Our Hero Academia: New Heroes Rising
Prologue
Nine years seems like a long time. For a child, it might as well be a lifetime. For an adult, it's still no short span. But for children eager to grow and attend UA, to become heroes, it seems simultaneously a century to experience and the snap of one's fingers. Training determinedly to become the best one can be to attend the best hero school there is will do that.
Doing all of that, driven by the inspiration of the world's greatest hero, Izuku "Deku" Midoriya will do it even more.
Three children in particular had been impacted by Midoriya and his selfless drive to protect during his first year at UA. He had put himself in danger, broken himself, and fought to the bitter end to protect them, and it had left a unique and lasting impact upon each of them.
He was the reason each of these three would strive for UA.
Katsuma
Katsuma Shimano, age fifteen and dressed in a white shirt and blue workout pants, grunted as he hammered his fists against a padded training dummy provided by one of the older residents of his home of Nabu Island. Mr. Morita from the far side of the island had been teaching Katsuma what he could for the past nine years, since soon after the events of Nine's Invasion, as the populace of the island had begun calling it since. Even after so many years of practice, Katsuma kept himself mindful of using his core and hip muscles as much as his arms, his mentor's words about cultivating good habits early sitting stolidly in the back of his mind.
"Hey Katsuma! Listen! You can become a hero! I'll see you at UA one day!"
Those words burned within Katsuma's heart, just as they had every day since Mr. Deku and the others had sailed away to return to the famed hero school. Those words pushed him, motivated him, kept him getting up when his training seemed like it was too much. At this moment, it pushed him to hit harder and faster. He kept his breathing even, even as his heart raced with the joy of that one encouragement called from across the sea.
"Three-hundred!" he shouted with a final punch. He put his hands behind his head, as Mr. Morita had long instructed him to do when catching his breath instead of putting his hands on his knees. After a few deep breaths, he set his jaw and crossed his arms to put a palm on each upper arm, then channeled his Quirk to speed up the rebuilding of his muscle fibers. It tired him out faster, but it would help in the long run. And had, according to the doctors at the clinic.
Mr. Deku was right. Cell Activation could be amazing.
After a long twenty seconds, he relaxed his power and moved on to a tree limb where he would do as many pull-ups as he could. Then he'd use his jump rope for as long as he could keep on his feet. Then he'd do as many sit-ups as he could manage, and then push-ups. Then he'd run up and down their street as many laps as he could before collapsing on the sidewalk. All of these numbers he would keep in the green journal Dad had bought for him, Katsuma's name written in red ink with his dad's pretty handwriting.
Tomorrow, he'd rest, and then for the following week he would do his exercises at ten repetitions below the numbers he did today. Then he'd take another rest day, and then test his limits again. This was his weekly regimen he'd figured out with Mr. Morita and had kept up for longer in his life than he had not. And he would stick to it and continue to push it until the day he applied for UA.
And that didn't even factor in his daily martial arts practice, in hand to hand or with his escrima sticks. His Quirk was not suited for combat, so he'd grow strong with his own hands to prepare for the entrance exam.
As he brushed his hand through his waves of chestnut hair, a passive observer would likely marvel at his growth over the last nine years. All those years of training had stripped the baby fat from him to leave lean, corded muscles. Except for his face which, while perhaps a bit more defined, had never quite lost the softness of boyhood that was accentuated by his wide, brown eyes and the smattering of freckles across his nose. But even more than all of that was his bearing was how he held himself. Gone was the timidness of his youth, replaced by a quiet confidence and self-assuredness. His childhood shyness was not gone, but well-balanced with inner strength.
Katsuma nodded to himself and psyched himself up, crouching to jump for the tree branch, when- "Need a counter?" Katsuma blinked in surprise and straightened to look and find his sister watching with her arms folded under her chest and a smirk on her lips.
At nineteen years old, Mahoro had changed almost as much as he had. She kept her hair loose these days, the better to let it flow in the island's wind. She still preferred dresses in pink, and today was no different. But she'd blossomed into a beautiful young woman, only made more so by her unchanged, fiery personality and fearsome will. Such things had drawn the boys of the island to her like a moth to a flame … which inevitably left them just as burned, either by Mahoro's sharp words or Katsuma's escrima sticks.
"Well?" she prompted, jerking him from his fond recollection.
"Sure," Katsuma said with a smile before finally hopping up to grab the branch and starting his set. With Mahoro counting, he could lose himself in the burn of the exercise and let his thoughts sweep him away, if briefly. Maybe this evening he'd volunteer at the island clinic, as he occasionally did to practice with his Quirk and to simply help people of his home island.
Too soon the burn became too great and he was trembling as he tried to squeeze out those last few pull-ups. He grit his teeth and strained for the last before dropping back to the ground, heaving breaths.
"Ten," Mahoro reported.
Katsuma sighed, but remembered what his teacher had told him when he'd actually reached that level: such a number was considered impressive for a grown man, much less a mid-teenager. In other words, he was right on track to be the best that he could be.
"What's next?" Mahoro asked, though she knew very well as she opened his journal and wrote down the number of pull-ups.
"Leg training," Katsuma said with a grin. Mahoro passed him a bottle of chilled water, which he happily sipped. Always sip, never guzzle was what Mr. Morita said. He put the bottle down and prepared his jump rope.
"And … start!" Mahoro called.
As Katsuma began his set, he marveled that in a few short weeks he would be on a ship to Mustafu Prefecture to take his entrance exam.
Kota
Kota Izumi screamed with effort as he held his hands out, arms straight in front of him, and pushed his Quirk to the limit. The roar of water almost drowned out the sound of it. His face began to turn red with the strain, his arms trembling and beginning to throw off his aim, and he let it go with a gasp of relief, sweat beading his brow. He panted to catch his breath, his hands steaming, before he straightened up and examined the results.
On the mountain that was his childhood retreat, marred and broken by Izuku Midoriya's fight with Muscular nine years ago that had both saved and changed Kota's life, a series of deep holes were ground into the other side of the cliff face. From left to right, each was deeper than the last and marked a year of his Quirk training. The last of the seven holes had water racing out of it, the dull roar of it echoing from within its depths that brought a sharp grin to Kota's lips.
He shook the last of the steam from his hands and put his hands on his hips as he examined his work. Without his button-up white shirt that he'd taken off to keep it dry, one could see the lean definition of his muscles and how broad his shoulders had become. Without his favored red, golden-horned cap, one could also see that his hair had been cut shorter than in his youth, though still as dark and spiky as ever. His eyes, if possible, had become even sharper, both in shape and in perception, as had his jaw.
"Nice work, Kota," came a feminine voice, along with the sound of slow clapping. He turned and found his Aunt Shino — better known by her hero name, Mandalay — in her preferred casual turtleneck and business skirt. She smiled with pride. "You really have come such a long way." She glanced quickly upward, and Kota got the message. He leapt out of the way, just in time for another of the Wild, Wild Pussycats to slam a massive fist into the ground where Kota had been standing. Yawara, the hero Tiger, who had graciously taken it upon himself to train Kota's physical skills all these years in preparation for the boy's dream of becoming a hero.
"Nicely done, Kota," Tiger complimented, straightening his suit jacket that sat over a dress shirt and slacks.
"You can all come out now," Kota called without looking around, though he did roll his eyes at the theatrics of his aunt and her hero team who served as more unofficial aunts and an uncle. At his call, the other members of the team, Tomoko and Ryuko — Ragdoll and Pixie-Bob — came out from the treeline in their own casual wear and with broad grins of their own.
"Oh, our little kitten is all grown up!" Ragdoll cheered. Despite living with the Wild, Wild Pussycats for the far longer portion of his life, Tomoko was the only one he had ever referred to as "aunt" besides Shino. As such, her encouragement meant the most to him besides Aunt Shino's.
"And ready for his UA entrance exam," Pixie-Bob crowed, pumping her fist. Her and Tiger he'd always kind of considered a pair of weird cousins that you couldn't help but love, too. "And the recommended exam, to boot!"
"It's still a week away," Kota pointed out, putting on and buttoning his shirt before sliding his horned cap into place. He gave a silent word of thanks, not for the first time, to his aunt and her team for sending in their recommendations for his spot in UA. Granted, he still had to take the recommendation program's written test, practical exam, and interview, but he was beyond confident after so long preparing with the team.
"That doesn't mean we can't be proud of you, Kota," Aunt Shino said warmly, drawing him into a loose hug. Kota didn't return the embrace, but didn't fight her either. "Now, come on," she instructed. "Let's get some studying in. And then we can have Aunt Ragdoll's famous kitty curry."
Kota's favorite.
"And maybe tomorrow," Pixie-Bob said coyly, "we can head to UA and visit Eri."
Kota kept his face carefully neutral at Pixie-Bob's tone, heavy with suggestion. "I'd be fine with that," he said casually. Pixie-Bob, as love-crazed as she was, had been shipping him and Eri for as long as he'd known the girl, and he'd known her since they'd all taken refuge at UA after the Paranormal Liberation War. She was his best friend, and anything else he would staunchly deny.
"Then it's settled," Aunt Shino said, casting a sharp look at her teammate that quelled her teasing. "We can spend the last few days until the exam in the city."
Kota nodded in support, excitement boiling in his chest for what was to come. So much so that he glanced down at his shoes, a red pair even after all these years, and then back at the crumbled mountain where Deku had saved him.
'I'm coming,' he thought with surety.
Eri
Eri Togata had to bite back a laugh of joy as she swung through the faux-factory of training ground gamma, focusing on her training. She swung in a downward arc and then back up again, then flicked her wrist in a practiced motion to loosen the long stretch of fabric behind her that was wrapped around a pipe, then shot her arm forward to send it racing at another exposed pipe to tether and tighten with her weight.
And on and on as she swung through, engraving these motions ever further into her muscle memory. As if she hadn't been practicing for three years.
With a final swing, she soared into a flip and landed in a three-point stance, swinging her arm around to gather the fabric — the binding cloth unique to the pro hero Erasherhead and his proteges — in loops clutched in her hand like a cowgirl's lariat.
She kept still as her eyes darted around this place near the smokestacks, where she had promised to meet someone. She'd spent a happy day earlier in the week with one of her best friends, Kota Izumi, but now was the time for more training. The entrance exam was two days away and she wanted desperately to be ready.
Eri reached up and tapped her finger against the tip of the single horn to the side of her forehead framed by her mane of silky, wavy white hair. No longer a tiny, adorable little girl wracked with trauma, Eri had grown up to average height for her age and rather shapely, her figure filling out over the years with puberty and with lots of Rikido "Sugarman" Sato's baking counterbalanced by the self-defense training she'd asked for from so many of her family here at UA. After all these years of love and support, her crimson eyes were as bright and open as ever before with her dream so close.
"Nice entrance, Eri."
Eri gasped with delight and turned on the spot to see her adopted big brother. Mirio Togata striding across the open way with his hands in the pockets of his jeans, dressed in his usual flannel shirt and tee, his ever-present cheerful smile even brighter than usual.
"Lemillion!" Eri squealed and raced to hug him. Fifteen or not, she would never outgrow using his hero name, what she had first known him by.
"Hey, Sis!" he replied and swept her up in a spinning hug. As tall and muscular as ever, he handled her fifteen-year-old's weight like it was nothing. He settled her back to her feet, but they kept hugging for a little while longer.
"I've missed you," she whispered.
"Misse you, too," he replied.
"How's Suzu?" she asked. It had been Mr. Suzu Togata who officially adopted Eri, making her and Mirio brother and sister. Due to still living and being homeschooled on UA campus — something that had been arranged for her safety due to rumors of the yakuza sympathizers placing a price on her capture — she didn't get to see her adoptive father often. Mirio, however, visited as often as he could.
"He's doing just fine," Mirio said with an appreciative smile. "He says he should be able to visit some time after the term starts."
Eri smiled widely at this news, but her smile faltered when she noticed Mirio's gaze flick to the side for a split second, a twinkle of mischief glimmering in them that wasn't there before. "Mirio, what's going on?" Eri asked, hands on her hips and using his given name that she only used when angry … or suspicious of a prank.
"I dunno," he said cheerfully, and she didn't buy it for a second. She folded her arms and tapped her foot, lips pursed in a pout. Mirio sweatdropped and began to scratch the back of his head. "A guy can't surprise-" he raised his voice for that word, "-his sister?"
Eri's eyes widened and she spun on her heel. When she registered what she was seeing, she squealed with delight, clenched hands over her mouth. Standing a few feet away was a shortish girl her age, her hands clasped behind her back. Her dark-green hair was tied into twintails, which were further tied together in a bow at the small of her back, leaving her face open to showcase wide, round eyes and her tiny lips set in a perpetual small pout. She was slim in figure, though her hips were quite wide and her legs heavily muscled as shown by her short denim overalls over a yellow shirt, a frog embroidered on her front.
"Satsuki!" Eri shouted gleefully, racing to meet her best friend, who smiled and ran to meet her right back. They embraced and laughed, shaking each other before backing up but still holding each others' hands between them.
"What are you doing here?" Eri asked.
"Lemillion invited me," Satsuki said in her high voice. "Since the exam is coming up, he wanted us to train together one last time before it all. Kero."
Eri had to giggle at the Asui family's verbal tic slipping through, one that Satsuki's older sister, Tsuyu "Froppy" Asui, was well known for across Japan. Then she registered something and gently drew her hands away. "Last time?" she asked, something in those words ringing.
"That was the other reason," Satsuki said, her tone dropping. "Lemillion confirmed it and wanted me to break the news."
"We won't be in the same testing site," Eri realized.
"No. Kero," Satsuki replied. "Since you were homeschooled here, the school is separating us like they would people who went to school together."
"So we can't work together," Eri concluded with a sigh. They had known this was a possibility, even a probability, but that didn't make it any less sad. "At least Kota will be taking the recommendation test either way," she added, trying to lighten the mood.
Satsuki gave a high-pitched croak in her throat that might have been from agreement, sadness, or both.
"Ah, c'mon, ladies," Mirio said, striding up to them, pressing his fingertips into his cheeks to emphasize his smile. "Turn those frowns upside down! It's one last day of training before the entrance exam! Gotta make it count, right?"
"Yeah!" the girls said, clenching their upraised fists in perfect unison.
"And~" Mirio added with a teasing lilt to his voice, "I may or may not have set it up so you girls can have a two-day sleepover before the exam!"
Both girls gasped and lunged to hug Mirio with squeals of joy.
"Alright, alright, I know I'm the best. So let's get to it!" Mirio said, leading the way. "We'll start with mobility practice." As he spoke, most of his clothes fell away, leaving him only in tight-fitted charcoal workout pants. These, like his costume, were made from synthetic material derived from his cells and could phase with his Permeation Quirk so that he didn't have to train naked. Anymore. Such tech had come a long way in the eight years since he'd been in school, but it was still pricey, hence only the pants.
"Make it to the central tower first to win," Mirio said, slowly sinking into the ground. "Go!"
With that, the girls darted forward, eyes blazing and smiles bright.
Within other portions of the school campus that would be used for the entrance exams, Principal Nezu was riding on the very high shoulder of his executive assistant, Ms. Ippan Josei, the "tall fox woman" as many students tended to refer to her at first. The indeterminate small mammal was casting his gaze over small bunches of individuals who would be helping to execute the exam … their numbers counting in the high two-hundreds.
"Isn't it grand, Ms. Josei?" Nezu asked jovially.
"Sir?" Ippan asked.
"Another year is upon us. Many students are returning to our school, but these upcoming first-years …" Nezu was silent for a moment, a devious twinkle in his beady black eyes. "I have a feeling that many of this upcoming year will show great promise."
"I don't doubt it, sir," Ippan said, a few names coming to mind.
This story has been brewing in the back of my brain for ages and I am thrilled to finally start showing it off! Man, I hope you all have as much fun reading it as I have writing it!
*The title of the story is inspired by the titles of the first two MHA films: "Two Heroes" and "Heroes Rising." The title was originally going to be "Dawn Of An Era" but this hit me late at night and I couldn't not change it.
*Katsuma's old martial arts teacher was named after "Pat" Morita, who famously portrayed Mr. Miyagi in the "Karate Kid" film series.
*Katsuma using escrima (also called arnis or kali) sticks is inspired by a piece of fanart I've seen, which also heavily influenced their upcoming hero costumes. Don't know the source, but you've got credit!
*Kota's official profile lists him at age 5 during the Training Camp Arc, whereas Eri was 6 at her introduction and Katsuma the same age during the 2nd film. Some might think this places Kota a year below Eri and Katsuma, and I respect their interpretation, but I'm going with the idea that he turned six soon after and is within the confines of their grade.
*Kota training his Quirk, Water Gun, by firing at the mountain was hinted at the the third season. There's a circular, worn down place around the corner from his spot that I feel implies it's where he would work out his frustrations.
*Kota considering Ragdoll his "second aunt" is largely inspired by the fact that she was the one taking care of him at UA during the dark days, most noticeably when he rushed to comfort Midoriya during Uraraka's speech.
*For the sake of early clarity: Katsuma can use his Quirk on himself; Eri cannot use her Quirk on herself, only others.
*Suzu is Mirio's father, who was seen briefly in the series. His name means "tin," as in the metal – a reference to the comics character "Tintin" on whom Mirio and Togata Sr. seem to be stylistically based on.
*Yes, I made Ippan Josei, the "ordinary woman," Nezu's assistant. Within the continuity of most of my post-canon stories, she finished university after the LoV's defeat and Nezu sent her a job offer, which she accepted. She suspects that he likes having her around so that he can ride on her very high shoulder, but she's good at her job, too.
Here's hoping you enjoyed! Leave a review if you like! And may your own inspirations flow freely!
