'I yelled at her. She was trying to help me, and I turned her away. What's wrong with me?'

Izuku had retreated to the forest in his neighborhood, away from modern civilization. He stood perfectly still with his eyes closed. He suddenly raised his hand and caught a green fireball. He threw it over his shoulder, and it curved around. He tilted his head and the ball missed him. Behind Izuku's eyelids, he could "see" his power circling around him, acting as a second set of eyes. So if he ever goes blind, it won't matter much.

He opened his eyes and jotted down in his notebooks. He decided to spend the day in solitude, learning and working on the more technical aspects of his quirk. He was trying to distract himself from his encounter with that Yaoyorozu girl, but his mind kept showing him her distraught face as he yelled at her. Izuku sighed and put down his pen. 'Maybe I have an ability to burn my own memories.' he humored.

He flipped through the pages of his notebook, reviewing the entries he's made on either his power or his day. But he came across something that was neither. It was a sketch. Izuku liked drawing almost as much as writing, and it made his notes more interesting. He did one of Yaoyorozu. Perhaps it was to clear his mind of the guilt from that encounter, but there was another reason. Izuku had spent hours of his life staring at the picture of his grandmother, Nana Shimura, so when he met someone who carried a striking resemblance to her, he couldn't help but do a comparison. The sketch below Yaoyorozu was one of Shimura.

...

Izuku closed his eyes and opened them. His sclera were glowing green as he looked at his hand. It was orange to his eyes. "Thermal vision. Nice. This'll come in handy."

Snap!*

Izuku turned around quickly at the sound of a twig breaking. He jumped up to a sturdy tree branch where his backpack was, and looked into the direction of the sound. He didn't detect anything warm. He switched to his regular vision, and saw two dark green-haired kids, a boy and a little girl, walking through the forest. 'Kids? Well, I shouldn't be surprised considering I used to wander around here, too. They're heat signature is low enough to blend in that my thermal vision couldn't detect them. They must be cold-blooded.'

Izuku put on his mask and a cap before slowly making his way down the tree and to the kids. "Hey." Both of them jumped slightly and backed away at the arrival of the stranger. The girl hid behind her brother, who put his arm out to protect her. Izuku, in spite of being through an emotional roller-coaster recently, was touched by the caring sibling display he saw. He kneeled down to try and relax the kids.

"Are you two lost?" he asked softly. They both nodded. Izuku looked past them and activated his thermal vision, turning his sclera green again. Through the trees, he could see an orange blur. 'That looks like a whole group from here.' "All right, I can get you back to your group. Follow me." When Izuku started walking, the boy grabbed the hem of his shirt while holding his little sister's hand. "T-Thanks..." he said. "Yeah, t-thanks." she said. Izuku's eyes softened. He cleared his throat before speaking.

"You two are siblings, aren't you?" They both nodded. Izuku looked ahead and started leading them out of the forest.

...

At the entrance of the forest, a woman with snow white hair and red highlights wearing glasses was pacing nervously around a group of kids.

'Where could they be, where could they be!? The Asui kids' big sister will be here to pick them up any minute now!' Speak of the frog, a girl with long dark green hair walked up to her. "Hi Ms Todoroki. I'm here to pick up my brother and sister."

"Excuse me, but are these yours?" A voice asked them. From behind a masked boy were two frog-looking kids. "Satsuki? Samidare?" the older frog asked. "Tsu!" they both ran up to her and hugged their older sister. "Ribbit! What happened on your field trip?" The now named Satsuki and Samidare released "Tsu" from the hug. "We saw a neat looking bug, a-and followed it to see if there were more bugs like it. It was a nice snack, but we got lost, ribbit." the boy explained. "And that guy found us." the girl finished.

Tsu and the teacher looked at the boy who looked like he hadn't slept well in a few days. "Thank you so much for bringing them back." the adult bowed and said. "Thank you, and sorry for the trouble. My siblings can be a hassle." Tsu bowed. "It's no problem." Izuku said with little emotion. The rest of the other kids were getting picked up by their parents, which left the five of them on their own. "Can I suggest something?" Izuku asked.

...

Izuku's suggestion was going to a nearby playground to end on a better note. This time, the Asui siblings were watched carefully by six vigilant eyes, and the little ones still got to have their fun. "This was a great idea, Zu." Tsuyu said with a finger on her chin. "Yeah, and thanks again for... doing my job of looking after these kids." Fuyumi Todoroki said. "I shouldn't have had to do anything." Izuku said bitterly. He looked at her with a sideways glance. "You're responsible for them, how could you let them run off like that. You're lucky I was there and not some scumbag."

Fuyumi shrunk under his harsh but true words. "You're right, I'm responsible for them. I should've been more vigilant. Sorry. I'll do better." Izuku sensed she was genuinely remorseful for her mistake, and even said she'll do better. He lightened up on her. "I can't imagine teaching is an easy job with all those curious kids to look after, ribbit. Even Samidare broke away, and he's one of the older few." Tsuyu said.

"So, uh, what were you doing in that forest anyway?" Fuyumi asked, making Izuku tense up a bit. "I just like the quiet." he spoke. "You seem to know this place well. Are you from here?" Tsu asked. Zu gripped his arm tightly. "You might say that." There was an uncomfortable silence between the three of them. Tsuyu and Fuyumi were greatly curious about Zu's situation. "Hey Zu?" The boy looked at the frog girl, showing her his tired, hurt eyes. "I'm the kind of person who says what's on my mind. You look like you have a lot of issues; do they stem from home?" Fuyumi was taken aback by Tsuyu's personal question, but Zu didn't show a similar reaction. He stayed silent for a bit.

"...Do you know what it's like to be overlooked and ignored by somebody who's supposed to be there for you?" "More than you think." Fuyumi spoke up. Izuku put his bandaged right hand on his face. "Do you... have anything you want to get off your chest?" she asked worriedly. Izuku thought back to the last person he talked to that lent him an ear. "A little." He took in a deep breath before beginning.

"I hate my family, I suffered neglect and abuse. I was treated differently for being quirkless. And my sibling got endless attention and praise for being 'born gifted'. Same for my old friend. I've tried to understand why, but at this point, I might be better off without them." Tsuyu and Fuyumi listened intently. His voice was mostly level, hardly ever cracking. That meant he had lingering sadness. "I know what you mean," Fuyumi started. "I don't exactly come from the prettiest family either, and I can relate to having a talented sibling."

"But have you ever tried to reconnect with them, like trying to talk this through?" Izuku grit his teeth. "More than I can count. My latest attempt was by far the most horrific..." he growled at the end and clenched his fist. "That might have been a mistake." "Huh?" "Ribbit?" Tsu and Zu looked at her in confusion. "I'm not a licensed therapist, I'm going on instinct, but hear me out. You're not at all wrong for wanting something better from your family, but it's something that all sides have to want. You don't have to be upfront right away, but maybe take some time to think. Do they show any signs of wanting what you want? Are you absolutely sure you know what you want? It's completely up to you what you choose, but I've always found it better to make an informed decision. Watch them and see if you really want to be with that family. Until then, don't revolve entirely around this unpleasant topic. You could find healthy distractions like exercise or reading to keep a healthy psyche. Don't be afraid to put yourself first sometimes."

Izuku took everything the woman said to heart. She was making complete sense, and it made him feel like going home wasn't a complete mistake. He learned how his mother feels, heart-shattering as the truth is. He's got a pretty good read on Izumi too. So that just leaves... 'Dad...' Izuku felt a tap on his shoulder. It was from Tsuyu.

"You don't have to answer, but what's your family like?" she asked with gentle eyes. Zu ran a hand through his hair. "My mom's a pro hero, and my sister wants to be one too. They both have strong quirks. My step-dad works with the police and has a weak strength enhancer. Just enough to make lifting a couch or fridge easy. His mom was a hero, too. Save for my old man, heroing is kinda like the family business. Things went off the rails when I was diagnosed as 'Quirkless'. I was ignored by my parents, bullied by my sister and best friend. Told to off myself. That was the final push I needed to leave. And you know, I can take care of myself better than they bothered to, which speaks volumes about my home life."

Fuyumi and Tsuyu felt their hearts clench at his words. While neither of them had it the best at home for varying reasons, they believed every member of a family should receive love from someone. Izuku sighed and stood up from the bench. "Thanks for the talk, it helped. I'm sorry for being so harsh, Ms Todoroki. I can only imagine how taxing a job managing a bunch of kids is." He walked away, but felt a hand grab his right one gently. He looked back at Tsu holding him. "Come stay with us." she said, surprising Izuku and Fuyumi.

"Ribbit, you don't have to go back to your abusers, they're the ones who turned their backs on you. And you deserve to live in a better place." Zu's eyes widened at the Asui sister's offer, or maybe even request. "T-That means a lot, but I don't want to be a bother to anyone." Fuyumi then stood up. "I still live with my father, but we have comfortable guestrooms. I'm sure he wouldn't mind, he isa hero too."

Izuku felt his heart warming at the kindness these girls exhibited for him. They're offering him new homes to choose from. A fresh start. He could leave his painful past behind. But... 'They're not offering Izuku to live with them. They're offering Zu.' The warmth in his heart turned cold, and he gently pulled away from Tsu. "I appreciate it, truly, but I can't accept. I... I just can't. Don't worry, I can take care of myself. You just worry about your own families, I get the feeling your both vital to them." Zu walked away from the playground, his eyes unmistakably sad.

'I'm sorry, Todoroki, Asui. But sooner or later, it'll be revealed that I'm the Green Devil. I don't want you to pay for harboring an illegal vigilante murderer. Besides...' He passed another missing person poster. He glared intensely at the 'Yagi' name. 'The only way I'll ever go back to that house is on my terms!'

...

'A healthy distraction, huh? Maybe this will help.' Zu walked through the streets of a calm suburb scrolling through the news on his phone. A headline caught his eye that he thought was worth remembering. Ingenium Thwarts Shipment Of Illegal Quirk Drugs.

He then found another that made his eyes widen. Aldera Junior High Shut Down
Light has been shed on the discrimination and malpractices of this school, deeming it an unsuitable environment for growing children. Several staff members were taken to court, where they were found guilty of neglect and actively encouraging the bullying of a quirkless student who had just as much of a right to an environmentally healthy education as the most gifted quirk user.

Izuku's heart suddenly felt lighter. One of his hells was finally facing punishment! At last, the teachers got what they deserved for causing him to suffer. If this distraction isn't healthy, fuck it, Izuku doesn't want to be healthy! He scrolled down to the comments, and found a name he recognized. Momo Yaoyorozu.

"I ran into some kids from Aldera at a local shopping mall. One was being harassed by two others, so I went to find an authoritarian to assist. When I returned, the victim seemed to have an intense reaction to the harassment. We conversed, and that's how I learned about the inexcusable behavior fostered in Aldera Junior High."

'Yaoyorozu...' Izuku held his phone with a shaky hand as tears filled his eyes. He knew her name, her influential, powerful name. 'I'm glad there are people like you with power.' Izuku read on, coming to the names he hates the most: Bakugo and Yagi. There was a little debate going on. Some say that the two are top tier heroes in the making. Most of them are sympathizers since the Green Devil hospitalized them. Others with sense called them out as the future villains they are. Selfish narcissists that put themselves first and belittle the weak. Though, these people are accused of being jealous.

"Fuck...!!" Izuku's good mood came to an end when he heard a familiar grumble. He jumped into a tree to observe from above. Whether it was accidental or intended, Izuku had walked back to his old house, where Toshinori had parked his truck with Izumi and Katsuki stepping out. 'Observe and make an informed decision, huh Todoroki? Okay, let's see how this plays out.'

"Damned uptight bitch!" Katsuki cursed. Izumi was next to him looking not as aggravated, but still pissed off. "Sticking her knows where it doesn't belong!" "Thanks to her, our school has a black mark! Yaoyorozu screwed up our hero path over something ridiculous!" Izuku knew what his twin sister and old friend were talking about, and it made him livid. They were talking bad about Yaoyorozu for ratting out their wretched school, the place that made education a nightmare for him, their stomping ground. That alone made him angry enough, but they had the nerve to say it was on ridiculous claims.

Maybe it's ridiculous because the one that was never seen was public punching bag no.1! They dismissed Yaoyorozu's justified actions as over the top and absolutely unnecessary; all because of their infuriating ignorance to the damage they caused, particularly to him! 'Not even an hour since they left the hospital and I already want to send them back! Maybe a few broken bones will settle the score...! But what I'm wondering is, what will you do, dear old Dad?'

The underweight blonde man hadn't spoken, not listening much to Izumi and Katsuki's tirade. "Dad, are you listening!?" "This is bullshit, and you know it, Uncle!" Toshinori finally turned to look at them. "Actually, I don't see it that way, Katsuki," he began, confusing the three kids listening. "You two will have to either move to a different school, or start homeschool, but this could be a blessing in disguise. You won't be the first to become heroes after leaving that poor school, but this gives us more time to train you for U.A."

At this point, the Yagi patriarch lost them. "You? Train us? No offense, Unc, but you'll need something a lot stronger than that puny strength quirk to challenge us." Katsuki proclaimed. The sheer arrogance in his voice made Izuku grip his tree as smoke began to rise from it. "I think I'll be able to suffice, Katsuki." Toshi grinned at him. He looked back and forth to make sure no one was around listening. Izuku found it incredibly disappointing that, despite being careful of his surroundings, his step-dad still failed to notice him.

"You two fought the Green Devil, that outlaw that brutally murdered those four muggers. I don't know much about him or his strange quirk, but it seems to be changing, evolving. If he's as young as you are, he has a lot of room to grow. That could mean trouble for everyone down the line. He needs to be stopped." Izumi and Katsuki agreed completely, getting all fired up. 'The next time I see that bastard, I'll blow his fucking head off!' 'He got lucky, but luck doesn't last forever!'

Izuku, on the other hand, felt a deep blow to his heart that created a hole. They abandoned him, tortured him, pushed him away, and now they have the nerve to talk about him like he's the villain. And for what, giving the brats a long-deserved dose of humility!?

"Put your all into this training, and you two will be more than a match for the Green Devil by the time you start high school. You'll be truly mighty, and do you know why?" Katsuki and Izumi looked at him questioningly, expecting a follow up to that question. And boy did it blow them away.

The skinny Toshinori began to inflate, muscles growing like balloons. His facial features became more filled out, with an awe-inspiringly familiar grin being etched on his face. Izumi and Bakugo couldn't believe what they were seeing and wondered if it was a dream they were having. Izuku was praying that it was a nightmare they were all sharing.

"BECAUSE I AM HERE!" All Might in the flesh said his catchphrase.

Katsuki and Izumi were at a loss for words. In front of them, where Toshinori once stood, was the heroic symbol they'd admired their whole lives. They couldn't move, blink or breathe right. All Might continued. "That's right, future heroes! It is I, All Might! AKA: Toshinori Yagi, father of Izumi Yagi and proud husband to Inko Yagi, AKA: Teleki!" For someone to loudly yell his true identity where literally anyone could pass through and see him was incredibly stupid, but Izuku was too betrayed and heartbroken to point that out.

"D...Dad..." Izumi finally uttered. "Y-You... I... when, how... all this time..." Katsuki was starting to reel, too. "All... Might... Toshi... the hell...?" Izuku caught his breath much faster than these two, and that was directly after his own encounter with a villain. All Might had to manually reset them with chops on the head. That did it. "Alright, would anyone care to explain THE FUCK!?!?" Katsuki asked. "Yeah, Dad, what the hell!? You've been All Might this whole time!? And Mom knows!? When were you going to tell me!?" All Might's grin never wavered. "It was supposed to be your 14th birthday present, but things got... dicey all of a sudden."

Izuku clutched his pounding chest, struggling to breathe and comprehend this new reality. All Might and his father are the same person! The person who ignored him for ten years, and the person who shattered his dreams are one and the same.

"I am here to train you both. Young Izumi, your Telekinesis will one day outshine your mother's. And Young Katsuki, your impressive explosions have so much potential! Teleki and I will train you both to reach your peak! Together, we'll stop the vigilante menace known as the Green Devil and save Izuku! And you two will one day become the greatest hero duo of all time!"

All Might's uplifting speech was music to Izumi and Katsuki's ears. Just when they were at their lowest, the Pillar of Justice comes and lifts them even higher than before. That's the no.1 hero for you! They both raised their hands, Izumi levitating pebbles off the ground and Katsuki creating explosions in his palms.

Izuku was having possibly the worst day of his life. His tormentors were being praised, and selected to train under who he once saw as the greatest hero. He clenched his eyes shut and put a hand on his mouth to cover his whimpers. As soon as All Might deflated back to Toshinori, he turned and lead Izumi and Bakugo into the house for more explaining. When he saw Yagi's back again, something in him slipped. He removed his hand from his mouth, and his mask was burned right off his face. He punched his tree with his right hand and left a smoking fist print.

Toshinori, Bakugo and Izumi all turned around at the noise, and found nothing but smoldering material dangerously close to the house. Toshi quickly moved to stamp out the potential fire. He saw that it was burned bandaging. 'That was close, the whole house could've caught on fire.'

...

Izuku flew through the late evening sky, light fading to darkness as he appeared as a green comet through the sky. He landed with a violent, fiery, smoldering crash on the roof of the nearest building. His eyes were pouring tears profusely as he stumbled onto his feet. "Dammit... damn it all...!" he whimpered. He opened his eyes and realized, that by some cruel twist of fate, he was on the roof of the recently shut down Aldera.

"Go take a swan dive off the roof, you quirkless trash!"

Just one more gut punch before he snapped.

"DAAAAMMMMIIIITTTTT!!!" he screamed as he enveloped his right hand in wildly burning viridescent fist punched the roof and shattered the footing beneath him. The concrete and air conditioning units fell down into his old classroom, crushing everything. Izuku hovered above the destruction caused by his emotions, feeling almost no pain in the hand he used to cause this. He closed his eyes as tears still fell down.

'No. No more. That's it! I'm done! I watched them, I saw all I needed to see! I've made my decision!' Izuku opened his eyes, green flames burning in them again. His tears evaporated instantly, and his lower face to his collarbone was veiled in scarf-like fires. "I'm done. I'm done with the Yagi's. I'm done with Bakugo. I'm done with All Might. That is my decision! I never had a family, and never needed one!" The Green Devil flew off into the night, his flames burning to a degree that would consume every bastard in his presence.