Chapter 1: Deku

"GET OUT OF MY WAY YOU NERD!" Bakugo shouted, pushing past him to get onto the plane first.

"Sorry Kacchan!" Deku squeaked out quickly, throwing his hands up. He wished he still didn't get so nervous around Bakugo. Sure he was still stronger than him but Deku had proved that he was more than enough to get into Japan's prestigious U.A. He had shown Kacchan that he was good enough. So why did Deku still cower in fear every time Kacchan passed him? Deku swore to himself that this trip would be the turning point for him and Kacchan. He would finally stand up for himself and make Bakugo respect him.

"Hurry up Deku," Uraraka said pushing past him. "You're holding up the line." Ochocko Uraraka was an enigma to Deku. She was a very nice girl who was also very pretty. Except she didn't seem to like him very much for some reason. Sure he hadn't exactly been the nicest to her when they first met but that was only because he was so set on proving himself to Kacchan. Deku had tried to get to know her after he had gotten accepted into U.A. but she always ignored him or acted coldly to him. This was in extreme contrast to how she acted with her little girl squad she was always around. She was always so giggly and happy with them but the moment she looked at him her mood would change immediately and she would just glare at him. Deku didn't understand what he did wrong when he asked Toshinori about it but got nothing from him.

"Well Young Midoriya I must admit I'm not the most qualified person for this question," Toshinori admitted rubbing the back of his neck. "I never really had much time for girls. All I know about the workings of women is that they can be unpredictable vixens capable of holding grudges for years."

Deku snapped out of his thoughts as he boarded the plane and made his way to his seat. He had the window seat which was a plus. He looked over as someone sat down next to him. It was Denki Kaminari. Deku didn't know Kaminari well despite being in the same class as him, and he only recognized him because Kaminari had very striking and immediately recognizable hair. It was a very bright yellow but that wasn't what made it so recognizable. It was the black lightning bolt that Kaminari had dyed into it.

"Hey, You're Midoriya right?" Kaminari said, reaching out his hand. "I'm Kaminari, but you probably already knew that. We've never really talked much but since we'll be sitting next to each other for over 14 hours I figured we should get to know each other. Especially since we'll be in the same class for the rest of high school."

"Yeah you're probably right," Deku said, taking Kaminari's hand and shaking it. "It's a pleasure to talk with you. I… well I don't have a lot of friends," Deku said, shaking his head. It was honestly sad how little socializing he did. He sort of talked with Class 1A's class rep, Tenya Ida, however they were more acquaintances than anything else. Deku was definitely the black sheep of Class 1A. He was one of the first students to get into U.A. without having a special talent. See U.A. is a private school for the gifted, meaning if you wanted you had to be exceptional at something and Classes A and B were for the most exceptional of the entire school. For instance, Kaminari was a wiz when it came to electronics, Kacchan had a knack for making explosive devices, and Todoroki who got in based on recommendation had an affinity for fire and ice though he refused to work with fire out of spite toward his father. Everyone in U.A ( and Class 1A especially) had some talent that made them special. Deku however did not. He got in solely based on test scores and his intense persistence. This caused people to avoid him and even hate him for being there despite being ordinary.

"Yeah, most people don't seem to like you do they?" Kaminari asked, scratching the back of his head. "Not that I think anyone in Class 1A hates you or anything. I mean with the exceptions of Bakugo and Uraraka most of us think that you're pretty cool. Plus I get it. You know… not being very popular" Kaminari said with a bit of a sad smile.

"Really? I always figured that because you hang out with Kirishima, who is basically the coolest and nicest person in the class, you would be more popular," Deku said, confused.

"Well let's just say that most people think that Kirishima shouldn't be hanging out with 'Riff raff like me'" Kaminari said, putting the last part in air quotes. "Of course, he says that I shouldn't listen to what they say. He says I'm more than good enough to hang out with whoever I want and that it's so 'manly' of me to keep hanging out with him despite everything everyone says. He supports me because he's just that good of a guy."

"I think Kirishima is right about that. He definitely does seem like the type of guy to stick up for his friends," Deku said deep in thought. If only I had friends like that, Deku thought.

"Well, I think that you should hang out with me and Kirishima more. He'd definitely love to hang out with you. He thinks that you're super manly for pushing and getting into U.A. despite your lack of a special talent. He says that it shows just how determined you are, and just between you and me, I think he secretly looks up to you for it," Kaminari said leaning over conspiratorially.

"There's no way he admires me," Deku said surprised. "He's so much cooler than me, has more talent, and always does his best. There's just no way he could be inspired by a nobody like me."

"I think you're selling yourself a little short there Midoriya," Kaminari said with a laugh. "Don't you remember the reason you got into U.A.? You went out of your way to help Uraraka even when it meant that you would do worse on your test. That is what Kirishima and everyone else in this class respects about you. That you are willing to go out of your way to help someone even if comes at the detriment of yourself. That is why you are so cool Midoriya!"

"Tell that to Bakugo and Uraraka won't you," Deku said with a hollow laugh.

"I really don't know why Uraraka doesn't like you," Kaminari said, scratching his head. "Although I also don't know much about women and don't want to give you advice with your girl problems. Especially since I haven't even dealt with my own." He said this looking over at a certain purple-haired girl sitting in a seat three rows back.

"Does Jirou not like you either for no good reason at all?" Deku said, starting to feel a little relieved that he wasn't the only one.

"Yeah I really don't know what I did, which I guess you can relate to," Kaminari said, shaking his head. "Women are crazy man."

"Preach brother," Deku said, getting comfortable. The flight attendant gave the same old pre-flight spiel before they took off. As they took off into the air Kaminari laid back and yawned.

"Wake me up when they start serving dinner," he mumbled before closing his eyes.

"Okay Kaminari," Deku said leaning back in his own chair taking notes about Kaminari in his notebook. He had been taking notes for as long as he could remember about people who had incredible talents. Everything from their talent to their personality Deku wrote it down and kept it as inspirational material for himself. If he didn't have a talent then he would make one by picking his favorite qualities from the most talented people he met.

"You can call me Denki," Denki said with a smile.

"Okay, then you can call me Izuku. Or Deku if you prefer," Deku said leaning back down as Denki passed out. Deku just had a feeling that this was going to be the turning point for him. Things had finally started going better and there was nowhere left to go but up. This was going to be the best trip ever!