Midoriya Izuku, a six-year-old boy with an infectious, cheek-to-cheek grin, lived happily with his mother, Midoriya Inko. Despite the challenges of being a single mother, Inko did everything she could to provide for her son. If anyone asked Izuku what he needed to be happy, he would simply reply, "Just my mom!"
At the age of four, Inko took Izuku to the doctor, where he was diagnosed as quirkless. With the rapid evolution of quirks, fewer and fewer people were born without them, and Izuku found himself among the rare, unfortunate few. But despite the crushing news, Izuku held onto his dream of becoming a hero, idolizing All Might with unwavering determination. His mother, however, was devastated. She blamed herself, wondering if she had done something wrong during her pregnancy. That night, she cried silently, but as hard as she tried to hide her tears, Izuku saw them. From that moment on, he pushed himself to never show her his pain. If she saw him hurt, she would only blame herself more, and he couldn't let that happen.
School was cruel to a boy without a quirk. Izuku was constantly bullied, especially by Bakugo Katsuki—Kacchan, as Izuku fondly called him. Their families had been close, and they had known each other since childhood, but that didn't stop Bakugo from turning against him. With his own powerful Explosion quirk, Bakugo gathered a group of friends who delighted in picking on weaker students. Izuku, being quirkless, was their favorite target.
Day after day, he came home covered in burns, bruises, and scratches, struggling to hide them from his mother.
"It wasn't his fault! I can handle it. I just need to get stronger!" he would insist when Inko asked who had hurt him. No matter how badly they treated him, he defended them. He refused to let the bullying break his spirit. All Might always smiled in the face of danger—so Izuku would smile too. He didn't need a quirk to be a hero.
But deep inside, he wished he had one. Not just to stop the bullying, but to prove to himself that he could be someone great. However, being quirkless wasn't something he could change. He told himself to stay strong—for his mom.
Inko worked long hours as a nurse, often taking overtime shifts to save money. Despite her exhaustion, she always made time for Izuku, playing games where he would save her from pretend villains. It was his favorite game.
One evening at the hospital, a coworker approached her.
"Hi, Inko. How have you been?"
"Oh, I've been good, thank you. Izuku keeps me on my toes," she replied with a chuckle.
"He sounds like a great kid. I always enjoy hearing about him. Can I ask you something? I might know someone who can help. Is he quirkless?"
Inko hesitated. She had heard enough hurtful remarks about quirkless people to brace herself for another one.
"I knew a family who had a son that was also quirkless. The man gave their son a quirk and he's been doing really good since. Their parents didn't even have to pay anything, I can give you the number to contact him if you'd like."
The words shocked Inko. It sounded too good to be true. But for Izuku, she would do anything. She took the number, tucking it into her scrub pocket, deciding to look into it after Izuku was asleep. She didn't want to tell him until a plan was made so he wouldn't get his hopes up if it wasn't true.
After the long shift she finally returns home. Izuku, who just got home from school a few hours earlier, embraces her in a huge warm hug. His freckled face beamed up at her as she ruffled his messy green curls. Later that day, after she put izuku to bed she moved to her bedroom with the door shut to look at the number contemplating. He had never once openly expressed sadness about being quirkless, but she knew. She saw the bruises, the forced smiles, the way he clung to his dream of heroism despite everything. She took a deep breath and dialed.
A deep voice answered. "Hello? May I ask who's calling and what's the purpose?"
"Oh, y-yes. My name is Midoriya Inko. A coworker gave me this number. She said you could grant my son a quirk? He's six years old and quirkless. I hope I have the right number."
"You are correct. We can make that happen. Please send over your address via text, and we will respond with a time. Have a good day, ma'am."
The call ended. That was… straightforward, Inko thought. Anxiety swirled in her chest, but she texted her address anyway.
After the call, Inko relaxes on the couch watching some tv before falling asleep. With the busy day at work added to the anxiety of the mysterious call she falls asleep easily. It wasn't until the morning when she woke up to a smiling freckled face in her face. Izuku, filled with energy, was telling her that he's ready for school. She takes his small face into her hands, looking into his big emerald green eyes, she can't be any happier. When you're around izuku your worries and stress goes away. How can you be sad with that adorable cheerful face smiling back at you. Placing a kiss on his forehead she finishes getting him ready and sends him off in the bus. She doesn't work today so she plans to tidy the house hoping the text for the appointment arrives. And not long did she have to wait. By noon she gets a ping in her phone.
Saturday 08:00
She looks at the message and immediately is relieved. Today is Friday, which makes the time tomorrow morning. She can't wait to tell izuku when he gets home from school. She spends the rest of the day cleaning the home, especially with the guests coming over she wants to make sure it looks good.
She knows izuku is home when she hears the small stomps of his feet as he sprints into the home. After they had a long embrace she crouches down so she's at eye level with Izuku, with her hands on his shoulders, she smiles.
"Hey baby, I got a surprise for you!"
Izuku's face immediately brightens up, he stares at her with excitement in his eyes, you can almost say they sparkled.
"What is it mom!?"
"So, tomorrow we are going to have some special guests coming over. This gentleman says that he can give you your very own quirk! How about that baby?"
Izuku's face immediately turns into shock, almost not believing what is being said.
"W-what? He's gonna give me a quirk!?"
"Yes baby! Would you like that?"
Immediately he jumps up and down nodding his head, smiling hard.
"Yes! Yes! Please yes! Thank you mommy!" He gives his mom the biggest hug he could manage. tears gleaming in his eyes. Izuku was always easy to cry, but it's nice that this time they're tears of happiness.
Inko can hardly get izuku to sleep that night as he was too excited, but after telling him that to be able to get the quirk he needed to get a good sleep, so with that he passed out not long after.
Having got Izuku up and fed, they now awaited their soon to be guests. Izuku insisted that he had to wear his AllMight onesie saying "I'm gonna be a pro hero! Just like AllMight!" At exactly 8:00 AM, a heavy knock echoed through the home. Inko opened the door to two men. The first was tall, dressed in a black suit with a mask and tubes around his neck. The second wore a long white button-up, a gray vest, and black pants. His face was obscured by swirling purple mist, with foggy yellow eyes peering through.
At the sight of the guests Midoriya shrank behind his mom, using her as comfort as he was nervous. After greeting the two, all four of them are seated in the living room.
"It's a pleasure to meet you both," the masked man said smoothly.
"This is Kurogiri, and I am Shigaraki Yoichi. You must be Midoriya Izuku. Your mother told me you want to be a big hero."
Izuku nodded shyly. "Li-like All Might!"
Yoichi chuckled. "That's amazing. I'm sure you'll be even greater. Let's begin. I will place my hand on your shoulder to transfer your new quirk. It will be a surprise!"
Izuku nods up at his mom and looks at her for confirmation, bouncing so much out of excitement he might fall off the couch.
Inko nods at Yoichi to confirm and the man positions himself in front of izuku. Izuku sits very still, biting his lower lip to help with his nervousness. The man places his right hand on Izuku's left shoulder and they both stay still for a few minutes. A cool sensation washes over Izuku. When the transfer is completed Izuku shivers and looks at the tall man now standing.
"The transfer is now complete, you did good son. " The man said cooly.
Inko beamed. "Oh, baby, come here!" She hugged him tightly, his small hands resting on her shoulders. Izuku has tears of happiness in his eyes, too excited to talk. He keeps his eyes shut hoping the moment will last forever. Then—
A sharp inhale. A shiver.
Inko gasped.
Izuku pulled away in confusion. His mother stumbled backward, her face contorted in horror and pain. Cracks spread along her arms, her skin crumbling into dust.
"Mom?" Izuku whispered, reaching out. His fingers grazed her cheek, and more of her disintegrated.
"Mommy?" His voice trembled. "I-I'm sorry! Don't go!"
She collapsed, her body breaking apart like fragile stone. Izuku fell to his knees, sobbing. He clutched at the remnants of his mother, hands full of ashes, unable to comprehend what had happened.
"Mom-mommy come back I-I'm sorry! Don't go! Mommy pl-please," he hiccups
"mommy I'm sorr-sorry!"
He doesn't understand what happened. He sits on the ground sobbing hands clasped in what was her. His breathing shortens, unable to get enough air between sobs. He's unaware of someone picking him up, of being cradled. Unaware of leaving his home with an unknown through a foggy door. Izuku is still sobbing, mumbling apologies and begging his mom to stay when he's tucked into an unknown bed. Eventually through exhaustion he passes out, not knowing what will happen next.
Unknown on what path he is about to go down.