Chapter 8: Midoriya Izuku VIII

A/N: More school antics, and more time spent in the bar of villains. And don't worry; Izuku's descent is finally beginning in earnest.

"For the last time, I am not using my quirk to help you cheat on some lousy tests."

"But Midoriya, come on!" Tatsuda Gomu whines, stretching his arm around Izuku's shoulders. "It's not like I'd be hard for you to do with your quirk! You just need to listen in to the teacher's lounge! And hey, if you end up doing it I might be able to get in a good word between you an—"

Tatsuda suddenly finds himself being pushed backwards, his arm uncoiling from around Izuku and him falling to the ground. His head slams against the cold tile floor, and the only reason he remains uninjured is due to his quirk-enabled elastic state.

"The hell Midoriya!" Tatsuda yells as he scrambles to his feet with the help of one of his friends. "If I was anyone else I could've—"

"I'm aware. Why do you think that I shoved you?" Izuku says, his voice firm. He turns slightly in his seat, sending a harsh glare at Tatsuda. "Now. Back. Off."

"Well fuck you too!" Tatsuda yells in retaliation. "And say goodbye to all my goodwill! Don't say that I never helped your ass!"

As Tatsuda and his friend stomp off, Izuku suppresses the urge to snort. He calls using his quirk to untie my shoes and steal from my bag 'help?' Please.

As the thought passes through his mind, he comes to cherish the fact that class doesn't start for another twenty minutes. The teacher would have reprimanded him for ages.

But then again, it's not as if the teacher wouldn't have eventually found an excuse to punish him. At least without the teacher around, Izuku's able to get away with more… questionable actions.

Izuku blinks, shaking his head. Still feels weird though. I mean, Shiozaki's been telling me to stand up for myself for years! The only reason I'm doing it now is because Sensei said so. Still, it's probably best that I steer clear of Bakugou. No telling what he'll do if I start fighting back.

He sighs. Still… I can't keep this up; this is just a test drive. I mean, pushing people around with anger isn't applicable to what it means to be a hero, right? He thinks that, but his thoughts can't help but bring up memories of a certain number two hero. He lets out a snort. Yeah, right.

"The hell are you snorting at, freak?" A voice asks just after the door to the class opens. It's owner is one of many of Izuku's daily tormentors.

The occurrence brings Izuku's mood down back to normal levels, leading to him resigning himself to continue sitting as he normally does: quiet and unassuming.

Still, Izuku relishes the fact that, despite his retaliation, he'll get away scott free. Tatsuda is too prideful of a person to tell anyone about today's confrontation, after all.

For now, I just need to wait for lunch. Reprieve will be well welcomed then.

Lunch time arrives, and Izuku finds himself wandering the school's halls in search of a place to eat. This is a common occurrence, or course. However, it's not the fact that there isn't any space in the cafeteria that he can go to that makes this event occur.

Rather, he and the very small handful of other individuals in similar — if albeit much tamer — situations to his usually never ate in the same place at lunch. Such a lax action leads their tormentors into a ready-made, perpetual cycle of finding their victims with ease; moving mealtime spots is one way to easily disrupt that flow.

If Izuku's lucky, on good days the bullies are either too preoccupied to even try anything, or can't bother to waste their lunch looking for an outlet for their pent up violence. On the bad days, the best scenario he finds himself in is at the end of Bakugou's explosive fists.

Much to Izuku's relief, today seems to be looking to be one of the more mild days. But still, Izuku knows by now that it's best to be cautious rather than be complacent, lest he end up being caught in a corner.

So he finds a classroom on the ground floor, one with windows that can lead outside to his escape. It's one that Izuku's been in before, due to its location and relative distance from the cafeteria.

And usually it's empty — today it isn't.

Not that Izuku really minds, however. After all, inside is a familiar, if somewhat welcome, face.

Finding his place at the bottom of the school's hierarchical pyramid is Takahashi Kaze. Relative to Izuku, however, their spots on the lowest tier are a far cry from one another.

Takahashi is not necessarily a figure of ridicule and contempt to the levels Izuku is, but his status as one of the school's nerds doesn't do him much favors either.

Still, there's no outstanding stigma on him that is perpetuated through fibs and lies that paint him in a negative light. His quirk is still powerful and easily presentable to his peers. And at the very least, he's still treated as human.

It's true that he fell out of favor with Bakugou's interests. When it became clear that he wasn't going to be improving his control over his quirk anytime soon, it became an inevitable factor.

By his current age of nine his pranking days are over, and he survives his school days by being part of a tight knit trio of friends.

Miraculously, that same trio of friends has only Takahashi as it's only member at school today, with one being out for an illness and another out for an early weekend vacation.

That leaves him alone and isolated; something Izuku has been waiting ages for ever since the boy's birthday party.

Of course, the thought still astonishes Izuku, him actually attending a birthday party despite him being "the most undesirable person in the school."

But it occurred nevertheless. Suffice to say, Takahashi's older sister is the first person in a long while Izuku thinks to be relentlessly righteous and good.

With her being Takahashi's ride home, all it took was one instance of her seeing her brother interacting with Izuku in such a… 'close' manner, for her to think they were friends. On the spot she offered Izuku a birthday invitation — much to her brother's unnoticed discomfort.

It was a day later that Izuku found himself being threatened to attend by Takahashi himself. The boy respected his sister to ostensibly great heights apparently, and he didn't want her thinking that he was some friendless, spineless wimp.

Izuku didn't quite see the sensibilities of Takahashi's argument per say, but he also wasn't willing to make another long standing enemy in the school. So he played nice and accepted.

Izuku attended the party, made a gamble in making Takahashi look good by praising how much of a good friend and intelligent kid he was, and waited for the results. Izuku and Takahashi never shared another word afterwards, but the lack of taunts and pranks from his friend group in the following months was a noticeable factor.

One that now, Izuku has the prime opportunity to obtain its reasoning of occuring — and another instance of taking up his newfound facade.

Izuku strides into the classroom, ignoring the shrewd look that Takahashi gives him, and plops down on the desk beside the boy.

"Midoriya," Takahashi begins, "what are you doing here?"

Izuku takes out his lunch, setting his stuff down on the desk before him as he turns towards Takahashi. "Just wanted to say hello… How's your sister?"

Takahashi blinks, and his posture begins to loosen up as he melts into his chair. "She's doing great actually. Found herself a boyfriend and everything… Why do you care?"

Izuku shrugs. "She seems like a great person. Nice, hardworking, and obviously cares for you. It's admirable, really. I don't find many people like that nowadays."

"Oh," Takahashi mutters, somewhat startled. "I… Thank you, I guess."

"Mhm," Izuku hums, taking in a mouthful of his food.

A few moments of silence pass. Takahashi eventually sighs, ruffling his brown hair in the process. "You're probably here wanting an explanation for the sudden lack of elaborate traps in your daily life, huh?"

Izuku nods. "I have to admit that I don't miss the stink bomb traps in my locker or the papers 'lost to the wind.' But at the same time I can't stop myself from seeking an explanation. So yes, Takahashi. Mind explaining the sudden change of heart?"

Takahashi grimaces. "Knew it was only a matter of time." He shakes his head, taking a breath. "I'm sure that you've already deduced this, but… Well, what you said to me at my party… It… It… Gah!"

Takahashi grumbles, leaning back in his seat. "You wouldn't understand."

"Try me."

Takahashi takes a glance at the calmly eating Izuku, shaking his head in disbelief. "Fine. It's just, you know. I just... I've never seen my sister that happy for me. Not since, well…" He sighs.

"Not since she was forced to take me in, anyways."

That last part was spoken under Takahashi's breath, barely a whisper that would even be identifiable to human ears. But to Izuku, it was loud and clear.

He decides not to bring it up, however. He knows the type of feelings that that type of conversation can create.

"Okay." Takahashi turns his full body towards Izuku. "I know that I've been shit to you. Ever since we were little kids I've been kicking you to the dirt. But you've gotta understand, everyone else was doing it!"

Izuku sends a glare his way.

"I know, I know! Looking back at it…" He gulps. "That persona of me that you gave out at my party? I… I want to strive towards that. Become someone that can make my sister proud. And I know now that I can't do that by bullying someone else just to make myself feel better. So I stopped with the pranks, see? I mean, that's got to count for something, right? So, like… sorry?"

Izuku let out a small huff. "Seriously?" He puts his food down and turns to face Takahashi. "You think that a simple 'sorry' suddenly absolves all the abuse that I've experienced over the years?"

"Well— I uh… I mean—"

"Look," Izuku interrupts. "I'll admit, I've been watching. Your penchant for pranking that had been directed towards me for years is gone. And I don't see you pointing it to anyone else either."

"And—" Takahashi clears his throat. "And that's progress, right?"

"It is. But." Izuku exclaims, interrupting Takahashi before he can speak. "You need to preserve that sense of commitment. Otherwise you'll find yourself slipping back into your old habits. You keep doing that… and I might forgive you."

Takahashi blinks. "You mean that?"

Izuku frowns, turning away to continue eating his food. "We'll see."

"It's just kind of annoying, you know? I mean, don't get me wrong — it's actually working like Sensei said it would. And pretty well actually."

Izuku ducks, dodging a fist that flies right over his head.

"But at the same time it just feels weird. I've never been so… aggressive in my life. And I felt kind of bad pushing Tatsuda too."

"Despite his largely unwarranted request?" Kurogiri asks, throwing another punch. Izuku dodges that one too, as well as the subsequent sweeping kick sent his way.

"We were friends once," Izuku admits. "Way back when I was six years old, sure. But that still has to count for something, right?"

"I... would not know," Kurogiri says, freezing in place. "Friends… I cannot say that I have much of an opinion on that matter if I am to be honest."

Kurogiri suddenly aims another punch, one that just barely misses Izuku.

"As for the way that you have begun to act at school," he continues, "it is nothing new. You might not be aware of this, but it is simply an extension of how you interacted with us during our first meeting. A defense mechanism, so to speak. Except now you are actively utilizing it."

"I… Huh. Never really considered that." He blocks another attack that comes his way. "But still; putting up a facade, being so cold at school… Heroes don't really do that, right?"

"You are already aware of a large enough sample population of various heroes to figure that out for yourself, Midoriya."

Izuku frowns. "Yeah. You're right. Not like I enjoy the reminders though."

Izuku then takes a few steps back, moving out of the way of a flurry of attacks. He takes the opportunity to shift the conversation elsewhere.

"You know, I'm still impressed with the fact that you're this good at martial arts, let alone with teaching!" Izuku exclaims. "You didn't give off the impression when I first saw you."

"Looks can be deceiving."

"Well, I meant more in regards to your stance," Izuku babbles. "I'd expect someone with your skill to take a ready position when a threat may be around. I didn't hear the slightest shift in your posture when I met you... Though, I suppose that with your portals you wouldn't exactly have the need… How long have you been training?"

"...Not long."

That gets Izuku to pause for a second. "Really?"

Kurogiri nods. "My mind is pliable. I learn quickly."

Izuku smirks. "I can see why Sensei likes having you around then. Picking up on things quickly can be a resourceful skill to have."

"Exactly." Kurogiri backs away, and relaxes his stance. "Just like with how I have learnt how to tell if you are using your quirk, Midoriya."

"Oh," Izuku laughs, rubbing the back of his head. "You noticed that this time?"

"Of course. You were not very subtle when you began using it around ten minutes ago. Your proficiency in dodging grew by an estimated thirty percent at that point."

"Now," Kurogiri says as he gradually falls back into form, "let us continue without it. While the desired form may indeed be the weaving of martial arts and quirk, you must first learn the basics. And that first includes fighting quirkless."

Izuku lets out a sigh. "Yes, Kurogiri-sensei."

"You still need to work on your reach, Midoirya. Otherwise, your progress so far is satisfactory."

Izuku lets out a lighthearted scoff, pushing himself off of the floor. "Easy for you to say. You're like two times my size."

Kurogiri merely nods in response. He opens up one of his portals and walks through it, Izuku following suit not long after. Leaving the training gym behind (of which Izuku still isn't sure the location of) Izuku arrives at the bar.

As per usual, Tomura's off in the corner playing aware on one of his game consoles. He only takes a moment to send a cursory glance Izuku's way before he's emerged back in his games.

On the other hand, Kurogiri's already behind his usual position behind the bar gesturing to the seat across the counter from him. Izuku eventually makes his way to the offered seat, following up with the routine he and Kurogiri had developed over the past few months..

Once Izuku sits down, Kurogiri pulls out a glass and fills it with water. After Izuku takes a nice and long gulp, Kurogiri lays bare the question that Izuku had become used to answering every time he meets up with the man.

"And how fares the progress with your quirk, Midoriya?"

Izuku puts down his glass. "There's been some change since last week. I'm still having trouble with projecting my voice as usual, but there's been some progress."

"As in…"

"It's gotten a bit easier to do something like this," the glass of water says in Izuku's voice. "It's still as easy as ever to process sounds through solid mediums — especially something like this considering it's glass. A bit of practice since last time has led to there being a little less strain than there was last week."

"How is your range?"

"Extends around eleven and a half meters from me now," the wooden counter says this time, its voice somewhat more muffled due to the lesser quality of the material.

"A far cry from reaching your full range of a kilometer, but increasing nonetheless. That is one and a half more meters than last week," Kurogiri says with a nod. I presume that not much has changed either regarding air?"

Izuku gives a slight nod. "Still can't find it in myself to throw my voice through the air. I'm just on the verge of doing it, I can tell. But I strain myself too much when I try."

"What matters is that you continue striving for it," Kurogiri says. "In a similar matter, how about volume?"

Izuku can't help but smirk at that.

Kurogiri tilts his head. "What is with that expression?"

"Well," Izuku begins, "volume still remains at about how I would sound if I was speaking normally. No yelling or screaming as of yet. But… I did figure something else out that spooked me in the middle of the night a few days ago."

"Do tell."

Izuku crosses his arms and grins. "Young Tomura, come here please."

The rattling sounds of magic and roaring creatures emanating from the corner of the room suddenly stops. A few loud footsteps follow suit, an irate Tomura eventually striding up to Izuku's right.

"What?!" Tomura hisses. "I'm in the middle of a boss fight! Can't the brat here do whatever you need me to do?"

Kurogiri blinks. He shares a look with Izuku, whose grin merely widens.

"Nevermind," Kurogiri himself says, looking to his other ward. "Carry on with your games, Tomura."

"Gah!" Tomura hurriedly stomps away. Kurogiri waits until the sounds of Tomura's game pick back up before he speaks. "Voice mimicry. You never cease to amaze, Midoriya."

"It helps that I have a way to mess with Tomura now," Izuku cheekily adds.

"Try not to abuse it too much," Kurogiri says. He then narrows his eyes, humming in thought. "You know, I'm almost willing to say that your quirk is the complete manipulation of sound within a kilometer radius."

Izuku blinks. "With almost omnipotent hearing capability, the probable capacity to transmit sounds through any medium within my range, and with my newfound if shaky ability to mimic others' voices…" Izuku interrupts his own muttering with a surprised gasp. "I think that you're right! It's just a matter of figuring out what else I can do!"

"Have you perhaps tried canceling out sounds before they can properly travel?"

Izuku widens his eyes at the thought. "That's a wonderful idea! You're the best, Kurogiri! I need to go try it now or something, see if I can silence something small. Like birds! Or even hamsters! Maybe I can—"

"It will have to wait for another time," Kurogiri interrupts. "For now, the Master wishes to see you."

"I… Does he now?" Izuku asks.

Kurogiri nods.

Izuku hums, turning to look at the other individual present in the bar. "I'm curious; how come I never see Tomura getting called in? Is it just schedule based, or…?"

"Those days have long passed," Kurogiri answers. "The same occurred to him when he first came under the Master's care. As the years went by the need for personal visits grew less and less; Tomura began to grow into his own person, so to speak."

"And I'm not?"

"You are." Kurogiri forms a portal right beside Izuku. "But the Master still wishes to know you better — personally and intellectually. He's still trying to understand the way you think."

Izuku lets out a small laugh. "Really? Well, I suppose that I shouldn't keep him waiting then."

Once again Izuku's greeted by the sight of Sensei sitting upon his gaudy throne. This time, he's staring straight into a wine glass as he twists it round and round, eyes following the swirling liquid.

"Did you know that at the early onset of hero society, just after things had begun to calm down from the tensions of war, that both the government and the pro heroes at the time pushed for the police force to be unable to use their quirks for their jobs?" Sensei asks aloud.

"The official rationale was to limit quirk usage towards a small group of professionals that were deemed responsible by the government, reason being how training a force as large as the police would take too many resources that weren't available at the time." Sensei takes one last sip of his drink, leaving the glass empty.

"But in truth, this was to enable the government to have a sort of… monopoly on quirk usage. After all, those who controlled heroes, controlled the hows and whys of attracting fans, and in turn, by consequence, the flow of money." Sensei puts his glass down.

"It's an old fact, one lost to time due to negligent teachings." He leans forward in his seat, steepling his fingers together as he looks Izuku in the eyes. "But I'm sure that someone like you knows such things about our history, hmm? Isn't that right, Midoriya?"

Izuku simply stands there, waiting for Sensei to continue. The man in question only seems to brighten the more time passes.

Sensei eventually nods. "Your expression screams yes. Just as I presumed."

Izuku blinks, scrunching up his face. Was my expression changing? I didn't even notice.

Sensei grins. "And based on what I'm seeing now, you're confused."

Izuku sighs, conceding to Sensei's odd tendencies. "Knowledge is power," he says. "Knowing the ins-and-outs of the foundations of our society may end up being useful in some way or another. You can't discount the possibility."

"Rightly so," Sensei agrees. "And once again you prove the lengths of your intelligence. It makes me wonder… Your analysis skills are something to boast about as well. But I ask, are they truly up to par?"

"What do you mean?"

Sensei leans back in his chair. "A few weeks ago there was a headlining story. Despite the immenseness of the event, all of the fanfare died down the next day. Media outlets refusing to talk about it, posted articles online systematically being deleted… Are you aware of the incident, Midoriya?"

Izuku furrows his eyes as he scours his mind for the answer. It comes to him, recognition slamming back into full force. "Lady Nagant," he mutters. "I was so preoccupied at the time that I didn't even notice, but you're right! Nobody was talking about her the day after news of her incarceration came out!"

"Indeed. But please hold your excitement. I know how your mind works; now this anomaly is within your awareness, you'll stop at nothing to know the situation inside and out. But the sad truth is, there is nothing that you can find. You'll only reach dead ends in your search."

"I'm sensing a 'but.'"

Sensei smiles in return. "I can start you on the path to find the answers. All I ask for is something in return."

"You said—"

"I'm aware of what I said, and I know what you are thinking. But I promise you this: what I ask for is something of little consequence. Simply, I Want you… to give me a name."

"A… name?"

"Yes. Or, more specifically, the name of a professional. It doesn't matter which, but I'd prefer that you choose one of the small fries. Someone who's a D-lister, or perhaps even someone in the E-tier ranks! One that you've spent a fair amount of time looking into; one whom you utterly despise due to how they are. That is all that I ask of you."

"That's… oddly specific for something of little consequence."

"I merely wish to sate my interests. Do you really dislike the notion of giving an old man something so simple?"

"'Old man?'" Izuku asks. "You look like you're in your peak… What, fifties?"

Sensei grins at that. "If that is what you think, then so be it." He leans forward on his throne. "As for my offer?"

Izuku sighs. Once again he scouts his mind, only this time he's surfing through his mental catalog of all the false heroes there are out in the world. It's dishearteningly large, even more so the lower down in the ranks he gets. It isn't difficult to think of an unheroic E-lister or D-lister, the conflict comes with deciding which one.

"Well?"

"There's Slugger," Izuku eventually says. "He has a quirk that allows him to throw ricocheting projectiles, but he limits himself to baseballs. Just because his dream of being a pro baseball player didn't pan out." Izuku shakes his head. "He patrols in and around Shimane; he runs a protection racket and even allows some small-time yakuza groups in the area to undergo their operations unhindered.

"Hmph." Sensei nods. "Interesting choice."

"Are you going to tell me why you asked me for that?"

"When it bears fruit, I will. But, in the meantime… Kurogiri, if you would."

A small portal manifests besides Izuku. After a quick gesture from Sensei, Izuku reaches into it. What he finds is a somewhat bulky, if advanced looking suitcase. Only after opening it up does he realize that it's a rather advanced piece of hardware.

"A laptop?" Izuku asks.

"Specially customized to your own investigative needs," Sensei says. "It's state-of-the-art, with some rather extensive encryptions built in alongside some hacking programs to ease the burden on you. With it you'll be able to enter certain… databases that are concealed from the public. Just don't be too erratic with your methods, or else you'll be caught. If that happens, that'll be on you. Understand?"'

"Of course, Sensei."

"Good. Now carry on." Another, much larger portal, appears beside Izuku. "I hope that you find the answers that you're looking for."

Izuku walks through the portal and through the otherside, appearing back in Musutafu. Another small portal deposits his bag on the ground beside him, which Izuku takes and stuffs his newly acquired gear into.

The shift in atmosphere is stifling, but nonetheless Izuku begins his trek back to his apartment, his mind buzzing with his thoughts.

Sensei doesn't do things for no reason. There's more to what he asked of me for sure. And if I were to take a guess…

Izuku took a breath, a large gulp traveling down his throat. Sensei has something planned for Slugger. And likely something not good.

Izuku abruptly freezes, eyes bulging in sudden realization. Sensei… He never specified that the name had to be a hero's.

His analysis had long gone past the point of a childish admiration of heroes. The insides of his notebooks were now lined with entries of hero and villain alike, with no sense of favoritism or bias of the sorts. He was well-versed in both the scum and the bastions of hope, and yet… His mind immediately pointed towards the heroes. Or rather, the false heroes.

He felt a pit growing in his stomach. I… What? Instinctually gave him a hero? Despite knowing that Sensei most likely has some sort of nefarious plot in store for whoever I named? I… I should be feeling bad, right? Why don't I feel bad about this?

His doubts rage on the surface, but deep down Izuku knows the truth. He knows that if it had been a real hero whose name he had given — someone who is an outstanding beacon of hope to the community and the world — then right now he would be feeling those bad emotions. Guilt. Remorse. Anger.

But the truth is that Slugger isn't a hero. Isn't some sort of figure to admire. Isn't someone whose words you should live up to. He was a crook, a criminal, a villain. He goes against the law, and nobody even tries to stop him. But if Sensei suddenly took an interest in him?

Izuku hastily shakes his head, attempting to clear the thoughts out of his head. There's nothing I can do now. There's nothing that I can do against Sensei, after all.

Izukuls mind drifts back to the new laptop in his possession.

No use dwelling on it; might as well think of where to start my investigation. Who knows how deep this goes?

A/N: And there we are. As for next time? We'll be seeing the consequences of Izuku's name drop. Stay tuned!