When Quirks first came to be, it's said that they arrived in a brilliant show of light, emanating from a newborn baby girl.
What is seldom talked of, however, is that across the water writhed a child shrouded in shadows, its skin dulling into a putrid red.
While the former would lead a life of riches and fame, the latter would grow to seek strength, drowning in the desire to smother his weakness.
That man's name was AKUMA.
"Shoryuken!"
Leaning backward, the older man calmly avoided the fist threatening to collide with his chin, brown eyes zeroed in on the greenette before him.
Sliding his right leg back, the man reared his right fist back, his left raised in front of his face.
"Kyah!"
The fist shot out not unlike a serpent lunging for its prey, striking the teen in the sternum and sending him flying away from the massive Sakura tree they stood under.
With a deep exhale, the brown-haired man relaxed, his fist flattening into an open palm used to stroke the stubble gracing his chin.
"Not a bad attempt, Izuku. However, there was no setup. If you can't bait the opponent into the attack then don't attack period."
Rising from his spot on the damp dirt, Izuku offered a nod, his hand trailing to his chest as he attempted to rub the pain away.
It was largely unsuccessful.
"Understood, Ryu-Sensei! Do I try again?"
Closing his eyes for a brief moment, the older man contemplated the question before nodding, inhaling as he did so.
"Yes. Use what I told you to change your approach."
With a nod, the teen fell into a practiced stance, bringing his left foot forward while his right slid back, his left hand up to his chin as his right guarded his midsection.
Although they were similar, Izuku's stance had something noticeably more different than that of the man before him.
It was far more loose.
Running at the older man, the greenette jumped into the air, bringing his palms together as he did so.
As the teen fell, brilliant blue energy began to gather between his hands, swirling violently in a desperate cry to be released.
In response to the attack, Ryu raised his left arm in a high block, ready to swat the teens attack away.
Once the distance closed, the teen thrust his hands out, violently expelling the energy as he did so.
"Hashogeki!"
The wave of energy made contact with the man's forearm, sending it slightly back into the older man.
"You're still predictable."
Ignoring the man's comment, Izuku used the momentum gained from the attack to throw himself behind the older man, their backs to each other.
Spinning 180, the teen used the momentum to send a left leg round kick into the man's torso, threatening to break ribs.
In response, Ryu lowered his left arm in a low block, nullifying the attack before turning to face the teen, slamming a bandaged right fist into the greenettes skull.
The punch dropped the boy to the floor, his eyelids fluttering as he struggled to gain his bearings.
"Using Hashogeki to throw yourself behind me was clever. But, your follow-through was lackluster."
Bending down to the teens level, Ryu produced a dense chocolate bar, offering it to his opponent,
"You're far more creative a fighter than I, Izuku. Use that to your advantage. Your follow-through would have worked had you been me, but you aren't, so continue to think outside the box."
With a sluggish nod, Izuku took the candy, unwrapping it before scarfing it down and falling to his back, his white dress shirt stained with dirt and blood.
"Same time tomorrow?"
Rising to his feet, Ryu nodded in response before turning about face, ready to head home.
Before he did, however, the man cast one last look toward the greenette, a faint smile tugging on his lips.
However, mere moments later that smile faded as a deep frown took its place.
"You're improving faster than I ever could, Izuku. But within you, I see a desire, almost a need for strength. The longer it's allowed to fester, the higher the chance the Satsui no Hado begins to rear its ugly head."
Turning away from the teen, Ryu clenched his fist as he took a step, his teeth grinding against one another.
"And that is something I cannot allow to happen again."
"I'm home!"
Dropping the bag from his shoulder, Izuku walked through the small apartment, his feet carrying him to an all too familiar room.
Opening the door, the teen stepped inside, the space infected with a strong mint scent.
Stepping toward the structure in the center, Izuku lowered to his knees, settling his sight on the picture attached to the shrine.
"Sorry, I took so long today, Mom. Ryu-Sensei's lesson was a little tough but I think I'm getting stronger."
Clutching his fist as though to demonstrate that strength, Izuku awaited a response, the smile on his face remaining as he did so.
As time passed, however, that smile fell, instead being replaced by the familiar sense of loss and loneliness that infected him whenever he stepped foot in this room.
Whenever he remembered.
Bringing his fist to his chest, the teen tore his eyes away from the shrine, emerald eyes meeting oak rather than orchids as tears fell.
"I swear I'll get stronger, Mom. I'll get strong and beat that villain who took you from me."
Rising to his feet, the teen walked away from the shrine, turning the light off as he reached the room doorway.
Casting one last glance at the moonlit shrine, Izuku said a silent prayer before turning away, a fresh, volatile rage bubbling in his stomach.
Closing the door slowly, the teen made sure the oak was fully shut before walking off,
His red eyes brimming with wrath.