Chapter 1: Enter 'E'
Izuku, once again burned by his childhood friend and classmates, finds himself alone with only his thoughts and a notebook. He was too deep in thought to notice a certain woman, who will certainly make a big impression on him.
Hello everyone! I am really excited to unveil to you a new fanfiction story I am working but….I now have a partner working on it with me! YAY! I hope you all like it, I certainly love writing it, lol!
Godofwolves90: Hello, everyone. I'm Wolf, and this Idea of mine originated on Reddit from a prompt I had made. Chi here ever so kindly took this up. Love, loss, heartbreak, and even adventure are what we have in store. So sit back, relax, and enjoy The show.
Chapter 1: Enter 'E'
"Just face it, nerd! You'll never amount to anything but a Deku!"
Those words were followed by the roaring laughter of his classmates that morning. Strangely enough, what hurt Izuku Midoriya more than the sharp pain in his shoulder from Kacchan's quirk was the sting of those words.
Izuku's life had been, to put it mildly, a journey. He lived in a world where many people were born with special abilities called "Quirks." These powers gave rise to heroes, men and women who used their abilities to save others every day. Izuku had always dreamed of being a hero, ever since he was a child, wanting to save people and do it with a smile. Unfortunately, he found himself among the unlikely few. Ever since he turned four and doctors had pronounced him Quirkless, his sense of reality had flipped upside down. People began to show their true colors; at first, there was pity, but that quickly turned into disdain, as if he meant nothing without a quirk.
His confidence took a nosedive after that, especially with Kacchan constantly putting him down and "accidentally" hurting him with his abilities. Kacchan would mock his dreams of becoming a hero, calling them worthless and dubbing him "Deku" because he had no quirk. On days like these, Izuku was grateful for his notebooks. He had a knack for analyzing quirks and their users, and he was good at sketching what he observed.
This particular day, after school, Izuku sat alone on a park bench, jotting down his thoughts in his analysis book. He had a rough day but hoped to find some clarity in solitude.
The park was a peaceful escape, with tall trees swaying gently in the breeze and vibrant flowers dotting the landscape. A soft path wound through the greenery, where children laughed and played while others strolled leisurely, enjoying the late afternoon sun. Izuku sat on a weathered bench, the scent of fresh grass filling the air as he jotted down his thoughts in his analysis book.
He was mumbling to himself about a certain hero's quirk, his brow furrowed in concentration. "If only they could stabilize their energy output a bit more… Maybe if they adjusted their stance during activation, they could improve their control…" His pencil scratched against the paper as he made notes, lost in his thoughts.
So, focused on his work in fact, that he didn't notice the figure approaching him, someone who would change his life. Just as he continued mumbling, a voice broke through his concentration. "My, these works are quite interesting."
"Thank you!" Izuku replied quickly, still not looking up. Then, suddenly aware of the unexpected presence, he jerked his head up, scanning from side to side to locate the source of the voice. When he didn't find anyone, he almost shrugged and thought he was hearing things-
"Down here, dahling," came the voice again.
Izuku's eyes dropped, and he was met with a relatively short woman, her striking features immediately captivating. She had a sleek bob of graying black hair, framed by a pair of stylish, oversized glasses that highlighted her piercing eyes. Her attire was sharp and elegant: a fitted black dress with a high collar, complemented by a chic, tailored jacket. The way she carried herself radiated confidence, and her presence felt both commanding and intimidating.
Before Izuku asked who she was, he found himself staring at the woman, unable to shake the feeling that she seemed familiar. Her energy was magnetic, demanding attention, and he couldn't help but be drawn in. "Didn't your mother ever tell you it's rude to stare at a person?" she said, her tone bordering on bored rather than annoyed.
Izuku jerked upright, fumbling for an apology. "I'm s-sorry! I-I…didn't mean to…I mean I-I d-did…" he stammered like crazy, as he bowed excessively, flustered, and in the process, his notebook slipped from his hands and fell to the ground.
The woman didn't bat an eye at his embarrassment, instead, she turned her attention to what fell. She gracefully bent down to retrieve the book. After dusting it off, to her satisfaction, she began to flip through the pages. "Hmm, what do we have here?" A look of mild interest crossed her face.
Izuku's eyes widened as he stammered, "It's n-nothing…j-just a book!" trying and failing to collect his book.
Ignoring him, she continued to browse through his notes. "You have some fair ideas," she remarked, her tone critical. "But your analysis lacks depth in certain areas. For example, your tips on energy stabilization are too vague; specificity is key, dahling. And this costume design? It's quite uninspired. Heroes need to make a statement, not blend in!"
Izuku felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment for more reasons than one. He never allowed others to read his books, fearing the judgment that might come from being labeled a creep. Even if she was just a stranger, her blunt comments felt like a blow to his confidence. Honestly, his designs were merely a hobby…nothing serious.
The woman continued her critique, flipping through the pages of his sketchbook. "And what's with this sketch? The proportions are off. If you want your designs to be taken seriously, you need to refine your technique," she stated, her tone sharp yet oddly engaging. Izuku wanted to correct her, to explain that he wasn't really serious about those works-well, maybe a little serious-but the words caught in his throat.
As she continued to scrutinize his drawings, an uncomfortable silence settled between them. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, her demeanor softened. "However," she said, closing the book with a decisive snap, "you have potential. That much is certain." She handed the book back to him, and Izuku was caught off guard by the unexpected compliment.
"A-ah…T-thank you!" he managed to squeak out, his heart racing.
Before he could respond further, her phone rang, shattering the moment. With an annoyed groan, she stepped a few feet away to take the call. Izuku caught snippets of her conversation. "Yes, yes, what is it?" she demanded, followed by a series of "Yeses" and "Noes," punctuated by her emphatic declaration, "I said it before and I will say it again. No. Capes!" She ended the call with a flourish, striding back toward him as if nothing had happened.
"Well, it appears I will have to cut this meeting short." Izuku blinked, unsure what she meant by 'meeting,' but he didn't dare to ask. She thrust a business card into his hand. "Wednesday, you will meet me there at…" She scanned him, her gaze critical. "Judging by what you're wearing, it seems you're in middle school. A middle school that clearly lacks taste in clothing," she sighed, her expression a mixture of exasperation and amusement. "Very well, at 4:15 PM, we will meet. Do not be late; I do not tolerate missed appointments."
Izuku's mind raced with a whirlwind of thoughts. Although the woman looked somewhat familiar, the idea of meeting her again felt daunting. "B-but, you see-"
"Yes, Dahling, all will be explained by then," she interrupted, already walking away. "Make sure you're not late!" she called over her shoulder.
"W-wait…!" he shouted, but she was already too far away to hear him. "I… don't even know her name," he mumbled to himself in disbelief. After the initial shock of the encounter wore off, he adjusted his backpack and prepared to leave for home. As he turned to walk away, he noticed a piece of paper fluttering to the ground.
Bending down to pick it up, he accidentally knocked another paper loose from his book. He grabbed that one too and glanced at it, his heart skipping a beat as he recognized it as a business card bearing her name.
"Edna Mode?" he read aloud, a mix of confusion and excitement washing over him. The name rang a bell, and he couldn't help but wonder what kind of whirlwind awaited him at their meeting.
(-)
Making her way to the hotel was staying at, Edna sat comfortably in the back of her car, and her security team took the wheel while she was engrossed in her latest high-profile designs for an important new client.
"Hmm…" she murmured to herself, reflecting on the day's unexpected events. Her return to Japan had not gone quite as planned. A regular client had referred her to an up-and-coming hero in the city, but after a video consultation, Edna found herself less than impressed by the hero's attitude. However, she was intrigued by the uniqueness of their quirk, as they called it here.
After spending more time than anticipated with the prima donna of a hero, Edna decided it was time to clear her head. With her security team close by, she took a stroll through a nearby park, seeking inspiration for her next project. As she wandered, nothing seemed to catch her eye, but she relished the opportunity to think, letting her mind wander through the vast possibilities of fashion and design.
Everything changed when she spotted a particular green-haired teenage boy, utterly absorbed in his notebook. He had a look of intense concentration that held her gaze. Curiosity piqued, she approached him gingerly, careful not to disturb his focus. Peering over his shoulder, Edna caught a glimpse of his sketches. They were rough and unrefined, yet they held an undeniable spark of potential. A crude illustration of a well-known hero lay on the page, accompanied by a thoughtful analysis that could certainly benefit from some polish.
Edna's heart raced with excitement as she sat in contemplative silence. "That boy…" she thought, a wide, manic smile creeping across her face. "I believe he will become my next masterpiece." With inspiration flooding her thoughts, she could already envision the extraordinary designs that would emerge from this newfound collaboration. After all, in Edna Mode's world, true talent was always worth nurturing.
-Midoriya Household-
Izuku Midoriya trudged home, the sun dipping low in the sky, casting long shadows across the sidewalk. The air was cool, a gentle breeze rustling the leaves of nearby trees. It felt like a calm reprieve from the chaos of his day, but his mind was anything but tranquil. "Edna Mode, Edna Mode…" he muttered, the name repeating in his head like a song stuck on loop. He couldn't shake the memory of their encounter; the striking woman had captivated him, and he was still trying to comprehend how she had slipped a business card into his notebook without him noticing. "When did she find the time to do that?" he wondered, impressed by her swift movements, but something told him it wasn't a quirk, just her natural flair for the dramatic.
As he stepped inside his home, a familiar silence greeted him. His mother was still at work, leaving the house eerily quiet. He muttered a soft greeting to the empty space before rushing up the stairs, eager to process the whirlwind of emotions swirling within him. In his room, he quickly showered, being extra careful around the new burn mark on his shoulder from Kacchan's earlier antics. After drying off, he slipped into his comfortable home clothes, the fabric feeling like a warm embrace.
He plopped down at his desk and powered up his computer. "Alright, who is Edna Mode…" he mumbled, fingers flying over the keyboard as he typed her name. Within moments, his screen was filled with information, and he leaned closer, eyes wide as he read.
Edna Mode: renowned fashion designer for heroes, known for her bold and innovative designs that perfectly balanced style and functionality. Has an impressive track record, working with some of the greatest heroes, helping them not only look good but also enhance their abilities with practical costumes. It was said that her keen eye for detail made her a top superpower analyst, able to assess a hero's strengths and weaknesses through their attire alone.
Izuku's heart raced as he read more about her. She was an icon, a legend in the world of hero design! He felt his breath hitch. "I just met…THE Edna Mode!" His thoughts spiraled out of control. "She saw my book! My sketches! And she asked to meet again…IN TWO DAYS!" He stood up abruptly, pacing his room. "What if she thinks I'm a total loser? What if she regrets meeting me? Oh gosh, what if she decides I'm not worth her time?"
"This is it! I'm dead!" His heart raced faster, and he covered his face with his hands. "I can't believe I'm meeting someone so important! What if I mess it all up?!"
After a moment of overwhelmed silence, he caught a glimpse of the business card lying on his desk. "Wait…" He took a deep breath, the initial panic slowly giving way to a spark of hope. "Edna Mode…thought I had potential," he realized, a small smile creeping across his face, "B-but what if I blow it?" before vanishing again.
With a groan, he threw himself onto his bed, face buried in his pillow. "What does Wednesday hold?" he muffled into the fabric, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders. All he could do was wait and hope that he wouldn't completely embarrass himself in front of one of the world's greatest heroes' designers of all time.
Author's Notes:
This is the first chapter, and I have to admit, it's a short one—no denying it, lol. That said, I'm really excited to see how this turns out! When I first stumbled upon the idea (I credit my writing partner), I was honestly hoping that my writing partner would write and publish it, but then I had the bold thought of actually writing it myself! I know what some of you might say, "Isn't that a bit much?" or "Wow, this guy is eccentric," and, well, you're right, lol.
Godofwolves90: he is Eccentric and annoyingly so. But that's what I love about him.
I really love the simplicity of my partner's story prompt—it has the makings of something really interesting, and in my opinion, equally funny. In this fic, I'm aiming to embody Edna Mode's eccentric and fabulously confident sense of self, which Izuku will need (and hopefully get) at some point.
Edna has made contact, and we all know that once she has a brilliant idea or gets inspired, there's no stopping her from diving headfirst into her projects.
With that, I bid you all adieu, and I'll hopefully see you all in the next chapter. Read, review, and follow. Bye!
Godofwolves90: and in case we don't see ya. Good afternoon, good evening, and goodnight!