breath.
"W-What the…DEKU?! The hell are you trying to do!?" Bakugo shouted as he gasped for air, but he looked at Izuku with a look of surprise, confusion, and surprisingly angered frustration. "Why did you go all the way here?!"
"…I-I…" Izuku widened his eyes, although a myriad of reasons did cross his mind at the moment. However, not one of them compared to the good answer that he arrived at with a confident, and yet nervous grin at the same time. "I-It looked like you needed help, Kacchan!"
"What…" Bakugo seemed affronted by the statement, but he didn't have much time to say a statement before Zatch stood in front of the two against the Villain.
"Izuku!" Zatch turned to Izuku with a huge grin, although a glint of courage and bravery was there in his eyes that Izuku didn't have. And for a moment, Izuku nodded nervously but in affirmation.
A roar of anger, and the Slime Villain opened its eyes as it stared down at the three individuals. With Izuku and Zatch, it seemed that the verdant-haired young man could only focus on the villain in front of him…and the memory fo the thunder blast that Zatch had done with his Quirk before was…well, it was an idea.
But it's risky too…Izuku didn't know if he could replicate that, and he didn't know what the meaning of the spell was anyway. However, the young man hoped to whatevergodwas out there that this would work.
He opened the book to the proper page, and he whispered. "Whatever is out there…please let this work…"
"You damn brats…I swear, I'm going to kill the three of you!" The Slime Villain roared in anger, charging its body at the three of them.
"The First Spell…please, lightning come out!" Izuku grit his teeth, and despite the fear in his heart at facing the villain…the next word that came out of his mouth he shouted it for everybody to hear and for a proclamation of firm resolve. "ZAKER!"
Time seemed to slow down as Izuku watched the Slime Villain charge at Zatch first…and then a ball of lightning formed right close to Zatch's mouth, before blasting lightning from his mouth and hitting the villainous slime dead-on. The result was…an explosive, albeit electric display of fireworks that surprised everybody in the crowd, left Izuku screaming out in shock and bafflement, as well as Bakugo shouting out in confusion.
Zatch seemed to be the only one not moving after the blast, and he had white-out eyes, as the blast pushed back the villain and even left a very damaging blow against it. After all, what could slime do against Lightning when it's easy to conduct.
As a result, once the explosion and the fireworks display stopped, the Slime Villain's body laid down on the ground like a puddle, with his eyes having a dizzy-crossed out look. The villain wasn't dead, but the villain was certainly knocked out and electrocuted, if its bubbling and twitching legs were of any indication.
The rest of the audience and the heroes watched with a bit of shock and surprise, and Izuku finally felt himself frazzled and his hair undone with a huge amount of puff all the same. The villain right in front of him was incapacitated, and the flames surrounding them were dying down thanks to the air and burst of wind that seemed to have put out a majority of the flames. Now, there were simply embers that needed to be doused with water.
Izuku noticed and turned to his right as he saw Bakugo with widened eyes and grit teeth all the same. Izuku turned to Zatch in front of him, who twitched a bit and then looked from right and left. "Z-Zatch! A-Are you okay? You…You managed to—"
"Managed to what?" Zatch turned to Izuku with a look of confusion, but he also seemed very confused and unaware of the situation at hand. "Did we stop the villain!"
"I-I…yes, we did…" Izuku blinked, although he was in shock that he fell to his knees and kept watching the slime villain groan but remain unconscious. "…holy crow…we defeated a villain…"
Those two…The young man and child both together had surprised Toshinori with their reckless, and yet prime heroic actions. However, for whatever reason, the number 1 hero himself was loathe to go in and just congratulate the two for their heroism.
Not because they the green-haired young man and his little brother worked together to save a civilian, however reckless and interfering that was. Not because the younger brother used his Quirk on command with a powerful blast of lightning that not only put the Slime Villain from before out of commission withoneshot, but also somehow managed to not damage the area any further, instead pushing out the flames.
Neither of those reasons are why Toshinori didn't go over there, practically thanking them for doing what he had told them the green-haired young man couldn't do. But because he had to keep his identity a secret for now from the public, and nobody could tell it was him. However, Toshinori had been in the crowd, a nameless face as he watched the aftermath of the situation.
"What were you two thinking?! That was reckless what you two did, and the child just used his Quirk ont he villain as well! Just because you wanted to use your Quirk, doesn't mean you should be throwing yourself in danger like that!" Death Arms shouted with a reprimanding tone at not just the young Izuku, but also at Zatch who seemed to be childishly peeved and frowning all the same.
"Hey, it's not our fault that the villain was going to hurt someone! As ally's to justice, me and my big brother had to get involved and save Baka-gou!" The young blond-haired kid shouted back while jumping in place, although Izuku looked to be bowing his head repeatedly as well at Death Arms and Kamui Woods all the same.
"That still doesn't make using your Quirk and endangering yourselves so recklessly okay! You two should have known better than to insert yourselves in a situation like that! What would happen if you three had gotten hurt or even worse?" Kamui Woods' voice was more lecturing, but also stern and yet filled with less vitriol, Toshinori knew this.
After all, Toshinori had been partially responsible for what was going on with the heroes, and with Izuku and the young blond-haired boy. The hero's on duty couldn't do much, and at the same time it was Izuku's and Zatch's heroism that saved the day.
Now if only they weren't being so harshly lectured.Toshinori couldn't help a small expression of regret and yet disapproval. Death Arms and Kamui Woods couldn't have known, but the reason the Slime Villain was released was due to All Might's carelessness. These two have saved a young man, and the audience have seen that. However, it seemed like that didn't matter. Or rather, that they were trying to save face.
If a hero couldn't save the day, and a teenager and a child had to get involved, then how does that look on the hero?
Poorly, I'd think…and regretfully.Toshinori noticed even more with regret, as the young man they had saved together was being 'praised' by one of the other heroes for having a Quirk that was…admittedly useful, but also had been involved in destroying property in the shopping district.
It made Toshinori lament on the state of the priorities heroes had and the people valued.
"Man, the heroes really are chewing those two out. And the little kid's mouthing off too!"
"Isn't he gonna get in trouble though? He used his Quirk at such a young age with no license."
"Dude, it's a kid. I doubt he's gonna get more than a slap on the wrist and a reminder not to do that again."
"Even so, those two did something at the very least. Kinda impressive."
"Yeah, for a couple of kids…they don't seem that bad. They even got the hostage out from the villain!"
Toshinori heard the words of the people, and admittedly that did ease his concerns for those two. The Hero License is what made a hero eligible to work in such a profession, so if Zatch had been using his Quirk when he was about Izuku's age, the repercussions may have been worse. And if Izuku had a Quirk to speak of, the boy's future would be at risk.
Toshinori didn't really approve of reckless youth trying to hurt themselves to save others, but that also made him a hypocrite, he thought. Because what else washeother than a reckless youth back then? Especially when all the people around him never gave up on him.
No, that wouldn't do. Toshinori…All Mighthimself had told a kid to give up on his dream. That simply wouldn't do. He'd have to fix it.
"Grrrrrr! I can't believe those heroes didn't thank us! We saved Baka-gou, and they still lecture us like we're kids!"
"But…you're a kid Zatch, and I'm barely a teenager who could have died."
"Who cares!"
Well, Izuku wanted to think he cared about the difference. As the two brothers walked back home to their apartment, they were still in the middle of the road and far away from where the initial incident was. The incident where Izuku had a part to play in. The incident where he and Zatch rushed in head first with no thought or hesitation. Why he did so, Izuku didn't know, and even less about how they managed to defeat the Slime Villain so suddenly.
Izuku knew what happened, and the technical how it happened, but why it happened confused him.
With Zatch still rambling next to him, thankfully forgetting about the Yellowtail that Izuku had promised him, Izuku got to work thinking about the book that he held under his armpit and still in good condition. The Red Book that had been glowing prior, and a book that held the first few readable words that Izuku couldactuallyread all of a sudden.
The First Spell, Zaker.
Honestly, the first time Izuku read these words aloud, it ended up with Zatch randomly firing off his Quirk. However, now that Izuku had shouted out those words again before, Zatch launched the same Quirk from his mouth and defeated the Slime Villain with one shot. Quite frankly, Izuku was happy that they had made it out alive, and his own words he breathed out back then surprised even him.
We defeated a villain.Izuku thought with a disbelief, but he couldn't help but have his own giddy smile at the same time. It was surprising, but more than that, Izuku was able to save Bakugo with the help of Zatch.
Or at the very least, Zatch managed to pull all the work, but the young kid would always call Izuku a vital part of why they saved Bakugo as well. The Quirkless young kid didn't know or understand much, but he did feel happy that they managed to prevent a disaster. The heroes couldn't do much, and All Might had never appeared even though Izuku knew that the Hero was nearby.
He didn't dare assume anything negative, but he did find it confusing…or concerning.
What would All Might think of his reckless but heroic actions? He didn't know why, but that thought gnawed at him. He didn't know where he was, but an apology was due regardless. Izuku was partially responsible for what happened in the incident, and he felt he owed All Might an apology for intervening.
"OI! DEKU!"
Izuku yelped out suddenly, turning to see Bakugo running at him, although he skidded to a stop a few feet away. Izuku felt confused, if not outright a bit apprehensive and a bit nervous now. Zatch next to him tensed up with a soft frown, but even he was confused.
"Kacchan?" Izuku mumbled his words, but he stared at Bakugo who caught his breath and stared straight at Izuku. It was the same look as before, angry, and indignant, but…there was a hint of some begrudging gratitude.
"I never asked for your help…and you two didn't help me at all! Got it?!" Bakugo chuffed out with a rather annoyed but begrudging frown. "You are just a pair of losers trying to play hero, and I was fine by myself! Don't you dare look down on me, got it? Don't think that I owe you two anything, all right?! Damn…Losers!"
Bakugou made a heel turn at that, his words kinda betraying the tone in his voice. It seemed like he was grateful, but Izuku knew that the young man was…prideful and stubborn like that.
"…that was weird." Zatch bluntly dropped the bomb with a tilt of his head. "Baka-gou is weird!"
"…y-yeah, I guess you could say that…" Izuku gave a nervous laugh, although he had a rueful smile all the same. He didn't want to say it to Zatch outloud, btu Kacchan was right about one thing. Izuku…didn't really do anything other than shout out the words. He was reckless, and only Zatch managed to do anything meaningful.
…at least, that's what I think.Izuku thought so, and now he was honestly finding it hard to tell Zatch the truth. He wants to be a hero, but the hero's he admired not only told him eh couldn't be a hero, but they lectured him for being reckless as well. What other way is there to say it?
Maybe I just need to focus on a more realistic—
"I AM HERE!"
"EH!?" Izuku and Zatch both yelped out as suddenly, All Might, in his glory and buff form arrived at the scene by skidding from one ally to the street. "A-All Might?!"
"Hey, its Mr. Shiny-Teeth!" Zatch yelped out with a look of surprise although he was also confused why he was even here from his face. "Where were you all day?!"
"Ahahahaha! No need to worry about me young man! In fact, there is actually something I am here to do at the moment." All Might boomed with charisma and the same usual voice, although Izuku noticed that it was strained right now. "And this is of utmost importance, because it involves you two—Gahack!"
The puff of steam from All Might, and suddenly ALl Might was back to his skeletal and weak form from before.
"Ahh! It's Mr. Skeleton-Man!" Zatch shouted out with a bit of a childish expression of manic frowning.
"I-I don't get it…" Izuku mumbled under his words, but he also didn't know why All Might decided to come to him now of all times.
"Young men. I am here to offer my thanks, an apology, and an offer." All Might had begun his words, and the feeling behind them felt genuine, Izuku could tell. And yet, for a moment, he seemed worried. "If you hadn't been there, if you hadn't told me abotu your life, and if you, Young Zatch, hadn't stood up and shown your faith in your brother…I'm afraid I would be just a man in a body suit that was all talk. I thank you for that."
"W-Wait, why are you apologizing?" Izuku took a step forward with an exclamation, his voice soft but also concerned. " It was my fault in the firts place for what happened to the Slime Incident. I got int he way of your work, and I… said all those things to you, even when I was just Quirkless—"
"But that's exactly it." All Might cut him off, and stared at him straight in the eye with a serious but also genuinely admirable expression. "Out of all the people there during that incident, it was the timid, Quirkless you that took the first step to save that young man. You…You were the one who spurred your little brother into action with you. If you hadn't taken that first step, then we'd be talking a tragedy…not a miracle. No, not even a miracle. A choice."
"H-Huh?" Izuku took a moment to feel nothing but utter shock at those words. And he turned to Zatch, who looked just as confused, but he was slowly giving off a smile at All Might.
"Many heroes have stories about them from their school days, this is true. The one thing they all share, however…" All Might continued to speak, and his words were truthfully hard-hitting and inspirational. "Their bodies moved before they had a chance to think."
"…" Izuku's eyes glistened, and he felt them hot with tears and blurry because of how the tightening in his chest made it hard for him to breath constantly. He…he wasn't just hearing all talk. He was sincerely hearing them from All Might, wasn't he?
And yet, he remembered his mothers words from back then. The apology, and the sorrow. However, more than that…a recent memory hit him harder today.
It was Zatch's words.
Izuku is trying his best, he looks up to you, and he wants to be a hero regardless! I want to be a hero with him!
And somehow, even before that.
I wanted to help the both of us enact the 'Ally of Justice' plan!
All Might's words hit him like a freight train, but Zatch was supporting him the entire day, and constantly pushed him to never give up on his dream.
It was him who wanted to help and save people in the first place. For that moment, Izuku felt like he couldn't be the best hero, but that he could be someone's hero. That he could be the person Zatch believed him to be.
"That's true for you both, isn't it? Especially, for you…young man." All Might continued to speak, asking and affirming it as truth at the same time.
Izuku grit his teeth, but he was crying. His tears flowed like running water from his eyes, and he couldn't help but feel an immense pain in his chest as he fell to his knees and doubled over with absolute catharsis. Joy, and especially validation that he had been…waiting for so long to hear from his number 1 hero.
He could feel a hand behind his back, and he turned to Zatch with a teary-eyed look, only to be met with Zatch's bright smile and youthful spirit. "Izuku, you know what this means?"
That somehow broke the young man even more with a smile of his own.
The words he wanted to hear were genuinely there. And they both spoke at the same time. The only words that Izuku desperately wanted to hear from All Might, his mother, and his classmates.
But what broke him are from when they came from Zatch, his little brother…and his idol All Might.
A miracle had happened. And a Dream was about to turn into reality.
Zatch and All Might's next words would make Izuku break down crying but…out of joy.
The dream would become a reality.
"You can become a hero."
I am happy to have ended this chapter on such a high note. For now, I wanted to get a few things out of the way for some curiosity. Izuku and Zatch will be learning a lot in the next 9 months, although at the same time, they will be going up against a lot of challenges while Izuku trains for his new Quirk later on. However, Zatch is there to support him, and I plan on that being a meaningful but slow-burning support that builds up.
For now, I am happy you all read to this point! Feel free to leave a comment, a like, and share with your friends who like both MHA and Zatch Bell!
This has been TuriMaelstrom, and I'll see you on the horizon!