Hero Academia: Super Mario Bros.
Disclaimer:
Boku no Hero Academia is owned by Kohei Horikoshi and Bones
Super Mario Bros. is owned by Shigeru Miyamoto and Nintendo Co. Ltd.
Hello, and welcome to another experimental fanfic of My Hero Academia, in which a new inspiration popped into my head in an unexpected way, in which it began when I suddenly recall watching a movie that was based on a very popular video game – which is Super Mario Bros., which I first watched it way back in the mid-90s when the VHS was the emerging medium while betamax is slowly being phased out.
Back then I was rather INNOCENT and that I was a fan of the Mario Bros. games, which at that time I owned a Super NES console, and given my innocent nature I had no idea that the live-action Super Mario movie – starring Bob Hopkins and John Leguizamo – was heavily criticized worldwide, yet I had no idea as I easily enjoyed the movie, and today (as of March 2024) I sort of having mixed reception after I recently downloaded and re-watched the 1993 Super Mario Bros. Movie…though this somewhat piqued my interest in cooking up a fanfiction after recently playing Super Mario All-Stars on the Super NES emulator on my smartphone, and there I thought of giving it a try.
While this fic is partially inspired from the 1993 live-action Super Mario movie, the plot would slowly diverge a bit, in which the majority of this fic would STICK CLOSELY TO THE SOURCE MATERIAL. Meaning that the popular elements of Super Mario would appear and be depicted here – such as the SUPER MUSHROOM, the FIRE FLOWER, and the INVINCIBILITY STAR.
As to who would portray the Mario Bros. version here, it took me almost a week on which MHA characters would used but I finally came up with the best candidates – Izuku Midoriya and Nirengeki Shoda.
If you're wondering why, well their physical appearances somewhat align closely, as Shoda's chubby appearance is somewhat closer to Mario and Midoriya's rather slim built is closer to Luigi's, but given that Mario and Luigi are said to be fraternal twin brothers, I will provide a subplot on how to reflect this plotline with Shoda and Midoriya.
As for who would portray a version of Princess Peach / Princess Toadstool…I had to figure out which female lead would be close…until Melissa Shield came to mind and decided to use her in this fic. Details are set to be revealed in the upcoming chapters.
Lastly, this fic would be slightly AU. While this fic would retain some of the MHA more, such as pro heroes and Quirks, Shoda and Midoriya would be portrayed slightly different. You'll find out sooner than you expected.
Well then, read on and enjoy!
Ch. 1: Kandō no purorōgu
Japan.
The country that is located within South East Asia, quite near different Asian countries such as China, Taiwan and the Philippines, is seen and that country is ruled by the Diet, and are handled by the Emperor and the Prime Minister. After their defeat at World War II, the country began to change for the better, and for several decades Japan vastly improved, mostly in the technological department yet their culture and values remained the same, as most Japanese citizens remained hospitable to visitors, residents and tourists alike.
The scene then zoomed further and you can see that the scene shows that the place being shown is Tokyo, which is bustling with people who are walking the busy streets, some riding vehicles, and others riding on bicycles. There are several types of people seen on the streets; adults, children, and even infants being carried by their parents. Businessmen, businesswomen, students, policemen, all kinds of persons are seen, and they were doing their usual activities as if they do not mind it.
Shops are open and the merchants are selling their merchandise and are enticing people to buy them in hopes of earning money. It was a typical day and it seems that people today are lively and felt that their lives are full of blessings and couldn't ask for anything more, as some are happy with stable jobs, students studying in the best schools, and more, and some even chatted with one another feeling that today is a good day.
"Hey!"
"Nice day, isn't it?"
"Today is a good day..."
"I love my job..."
"Life is so good..."
"I wish I have a good day..."
"Lots of money..."
"Lots of girls..."
-x-
The scene later shifts to a certain area, where business is thriving the area is frequently being besieged by customers which are a mix of adults and teenagers, and they appeared to be avid collectors, as they are looking and buying second-hand items which are technological in nature, and their reasons for patronizing the said shops are purely economical in nature - cheaper prices and practicality. You can see several shops selling HOT items for cheaper prices, such as smartphones, android tablets and even laptops, and despite being second-hand items, they appeared to be in good working conditions, and some of the customers are willing to buy them as long as their desired items are working fine as well as to save money for budgetary reasons, and the merchants are using subtle means in enticing passing customers.
"Hello...please by our items..."
"They are cheaper..."
"...they are in good working condition..."
"You can try them if you like..."
"I promise you will like them..."
"I promise you will get your money's worth..."
"Here are the items on our display..."
"Pick the one you like..."
The area in question turns out to be Akihabara, and the area is thriving and many merchants set up shops to attract passing customers and entice them to buy their products by showing the items and offered cheaper prices while assuring them that the items are in good working condition, and their marketing strategy worked as some passing customers were intrigued after hearing that so e gadgets are being sold in cheaper prices, and they began asking the merchants what itens do they sell, and the merchants showed to the customers the items they are selling, ranging from smartphones to android tablets and even laptops.
Then the scene shifts to another nearby shop, where a merchant is also selling second-hand items, but unlike the other shops, this merchant is selling something else and is catering avid collectors, and the scene shifts inside the shop where you can see the items being sold, which turn out to be classic console units and games, all being displayed on the shelves, and one by one you can see the following consoles being on display, which are:
- Nintendo Famicom
- Super Famicom
- Sega Mega Drive
- Game Boy Color
- Game Boy Advance
- Neo Geo
- Sony Playstation
- Sega Saturn
- Nintendo 64
In a matter of minutes customers passed by the shop, and most of them are avid collectors and fans of video games, and they were immediately intrigued by the items on display and they looked at the items, as some appeared to be unaware that such classical consoles actually existed, and they began asking the merchants if those consoles and its games are really something to be owned, which the merchant nodded and assured to them that the classic games are RARE, and are fun to play with, saying that even with popular games today that are released on current consoles such as the Sony Playstation 4, the Microsoft X-Box One and the Nintendo Wii, the consoles on display are even COOLER due to its nostalgia factor.
"Are they really cool compared to today's consoles?"
"Yes...they ate cool..."
"Seriously?"
"Yes, sir...they are the very first games...and they are the popular ones in its heydays...and they are RARE to find..."
"Hmm..."
"Would you like to try them...?"
"..."
"I promise you will not regret it..."
-x-
Shizuoka.
Shizuoka Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshu. As of September 2023, Shizuoka Prefecture has a population of 3,555,818 and has a geographic area of 7,777.42 km2 (3,002.88 sq mi). Shizuoka Prefecture borders Kanagawa Prefecture to the east, Yamanashi Prefecture to the northeast, Nagano Prefecture to the north, and Aichi Prefecture to the west.
Shizuoka is the capital and Hamamatsu is the largest city in Shizuoka Prefecture, with other major cities including Fuji, Numazu, and Iwata. Shizuoka Prefecture is located on Japan's Pacific Ocean coast and features Suruga Bay formed by the Izu Peninsula, and Lake Hamana which is considered to be one of Japan's largest lakes. Mount Fuji, the tallest volcano in Japan and cultural icon of the country, is partially located in Shizuoka Prefecture on the border with Yamanashi Prefecture. Shizuoka Prefecture has a significant motoring heritage as the founding location of Honda, Suzuki, and Yamaha, and is home to the Fuji International Speedway.
The scene shifts at Musutafu, which is a city where it is located somewhere in Shizuoka Prefecture. The city appeared to be peaceful as it looked like everyday life is the norm, as people are doing their daily lives, such as attending school, reporting for work at offices and establishment and the such, but this isn't what it appeared to be.
-x-
The scene shifts at an apartment, where a five-year old boy, sporting green, curly hair and having a freckled face, is watching a live footage on his computer, where several pro heroes are seen doing heroic deeds like stopping crime and saving people. The little boy is so fixated that he aspires to become a hero himself when he grows up.
The boy is identified as Izuku Midoriya, and he appeared to be an avid fan of the number one pro hero All Might. As the little boy is watching in awe and admiration, his mother, Inko, smiled as she felt that her son has found inspiration, and there the little boy told his mom that he wants to become a hero like All Might, which his mom smiled and said he would one day become one.
"Mom! Look!"
"Yes?"
"All Might is amazing, right?"
"Yes, izuku."
"Can I become like him?"
"I'm sure you would."
"I'm going to become a hero when I grow up!"
"Yes, Izuku."
However, as fate would make itself apparent, the Midoriya family learned from a doctor that Izuku is Quirkless, and told Inko that they should just give it up, and accept the fact that Izuku is just an ordinary boy and can never become a pro hero, which Inko was in disbelief, asking the doctor how is this possible as she and her husband possess Quirks.
However, the doctor said that Izuku is one of the rare cases where he is born Quirkless and tells her that Izuku should just become an ordinary citizen, attend an ordinary school and live an ordinary life, and tells her that this is how life is, nothing more.
At their apartment, Inko went to her son's room to check on him and saw that Izuku is facing the computer watching All Might's exploits, but saw that her son is heart-broken at the fact that he is Quirkless, as he feels that his dreams will never be achieved and Inko consoled her son, seeing that he is depressed at this and apologized to her son, though all he could do is cry silently at this as he is forced to face the harsh truth and reality.
"M-mom…"
"Izuku…?"
"C-can…I…still be…a hero…?"
"Izuku…"
"…"
"Oh, Izuku! I'm sorry!"
"…"
"I'm sorry!"
-x-
In the years that passed, Midoriya's status as a Quirkless became known to his neighborhood, and neighborhood bullies uses their Quirk to torment him, mentally, and physically, to the point of badly injuring him, and as a battered and bleeding Midoriya lay on the ground, the bullies are ready to inflict more harm on the hapless boy, seeing that he could not fight back due to lacking a Quirk.
"Hah!"
"Look at that!"
"He really is Quirkless!"
"He couldn't even retaliate!"
"You're a loser!"
"You should commit suicide!"
"Yeah, you're a failure!"
"A trash!"
This made Izuku's childhood life unmemorable and Inko tried hard to make her son realize that all is not lost and that she is sure that something good is bound to happen and that a bright tomorrow awaits him and he shouldn't give up on life.
Inko's love for her son proved to be the factor that made Izuku hold on and persevere the challenges that came and he fought the misfortunes that tried to pull him down, and so far he is able to move past the fact that he is born Quirkless.
Perhaps the biggest tragic challenge came when a reckless driver is trying to escape pursuing police cars, and he brazenly rammed several pedestrians, and the Midoriya's are among the victims. However, Inko managed to shove her son away before being run over by the ramming van, and Inko is fatally wounded, and using her last remaining life, she tells a crying Izuku not to give up, and keep on living, assuring to him that his dreams will one day come true.
"Izuku…"
"Mom…"
"Its…okay…you…have…"
"Mom…please…"
"Live…stay…strong…"
"Mom…mom…"
"You're…are…not…alone…my son..."
"Mom…mom…!"
After that, Inko perished, leaving Izuku heartbroken and though he cried silently, he tried to hold on after remembering what Inko said, and yet he faced uncertainty as he is living by himself and has no relatives within Tokyo.
-x-
The fact that Inko died became a challenge, as he is now alone, and with no relatives coming to claim Inko's corpse, Izuku is living alone at the apartment he is staying. Moreover, the neighbors appeared to distance themselves as they seemingly do not want to get involved with Izuku for certain unspecified reasons.
Moreover it is revealed that ever since Izuku was diagnosed to be Quirkless, his father, Hisashi Midoriya, has not come home ever since he began working overseas, and throughout the weeks leading to months Hisashi has never contacted or texted either Inko or Izuku. And with Inko dead, Izuku noticed that Hisashi seemingly ignored this and thus the only child is left all alone.
But more tests came as the apartment owner turn out to be unsympathetic, and uses dubious means to drive Izuku out of the apartment and the little boy is rendered homeless now.
Adding insult is that his personal belongings, including his All Might collectibles, were sold off, and Izuku wandered the streets until Social Services sent him to the orphanage, and he spent a number of months there as Izuku tried to persevere amid the emotional trauma he's enduring.
However, fate seemed to have something else in mind, as a family of two somewhat learned about Izuku's plight, and went to the orphanage where they offered to adopt Izuku, and the latter wondered who they are and there the adult woman began to ask Izuku something, and he stared wide-eyed when she showed him the picture of Hisashi Midoriya.
"Do you know this man…?"
"He's…my father…"
"I see…"
"But…he never came home…he never called. Ever since I was told that I'm Quirkless…"
"Eh…?"
"…"
"Seriously…?"
"…yes…"
The woman is identified only as Mrs. Shoda, and there she revealed that she and Hisashi HAD AN AFFAIR, in which she told Izuku that Hisashi lied to her that he was single and that he used dubious means that led her to fall in love with him, and she unknowingly reciprocated the feeling and this resulted in having a child with Hisashi, though through the years she gradually suspect something is amiss as Hisashi said that he is constantly working abroad and would contact her via video message like Messenger.
But on her son's eighth birthday, she hired a private detective and there she learned that Hisashi was ALREADY MARRIED TO SOMEONE ELSE and thus she was shocked and angered, and when she tried to contact Hisashi he immediately cut off all communications, thus she is unable to trace him, and just recently she learned that Inko was killed by a criminal via hit-and-run, and that Hisashi has never attended Inko's funeral or check on Izuku.
There Mrs. Shoda came to realize that she couldn't vent her ire on Izuku as she sees that he himself was a victim of Hisashi's foolishness and there she offered to adopt Izuku given that none of the Midoriya family members came to check on him, and a sobbing Izuku reluctantly accepted the offer as he has nowhere to go now that he was abandoned by his own family.
There Mrs. Shoda introduced Izuku to his HALF-BROTHER, who turns out to be the ILLEGITIMATE CHILD of Hisashi – Nirengeki Shoda, where he is described as a chubby young boy of below-average height with short, ice-blue hair and a round face. He has large, wide eyes with small pupils and is usually seen looking sheepish and apologetic; his eyebrows are almost always pointed upwards.
There Mrs. Shoda introduced Nirengeki to Izuku and told him that Izuku is his half-brother and the two glanced at each other before reluctantly embraced one another, acknowledging that they were both victims of Hisashi's philandering ways and decided to live together as a family and soon Izuku came to live with the Shoda family as he attempted to move on after what has happened to his life.
-x-
In the years that passed, Izuku is able to persevere as he recalled what Inko told him before, and he held on and was able to finish elementary and soon he is set to graduate middle school, all thanks to a kind Samaritan, and there during the final months of his 3rd year in middle school, he met All Might, where a series of events took place, and there All Might saved Katsuki Bakugo from Sludge Villain, and there he was able to have a private conversation with the number one hero and asked if Izuku could still be a hero despite being Quirkless, but then All Might sullenly told the young boy that he cannot become a pro hero, much to Izuku's shock, as he was told to give it up and live a normal life like every Quirkless people.
"Sorry, shounen…but this is reality."
"Eh…?"
"Since you are Quirkless...you cannot be a hero. That's the harsh truth."
"All…Might…"
"Sorry, but you'll have to give up your dreams."
"But…"
"Live a normal life. That's my advice for you."
"…"
After that, All Might left and a dejected Midoriya stood still, feeling that his life is starting to fall apart as the hero he admired the most would tell him to give up his dream just because he is born Quirkless, and there Nirengeki approached Izuku, placing a hand on his half-brother's shoulder and told him that he should focus on what he have, and that just because he was shot down by All Might doesn't mean everything ends here, and assured to him that as long as he persevere they would overcome whatever obstacles that come in their way.
"Its not the end, Izuku."
"…I…"
"Just because he said we can't be heroes doesn't mean we literally won't become one."
"…but…he…"
"We can be heroes in our own ways."
"Nirengeki…"
"Even though I found out that I took am Quirkless…I accepted it and use it as a motivation to move forward. You should too."
"…"
There it revealed that Nirengeki also born Quirkless, thus he can relate to Izuku's emotional pain, though he is able to accept it without breaking down emotionally. While still emotionally dismayed, Izuku willed himself to accept reality and there he and Nirengeki walked away and head home, as the half-siblings are becoming closer and decided to work things out together and help each other as they decided to discuss which high school they should apply as they are set to graduate in a matter of time.
-x-
A few weeks later…
The scene shifts at Aldera Middle School where the students graduated and there Izuku and Nirengeki are amongst the graduates and as they got their diplomas they saw Mrs. Shoda standing there and while Nirengeki is glad that she attended, Izuku noticed that her eyes show a different look, and there she led the two boys at a secluded place and there she revealed that her savings were LEGALLY FROZEN and that her SURVIVAL PENSION was also FROZEN, and as a result she won't be able to provide financial means to send Izuku and Nirengeki to any high schools.
"Huh?"
"Mom…?"
"I'm sorry…I'm really sorry…"
"No way…"
"This isn't good…"
"I don't know why this happened…"
"Damn it…is this how this end…?"
"Calm down, Izuku…"
"Nirengeki…Izuku…I'm really, really sorry…!"
Nirengeki and Izuku stared wide-eyed in shock upon hearing this and were caught by surprise, and this made them feel anxious and apprehensive as they would be forced to sit out for a year, and currently Nirengeki is 15 years old while Izuku is 14, and there both boys realized that they are legally not allowed yet to get part-time jobs.
There Mrs. Shoda tearfully apologized to the two boys about their current situation and promised that she would do everything to sort this mess out, which the two boys hugged her as they understood that it is not her fault that they are in this situation.
"I'm so sorry…for getting you into this mess…"
"Its okay, mom."
"Yes…don't worry about it…"
"I'll figure out a way…and see to it that you'll get to school…!"
"Mom…"
"Mom…"
"Please forgive me…"
"…"
"…"
However, someone came and overheard the discussion and that person approached the trio and said that he is willing to help them and that he is willing to give the two teen boys a part-time job so that they could earn money in order to have the funds to pay the tuition of the high school of their choices.
The person appeared to be a guy in his 30s and revealed to be both a pro hero and a civil servant, where he is described as a large, wide-set man with, as a result of his Quirk, four big arms. He has a buzzed, grayish-brown hair and small but wide eyes with no eyebrows, although the skin where they'd be is notably heavy and defined. His teeth are prominently straight, and he also has a stitched scar running diagonally over his left eye.
His hero costume consists of a plain black suit (altered to include four sleeves) with a cyan-colored tie, three yellow diamonds patterning it down the center, and a thick gold ring on each of his twenty fingers. His jaw also appears to be made of metal, or at least have a metal casing, as with his neck.
He is identified as Fourth Kind and there he introduced himself and said that although it's against the rules, he is willing to bend them a little as long as it doesn't involve any form of criminal activities.
There Fourth Kind said that he is LOOKING FOR AT LEAST TWO VOLUNTEERS to work at least part-time or full-time as he intend to have them undergo vocational course as PLUMBERS, and that he would be willing to pay them as long as they do a good job, and both Nirengeki and Izuku glanced at each other as they believe that at least they won't be forced to sit out at their home and that Mrs. Shoda won't have to strain herself with financial and emotional burden.
"Izuku…what do you think…?"
"It's worth a shot."
"You sure about this…?"
"Rather than sitting at home doing nothing."
"So you're willing to go through this?"
"If it means we get to earn money so we could pay the tuition…I'm all in, Nirengeki."
"Guess we have no choice. I'm in too, Izuku."
"Okay."
Mrs. Shoda was shocked and asked Fourth Kind if he is serious and he nodded as he said that he genuinely needed some applicants while also wanting to help the youth do something meaningful rather than letting them get tempted and enticed to enter the life of villainy and a career in criminal activities.
Nirengeki and Izuku nodded and accepted Fourth Kind's offer, and everything is set, and a few weeks later both boys undergo vocational classes and a week later Nirengeki and Izuku are starting out as plumbers as they are reporting for work, and there Fourth Kind told the two boys to head to a certain house as a customer requested for plumbers to check the kitchen sink.
"This is the address. You head there and do what the client is requesting you to do. Got that?"
"Yes, Fourth Kind!"
"Yes, Fourth Kind!"
"And make sure you don't make the client feel disappointed. And always be honest with your clients! Understood?"
"Yes, Fourth Kind!"
"Yes, Fourth Kind!"
"So are we clear?"
"Yes, Fourth Kind!"
"Yes, Fourth Kind!"
The scene shows that both Nirengeki and Izuku are wearing their plumbing uniforms, which appear to be identical though each have a differing color schemes, such as:
- Nirengeki wears a long-sleeved red shirt, a pair of blue overalls with yellow buttons, brown shoes, white gloves, and a red cap;
- Izuku wears a long-sleeved green shirt, dark blue overalls with yellow buttons, brown shoes, white gloves, and a green hat;
There Fourth Kind gave the two half-siblings the address of the client and told them to do a good job, which the two boys nodded as they leave Fourth Kind's office and the half-siblings boarded a van that is being driven by a support robot and there they head off towards one of the clients as they begin their first day of the job as plumbers.
To Be Continued...
Hope you liked this chapter, as the story kicks off starting with Midoriya being diagnosed as Quirkless before becoming an orphan which is a different route from the usual lore of My Hero Academia…and then revealed to be Nirengeki Shoda's half-brother, in which both boys are portrayed to have the same biological father, though Hisashi Midoriya is portrayed here as an irresponsible father who secretly committed adultery and bigamy.
While certain elements of MHA are shown here, such as All Might turning down Midoriya, original elements are introduced here, such as Nirengeki revealed to be Quirkless as well and that both are faced with the possibility of being unable to attend high school due to financial constraints, but Fourth Kind appeared and gives them part-time jobs as plumbers and there they are given uniforms which are identical to the famed Mario Brothers – Nirengeki portraying Mario and Izuku portraying Luigi.
Preview:
The next chapter will jumpstart the story as Nirengeki and Izuku are doing their plumbing jobs and soon gets a new client in the form of Melissa Shield…and that's where things take an unexpected turn…
See you in May…
Reviews are welcomed, but needed…