"Nice shirt."
"Huh?"
"Your shirt. It just says 'SHIRT'. I like a little meta humor."
"Oh..." Izuku looked down at the shirt he was wearing. "Uh...thanks."
"Hm," Iwao nodded, "Well, either way, welcome to my gym, kid."
"Uh...okay..." Izuku looks around the interior of the 'gym'.
The gym in question was basically in an area at the back of the garage, where a large green mat was placed in the middle of the room that they were in. There were weights and dumbbells placed around the area, along with a couple of workout benches, other fighting workout equipment, and a stand that hung a punching bag.
"Um...so, do you own this...auto-garage?" Izuku asked him.
"Nah. I just know a kid who asked his uncle if he could lend his garage shop for me to train in. I was fortunate enough that his uncle said yes, so he helped me set this whole thing up. I usually come here to train around closing hours, and since this is Sunday, I train here all day, so you happen to come here on the right day and time. My home is also basically where I plan my patrols, calibrate my weapons, and rest, but in here, I get back on my feet and get myself back in shape."
"Uh...okay..." Izuku glanced down at the ground and thought what to ask next. "...Um..." he looked up at Iwao, "How long did you become a...a vigilante?" Izuku asked.
...After a short pause, Iwao answered, "Around five years. I was once a Pro Hero."
"Huh?! You were?!" Izuku asked in shock. "But, you said you were Quirkless!?"
"Yeah, I did...I was once known as the High-Speed Hero: O'Clock."
"O'Clock...? Wait, that name sounds familiar..."
"Yeah. The name faded away as time went on..." Iwao stood there as he looked like he was reflecting on those days.
"What, um...What happened?" Izuku asked him warily. "How did you lose...y-your Quirk?
"...Simply put, All For One."
Izuku froze at that name.
"Met him one time...he took my Quirk and gave it to someone else...one of his...creations, subordinates, either one, I suppose. It's a long story."
"...So...you became a vigilante after your Quirk was...stolen?"
"Yeah...and as you can see, I didn't let that deter my resolve. I kept going. I was working on cases that involved the Quirk-enhancing drug, Trigger, and soon it turned into a whole rabbit hole of events one after the other...I even mentored two kids to let them follow the path of Heroism. One's in America right now with Captain Celebrity as his sidekick, and the other is just living her life around here, retired from the vigilante life."
"Wow..." Izuku then realized something, "Wait, Captain Celebrity's sidekick!? He's known as Skycrawler!"
"Heh. Correct. You know your Heroes," Iwao smiled softly as he reminisced, "Before he became Skycrawler, the kid saved my life at one time when I was down on my luck after losing my Quirk...I wish I could see him now. He's probably doing a great job over there."
"And...who's the other one that you mentored?"
"Hm. She's a shy girl, but she has a brave and pure heart. Her vigilante name was PopStep. Like I said, she's living her life now...she's doing good. I always try to keep in contact with her."
"Huh...okay then," Izuku muttered, "So...you fought crime without a Quirk?"
"Yep. That I did. The drive to be a Hero was too strong in me, and I wasn't going to give it up so easily."
"Wow..." Izuku then thought of his predicament. "...You're almost kind of like me, in a way."
"Really? What do you mean?" asked Iwao curiously.
"Oh, uh, I mean, I wasn't saying that in a negative way, first of all!" Izuku defended himself hurriedly, "I was just...well, I guess the part that makes us similar is that we had a Quirk one time, but we lost it...and, I guess...you being Qurikless and still having that drive to be a Hero, even if you are a vigilante...it kind of reminded me of my..." he frowned, glancing at the floor for a second, and looking up at Iwao, "Oguro-Sensei, what I'm about to say..." he paused, "...Actually, I don't think it matters how secret this is, because...All Might's Quirk is gone."
"Hm? What about All Might's Quirk?"
"...You probably heard back at the confrontation against Joker...so, what I said back at the train...I...I lied. It didn't come to me late...I was really born Quirkless."
...Iwao didn't say anything. Not even a gasp of shock. However, he widened his eyes just a bit in surprise and kept his composure as he stayed silent.
"I...I was diagnosed Quirkless at the age of four. I really want to be a Hero…to help people, to save people, to tell people that it's okay...like All Might's saying, I want to tell people that 'I am here'..." Izuku gazed at the floor, "...the Quirk that I had was actually All Might's...he gave me his Quirk. I inherited it...the Quirk was called One For All."
The older man stood there as he listened...
"...I wanted to go to UA, because..." he thought of Bakugou, how they made that childhood promise... "...I made a promise...also, All Might was going to teach there. He told me beforehand...and...I just wanted to be a Hero like him..."
"...Hm...I'm sorry you had to deal with all of that, Midoriya."
"...Thanks..." Izuku knows the meaning behind that sentence.
...They both stood there...
"...Kid," Iwao spoke up.
Izuku looked up at the older man.
"Just so you know, I meant what I said. Your Quirk is just one of your tools. But your will is the most strongest tool of them all."
"...I remember."
Iwao nodded. "Then keep that in mind. You're not weak. You're strong. Because you keep going."
...Izuku nodded with a genuine smile on his face.
Smiling at the boy also, Iwao began to lead him to the gym area. "Okay then. Let's get started."
"U-Um, what are we doing?" Izuku asked him as he followed him.
"Well, whatever you feel like you need to do. You got the muscle on you, so what did you do to gain all of it?"
"Huh?" Izuku blinked as he blushed a tiny bit, "Well...I basically did an exercise plan that All Might gave me before he gave me his Quirk."
"Oh? What does it entail?"
"...Mostly removing the heavy trash on a beach nearby."
"...That's it?"
"Well, no, I did laps around a park and a few blocks..."
"...Did All Might teach you how to fight at least?"
"Uh...he-...well...no..."
"..."
"...I mean, he was really trying to beef me up on carrying One For All, his Quirk!"
"...Yet he didn't teach you how to fight?"
"..." Izuku felt deflated, "You know...looking back, I could've learned how to fight while exercising..."
Wow...All Might may be a great Hero, but he's...yeah, his teaching skills are less to be desired. Even in UA, he's kind of...mediocre...he basically just let me wing it while I was in the Entrance Exam without any fighting skills...
Iwao seemed to think the same thing, as he said, "So you had to figure it out on your own?"
"...I guess so," Izuku looked a little discouraged.
"...Alright then. Well, like I said, you got the build, you just need a fighting style to accompany it."
"But, what kind of fighting style?"
"That, kid, we're going to have to find out."
Iwao got into a fighting stance.
"Try to land a hit on me as best as you can," he said.
Izuku blinked again, "Really? R-Right now?"
"Yeah. Try to land a hit."
"Uh..." Izuku got into his own fighting stance, albeit feeling a little unsure. "O-Okay..."
Once a second of silence passed, Izuku went forward to deliver a punch, aiming it at Iwao's chest.
However, Iwao swatted the punch and landed a fist on his chest, making him go off balance a bit.
"Oof!" Izuku grunted.
"You're too slow. You got to be confident in your punches." Iwao instructed.
"Ugh...um, o-okay," Izuku shook off the force of that push. "Sorry, I'm usually confident in my punches when I had One For All."
"But you don't. Now you got to rely on your raw strength." Iwao told him, "And don't worry about hitting me hard. You got to pretend I'm your enemy. I can take any hit you give me. The scar I have on my face pretty much proves it. I'll only hold back at first, but when you really want to get serious, we can fight for real."
"Um..." Izuku scratched the side of his face, a little shamefaced, "I don't think I can get too serious right now. If I do that, then my mom will start to wonder why I'm always beaten up every time I go out."
"Hm. Good point. Well then, I'll hold back and you can go nuts on me."
Izuku looked back at Iwao and smirked. Now with determination, he got into a fighting stance. "Okay. I'm gonna try again. I won't hold back and I'll give it my all."
Iwao smirked, "Now we're talking."
Meanwhile, at Musutafu Hospital
10:00 AM
Mitsuki and Masaru were all in Katsuki's room, the former next to his bedside as she gave him any kind of comfort, while the latter was next to his wife as he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. Both parents looked at their son as he rested with a brace collar on his neck, and with a whole body cast on him.
It was then that someone knocked on the door to Katsuki's room.
The parents looked in the direction of the door, which opened as a nurse came in.
"Excuse me for the moment, but someone wants to visit your son," the female nurse said.
Mitsuki and Masaru glanced at each other in surprise, and back at the nurse, with Masaru asking her, "Oh, uh...who is it?"
"A girl named Uraraka Ochako," she said as she let the girl in.
Ochako came in, wearing a blue short-sleeved shirt, light denim jeans, and white slip-on shoes. She looked a little nervous as she entered the room.
"Um...hi," Ochako spoke.
Both parents blinked.
"Uh...hello, Ms. Uraraka," Masaru said, "Did you...um, come to see Katsuki?"
"Uh, y-yeah...a-and you can just call me Uraraka. I-I don't think I deserve the right to be called 'Miss' yet, heh..."
"Ah. Right. Of course, my apologies," Masaru said with a nod and a soft smile.
Mitsuki looked at the girl, studying her to see if there was any ulterior motive behind this visit. Ochako looked at Mitsuki and almost shrunk in her gaze.
"...You...came to see my son?" Mitsuki asked her.
Ochako stood straight to gain some confidence and nodded, "Y-Yes. I...I kind of want to speak to your son for a moment..."
"Oh...um..." Masaru glanced at Mitsuki, who was still looking at her curiously. He looked back at the young girl, "Do you...want us to leave for a minute?"
"Oh, well, uh...I mean, it's...well, yeah, it's kind of private," Ochako said as she glanced at the floor and fiddled with her hands.
Mitsuki looked at the girl...and seeing that she meant no harm, said to her, "Alright," she stood up, "Just...don't smile at him. He gets really set off."
"Oh, yeah, I...I know. I...I was there...yeah..." Ochako said as she frowned, remembering the moment with her friends.
Masaru also stood up and said, "Well, we'll leave you two alone then..."
Before they went, Mitsuki looked at her son one last time, eyes tender and warm. Masaru patted her shoulder, giving her attention as he gave her a reassuring look and a nod. Mitsuki and Masaru then walked out of the room, leaving Ochako and Katsuki alone.
Uraraka pulled up a chair near Bakugou's bedside and sat on it. She remained quiet as she stared at Bakugou...
"...Bakugou?" Uraraka called out.
"..." His eyes opened up, and they shifted to his left, his head almost moving to the left. "...Round Face."
Uraraka almost smiled sheepishly, so she kept her expression stoic, "Yeah, it's me. But my name is Uraraka Ochako, just so you know."
"..." Bakugou looked up at the ceiling, quiet as he could be.
"...Well, I just came here to...maybe...talk a little bit? I mean, I..." glancing at her lap in thought, Uraraka tried to think of some way to say this, "...You have some sort of...history with...Midoriya..." she looked up at Bakugou, "So, I just...want to know what your history is with him. I mean, I'm not here because I want to ask about Midoriya, I'm really just...curious...and I want to know how I can, like, you know...help out anything that may be a problem between you two...I-I don't know, I just...y-you've been hurt, and...you lost your Quirk, as well as Midoriya's, and...I-I just thought as a classmate, I would help out my classmates...you and Midoriya..."
"..." Bakugou was silent, still staring at the ceiling.
"...I'm...I'm really sorry to hear that you can't enjoy a smile anymore...that's...that's really a horrible thing to be scared of...smiles are supposed to make you feel good...they're supposed to comfort you...and...they also show...that they care..."
"..."
"...That...That evil person shouldn't have done that to you...to make you afraid of smiles..."
"..."
"...You didn't deserve that..."
"...No. You're wrong."
Uraraka looked up at Bakugou in surprise.
Bakugou continued to look up at the ceiling.
"...I deserved every bit of pain the Joker did to me..."
Shocked to hear that, Uraraka reassured him, "N-No, you didn't deserve-"
"That's bullshit."
Uraraka gasped, staying silent for a moment.
Bakugou was still looking up, but his eyes were starting to water.
"...I...I've really been...such a shitty..." Bakugou grunted, "I don't even think he calls me that at this point..."
"...Calls you...what?" Uraraka asked him softly.
"...A friend."
"A...friend?" Uraraka repeated in interest.
"...Let me ask you something," Bakugou said as he kept looking up, not looking back at Uraraka. "...Have you ever had someone follow you around when you were little?"
"Uh...not really..." Uraraka wondered where this was heading.
Bakugou actually breathed out a chuckle. "...I had someone like that. My mom and his mom know each other...they're friends...and they thought me and my mom's friend's son would be...friends..." his expression turned into a deadpan stare at the ceiling, "...I thought he was annoying...although, he wanted the same dream as me...you can say that's the start of our rivalry."
Uraraka listened in, putting the pieces together on who this other boy was back then.
Midoriya...
"...I called him 'Deku'," he revealed.
Yep, it's definitely Midoriya. Uraraka thought as she listened.
"...I call him that because..." Bakugou's eyes narrowed, "...I thought he was good for nothing..."
Uraraka blinked.
Oh...wow, maybe it is a good thing that I don't call him Deku anymore...
Bakugou continued, "And when he got his Quirk diagnosis...they said he was Quirkless...and that's when things...changed..." he glanced at Uraraka, "You probably know who it is by now..."
"Uh...yeah, I do..."
"...He...He said to me, back at our old school, that he got his Quirk from All Might..." Bakugou looked back up at the ceiling.
"Um...we actually know that now," Uraraka told him, "He told us in the hospital around yesterday, when we were going to check up on you...me, Kirishima, Todoroki, Ashido, Tsu, Jirou, Kaminari, Iida, Yaoyorozu, and Midoriya as well. Even his mom knows, and Yaoyorozu's parents...and, your parents as well, I think."
Bakugou was silent...
"...Your, um, parents told you that we all knew, did they?"
"...They didn't. They were too worried about...me..."
Bakugou sounded disgusted when he uttered the word me.
"Well...I bet they were going to tell you eventually," Uraraka reassured him.
"I don't doubt that..." Bakugou's eyes stopped narrowing as he still looked up at the ceiling, "...Did he ever tell you and everyone else about...about our relationship?"
"Um...no, not really. He didn't say anything about it. He just explained how he got All Might's Quirk."
"..." Bakugou gritted his teeth in what appeared like frustration, "...Why?" he seethed.
"Huh?" Uraraka blinked, "Why what?"
"...Why..." Bakugou gritted his teeth further as he closed his eyes...tears welling up, "Why didn't he just tell them?"
"Bakugou?" Uraraka said to him, a little alarmed that her loudmouth classmate was crying, of all things.
"He...He could've just told them everything! How I...How I was such a..." Bakugou let his tears go down his face, "I mean, I'm already beaten and broken, why couldn't he just seal the deal and tell them how I treated him!?"
"..." Uraraka looked at Bakugou, staying silent as she listened intently to him.
"I...I don't understand him at times...even after all the...all the shit I put him through...the insults...th-...the beatings..."
Uraraka's eyes widened in shock.
"I...I even told him to..." Bakugou's eyes widened in realization, "...fuck, I even told him to..." closing his eyes tightly, he let the tears pour down, "...I...I even baited him to commit suicide."
Gasping at that, Uraraka looked even more shocked.
"I know! I...I want to...I want to take back everything! I want to take back what I said to him! Not only because it wasn't a Heroic thing to say, but...he...he didn't deserve it."
...It all went silent for a moment...
"...I don't know why he wouldn't have told everyone about how I treated him...Auntie Inko needed to know...my parents should've reprimanded me or something...my classmates...you also should've just left me alone while I rotted...I probably just should've been expelled from UA altogether...I'm the one that deserved every beating...every insult...I'm the one that deserves to lose...everything..."
...Uraraka still sat next to Bakugou's bedside, quiet as she listened to his confession.
"I have no Quirk now...I'm beaten...humiliated...I'm...I'm just...trash..." Bakugou's lips quivered as his tears kept going down, "They put me in a dumpster after...after Joker beat me to a pulp...that's where I belong..."
...Uraraka never said anything. She just listened...
"...Joker called me a Villain...I might as well be one...a Villain who just got what he deserved..." he whimpered, "...I don't deserve my parents' love...I don't deserve Auntie Inko's love, I don't even deserve anything! I don't even deserve pity! I don't deserve anyone's pity!"
...Uraraka sat there in silence...
"...I...I really am just trash...I should've just...I should've just died...no one would miss me...my parents would've moved on. My classmates would just be grateful I went away...you probably think differently of me now after I said all of this...but most importantly, De-...no...Midoriya…he would've just been the better Hero...he...he is a True Hero...All Might chose him for a reason...me? I'm just...a..." Bakugou's face cringed as he kept crying, "...a fake...Midoriya said it best...when we were at our old school, when he was going to tell me that All Might gave him his Quirk for real...he said that I really was an asshole...he never gave me any insult growing up...not one...but when he said it...it spoke volumes...and when...when Joker and his henchmen came, one of them shooting that Quirk Erasure shit at me...when Joker got me as a hostage...Midoriya still tried to come to my rescue...h-he...he should've just left me...now...he lost his Quirk...not only his Quirk, but All Might's Quirk...I caused everything..." the tears kept going down Bakugou's face, the look of pure shame on his features as he grimaced in sorrow, "...I should've just died that day...let Joker just kill me...Midoriya is the better Hero...I'm just...scum..."
...It was all silent...
Bakugou whimpered, softly sobbing, the guilt finally weighing on him...
...It was then Uraraka said, "Bakugou? Let me ask you something."
Still sobbing, he shifted his eyes at the chestnut-haired girl, waiting for the inevitable berating and verbal lashings. Instead, she was staring at him with a blank expression.
"...Why are you crying?"
...Not expecting that question, Bakugou's eyes widened in confusion. "What?"
"I said...why are you crying?" Uraraka asked him, staring at him.
"...I...I just told you...I told you why..."
"...Well, if you realized your mistake, and you're crying about it, then that means you regretted what you did."
"..." Bakugou just focused his eyes on her, a little bit in shock.
"And if you're really sorry for what you did to Midoriya...then you still have some humanity in you."
"..." Bakugou's look of shock morphed into a quivering frown.
"...But I also want to ask...what made you so regrettable and apologetic as of now? What...What was that moment you realized?" Uraraka asked.
...Bakugou then looked up at the ceiling again, his sorrowful grimace still there, "...It was...It was when Joker was beating me...I saw what he looked like...he's...he's true to his moniker...he almost...looked like...Midoriya."
Her eyes widened at that info.
"Not the facial features, although...I said he almost looked like him...it was just...the hair…and the fact that he was...Quirkless..." Bakugou looked like he was relieving the event, his eyes going wide, "While he was...beating the shit out of me...I realized...that if Joker almost looked like Midoriya, even with him not having a Quirk...then...somewhere, in some messed up reality...Midoriya would've been the same as him...just like the Joker...and...and I feel like I would've...contributed to him going down that route...he's nothing like Midoriya, but it made me wonder...would Midoriya go down that route if I pushed him to the edge? Would it not only be my fault, but would it also let this version of Midoriya ruin many lives, kill so many people, and cause this much damage?" his lip quivered as his eyes went fearful, "I...I would've contributed to all that...it would've been my fault...and...I would've...made someone I knew...who just looked up to me because of that promise...into a Villain."
...Silence once again flooded the room.
"...I know it sounds selfish, making me feel like it would've been my fault...but...it also made me realize...that after that confrontation back at our old school, when he told me off...called me an asshole...I was really convinced I pushed him to the edge...he looked at me like he was...angry...disgusted at me...disappointed...in me...like he didn't want anything to do with me after that...I...I guess this is also selfish, but...I may have not realized it at the time, but...I think I lost...a friend..."
Let's be the best Heroes ever!
Yeah! Let's promise that!
"...I don't know if he hates me now...he could just be pitying me when he visited me...I don't even know why he came, I was the one that made him lose his Quirk, as well as mine...but not only did I let him lose his Quirk...I wrecked up his life...now he'll never be a Hero...we won't be Heroes...he...he won't be able to achieve his dream...all because of me..."
...Uraraka then asked, "You feel guilty?"
"...Of course I do...I've been beaten to a pulp by an insane Quirkless man, I let Midoriya lose his Quirk, his future, all because of my damn pride, and I made him hate me now!" Bakugou said, his voice raised and wavered, the shame coming out of him.
"...Bakugou. I was there when Midoriya was in the ICU while you were in a coma...he was crying for you...and he said that you and him can be Heroes, still."
"...What?" Bakugou whispered in surprise, his eyes looking at her again.
"Yeah...and if I know Midoriya, he's the nicest guy I know...he wouldn't let something like whatever you both had taken him over the edge. He's too pure for his own good..." Uraraka looked down at her lap.
"...You...like him, don't you?" Bakugou asked.
"...I did. At a time...but he's with Momo now...and I won't get in the way of that...besides, they look nice together...and they're happy with each other..."
"..." Bakugou was silent for the time being...
"...But, I'll find someone someday." Uraraka looked up at Bakugou, "Until then, I'm going to focus on studying on...well, on how to be a...Hero..." she looked down again and felt a little embarrassed for saying that, depending on Bakugou's situation.
"...You...You'll make a good one."
"Huh?" Uraraka looked up at the blonde, blinking.
"I said you'll make a good one. A good Hero..." Bakugou looked at her, his expression blank.
"...Thank you, Bakugou," Uraraka was about to smile, but stopped from doing so.
Bakugou then looked confused, "I...I mean it. You'll make a good Hero."
"I-I know, I appreciate that."
"...Why aren't you smiling?"
"Huh?" Uraraka looked surprised.
"You usually smile...that's your thing, you know? It's...why I call you Round Face...I mean, kind of, but..."
"Oh, well...I just...I was afraid if I smiled, it would trigger...you...seeing Joker's smile," Uraraka explained.
"...Oh..." Bakugou was silent and seemed to think for a moment. "...Your smile isn't as...your smile doesn't radiate...his aura..."
"Well...I just want to be safe...I don't want to like, traumatize you or anything."
"...Try to smile."
"Huh?" Uraraka blinked again.
"I want to see...if...if someone's smile can be different than his. Besides, it can be therapy or something..."
"I...well, okay..." Uraraka wasn't too sure, but she decided to take the leap of faith...she looked at Bakugou and slowly let the sides of her lips go up, but not once opening her mouth.
"...Yeah..." Bakugou said, "...Yeah. That's...a lot better...your smile is just...it's warm..."
She looked a little taken aback, but Uraraka decided to keep smiling just like she had it.
"...Thank you..." Bakugou said to her.
Uraraka smiled a little broader but didn't open her mouth. "Um, no problem..."
"...So, Midoriya...doesn't hate me?" Bakugou asked.
"No. If anything, he's worried about you."
"...I..." Bakugou looked away from Uraraka for a moment, "...I don't deserve his kindness-"
"Stop that."
Bakugou looked back at Uraraka in surprise.
Now Uraraka was frowning. "Stop beating yourself up. You realize what you did was wrong, and you learned from it. Not in the best of ways, but...you came to realize that you could do better. To show Midoriya that you have changed."
"...I mean...I still might curse and have an attitude..."
Uraraka giggled, "Well, this bitch knows how to say a few words herself."
"...What?"
"My parents own a construction company. Been around with some potty-mouth construction workers."
"..." And like that, Bakugou had a small smile on his face, "...You're alright."
Uraraka smiled big, mouth closed. "Thanks! You seem to be alright too!"
Bakugou kept his small smile. "...Thank you again...I...I think I needed this..."
"Hey, I'm your classmate! And classmates help out a classmate!" Uraraka said with a wink. "That, and I think I would consider you as a friend now!"
Bakugou looked surprised, "Huh? We're...friends?"
"Well, of course! I would think after you confessed and feel bad about what you've done, you might be a lot more...well, social!"
"...Wow...I mean...yeah, I might...need a friend at this point...if you want to be, that is..."
Uraraka smiled softly, "Of course I will."
...Bakugou just looked at Uraraka in slight awe.
"...Wow...thanks..."
"No problem...Bakugou," Uraraka nodded with a warm smile on her face.
...It was then someone else came into Bakugou's room.
"Hey Baku-Bro! I came by to see ya-"
...Kirishima looked at Uraraka next to Bakugou's bedside, while Uraraka turned around and looked at Kirishima, and Bakugou shifted his gaze at the redhead.
"...Um..." Kirishima blinked, "...Hey, uh, Uraraka...you came to see...Bakugou?"
"Um...yeah..." Uraraka also blinked in surprise.
Bakugou greeted him, "Hey, Kirishima. Yeah, Uraraka came by."
...Kirishima blinked again, unable to process this. "Um...okay! Uh...should I come back another time or...?"
Bakugou raised an eyebrow, "What are you talking about? We're just talking. Get in here already."
"Oh! Uh, okay!" Kirishima said as he entered his room.
However, he couldn't help but wonder...
Dude, why would Uraraka be with Baku-Bro? ...Is there something going on that I don't know about?
Meanwhile, Back at Goshuo's Garage
11:00 AM
Iwao stood there as he kept heaving from the spar that he just had with Izuku. He's back in a fighting stance, his arms raised and fists clenched.
Izuku, who had his shirt off, also huffed as he kept his stance, sweating from the workout he had to endure. He had his arms and fists up as well.
They stood there, staring each other down...
Iwao then said with a huff, "Well, kid, you're learning. You've gotten to land a few hits on me."
Izuku also huffed out, "Thanks. I studied a little bit of hand-to-hand combat with Aizawa back at UA. Looks like the short amount of lessons paid off."
"Eraserhead, huh? Met him one time as Knuckleduster. He's a good Underground Hero. A little pompous, but he means well."
"Heh. Yeah...he's also kind of lazy in some ways."
"Hey, patrolling at night can make someone sleepy, you know?"
"Yeah, you're right...I have to say, though, this is the most I've learned on how to defend and fight."
"You pick up pretty quickly. UA taught you well."
"Thanks," Izuku smirked, "Although, I would think you're holding back."
"You want me to go all out? I don't think that's a good idea, kid."
"Well, I got to get stronger..." Izuku glanced at the floor, "I need to get stronger...with that said, if I'm going to face whomever, let it be Joker, Shigaraki, even All For One for that matter, I have to get serious."
"Hold up there, kid. Maybe you can face someone like Joker, and maybe you might have a chance with this Shigaraki guy, but All For One? I don't know about that. Even I know my limits."
"Well...Joker I can definitely try to take, and maybe Shigaraki...although, I have to talk him out of being on the Villain side...maybe get back him on the side of Heroes...but as for All For One...yeah, that's going to be a problem."
"Hm...and All Might and Endeavor are both out of commission...we just got to place our faith in Hero Society, and the students learning to be Heroes. Even the Law Enforcement."
"Yeah..." Izuku looked up at Iwao, "Still, I need to train my best."
Iwao smirked, "How about we take a break right now? We've been at it for an hour and a half. Maybe try to lift some weights to get your arms feeling a little lighter when you fight?"
Izuku thought about that, and came to his decision with a nod, "Okay then."
"I'll get some water bottles to keep us hydrated. Is water okay?"
"Of course!"
Nodding to that, Iwao went to the fridge to get two water bottles.
As Izuku waited, his phone rang on the workout bench. He got it out and placed it there so he wouldn't wreck it while they spar.
I-I-I-I AM HERE! I-I-I-I AM HERE! I-I-I-I AM HERE!
Blushing in embarrassment at the ringtone, he quickly got his phone off the bench and saw who was calling.
Mom
"Oh! Uh, hold on, Oguro-sensei! Please don't make any noise!"
Iwao got the water bottles and was heading back to the gym area, blinking in confusion.
Izuku answered his phone, putting it up to his ear. "Uh, hello? Is that you, Mom?"
"Oh yes, it is, Izuku-Dear! I just want to know how your little date with Momo is going?"
"Oh, it's going great! Um, me and Momo are just, you know, hanging out here in Shibuya, and, well, we're just having a great time, really! I, uh, might not be home for another hour, probably, so maybe we can postpone seeing Kacchan, Auntie Mitsuki, and Uncle Masaru to maybe this afternoon?"
"Oh sure! I think that's a good idea! By the way, do you know who else called?"
"Huh? Who?"
"Why, it was Momo! She wanted to ask you if you would like to get together today! She tried texting you, even calling you, but you didn't answer! She was really worried!"
...Oh shit.
"Uh...wow, um...that's...odd...th-then, who is here with me then? Heh-heh...heh," Izuku said anxiously, eyes now wide full of panic, as he was now starting to feel nervous sweat coming down on him.
"Yes! WHO might I ask...?"
"...Mom, I can explain-"
"WHERE ARE YOU, IZUKU!? YOU LIED TO YOUR MOTHER, AND THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU DO! YOU DON'T LIE TO YOUR MOTHER! WHERE ARE YOU!?"
"U-Uh, Mom!? L-Listen, I-"
"You're not fighting anyone out there again, are you? Is it someone you know? It's not that Joker person again, is it? Oh dear, wait a minute, are you kidnapped!? OH NO! ARE YOU!? What happened!? Please, just tell me where you are, my baby!"
"Mom! Look, I'm sorry, I didn't want to tell you because you would freak out!"
"FREAK OUT!? I'M ALREADY FREAKING OUT! JUST WHERE ARE YOU, IZUKU!?"
"Mom! Look, first of all...M-Momo is not there, is she?"
"No, but that's the least of your worries!"
"Okay! Well, I-uh, well, I'm-um, I'm actually...I...uuuuh...h-hold on, let me just think on how I'm supposed to say this!"
"Here. Give me the phone," Iwao said with his hand out to Izuku.
"Huh!?" Izuku turned to Iwao in shock.
"Who is that!? Does he want a ransom!? I'll give him anything, just don't let him hurt you, Izuku!"
"Trust me. I've dealt with this kind of thing before," Iwao said, his hand gesturing to give him his phone.
Izuku just looked at Iwao, feeling a little pressured, until he decided to give him his phone.
Iwao put the phone on speaker, "Hello, Ma'am?"
"WHO ARE YOU!? DO YOU WORK FOR JOKER!? OR DO YOU WORK FOR ALL FOR ONE!? PLEASE, LET MY BABY GO! IF YOU DON'T, THEN...THEN I WILL SINGLEHANDLELY DO IT MYSELF! I-I HAVE A SET OF SKILLS THAT WOULD MAKE A GROWN MAN CRY! YOU BETTER-"
"Ma'am? It's okay. He's training with me. He still wants to be a Hero, so I'm teaching him how to fight. Your son is fine. He didn't want to tell you, because I'm a Vigilante."
Izuku eyes widened in shock.
Oh, triple shit!
"...A...A Vigilante?"
"Don't worry, I'm a good one. Your son is a good fighter. He learned pretty well back at UA, but I'm training him to fight back and defend himself. His drive for a Hero is great, and I'm well-impressed. The only two things I ask of you are: Do you entrust me to help your son train so he can fight off any Villains, and, do you happen to support your son's decision?"
"...I...well, I just...well, the only reason I'm upset is that he lied to me, which you shouldn't ever do to your mother."
"And that I agree."
"Oh! Well, yes, but...I mean...he really wants to be a Hero, so...anything that could make him go forward to that goal, I will fully support it. And...well, you seem nice, so...I guess I can entrust you with training my boy. What's your name, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Oguro Iwao, Ma'am."
"Okay! Well, Mr. Oguro, I...well, I just...want my baby to be happy...if he's learning things there, then I fully support his decision. And since he doesn't have a Quirk now, he needs to know how to defend himself...and to fight off thugs and bad people...I...I know he can do it. He has a good heart, and he has the drive...am I on speaker?"
"Yes you are, Ma'am."
"Okay...well, Izuku-Dear...just tell me where you're going next time. I can take whatever news and decision you make, I just want to make sure you're fine and happy about it. I honestly think you can make a lot of decisions now, whether they be easy or difficult. So with that said...I support you, Honey."
Izuku blinked, and couldn't help but feel touched. "Mom..."
"You can do it, Honey...I believe in you...whether you become a Vigilante or a Hero, I know you can do it."
Small tears welled up in his eyes as Izuku said, "Th-...Thanks, Mom..."
"Of course, Dear...well, now that I found this out, should I let Momo know?"
"Um..." Izuku wiped the tears off his eyes with his arm, "You know what? I'll tell her. She needs to know from me too."
"Okay then, Dear. Well...I'll see you this afternoon, then?"
"Yeah, sure, Mom. How about each of us go to the hospital and meet up around 1:30 PM to see Kacchan, Auntie Mitsuki, and Uncle Masaru?"
"Sounds good! Okay then, I'll let you go."
"Okay. I-I love you, Mom. Thank you again."
"Oooh...I love you too, Sweetheart. And you're very much welcome! I'll see you then! Bye!"
"Heh. I'll see you too! Bye."
And with that, the call disconnected.
Iwao gave Izuku back his phone, "You have a good mother."
"Heh. Everyone says that...and it's true."
Smiling at that, Iwao said, "Well, you still want that water break?"
"Yeah. You can pass it over here. I think I'm gonna call my girlfriend Momo and tell her that I'm okay."
"Alright then," Iwao tossed him a water bottle, which Izuku caught.
"Thanks," he then went to Momo's phone number and called her. Putting the phone to his ear, he heard the dial tone...
...Almost instantly, Momo answered.
"Izuku!? What happened!? Where are you!? Ar-Are you okay!? Are you in-"
"Momo, I'm fine. I don't think I need anyone else I care about to worry about me again."
"Oh...o-okay...um...so, you care about me?"
Izuku blushed, "Well, yeah, you're my girlfriend. I...I think that counts as me caring for you."
Momo giggled on the other line, "Oh you're too adorable, Izuku! Either way, I'm really glad you're okay. Just where are you, though?"
"Um, well...long story on that..."
11:50 PM
Izuku was still on the phone as he told Momo where he was and why he was there. When he was finished he waited for what Momo will likely say.
"So...you're being trained by a Vigilante?" she asked him in what sounded like amazement and worry.
"Yeah," Izuku answered as he scratched the side of his cheek, "A-And I know, Vigilantism is frowned upon a little bit, but I feel like...I just feel like Oguro-Sensei will help me at least fight and let me hold my own without my Quirk. I'm not going to go out and fight crime or anything, I'm just doing some training...I feel like I can still make a difference even if I don't have a Quirk. And Oguro-Sensei is really nice! He may look a little scary, but he's really a great guy, and is a great fighter! And since he got his Quirk taken from...you-know-who, he's been fighting non-stop to face any Villain and crimelord that would even harm people! I just...I just feel like I had to do this, you know?"
"...Izuku...you really are the real deal."
Izuku blinked, "What now?"
Momo giggled again on the other line, "You'll still want to be a Hero even if you got your Quirk taken from you...I really like that. It shows that you're serious about being a Hero. It shows who you really are. A good, good person, Izuku."
Smiling at her words, Izuku said, "Thank you, Momo...I just want to let you know, though, that you're an even more fantastic person and will be an even greater Hero as well."
"Oh, Izuku...I don't deserve you."
"I feel like it's the other way around," Izuku chuckled.
Seriously, how can I have an attractive, awesome, kind, and all-around good girlfriend?
"Hm-hm! Well, we'll just say that we're very lucky to have each other."
"Heh. I can certainly agree to that."
Momo also chuckled, "Well, since you gave me that long explanation, can I ask where you are right now?"
"Oh, um, I'm at an auto-garage! Goshou's Garage! Why, are you, uh, wanting to see me?"
"Well...maybe? Have you eaten? I can bring in some food prepared by one of my chefs."
"Oh, you don't have to do that! I mean, I think Oguro-Sensei asked someone to order some food for us and they're bringing it in around lunchtime at twelve!"
"Oh, well then, maybe some dessert afterward? You might need some energy if you're gonna train."
Izuku smiled at his girlfriend's insistence. "You know what? That would be great!"
"Great! I'll come by real soon! I looked up the auto garage on my laptop while we were talking, and I'll plan the route there for my chauffeur to drive me there. It looks like it's in an alleyway."
"Yep! That's probably the one! As for the dessert, anything would be good! I'm not picky on anything too sweet!"
Momo chuckled again, "Okay then, I'll surprise you!"
"Heh-heh! Sounds good! Okay then, I'll see you soon around twelve-ish?"
"Yeah! I'll see you then, Izuku! Love you!"
Izuku blushed a deep red, "Um, l-l-l-love you too!"
He could hear Momo just giggling at the other line as she hung up.
"...Wow. What a gal," Izuku said with a dopey look.
"It sounds like you got yourself a good catch, Midoriya," said Iwao's voice said suddenly next to Izuku.
"AH!" he turned to Iwao, who had his arms crossed with a smirk on his face. "Uh, h-hey! Don't sneak up on me like that!"
"Sorry. It was just too sweet to hear," Iwao said with a shrug, his smirk still intact, "But yeah, the guy who's getting our food is coming here soon. He's about a minute away."
"Oh, okay! Um, he's the guy whose uncle is lending his auto garage to you, right? What's his name, if I should ask?"
"Well, the kid's name is Kugisaki Soga. And yeah, he is. He was a rough kid when I first met him, but he's turned good and clean now."
"Ah, okay!"
After a minute exactly passed, the young man known as Kugisaki Soga came in with food. He looked to be in his early twenties, and has spikey short turquoise hair, and was wearing a brown trenchcoat, with a black shirt and brown khaki pants with black boots. He was also carrying a bag of takeout food.
"Heya! Here's the food!" Soga said with a grin, exposing his sharp teeth.
"Thanks, Kugisaki," Iwao nodded to him with a smile.
"Uh, hi! My name is Midoriya Izuku! Pleased to meet you!" Izuku introduced himself.
"Hey, you must be the new recruit I heard so much from Knuckleduster! How ya doing? Name's Kugisaki Soga!"
They conversed as they ate their food, Izuku hearing Soga's side of his story, which was interesting, to say the least.
After a while of eating and almost finishing up, someone else came in.
"Izuku!" said Momo as she came in. She was wearing a red knee-high skirt, some black leggings and black high-heeled boots, and a creme-colored shirt. She still had her hair up in a pineapple ponytail. She was carrying a cake dish, giving out a cheerful smile to her boyfriend.
"Momo!" Izuku stood up and was about to approach her.
It was then, that Momo realized that Izuku didn't have a shirt on, causing her to pause and froze, blushing up a storm.
Oh...Oh my...
Upon seeing how Momo was acting, Izuku frowned in worry, "What's wrong..." he then felt a breeze on his chest, and looked down at his...naked chest...now he was blushing up a storm and trying to cover himself up. "Uh-Uh-Uh, oh dear! I-I'm sorry, I probably should put a shirt on! I-I-I'll be back!"
And with that, he rushed back inside to get his shirt in the garage.
...Momo wished she could've seen that bod a lot longer.
Iwao waved to Momo, "Hey. Name's Oguro Iwao."
"Name's Kugisaki Soga!" Soga introduced himself with a smile.
"Um...Y-Yaoyorozu Momo," she introduced herself. "I'm, well, as you know, Izuku's girlfriend...uh...do any of you like cake? It's double-decker layered chocolate cake."
"Hey, I'm sold!" Soga said with a grin.
Iwao smirked, "Never had anything that good for a while."
"Oh, well, my chef made sure that it's rich and creamy," Momo said with a happy smile, "She's good at that type of stuff."
"I-I'm back!" Izuku said as he got his shirt on...which said 'SHIRT'.
Momo and Soga looked at the shirt in question...the former giggled, while the latter just raised an eyebrow, but couldn't help but chuckle. He then said, "Hey, nice shirt."
"Huh?" Izuku looked down at his shirt, "Oh, uh...heh, yeah, uh...a little meta humor I got going on here."
Momo joined in on their little gathering, and they all had slices of cake, which was delicious! Everyone enjoyed their company and learned things about themselves, which Momo learned about Knuckleduster, as well as him being the inspiration to Skycrawler.
Izuku can't help but feel...comforted that he's around people so different than him. One is his amazing Quirked girlfriend, Momo, the second person is a Quirk individual who had a shady past, but turned good and saw Oguro-Sensei as a dad figure, Kugisaki Soga, and the third Oguro-Sensei himself, who once had a Quirk himself, but lost it, making him Quirkless...it felt like...harmony...
And Izuku liked that harmony.
Okay, so, I'm very sorry that I didn't like, do an epic training montage or anything, but…I'm not good at writing that. However! We're almost close to the talk show! I do have one question, though, about primetime talk shows...do they happen to record during the daytime or the nighttime? Sure, primetime television airs during the evening, but I'm just wondering here...I mean, really, I am! Give me some kind of answer, please! :O
(UPDATE: I got my answer, and I decided to make it a daytime talk show! I edited some stuff in the early chapters once more to make it sound like it aligns with the story. So yippe-kay-yay, baby!)
But yeah, a redemption arc for Bakugou!? Who would've thunk!? LOL! I hope I did well with that, so please do tell me! Is it believable? I hope so! D: By the way, I...hope the Ochako/Katsuki thing doesn't like...make everyone upset. They're not going to make out or anything. It's like they said, they're friends, so it's good for now. Don't worry, it'll be a slow burn or something...there will also be some surprise pairings along the way, though, which I will decide later on when the story goes further. But I'm not going to make it romantic or anything, this is all drama, action, and suspense, so don't expect any makeout sessions. XP
Either way, I think I got everything planned for the end of this now, and believe me, things will get crazy during the end! There'll be some surprises in store, and twists and turns everywhere! ;D As for the next chapter, I'm going to try to get the talk show going, even though, there's more for me to tell, like Izuku meeting up with Bakugou, Izuku meeting up with Nedzu, and then, later on...we'll have the beginning of the talk show! Really, I want to be here as much as you all, but you can't rush these things. Story beats have to be made, and I want a satisfying story to come out of this. :O
Until then, leave a review, a fave, and a follow! :D Thank you all for reading, and keep on rocking everybody! :)
-TSP