Author's Note: Life can really suck sometimes, so here's a new chapter just for you.

19: Eri

As the little girl slept, Izuku's friends watched as the hologram of his benefactor disappeared as he had played the introduction for them the same way he had for his mother and Toshinori Yagi. Mei was looking at him with stars in her eyes, as he had thought she would when she found out that the Ultimatrix was alien technology. "I knew it," she beamed at him, "I knew that there had to be something different about your powers!"

"I wouldn't have known at all if you hadn't said anything," Hitoshi said while Kinoko nodded next to him, "Why tell us at all, though?" He asked with a gesture toward the watch, "You could've just kept telling us that your watch helped you access your Quirk. I mean polymorphic-types are rare, but not unheard of."

Izuku sighed and lowered his arm, "It's because you guys are my friends," the verdette said as he smiled at them, "It's like I was telling Mei: you guys are the first real friends I've had in a long time, and friends don't lie or keep secrets from each other." He raised the arm with the Ultimatrix again, "And I wanted you guys to know the truth about me; I'm completely Quirkless." Kinoko gave a small gasp while Hitoshi's eyes widened, "If I didn't have this thing, then I'd probably never have a chance to get into U.A.'s Hero Course."

"And before now, I was kind of afraid of what you guys might think of me being Quirkless - " Izuku never got to finish what he was about to say because Hitoshi stepped forward and punched him square in the face, knocking him flat onto the floor.

"Shinso!" Mei yelled as she rushed to help the boy up.

But Hitoshi just glared down at him, "How could even think we'd care about something so stupid!?" He demanded angrily as Mei and Inko helped Izuku to his feet while the boy rubbed his sore cheek, "So you don't have a Quirk," the Brainwasher said, "Well, so fucking what?!" He snapped, "I might as well be Quirkless because my Quirk doesn't do anything unless I can get someone to respond to me!"

Izuku frowned, "But you have a great Quirk - "

Hitoshi cut him off again, "Doesn't matter if it's great or crappy, Izuku, because it's not even flashy," he reminded him, "The greatest and most successful Heroes today have some of the flashiest Quirks imaginable, and people like it!"

Kinoko came forward and placed a calming hand on her boyfriend's shoulder, "I think," the girl muttered, "What he's trying to say is that it doesn't matter if you had a Quirk or not," she said with a smile in Izuku's direction, "Quirk or no Quirk, you brought us all together, Midoriya, and that's a real superpower. Not your watch."

"Much as I don't care for Shinso's way of saying it," Mei glared at the teen before looking at Izuku, "They're right. I've said it before, but I'm pretty sure we wouldn't all be friends if you hadn't come stumbling into our lives." She said with a look of longing down at the Ultimatrix, "Oh, man I really wanna see how this thing works!"

Izuku tucked his arm behind his back out of the girl's reach, "I don't think that's such a good idea," he said nervously, though he had small tears at the corners of his eyes. He then looked at Hitoshi, "I'm sorry...and thank you, Shinso. I think I needed that." He said bashfully while Hitoshi rubbed the back of his neck.

"I...I might've overreacted...just a little," the violet-haired teen sighed, "Okay, so how are you supposed to use this thing to help the kid?"

Izuku looked down at his wrist, "I'm not really sure," he said while pondering what to do, "There are tutorials for most of the Ultimatrix's systems, but I'm not sure which one would be what we're looking for."

Inko frowned, "Shouldn't it be the fourth one?" She suggested, "I mean, you've gone through three of them already, so shouldn't it be the next in the line?"

Recovery Girl nodded, "One would think it would be," she said with a look in the little girl's direction, "But whatever you're going to do, you had better do it soon," she said with a frown, "I don't feel comfortable with the idea of sedating this child when I consider the condition she's in."

Izuku took a breath and raised the Ultimatrix, "Activate tutorial zero-zero-four," he spoke into the dial as it began to glow and a new hologram appeared. As usual, his benefactor appeared, though this time he appeared to be sitting, and looked rather weak.

"Hello, young Hero," the hologram greeted them as they all crowded around Izuku to see it, "If you're seeing this tutorial, then you've received the first of your Ultimatrix's upgrades. The one in this tutorial activates what my old friend calls the Genetic Repair feature." Izuku and his mother gave out a sigh of relief as the hologram confirmed her suspicions. "This is a useful feature, and only gets stronger as it's used. To use it, tell the Ultimatrix to activate the Genetic Repair System and have it scan whoever you're trying to heal."

Hitoshi smirked, "It sounds simple enough." He said with some relief.

"Depending on the amount and type of damage that the patient has suffered, you may need to use the system on them more than once," the hologram continued, "And like I said, it'll only get stronger the more you make use of it." He said before he started coughing and the hologram began to cut out on them, "Ah, sorry about this, Hero, I need to cut this short." He continued with a sad look, "Activate the next tutorial after you've gained access to the secondary playlist." He bowed his head, "Good-bye for now, Hero."

The hologram faded and the Ultimatrix returned to normal, leaving the group looking slightly worried. Kinoko was the one to voice her own worry, "Uh, no offense to the guy, whoever he is, but did he look a little...sick to anyone else?" She asked as Hitoshi nodded.

Izuku frowned as he looked at the Ultimatrix, worried that something may have happened to the man before he could finish the tutorials. But then his gaze turned toward the sleeping little girl. "I should try to help her," he said and stepped toward the hospital bed. He stood over the girl, holding his wrist up, the Ultimatrix facing her, "Activate Genetic Repair System."

The dial on the Ultimatrix glowed yellow for a moment before a thin beam shot out and moved over her. "Scan complete. Diagnostic systems indicate severe nerve damage, heavy scarring, and malnutrition. Do you wish to proceed with repair?"

Izuku nodded, "Yes."

The yellow beam turned green and started moving back and forth over the little girl's body. Inko stepped up to her son and watched the progress that the little machine was making, noting that the scars on her arms and legs were slowly disappearing with each pass the beam made.

Recovery Girl was looking at the monitor, "Goodness," the woman breathed out, "All of her nerves are reconnecting themselves!"

Mei beamed at him, "Keep it going, Izuku!"

Izuku nodded while the Ultimatrix did its work. The girl was already looking twice as healthy than she had before. All he had to do was keep the device going long enough to heal her completely.

僕ぼくのヒーローアカデミア

Himiko was walking the halls of the school with wide eyes as she hadn't had the chance to really get a look at the place when she was taking the exams. Ultimate Alliance High was an extremely large school, consisting of four multi-story buildings connected by suspended halls that were several stories from the ground themselves.

The views she was treated to were breathtaking.

Her stomach gave a small gurgle, telling her it was time for another blood pill. [I wonder if Izuku's watch-thingy can take care of that disease that Granny Chiyo says I have,] she wondered idly as she fished the bottle of pills out of her pocket. [It'd be nice to not worry about going berserk every time I smelled even a hint of fresh blood.] She opened the bottle and poured out a couple of the capsules before tossing them into her mouth.

The bland taste that accompanied them nearly made her gag. When she had first started taking them, they tasted just as good as actual blood. But now that her illness was getting worse, they had lost all flavor. She was going to need a bag of blood when she got home.

A door opened up down the hall and out walked Mitsuki Bakugo with her son in tow, "Thank you, Mr. Hound Dog," she said with a wide smile, "We'll see you next time!" She dragged a very aggravated Katsuki down the hall. He looked like someone had just slapped him in the face several times.

Himiko snickered at the sour look on his face, drawing the attention of Mitsuki as the woman smiled at her, "Oh, Himi dear!" She practically dragged her son over to her, "What did Recovery Girl have to say about your Quirk?" She asked, her smile falling slightly, "I hope it wasn't anything too serious?"

Himiko shrugged, not really wanting to think about her disease, instead she thought about the little girl that had been brought in by Inko and the others. "It's treatable," the blonde sighed, "But that's not what I'm concerned about right now," she said before she began explaining what had happened in the infirmary.

"Dammit," Katsuki spat, "Deku can't stay outta trouble for five seconds!" He rubbed the back of his head right before Mitsuki slapped him upside the head, "Ow! Hey!"

Mitsuki just glared at him, "Don't use that nickname again," she warned him, and turned down the hall toward the infirmary, "Himiko, keep an eye on that mad bomber of mine while I meet up with Inko, please?"

"I don't need a babysitter!" Katsuki shouted after angrily while Himiko giggled. "You shut it, Bun Head!"

Himiko's giggles continued, "Oh, Bun Head, how long did it take you come up with that one?" She asked laughingly as the boy attempted to menace her in his usual way, "Oh, don't even try that on me, Bomber Boy, I don't scare easily."

"Tch," the boy scoffed before stuffing his hands in his pockets and started stomping down the hall. "Whatever, you're just another extra to me."

Himiko huffed as she tailed after him, "And you're just another bully that nobody's gonna like," she pointed out as the boy scoffed again, "Seriously, where did that attitude of yours come from? Your mom's loud, but she sure ain't as mean as you are."

"I'm not mean, I'm realistic," he snapped, "If I'm gonna be the greatest Hero, then I don't have time to be nice, or hold everyone's hands."

She raised her brow at him, "Uh, I don't know what Hero you're trying to make yourself out to be, but that's what being a Hero is all about," she told him while the teen gave her a withering look, "Heroes are always reaching out to help others, not just beat up the bad guys."

"A Hero is someone that always wins," Katsuki argued back, an image of All Might popping into his head, "And that's exactly the type of Hero I want to be."

Himiko sighed, "So you want to be just like Endeavor, huh?" She asked while the boy looked at her like she was out of her mind, "What? That's who you're describing!"

"No, it's All Might I'm talking about!" The boy sneered, "I wouldn't do anything to make myself like that second place loser!"

She raised her brow at him, "Are you fucking kidding me?" She asked incredulously and started counting off on her fingers, "The violent way you act, the totally mean way you talk?" She shook her head, "There's nothing about your behavior that says I'm gonna be the next All Might," she told him while the teen's brow began to twitch, "Look, I don't know the guy personally, but I do know someone that works for him, he's dating my mom for crap's sake, and the way he talks is like the things a Hero does don't really matter in the long run of things."

Katsuki turned on her and crossed his arms, "Then what the hell does matter?"

"Their heart," Himiko told him, making him frown, "That's how you judge a Hero; by how much they care." She said and walked around him, "But you don't seem to care about anything or anyone but yourself." She said as the boy frowned after her, "So what's that say about the Hero you're going to be?"

Katsuki glared at her back, "What makes you such an expert?"

She looked back at him over her shoulder, "I'm not." She explained, "I just know the kind of Hero I want to be." She shrugged her shoulders, "Not one that wants money, fame or fortune. Someone that genuinely cares for others and what they had to go through." She smiled, thinking back to the day she met her friends, "I mean, I as in a pretty rough spot not so long ago, and it wasn't some flashy, famous Hero that came to my rescue, just couple of really good people that cared about what happened to me."

She flashed a brilliant smile at him that left him stunned for a moment which effectively ended their little discussion as she walked ahead of him, still smiling.

As she gained some distance down the hall, Katsuki shook himself out of his stupor, "Gah, just what is it about this girl that throws me off my fucking game?" He demanded of himself as he continued slowly down the hall.

僕ぼくのヒーローアカデミア

By the time Toshinori rejoined the Midoriya family and children in the infirmary, Mitsuki had joined them and was absolutely gushing over the little girl while she slept. She looked much healthier than when he last saw her, Inko later explaining to him in a hushed tone what Izuku had done for her.

"She's so precious," Mitsuki silently squealed, trying not to wake her, but was finding it rather difficult. It was no secret that Mitsuki Bakugo had dreams of raising a little girl of her own, and her maternal instincts had kicked into overdrive upon seeing her.

Inko chuckled, "That she is," the woman smiled, "I just hope that I'll be able to take her in like I did with Himiko," she sighed, shaking her head, "The poor little thing is going to need a lot of looking after."

"Just think of all the clothes we can get for her!" Mitsuki squealed, "Oh, I can't wait to take her shopping!"

Recovery Girl, taking all of the noise in stride, shook her head, "I'm glad that this little darling is going to have so many people caring for her," she said to the two women, "But please, keep it down, this is a medical ward after all."

Inko looked at the elderly nurse apologetically just as Himiko came into the room, "Sorry about that, Recovery Girl, but it's been a long time since the two of us have had a small child to look after."

Himiko looked at her with a smile, "Does that mean she's gonna be mine and Izuku's little sister?"

Toshinori chuckled at the girl, "I think that won't be a problem," he said, "After all, we were able to swing things pretty easily with your caseworker, and this little girl doesn't seem to have anyone looking after her except for that fellow we ran into earlier today." He turned to Inko, "That reminds me, I'm going to be meeting Sir Nighteye in a little while to discuss this matter," he told the woman, "Hopefully we can shine some light on this whole situation, and put this man away for a while."

He then turned to Mei with a small smile, "And I've received word about arranging a visit with your mother, Hatsume," the rosette stiffened slightly, but Toshinori raised his hand to calm her, "Now, now, it doesn't have to right away," he told the girl, "Just whenever you get ready to see her...alright?"

Mei reached over and rubbed her left arm nervously, "Y-yeah, okay..." she looked toward Izuku, catching his eyes, "Do I have to go alone?"

"Absolutely not," Inko said firmly, "We'll all go if you want us there."

Kinoko nodded, "Yeah, there's no way we're gonna let you do this by yourself!" She said, forgoing the usual mushroom puns.

Hitoshi rubbed the back of his head, "I don't mind being there."

Before Izuku or Himiko could say anything, the little girl started coming awake. Her little red eyes fluttered open before she sat up on the bed rubbing her eyes sleepily. Inko was beside her in a moment, sitting next to her on the bed, "Are you feeling better, Sweetie?" She asked in a quiet tone.

The little girl jumped slightly at the sound of her voice, as if just noticing that she was there, her eyes going wide when she saw how many people were crowded around her. She made a frightened sound and scooted away from them.

"Oh, Sweetie, it's okay," Inko said soothingly, "No one here's going to hurt you." She smiled at the little girl, "Do you remember me? I took you out of cupboard you were hiding in." She said, hoping to jog the little girl's memory. It worked; the little girl nodded timidly. "That's good," Inko said brightly, "Remember I told you that the bad man would never hurt you again?" Again the little girl nodded, and Inko gestured to Toshinori and Hitoshi, "Well, this man and this boy here sent him away." The little girl's eyes widened, "He won't be back again."

Katsuki chose that moment to come into the room. "B-but he'll find me," he heard the little girl whimper as he closed the door softly, "A-and he'll make you come apart. He always does that to punish me for running away." She shivered.

Toshinori snorted, "Young lady, if Young Shinso's Quirk lasts as long as I hope it does, then that man will be taking a million mile hike for quite some time," he said with a bitter note of humor, "And a friend of mine is going to make certain that he never comes near you again."

"It won't matter," the little girl said, "He's says people will leave me because I'm cursed."

Mitsuki ground her teeth, "I don't like this prick already," she said, looking at her son, "This guy might be the first one I actually syc you on."

Small cap explosions started going off in her son's palms. She looked at his face and saw that there was a cold fury there that she rarely saw, even on his worst days. "You just have to tell me where the fucker is." She heard him growl lowly, "I'll turn him into ash." She smiled at that: even her brat of a son couldn't say no to a frightened little girl.

Inko just rolled her eyes at the pair of them, "Sweetie, you're not cursed. A bad man was just making you feel that way. Now you just need to understand that you're safe now," she told the little girl, "Everyone in this room..." she sighed then smiled when she thought back to what Shinso, Komori and Mei had said to her son, "Everyone in this room are Heroes," she told her, making the little eyes widen again, "And even better, they're part of my family...and so are you, if you want to stay with us."

She looked up at her, "C-Can I?" She asked in that timid little voice of hers.

"Of course you can, Sweetie," Inko promised her, "For however long you want." She smiled, opening her arms to the girl. She hesitated, almost as if she were afraid of being touched...but it lasted barely a moment before she launched herself into the waiting woman's arms, bawling her little eyes out. Inko patted her hair and rubbed her back soothingly, "There, there, sweetheart, it's going to be alright." She said before a thought struck her, "Sweetie, could you tell us your name?"

"Name?" She sniffled while Inko dabbed at her eyes with her sleeve, "I...don't know if its my name...but..." she shook her head, "There was a lady that took care of me before...she...she called me Eri."

Mitsuki leaned over her friend's shoulder, "Then that's what we'll call you, too," she said in a much softer tone than anyone that knew her was used to.

Inko agreed with her, "And it's such a pretty name," she told the little girl, "Welcome to our family, Eri."

僕ぼくのヒーローアカデミア

Author's Note: Sorry that this took so long to get out, amigos. I've hit some rough patches lately and I'm trying to my mind back in the race. Anyway, this marks the end of Eri's introduction arc. The next couple of chapters are going to be the Beach Party chapter where Izuku's complicated life gets even more complicated, and the long awaited meeting between Mei and Lady Nagant.

Also, I have it in my head to have, an arc in the story where the HPSC makes Izuku deal with a really tough Villain in order to secure Nagant's release, as well as get back at All Might for all his threats. What do ya'll think?

Wanna see more? Ya'll know what to do! Adios Amigos!