Chapter 13: Discussing Her Future/Overlooking Her Past
The first thing Himiko noticed when she came to was how clear her mind was. She vaguely remembered the graduation ceremony, but her head had been killing her for months by then, and everything after that is fogged over. She thinks she remembers Saito covered in blood somehow. Then just flashes of blurry city streets. The last thing she remembered was the red man who smelled like blood and the pretty woman he was with. She wondered if they were alright. If her head was clear, that meant she must've taken blood again, and she doubted it was a bird this time.
Then she noticed she was lying in a bed. Not a great bed, but better than wherever she'd been before, she was sure. There's something beeping off to her side. Everything smelled like the nurse's office.
Wait.
Himiko looked around properly. She was in a hospital. A Hospital. She must've been caught. Now they were gonna throw her in jail forever. Like her parents said she deserved. That's fine. She was tired of pretending to be like other people. She can live a normal life on her own, thank you very much. She reached for the IV in her arm when the door opened.
"I wouldn't touch those," said the man in red as a doctor followed him into the room. "You're still pretty malnourished. You need those." So, whoever she fed on wasn't that guy then. Himiko moved her hand away from the tubes. Now that the fog in her head has let up, she recognized his outfit as a Hero costume. She wasn't going anywhere while he's watching her. Oh Himiko, did you attack a Pro Hero?'Monster,' 'Freak,' and every other snide remark her parents ever made bounced around Himiko's skull. This is it; she's going to jail. No, Tartarus.
"Are you feeling better?" the Hero asked. What a stupid question. It doesn't matter how she feels. Apparently, the Hero could see some of that in her face because he sighs. "I should introduce myself. I'm Kan Sekijiro, the Pro Hero Vlad King." He took a seat in the chair beside Himiko's bed. "My Quirk is called Blood Control." Himiko's eyes widened. That'swhy he smelled like blood! "I got a lot of grief for my Quirk growing up. Now that I'm a Hero, I try and find kids who are going through what I went through so I can help them." Himiko couldn't help it. She scoffed. Mr. Kan raised an eyebrow.
"No one wants to help me," Himiko explained quietly. "I want blood. I want other people's blood. I want to see people covered in their blood! I don't want to be helped, I don't want to be normal, I'm sick of pretending!"
Silence hung in the air between them.
"Normal is pretty subjective," Mr. Kan said at last. That's… not what Himiko expected. "And you never got a chance to find your normal."
"What?" She'd been Normal since her Quirk came in and her parents told her how to act, to behave.
"You've been forcibly suppressing your own Quirk, and the parts of your biology it affects," Mr. Kan said. "That method of Quirk control was outlawed decades ago. It just makes things worse. Your urges, for instance. They're probably more extreme because you've been denying them."
What.
Mr. Kan wasn't serious, was he?
Then, just when Himiko was certain her day couldn't get stranger, the doctor produced a vial of blood and handed it to her.
"Drink slowly," the doctor said. "Too fast and you'll end up throwing it up again."
They…
They actually wanted her to drink blood?
No.
No, this had to be a trick, and then they would call her a demon child and throw her away.
But that blood did look tasty. And if they were going to lock her up anyway, what's the harm? Himiko took the vial and sipped it slowly, keeping her eyes on the Hero and the doctor.
"Good," the doctor said. "We'll be giving you some blood with every meal for the time being. Once you're no longer starved of the stuff, we'll slow down your intake to once a day. I'll look into getting you some blood-based foods as well."
"Blood-based foods?" Himiko hadn't heard of those. The doctor nodded.
"There are a handful of options for people who need to regularly consume blood for their Quirk. The most popular is protein bars made with blood."
"But…" Himiko tried to articulate the storm she's feeling; how everything that's happened since she woke up hadn't made sense.
"Toga," the Hero said. "I had your parents arrested." She gasped. "Like I said, forcing someone to suppress their Quirk is illegal, and just based on how they talked about you I could tell they weren't good parents to you." He slowly moved his hand onto her shoulder, telegraphing his movements. She managed not to flinch, but just barely. "What they did to you was wrong, and me and the doctors here do care about you. We aren't going to throw you away because of your Quirk."
Himiko doesn't say anything. She never dreamed something like this would happen to her.
That was two days ago.
She's still in the hospital, but the doctor says she's improving rapidly. Apparently, in addition to needing blood, she gets a bunch of nutrients from it. The doctors are hopeful she'll be discharged in a week or two. Kan has visited her once a day as well. She'd be more surprised if he hadn't told her about his Quirk, or if he hadn't let her look him up on his second visit and learned he was called The Blood Hero.
Himiko hears a soft knock at her door and looks up from the old western cartoons playing on the television. Kan walks in, with a suit-wearing wolverine(?) perched on his shoulder.
"Hello again, Toga," Kan says and Himiko winces. Looking back on how her parents treated her and hearing they were arrested for it put a bad taste in her mouth.
"Just Himiko." Kan nods.
"I have someone who wanted to speak to you." He gestures to the weasel(?), who hopped down on to the bed.
"Am I an otter, a mink, or a marten? It doesn't matter, what's important is that I'm the Principal of UA High School! Nedzu! It's a pleasure to meet you, Himiko." She stared at the talking animal for several seconds before realizing he is waiting for a response.
"UA High? The Hero school?"
"We teach other courses too, but yes, that is what we are primarily known for." The animal chuckles.
"You wanted to meet? With me?"
"Indeed!" he clapped his paws. "You see, due to the gross negligence of the people expected to take care of you, you are currently behind on your studies. We are almost a month into the school year now." Himiko nods. She already knew how long she'd been… out of it from when Kan lent her his phone before. "And, have you been watching the news lately?" She nods again. They're still talking about some big battle in Deika City that started over some bad school district. "Well, as the principal of a school with access to unique resources, I have decided to create a new class for students impacted by schools like Aldera. We are calling it Class Z. It will be an intensive cram course meant to prepare students to transfer to another course at the end of the year, making up for lost time."
"Okay?" Nedzu and Mr. Kan share a look before Nedzu turns back to her.
"Well, Himiko, I am here to offer you a position in Class Z." What.
"You… you want to have me at UA?" Nedzu smiles.
"Lunch Rush and Recovery Girl can both be made aware of your dietary needs. I know Lunch Rush would happily add blood to your food for you. If you wanted, no other student would have to know." Himiko gapes. This offer can't be real. No one wants her unless she has her Normal mask on, and it's too late for that for everyone in the room. They can't be really offering this to the real Himiko, can they?
"It's a big decision," Kan says. "If you need to take some time to think about it, that's okay."
"I…" UA is a dream come true. She called it a Hero School a moment ago, but the principal was right: they teach other things. Even the Gen-Ed kids who come out of UA are held to higher standards. "I think I want to try it," she says.
"There is the matter of your living arrangements," Kan says thoughtfully. Nedzu hums.
"Yes, while UA currently has custody of you, none of our staff are currently in a position to house you until Cementoss finishes our new dorms."
"Dorms?" Himiko hadn't heard anything about UA being a boarding school. Nedzu chuckles.
"You aren't the first student we've had full or partial custody of. Usually, it's international students with nowhere to live locally. We're currently renovating them, unfortunately." Himiko nods.
"I'm sure you have some contacts who could set up a place for her," Kan says.
"Of course I do," Nedzu says. "But I don't want Himiko to move in with complete strangers. She's going through quite a few sudden changes right now as it is. I need someone who can quickly prove themselves trustworthy to you," Nedzu says, suddenly addressing Himiko, but mostly thinking out loud.
"Didn't you say that personal student of yours is a Quirk enthusiast?" Kan says. Quirk enthusiast? Who would be enthusiastic about my Quirk? Nedzu looks up, deep in thought.
"Potentially imposing on Mrs. Midoriya, depends on their current living space. We would supply the blood and pay her of course. Unpredictable, but it may just work." Nedzu pulls a small phone out from his vest. "I'll place the call."
Himiko wasn't sure what she expected when she heard the UA Principal had a personal student. It certainly wasn't the short green-haired boy with bright eyes and a smile who quietly opens the door, followed by a homely looking woman too similar in appearance not to be his mother.
"I apologize for this. I know you aren't a certified foster parent, but her situation is delicate. Legally speaking, we will have custody and you will functionally be sitting her while the dorms are constructed." The woman waves her arm.
"It's fine! I appreciate your concern Nedzu, sir, but with Hisashi overseas, we have plenty of space for her." While they talk, the boy walks up to her bedside, a blinding smile on his face.
"Hi, I'm Midoriya Izuku! It looks like you may be living with me for a bit!" Himiko slides her Normal mask into place like an old glove.
"My name is Toga Himiko. It's a pleasure to meet you." Something flickers across Midoriya's face but vanishes before Himiko can recognize it.
"What're you watching?" he asks, looking at the TV.
"Some silly old western cartoons," Himiko giggles. That emotion flashes in Midoriya's eyes again.
"Not the Sports Festival?"
"That's today?" Midoriya nods.
"The First Years' festival is today. Second Years' is tomorrow, and Third Years' are on Monday."
"I'm not that into athletics."
"I always like watching the Quirks. We're recording it at home so I can watch it over and over." He watches the TV with a faint smile. "You'd think the cat would learn," Midoriya says as the cartoon mouse outmaneuvers his pursuer once again. Himiko laughs. Midoriya waits a moment before turning back to her. "You don't have to pretend, you know." Himiko swallows.
"I don't know what you mean," she says. Midoriya turns back to the TV. He stays silent for a few seconds.
"I used to do that too," he said. "Pretend everything was fine. If I didn't, then the bullies got worse. Because then I was 'fighting back' and 'didn't know my place.' And I pretended at home, too. I didn't want my mom to worry about me, or ruin any of her friendships." He locks eyes with Himiko. She sees a story in his eyes. There's pain there, a deep pain. "But hiding it didn't make things better. Nedzu told me you have some… problems with how people reacted to your Quirk. I won't press, but…" Midoriya closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. "I'm Quirkless," he says. "I'll never judge you for your Quirk."
"Even if it's… bad?"
"No such thing."
"Gross?"
"My childhood best friend sweats nitroglycerin." She snorts. "Exactly. I promise, whatever it is, I won't judge." Himiko swallows again. She's not really spoken to many Quirkless people, but she has seen the news about Aldera. If Midoriya went through even a fraction of that, then telling her that he's Quirkless was a massive show of trust. She should do the same. Her lower lip wobbles.
"I… if I drink someone's blood, I can become them," she whispers. Midoriya hums thoughtfully, a thumb to his lip.
"Time limit? Probably related to the quantity of blood she drinks. Could she become someone and then donate blood, or would it turn back when she does? If she became someone with longer hair, what would happen if we cut it? Can she use someone's Quirk while she's them? That would be so useful!" He turns to her, eyes practically glowing. "Do you have fangs? Most people with blood Quirks have some kind of fang mutation!" Himiko doesn't know how to respond to this, so she just opens her mouth and lets him see. "Wow! Elongated canines on the top and bottom! Like a cat! You have such a cool Quirk, Himiko!"
That's… the first time anyone ever said that to her.
"You see, Nedzu?" Mrs. Midoriya says. "She's practically a Midoriya already!"
"What?" Himiko croaks out. Midoriya snorts.
"Mom and I cry a lot."
Oh.
Himiko hadn't even noticed she was crying.
Chapter 14: Place Like Home/The Vampire's Fear
"And this is your room!" Izuku—he insisted Himiko call him by his first name when she asked him not to use her family name—swung the door open. It wasn't a terribly large bedroom, maybe the size of the open kitchen. Just a bed, desk, and armoire for furniture, with a wall closet across from the bed. The walls were bare but patterned with a lively blood-red wallpaper.
"Sorry we couldn't get you a bigger closet," Izuku says, rubbing the back of his neck. As if he and his mother hadn't basically created a new bedroom from extra space in their apartment in their free time over the last week.
It had been just a week since the Midoriyas had walked into her room at the hospital, and Himiko still couldn't comprehend how they were so nice all the time. Mrs. Midoriya spoke gently, Izuku wore his heart on his sleeve, and neither of them had even told her that her Quirk made her weird or bad. They had visited her every day, keeping her posted on how they converted a storage room in their apartment to a third bedroom. Sometimes they brought pictures of things they wanted for her and asked her which was her favorite. When the hospital discharged her a few hours ago, the Midoriyas were ready and waiting to take her home. Izuku practically vibrated with excitement.
"It's no trouble, Izuku! I'm grateful you did this much for me," Himiko says. Izuku sighs, his smile falling slightly, and she realizes she slipped into her Normal persona on instinct. "Whoops, force of habit. I amglad you and your mom did all this for me though." Izuku smirks.
"It's no trouble." Did he just? He lightly bumps a fist into her shoulder. "We'll go clothes shopping tomorrow. Feel free to wander around and just get a feel for the apartment. Knowing mom, dinner will be in half-an-hour or so." He steps back down the hall towards the room labeled 'Izuku.' "If you need anything, feel free to knock!"
Himiko slowly twirls around the center of the room. Her room at her parents' house had been larger, but this one felt different somehow. Happier. Maybe because Izuku spots her Normal persona the moment Himiko slips and refused to get anything that Himiko didn't actually want. This is also why she found herself with very few outfits from her old house. He insisted she not keep anything she got to be Normal, which left her with maybe enough clothes for a week and the bare bones of school supplies.
She sits on the bed (the mattress is soft like she'd asked; they hadn't made her use a futon like her parents), swinging her legs. Izuku liked her Quirk. Mrs. Midoriya told her nothing was wrong with her. Mr. Kan said that Normal was subjective, and she needed to find her own. Why? Why were they all so kind?
She spends the time before dinner padding around the apartment.
Himiko sits down at the table, a steaming bowl of beef ramen already at her seat. Izuku beams at her from the seat next to her while Mrs. Midoriya sits herself down. They give thanks for the meal and dive in. Cautiously, she takes a bite. Her eyes widen.
"Do you like it?" Mrs. Midoriya says.
"It's delicious!"
"Mom's cooking is the best," Izuku says matter-of-factly.
"I added a few milliliters of blood to your broth," Mrs. Midoriya continues. "I hope it's not overpowering."
"I… I hadn't noticed," Himiko admits sheepishly. She swallows, setting her chopsticks down. The Midoriyas never stopped being so nice to her, but Himiko still felt herself anticipating the other shoe dropping. "Are you sure—I mean," she tries to find the words. "Please don't burden yourselves on my account." Izuku nudges her. Ah. Normal slipped again. "I mean, how much did you spend on my room?"
"Hisashi—my husband, I'm sure I've mentioned him—Hisashi sends us more than enough money to live comfortably here," Mrs. Midoriya says. "Having you here would've put a dent in Izuku's future fund at worst. But Nedzu is paying for your things."
"Dunno where he gets all his money," Izuku says between mouthfuls of ramen, "But he has multiple fake cities in UA. I'm pretty sure he can handle some furniture and clothes."
"We aren't burdening ourselves, either. You're a fine young woman who needed help. I don't need to be a Pro Hero to help someone in need." A tightness in Himiko's chest loosens, and she eats the rest of her meal in content quiet.
"Himiko!" Izuku calls, notebook in his hand. "I'm gonna watch the Second Years' Sports Festival! Want to see?" Himiko's instinctive reaction is to say 'no.' Normal Girls are proper and care not for sports, her parents had said. She shakes it off; that's not her, just her mask.
"Sure!" Izuku moves over on the couch leaving plenty of room. Himiko plops down. "I've, uh, never watched one of these." Izuku looks scandalized. "What're they like?"
"Well, it's the entire year class at UA, so all the Second Years are participating. There's three events, randomly chosen, but there's a pattern."
"Pattern?"
"Yeah! The first event is a mass-elimination round, like a qualifier for the next two events." Himiko bites her lip.
"Doesn't that ensure only Hero students move on?" Izuku nods.
"Usually. Sometimes the Support students' equipment pulls them through, or a Gen-Ed student that didn't quite make the cut into the Hero program moves on too."
"So, what's the second event?"
"Wildcard," Izuku says. "Something that eliminates about half of the remaining competitors. The third event is always a one-on-one tournament of some kind." Himiko nods, and Izuku hits 'play' on the remote.
The announcer explains the first event, a maze run. The camera drones look down at a massive labyrinth wrapping around the center of the field. At the heart of the maze is a stage with the referee. The announcer, who introduced himself as Present Mic (whoever that is) explains that the goal is to reach the center of the maze as quickly as possible, but that the competitors cannot break the walls or attack each other. As long as they don't leave the maze, anything else is fair game.
The announcer gives the word, and the students take off. Himiko stares, transfixed, as about 200 Quirks go off at once. Most of the students just run for it, but several demonstrate alternative solutions. A student propels herself with energy blasts while another dissolves into mist and surges ahead. One student stretches their arm several meters and pulls themself up a wall. But the standout is the tall blonde who jumps through each wall, running in a straight line to the goal. He easily beats the other students to the maze's center, though Himiko wishes he hadn't lost most of his clothes doing it. At least he still had pants.
"That guy didn't do too well last year," Izuku says, eyes flicking between his rapid notetaking and the screen. "He kept falling through the ground and had to forfeit when he went totally nude."
Present Mic gives the student's name: Togata Mirio. Eventually, everyone finishes or quits, and the referee—Cementoss, Izuku called him—declares that the first 48 students who reached the goal moved on to the next event. Each student would be provided a bo staff with bagged ends. The wrappings are covered in highly visible powder. Hitting someone with the powdered ends eliminates them. The Maze itself would once more be the arena. The students had ten minutes to scatter before they could begin tagging, and they did so with gusto.
"Are they hunting each other for sport?" Himiko asks at the explanation of the rules.
"Yep."
Present Mic called 'time' and the students set to tracking each other. Every few minutes, a competitor ambushes another and a fierce back-and-forth began. Since it only took a single hit to eliminate, missing the first attack could be catastrophic. At some point, a bunch of competitors got into a massive brawl, all swinging wildly at each other and desperately dodging. Togata lost his shirt again phasing through an attack. While they were distracted, a particularly stealthy student managed to eliminate five of the fighters, including Togata.
"Tough luck," Izuku says. He puts a thumb to his lip. "Hopefully he'll have a better showing next year…"
As Izuku said, once the 48 students had been reduced to 24, Present Mic calls the event. While Cementoss disassembles the labyrinth, spectators are encouraged to watch the side events and booths. Izuku fast-forwards to the third event. This time, the students would be facing each other in single matches, tournament style. In the end, a student Himiko hadn't been watching during the past two events comes out on top.
"Did you have fun?" Izuku asks, beaming.
"Yeah," she says. "I think I did."
She knows on some level that this is a horrible idea. But if she's right, and just does nothing? She couldn't bear it. Before she can talk herself out of it, Himiko raps the back of her hand softly against Izuku's door.
"Hey, Izuku?" he looks up from his notebook at his desk. "Can I, um, can I have some of your blood?"
"Sure!" he says with no hesitation, and Himiko barely masks her shock. "But don't we have some in the fridge?" Izuku puts a thumb to his lip. "I thought—we didn't run out, did we?" Himiko shakes her head.
"It's just, I want your blood." She shuffles a bit. "When, when I saw Saito's blood—a kid from my school, he got in a fight—my, my mask slipped, and then I slipped, and I, I wondered—"
"You want to see some of my blood to see if you'll freak out again?" She flinches a bit at the bluntness and Izuku immediately starts flailing. "Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean—"
"No, you're right. That's exactly what I wanted," Himiko admits. "If I lose myself again, hurt you or Mrs. Midoriya, I don't think I'd forgive myself." She raises her head to look at him. "But Mr. Kan said my… urges… got worse when I suppressed them."
"So, you want a tolerance?" Himiko nods. "Okay. Let's go do this in the bathroom. I'll get mom."
Mrs. Midoriya was surprisingly okay with supervising her ward drinking the blood of her son. The three of them crowd into the bathroom. Izuku rinses his left hand and extends it to Himiko. She steps forwards, holding it gingerly, flicking her eyes to Mrs. Midoriya. The woman nods, and Himiko takes a deep breath, and bites. Izuku flinches but doesn't make a noise. After a few moments, Himiko loosens her jaw, blood trickling from the small punctures on the top and bottom of Izuku's hand. She pools the small sample of blood on her tongue. It's certainly fresher than the blood the hospital gave her, but it tastes about the same. She swallows the blood. The moment it hits her throat, everything blurs.
Saito covered in blood lying on the ground his uniform in shreds he's bleeding he's dying she just keeps drinking it tastes so good she feels so good Saito twitches her name on his lips but no sound comes out he moves his hand and tries to drag himself
"—ko?"
The bird is so pretty she wants the bird she drinks the bird she shows the bird to her parents they scream they cry they call her a freak a monster a demon a devil not their child just be normal put on the smile ask for the pink things avoid the boys talk gossip talk fashion be normal be Normal Be Normal Be Normal Be Normal Be
"—miko?"
Izuku covered in blood lying on the ground his clothes in shreds he's bleeding he's dying she just keeps drinking it tastes so good she feels so good Izuku twitches her name on his lips but no sound comes out he moves his hand and tries to drag himself
"Himiko? Can you hear me?"
The bird is so pretty she wants the bird she drinks the bird she shows the bird to Mrs. Midoriya she screams she cries she calls her a freak a monster a demon a devil just be normal put on the smile ask for the pink things avoid the boys talk gossip talk fashion be normal be Normal Be Normal Be Normal Be Normal Be
"Himiko! Can you breathe for me?" Breathe? That sounds easy enough. She nods. "Alright, follow me. In for four seconds," she breathes in while the voice counts. "Now hold it for another four seconds." She does. "Now exhale for four seconds." The voice keeps counting, so she keeps breathing. Eventually, her vision clears. She's sitting on the bathroom floor, her back to the wall, curled in on herself. A worried Izuku crouches in front of her, Mrs. Midoriya hovering just behind him.
"Are you with us, Himiko?" Izuku asks, voice wavering. She opens her mouth blood dribbles out his blood she did this and closes it again. She nods instead. "Are you alright?"
"You," she croaks out "You aren't… mad?" The Midoriyas shake their heads.
"We're worried, dear. You suddenly stopped responding and started shivering," Mrs. Midoriya says.
"I told you I'd never judge you for your Quirk, Himiko." Izuku says. "What happened?"
"I don't know," she responds shakily. "I think… I think I'll stick to the bagged stuff for now." She forces herself to meet Izuku's big green eyes. "Are… are you okay?"
"I'm fine!" he beams. "I think your teeth, or maybe your saliva, has some kind of anesthetic effect! I felt pressure, but it didn't even hurt!"
Didn't?
Hurt?
"Dear, what you did tonight was very brave of you," Mrs. Midoriya says. Brave? She wasn't the one in danger! As if reading her mind, Mrs. Midoriya continues. "You faced a very real fear of yours. You panicked, yes, but you seem more scared that you hurt Izuku, or that we'll hate you for it." Mrs. Midoriya crouches down, gently setting a hand on Himiko's shoulder. "You were afraid of yourself, and you did your best to face it. I'm proud of you, Himiko." Himiko shudders and sobs, shoving her face into Mrs. Midoriya's shirt.
"So, is she a Midoriya yet?" she hears Izuku ask.
"If she keeps crying like this, it won't take long," Mrs. Midoriya responds.
Oh.
That's what it was.
Her room feels like home.
Chapter 15: A New Style/Old Whispered Thoughts
Himiko doesn't want to open her eyes. She's afraid. Afraid that when she does, she'll find Mr. Kan, Nedzu and Class Z, Mrs. Midoriya, Izuku, will all have been a wonderful dream concocted by her brain as she starves in an alley somewhere. But she's in a bed. And it's soft, so it isn't a hospital bed. And she smells something cooking. She dares to look.
She's in a mostly empty room with red wallpaper and some furniture. Her room. The room that's going to be full after Mrs. Midoriya takes her and Izuku shopping this evening. It all happened. It was real. There are people who care, even though I'm—she shakes the thought away. If the Midoriyas are content to pretend she isn't a monster, who is she to stop them?
"Himiko!" Mrs. Midoriya calls. "Eggs and rice are almost done!" She sits up, yawns, and stretches. She briefly considers changing into her clothes, but she won't start at Class Z until September, and she's too tired right now. Besides, she isn't going out until later. She can lounge in her pajamas for a while.
By the time she drags herself out of her room and across the hall to the table, Izuku is already at his seat, fully dressed. That's right, I remember Mrs. Midoriya mentioning that. He has his special lessons with Nedzu today. She slides into her chair and fumbles with her chopsticks.
"Not a morning person, Himiko?" Izuku says between bites. She makes a noise somewhere between a groan and a hum in response. Mrs. Midoriya laughs.
"You should get your rest in while you can. I doubt you slept very well recently." That was fairly accurate. The hospital had been a step up from wherever she'd been sleeping on the streets—those memories were still pretty fuzzy—but hospital beds are not the most comfortable thing Himiko's ever been on.
Izuku finishes scarfing down breakfast and kisses his mom on the cheek. Before Himiko can react, he suddenly pulls her in to a gentle hug.
"Bye, mom! Bye, Himiko!" he says, waving, as he jogs down the hall and slips his shoes on.
"Have fun, Sunshine!" Mrs. Midoriya calls.
"I will!" Izuku responds as he slips out the door.
Himiko eats quietly while Mrs. Midoriya makes her way around the kitchen, cleaning up and humming a soft tune to herself. Izuku joked, but Himiko really did feel sluggish in the morning. As she's finishing her eggs and rice, Mrs. Midoriya sets a small protein bar next to her. Himiko looks at her quizzically.
"It's important you eat enough in the morning, dear," Mrs. Midoriya explains. "You're still a little underweight. And these are that special brand made with blood." Himiko blinks, then blinks again. Mrs. Midoriya really was too kind. Himiko finishes her homecooked food and sets to gingerly pulling the wrapper off the bar. The moment it's free, Himiko can smell the blood. It's faint, not like (Saito struggling on the ground trying to escape she's so happy he tastes so good) when someone is hurt, but she can still tell. She takes a cautious nibble from the corner. Her eyes widen, and she quickly shoves the whole bar in her mouth.
"Careful, dear. Too fast and you'll just throw it all back up." Himiko forces herself to slow her chewing. She manages to eat the bar without making herself sick. With some food—and blood—in her stomach, Himiko's finally feeling awake. But now what? Izuku won't be back until the afternoon, and she doesn't have a lot to do.
Guess it's more TV.
She's halfway through an episode of some weird show she'd never heard of when Mrs. Midoriya approaches.
"Since you'll be getting new clothes this evening," she says, "Would you like it if I did something with your hair?"
"I..." Himiko says intelligently. She'd only ever worn her hair down; part of her Normal mask. "I've always thought about buns or braids…" Mrs. Midoriya smiles gently.
"I think that would look lovely."
And so Himiko finds herself on the couch sitting with her back to Mrs. Midoriya, feeling her long unkempt hair slowly and deliberately wrapped around and around. Mrs. Midoriya hums to herself while she works. Himiko recognizes it as the same song she had been humming in the kitchen.
"What song is that?" she asks. She feels Mrs. Midoriya pause.
"An old lullaby my mother used to sing. It got stuck in my head this morning." Himiko opens her mouth to ask if Mrs. Midoriya would teach her before remembering herself and wrenching her mouth closed again. The woman was already showing such open hospitality. Himiko didn't want to overstep and get discarded again.
She didn't think she could bare it.
Eventually, Mrs. Midoriya finishes weaving her hair.
"All done," she says. "Would you like to see?" Himiko nods, and Mrs. Midoriya leads her to the bathroom. Himiko looks at herself in the mirror. "I couldn't get all of your hair to cooperate, but I think it looks wonderful." Himiko's mouth hangs slightly open. The girl staring back at her looks brighter than she remembers ever seeing herself. There's color back in her cheeks, the bags under her eyes are fading. And Mrs. Midoriya was right.
"It looks lovely…"
"I told you it would. Now, I'm afraid what we'll be doing next won't be nearly as much fun." What did that mean? Was she getting kicked out? Was Mrs. Midoriya getting rid of the blood? "Nedzu suggested I help cover some of your core subjects to make sure you have a good handle on them before school starts." Oh. That didn't sound too bad.
By the time Izuku came home, she had changed her mind.
Algebra is the worst.
Mrs. Midoriya, as promised, took Himiko and Izuku to the nearby Ziton mall after dinner. A few larger department stores with smaller chain locations in between, spread over two levels.
"It's got nothing on the Kiyashi Ward mall," Izuku says, "But we don't need a whole lot of lifestyle support stuff. Besides, with Detnerat still drowning in investigations, I'm not sure they're stocked."
Himiko looks around, starstruck. She'd been to malls before, of course. Hanging out with friends in the mall was Normal. But she'd never really been for herself. She doesn't remember the last time she bought something at the mall either, except when she needed it to be Normal. So even with Izuku claiming the mall isn't much, Himiko still finds herself blown away.
"We're starting with clothes. Get yourself some summer clothes, dear. That Fralideja store is where Izuku shops."
"Don't worry," Izuku deadpans, looking down at his T-Shirt that simply reads 'shirt.' "They have more options than my personal choices in fashion." Izuku grabs her hand and leads her into the store, a chuckling Mrs. Midoriya trailing close behind.
There are so many options. Everywhere Himiko looks, racks of clothes stand in neat rows and the shelves cover the walls. Mannequins pose with full outfits on them. Each sorted by age, sex, and Quirk demographics. Himiko bounces around, fliting between different racks like a bee looking at flowers.
"What do you think, Izuku?" Himiko holds up a neon green short-crop shirt, which could not be less Himiko if a committee of designers sat down and purposefully made the least-Himiko clothing possible. "Think I could rock this?" Izuku laughs.
"Nah," a high, dry voice sounds behind her and Himiko jumps. She turns to see a girl about Izuku's age, wearing some band T-Shirt over a skirt and leggings. "You'd be great in Pastel Goth, though." Himiko giggles.
"Maybe! I'm not really sure what I want to wear yet!"
"Well, not that," the girl says, a cord from her ear gesturing at the shirt Himiko grabbed.
"Oh, that's so cool!" Izuku is beside the new girl in a flash. "How strong are they? What happen if they get cut? Do they help you hear better? Oh, they have jacks on the end! Can you plug them in to electronics?"
"Uh," the new girl says. Himiko snorts.
"He's a Quirk enthusiast. It's fun to watch when you're not the one he's examining." Izuku's face turns red. He stammers out an apology, but the girl quickly cuts him off.
"It's fine, I just wasn't expecting it. Jiro Kyoka."
"I'm Midoriya Izuku," he says sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck.
"Call me Himiko!" Jiro raises an eyebrow at the lack of a given family name, but thankfully doesn't press.
"So, Himiko, trying out a new style?"
"Something like that," she says. "I wasn't really… allowed to choose my own before." Jiro nods, eyes soft.
"That sucks. Glad you're getting to do it now. Let's see." Jiro walks around Himiko, studying her carefully. "Huh. Dark colors would work on you. Got any preferences?"
"Red?" Himiko says. Jiro looks up in thought.
"I think I got an idea."
Jiro leads them around the isles, grabbing a handful of deep red shirts. Occasionally, she stops and grabs a dark blue or black overshirt or jacket and adds them to the cart Izuku helpfully grabbed. Jiro finishes their run with some dark gray skirts and black pants.
"Try one of these on," Jiro says, and Himiko wastes no time grabbing an outfit from the cart and dashing into the changing room. She switches into a red dress shirt, which she tucks into a dark skirt and pants combo before putting a deep blue jacket over the whole thing. She steps out of the changing room and does a quick twirl for her audience of two, no, three—Mrs. Midoriya caught up while she was changing.
"You look great, dear," Mrs. Midoriya says.
"Not bad," Jiro says. "You were right about red being your color. You going to that Takoba beach party on the 31st? If you are, you better wear something good. I don't want to be associated exclusively with people who dress like this." One of her jacks gestures to Izuku.
"I am aware my choice in clothing is not runway ready," Izuku grumbles, "But I can dress nice if I want to." Jiro snorts.
"He can," Mrs. Midoriya says. "You should see him in a suit. He just doesn't like dressing up." Izuku gestures to his mother, as if saying 'see?'
"But yeah, mom and I are gonna be there," Izuku says.
"Rad. You?" Jiro turns to Himiko.
"I… it's been a while since I've been with a lot of people." The last time would've been Junior High Graduation, where she… yeah.
"It'll be good practice," Izuku says, "But we won't force you to do something you're uncomfortable with."
"You're handling the crowd here pretty well," Jiro says. "I think you should go for it. At the very least, you'll know three people there." Himiko hums, thoughtful.
Eventually, Himiko had all the clothes she wanted. She and the Midoriyas say their goodbyes to Jiro and move on to the next stop: room decorations.
"I still think this is too much," Himiko says. "To go out of your way for—" a monster like me— "Someone who won't be staying with you very long."
"You'll have to decorate your dorm room somehow," Mrs. Midoriya says. "Besides, there's no reason not to decorate your room. We don't know how long you'll be here; you may as well be comfortable." Himiko can't think of an objection to that. Especially with Nedzu paying for everything.
Finding decorations that she likes is much easier than clothes shopping. While there are some cute animal posters, Himiko finds herself pulled towards some particularly striking artwork. Vivid images of gothic locations and people. According to the tag, the artist is local. Himiko takes five.
For her desk, she finds an electronic clock and a small fan. She picks out a nice collection of sheets and blankets. Izuku can't even tease her for only picking red bedding because she grabbed other colors and patterns this time. When she points this out to him, he silently gestures to the bags of clothes with a deadpan expression.
With her decorations sorted, Himiko and the Midoriyas check out. Carrying all the bags with them on the train back to the apartment is a hassle, but not terrible. Despite Himiko's protests, her hosts insist on helping her set up. Neither of them place any of her posters, Mrs. Midoriya just folds her clothes while Izuku folds the sheets. They even ask where she'd like them in the closet.
By the time Himiko's room is her room, the sun has long set. Izuku and his mother wish her a good night and she settles in.
She had a good day.
Chapter 16: Rallying the Underdogs/Finding Your Support
The next few weeks fly by. Izuku watches Himiko slowly come out of her shell around him and his mother. Small things, like letting them to do things for her, which they had noticed she avoided. Shifting from letting Mrs. Midoriya re-braid her hair on occasion to asking her to do so. Small things like that. Himiko also discovered at some point that she craved physical attention and the Midoriyas were happy to oblige.
So Izuku wasn't totally surprised when on the morning of the 31st, the day of the beach party, Himiko shyly asked if she could come with them over breakfast.
"I've been thinking about it," she admits, staring intently into her sausage as she rolls it over the lettuce and fried egg in her breakfast bowl. "After Jiro mentioned the crowd at the mall, and I realized that, that I hadn't even noticed they were there." Himiko swallows. "I think… I think I can do this." She raises her eye to meet his mother's, who smiles gently.
"If it gets too much for you, let me know. The point is to have a good time, Himiko. If you're overwhelmed, we can come back and play games together or something."
"We'll be with you the whole time," Izuku promises.
Once he gets back from his lessons with Nedzu and Mr. Aizawa, Izuku spends a lot of time debating on what to wear to the beach. On one hand, he could dress casually the way he likes. On the other, he could put some effort into it and screw with Jiro if they see her. I guess Nedzu is rubbing off on me. I'm feeling a bit petty today. Izuku adopts a small yet sadistic grin as he slides a nice jacket over his plain shirt. It's a simple look, with his dark pants and shoes, but it comes together well.
He steps out into the hall and sees Himiko chose the outfit she tried on at the mall. He compliments her and pretends not to notice her flush like she does when she receives any praise. Her parents are lucky Mr. Kan had them arrested, or Izuku suspects his mom would've killed them by now. He knows he'stempted.
"Party doesn't start until sundown," Izuku says. "We've got just under two hours until then. What do you want to do?" Himiko shrugs.
"Movie?"
"Already ahead of you," mom calls from the living area. Izuku and Himiko share a glance before making their way over. His mother stands by the TV, holding a classic anime movie about a young witch. She waves it slightly, smirking.
"What's that?" Himiko asks. Izuku gasps in mock horror.
"You've never seen it? A crime! A travesty! We must correct this!" Himiko snorts at his antics and sits down on the couch. His mom inserts the disc and takes her place next to Himiko on the couch. Himiko leans into her, and his mom wraps an arm around her.
By the time the credits roll, all three of them are crying.
Izuku hears the party before he sees it. The chatter of the crowd carries, and from the sound of it, several partygoers brought their own music. Izuku wonders if Jiro is one of them. The small group round the corner of a trash mountain and there lies an open stretch of clean sand. Izuku expected there to be a patch of open space, but people must've been motivated, because the garbage dumps is now just on the far ends of the beach.
People form small pods of small talk from the sidewalk to the shore. A small pier extends over the water, the attached gazebo similarly filled with guests. Himiko lets out a small whine.
"It'll be okay," his mom promises her. "You won't have to interact with them, or even go near most of them, and if you get overwhelmed, we'll go home." She ushers Izuku and Himiko towards a ring of tables at the outskirts of the cleared section, where two women pass out junk food to passing people. The inside of the ring is packed to the gills with boxes of snack bags and travel coolers. Izuku sees one of the women pull a soda can out of one and hand it to someone who came up to the table.
"Hello," his mother says to one of the women. "My name is Midoriya Inko. Thank you for doing all of this." She bows.
"Joyato Hibana," the woman says, pulling some of her long red hair out of her face. "My wife over there is Joyato Atataka. Our daughter, Hikari, is over there." She gestures to a place further down the table where a girl covered in glowing floral patterns is arm wrestling a bird made of shadow.
"This whole thing was her idea," Joyato Atataka says sliding a bowl of chips across to Izuku. "Our family doesn't have any powerful Quirks, and MLA rhetoric hurt us all over the years. Hikari wanted to meet with other people who've been through the same thing."
"What are your Quirks?" Izuku asks.
"My eyes glow," Joyato Hibana says, and they flare up a little in demonstration.
"What Quirk?" Joyato Atataka responds slyly. Izuku's eyes widen.
"You're Quirkless too?" The woman nods.
"Since you came, you probably faced some real shit for it." She ignores her wife nudging her and hissing "Language!" Izuku nods.
"Aldera," is all he says. The women wince.
"When we heard the news, we were just grateful Hikari didn't go there," Joyato Hibana says. "I'm sorry."
"They really didn't like that I want to be a Hero," he says.
"A Hero? No shit?" Joyato Atataka says. She turns to her daughter and calls, "Hey, Hikari! Found another kid who wants to be a Hero! Expand your career network!" The youngest Joyato has since moved from arm wrestling to standing perfectly straight with her arms extended to her sides, while the shadow bird is doing the same. A resigned-looking boy with a raven head desperately tries to stop it.
"Hell yeah!" she calls without breaking her pose. Izuku and Himiko leave his mother to continue chatting with the Joyato matriarchs, heading over to where their daughter is locked in a strange standoff with the shadow creature.
"So, uh, what're you doing?" Himiko asks.
"Asserting dominance," Joyato and the shadow creature say simultaneously. The boy with the bird head, who Izuku can now see is connected to the shadow creature, shuffles awkwardly.
"Tokoyami Fumikage," the boy nods toward the shadow creature. "My fellow servant of darkness here is Dark Shadow."
"Nice t' meet ya!" Dark Shadow says. Izuku and Himiko introduces themselves in turn.
"So, you're a sapient Quirk? That's pretty rare!" Izuku starts, ignoring Himiko snickering into the back of her hand. "Did you manifest at his birth or when he was 4? Can you read his mind? Ooh! Can you talk telepathically!" Tokoyami blinks several times causing Joyato to finally slip from her pose from laughing. "What?"
Dark Shadow suddenly flies forward, wrapping around Izuku and hugging him, while Tokoyami looks away sheepishly.
"Few people treat Dark Shadow as their own person," he admits. "They tend to get excited about it."
"They did it to me earlier," Joyato laughs, adjusting the band keeping most of her fiery hair in a spiked ponytail.
"But they're sapient," Izuku says slowly. It's obvious from a cursory glance!
"And yet!" Dark Shadow says, unwinding from around Izuku. Izuku rubs the back of his neck.
"I'm just really interested in Quirks," he says. "Always have been."
"You're lucky Dark Shadow's here," Himiko stage-whispers to Joyato. "He got distracted before he could jump you about your Quirk."
"But my Quirk isn't interesting," Joyato protests. Izuku's head snaps to her like a wolf smelling fresh steak.
"You're producing light though! Are those tattoos or natural markings from your Quirk? They're glowing red, is that because that's the light with the longest wavelength? Can you control the wavelengths? Ooh! Can you make it infrared or ultraviolet! How intense can the light be?"
"I see your point," Joyato says to Himiko before turning her sky-blue eyes back to Izuku. "The markings are natural; it's a mutation Quirk. I can't get it bright enough to hurt my own eyes, but I inherited some of Mom's light resistance, so that's probably brighter than you'd think. Uh, the Quirk counselor said I could probably make ultraviolet and infrared light, but I haven't figured it out yet, and…" Joyato trails off as the markings slowly shift from red to yellow to blue to green and all around. "But I have to focus, or they'll go back to red."
Izuku jots all of this down in his notebook, muttering theories on how to achieve nonvisible light. Joyato watches with a bemused expression.
"So, your mom said you wanted to be a Hero, too?" Izuku says. Joyato nods.
"Them too," she jerks her thumb at Tokoyami and Dark Shadow. "But yeah. I want to be a Rescue Hero."
"Oh! The light would make it easy to help people trapped in buildings or collapsed areas!"
"Exactly! What about you, Himiko?" Himiko shuffles, looking away and biting her lip.
"I'm… I was offered a place in the new Class Z at UA," she says. "I don't know where I'll go from there though." She fidgets.
"I know that look," Joyato says. "Someone hurt you. For a long time. MLA get you too?" Himiko shakes her head.
"The MLA didn't do anything," she says, voice wavering, "and that's the problem. They said they're all about Quirk freedom, but… but when my parents…"
"Do not force yourself. We are still unknown to you," Tokoyami says as Dark Shadow nuzzles Himiko. She forces a smile at him.
"I want to," she says, barely a whisper. "My Quirk means I need to drink blood. My parents… they didn't like that. They told me I was a monster." Himiko chokes on a sob. "It's hard for me not to believe them. If the MLA really believe in Quirk freedom, why didn't they save me?"
"Himiko…" Izuku says, eyes damp. Tokoyami clears his throat.
"Many people called Dark Shadow a monster or demon. This is falsehood. The real monsters are those consumed with hatred, such as your despicable parents, as the case may be." Izuku nods.
"At Aldera," he ignores Tokoyami and Joyato wince, "They told me I was worthless every day. They said I was a waste of space. Useless. They all misread my name to remind me that I meant nothing." He pulls Himiko into a tight hug. "And I almost believed them. But mom, and All Might, and Nedzu, they all said that was wrong." He looks up at Himiko. "I'm not worthless, and you are not a monster."
"He's right, dear," Izuku's mom says. He didn't hear her come up behind him. She must have heard us talking. She brushes a hand down Himiko's cheek. "You're a fine young girl who is still looking for herself." Her gaze hardens. "The real monsters are your parents, for telling you those things about yourself and making you suppress your Quirk for so long."
"The darkness of the human heart runs deep," Tokoyami says. "Do not let it consume you. There are clearly people who care about you, Himiko." Dark Shadow punctuates his point by nuzzling her.
"Are they in jail?" Joyato asks. When Izuku nods, she snorts. "Good. Fuck 'em. You don't deserve that shit."
"Quirks don't define us, Himiko," Izuku says gently.
He rubs Himiko's back as she sobs into mom's shirt.
Once Himiko calmed down (and rehydrated with some help from the Joyatos' snack bar), Izuku starts making his way down the beach, taking stock of the people. There's quite a bit of activity by the shore, people running around or swimming There's even a floating swimsuit in the shallows—no wait, it's someone invisible. But most people are content just to spend time with other people in similar situations. Izuku had talked with his mom and Himiko, and they agreed that clean beach or not, the water at Takoba was not clean enough for them to go in.
Ahead, Izuku spots a familiar purple-haired girl gesticulating with her ear jacks to an excited pink girl and a boy with black hair.
"Hey, Jiro!" he waves. She turns to see him and slumps.
"Midoriya," she says when he jogs over, "the fact that you actually can dress decently means it hurts more that you choose not to." He rubs the back of his neck.
"I did tell you."
"Hey, man!" the boy says. "Kirishima Eijiro. Super pumped to be here!"
"I'm Ashido Mina!" She claps her hands in front of her. "I have been dying to get out and do something lately! Sucks about the MLA still being around though."
"Greenie here is Midoriya Izuku, and his friend there is Himiko," Jiro says. "Take it easy on her, Ashido. She's apparently new to the whole 'social interaction' thing." Izuku's mildly touched she remembered that from three weeks ago.
"'Kay!" Ashido bounces on her heels.
"Oh, I don't mind, but it's very kind of you" Himiko says with a small, fake, smile. Izuku nudges her and she winces.
"You good?"
"Yeah, I just… I was just surprised," Himiko whispers back. Jiro frowns.
"That what you mean about not being allowed to choose a style? Had to act?" she says. Himiko blanches. "Sorry, I tend to hear everything around me. Don't worry about it. I'm not exactly on the moral high ground of teenage rebellion." She gestures to her punk rock T-Shirt with one of her jacks. "I won't mention it, don't worry."
"What 'ya whispering about?" Ashido says. Kirishima nudges her.
"If they wanted us to know, they wouldn't be whispering, Mina!" Ashido laughs.
"Okay, okay. I'll try and keep my energy down," she says. After that, they drift towards comfortable light conversation, and time drifts by. At some point, Ashido brings up her dancing lessons, and Jiro plays something for her on her phone. Watching Ashido breakdance in the sand sends the group into hysterics.
Eventually a pink-haired girl rigged some machine to Joyato, using her glowing markings to make a full-on nightclub light show, and Izuku's mother decided it was time to leave before the police arrived.
All in all, Izuku had fun tonight, and it looks like Himiko did too. A win in his book.
Chapter 17: A Sacred Torch/History-Defining Choices
Nedzu packs away his chess board as Izuku slips out of his office after Aizawa. He had intended on switching to his preferred game, Go, but Midoriya clearly had not slept as well the night before as he usually did, and Nedzu didn't want to introduce such a complex game under those conditions. Nedzu suspects he went to that celebration at the Takoba Municipal Beach Park. Good. He should have more positive social experiences in these formative years.
If his time count is correct, Yagi should be nearing the office by now. Glancing at the monitor displaying the camera feed in front of his office door—a simple trick that only a handful had ever actually bothered to realize— confirms Nedzu's suspicions. He slips around the desk and opens it just as Yagi raises his hand to knock.
"Come in, Yagi!" he ushers the man to a chair he'd already prepared. "Today is the day, yes? Exciting!" Yagi nods.
"I cannot think of a better candidate," Yagi says. "And yet, over the past few weeks I've found myself wondering…"
"Whether he'll accept?" Nedzu has his own suspicions. If Yagi is bringing this up, they may in fact be on the same page. "We'll just have to wait and see once Aizawa's done with him."
Izuku wonders whether he'd be doing better if he hadn't gone to the beach party the night before. He can't bring himself to regret it. Technically he was the guest of honor, even if only a handful of people knew that. And it made Himiko feel better. But also Mr. Aizawa is now telling him off for not punching properly. So there's that.
"You do not punch with only your arm, Midoriya." Mr. Aizawa drawls from the side. "Use your whole body. Keep light on your feet and pivot your hips." Izuku corrects his stance and hits the sparring dummy again. "Better. Your shoulders, core, hips, and legs are just as important as the arm and fist. You're liable to hurt yourself if you do it wrong. Heroes shouldn't add more casualties."
The UA Gym at the P.E. grounds has equipment set up for hand-to-hand training today. Mr. Aizawa alternated equipment day to day. Izuku could be drilling combat one day and parkour the next.
After another grueling thirty minutes of drills, Mr. Aizawa calls the lesson and hands him a water bottle. He forces down his urge to simply chug the bottle, taking measured sips so he doesn't make himself sick.
"You're making good progress," Mr. Aizawa says while Izuku pants. "I think we'll be ready for a proper spar by the end of the week." Izuku nods, a weary grin splitting his face.
Once he's recovered, Izuku follows Mr. Aizawa back to Nedzu's office.
As usual, Nedzu opens the door just before Mr. Aizawa can knock. The teacher rolls his eyes in response to the principal's shenanigans, and the weasel(?) laughs. Nedzu sends Mr. Aizawa on his way, the Underground Hero muttering about being illogical, and gestures for Izuku to enter.
He notices All Might, in his gaunt form, almost instantly. The man smiles good-naturedly at Izuku, and he returns the gesture. Nedzu takes his seat across the desk as Izuku sits.
"Yagi here has a rather unique offer for you, Midoriya," Nedzu says. "But remember, it is only an offer. It will help you, yes, in many ways. But neither of us believe this is something you must accept."
"Indeed," All Might says, then takes a deep breath. "What do you know of my Quirk, Young Midoriya?"
"Well," Izuku thinks about everything he's seen about All Might. "People online have speculated about it since your debut, especially since you keep avoiding the topic in interviews. The most common theory is that it's a strength enhancer, but that doesn't explain the sheer power of it."
"As you said, my Quirk is not a strength enhancer. It is a stockpiling Quirk, which has been building power since the Dawn of Quirks."
"Since the—" Izuku's head snaps up. "How? Does the energy carry down at birth? No other stockpile Quirk works that way!" Nedzu cackles, but Izuku is focused solely on All Might.
"You've made a significant incorrect assumption there, Young Midoriya, but an understandable one. You see, I was not born with this Quirk." What.
"What?" All Might nods.
"My Quirk is known as One For All, and possesses two functions. The first, as I described, is to stockpile power. The second is that it can be passed on at the will of the user." Izuku reels. This changes just about everything he knows about Quirk theory. He'll have to go through all his notebooks and see how transferable Quirks change his assumptions and deductions. The implications on Quirk Factor alone, much less other biological Quirk functions.
"Young Midoriya," All Might pulls him out of his thoughts, chuckling. "The unique offer that Nedzu mentioned? Would you like to be the next bearer of One For All?" What. What? "As I told you before, I can only use my Quirk for so long each day, and that time is dwindling. I am currently looking for a successor."
"When—" Izuku swallows, "When we met, on the rooftop? Did you—did you want me then? Is that why—" All Might shakes his head.
"On that day, I said you could be a Hero because of your mind," he pokes Izuku's forehead, then lowers the finger to Izuku's chest, "…and your heart. You said you wanted to be a Hero to save people, and you put so much work into analyzing Quirks so that you could have a fighting chance at that. It was not that conversation that convinced me you were worthy."
"Then what was?" Izuku asks. All Might laughs, wiping a trace of blood from his lip.
"Why, when you charged in to save your classmate from the villain I carelessly let escape! I showed you my injury; you knew the risks, and you improvised a plan and charged in anyway. That was when I knew you had the spirit of heroism I was looking for." All Might chuckles, scratching the back of his head. "Actually, I intended on offering you my Quirk that day, but you told me how proud you were to have been a Hero without a Quirk, so I held off. Then everything with the MLA happened…"
Izuku sags in relief. He takes a deep breath, slowly raising his head to meet All Might's gaze.
"I… I'm honored you've trusted me with this secret, and that you consider me worthy, but…" he swallows. "If I say 'Yes,' if I take your Quirk, I'd be saying that they, my teachers, the MLA, that they were right. That I needed a Quirk to be anything. I'm sorry All Might, but my answer is 'No.'" Izuku's eyes sharpen. "I've lived my whole life being controlled by them. I want to experience what it really means to be Quirkless, to be me. And I can't do that with One For All." To his surprise, All Might only smiles wider.
"I suspected that would be your answer," he admits.
"I as well," Nedzu pipes up. "Yagi and I discussed it briefly while we waited for you. And I assure you, this changes nothing about your lessons from me and Aizawa. A Quirkless Hero is something we've sorely lacked. I look forward to seeing you become one."
"Yagi?" Izuku asks. All Might chuckles nervously before a coughing fit interrupts him.
"Did I never tell you? My name is Yagi Toshinori." Holy. Shit. He just learned. All Might's name. All Might—Yagi—laughs boisterously. "I guess I neglected to mention it. My apologies, Young Midoriya. Call me Yagi while I'm in my, ah, smallerform." Izuku nods. "I suppose, since I have told you this much, I can tell you this as well. I, too, was born Quirkless, Young Midoriya," All Might says. Izuku sucks in a breath. It made since in hindsight, given the explanation of One For All and why he only ever used that, but the thought that the Number One Hero was like him leaves him stunned. All Might coughs. "What I went through is very different from you, but I too had no one believe in my ambition of Heroism. Until Shimura Nana, my predecessor, found me worthy to hold One For All." He places a hand on Izuku's shoulder. "Speaking with you that day in April reminded me of just how much I let myself forget about myself and my past."
Izuku sniffles, wiping his face with his palm. It was a lot to take in, and a part of Izuku was afraid that Nedzu and Mr. Aizawa only taught him as preparation for One For All. Having six weeks of external validation from people outside his immediate family helped but his ten years at Aldera had taken their toll.
But now what? Izuku doesn't want One For All, but that doesn't change the fact that All Might's time is dwindling. Did he have anyone else in mind? He didn't make any plans dependent on Izuku saying 'yes,' did he? He'll still find someone in time, right?
"Don't feel guilty that Yagi hasn't found a successor yet, Midoriya," Nedzu says as if reading his mind. "He will be keeping an eye on our Hero students here at UA, including the upcoming year. Your choice has not inconvenienced us any." The principal takes a sip of tea. "One more thing. I didn't wish to overstep; force too many changes on you at once, but I believe it would do you well to talk with Inui during some of your free time here about what you went through in Aldera."
"He's the counselor, right?" Izuku says. "You think I need therapy?"
"Almost every Hero I've ever worked with has a therapist, Young Midoriya," says Mr. Yagi. "Including me."
"Heroes ease the burden on civilians," says Nedzu, "But who eases the burdens of Heroes?" Izuku blinks. He'd never really thought of it that way. He thought Heroes just shrugged off that kind of stuff.
"I'll talk to him," Izuku says slowly.
"I do believe we are out of time, unfortunately," Nedzu interjects. "Get some rest, Midoriya. Tomorrow I'll be teaching you a new game."
Shouta trudges into the conference room and slumps into his chair. The Rat called another faculty meeting, in what was rapidly becoming a trend. Not that Shouta blames him after the MLA discovery.
"Glad to see you could join us!" Nedzu says. "After all, I think you're the one most invested in the news I have to share!" Shouta cocks an eyebrow. What's the Rat planning now?
"Found another conspiracy?" Kan asks. The Rat chortles.
"No, no. Good news this time!" Nedzu rubs his paws together. "I secured permission from the Board to continue our changes to the Sports Festival that we began this year, as well as permission to improve our entrance exam!" Shouta sits up.
"The Board barely approved adding Rescue Points. How'd you convince them to let in more applicants with less 'traditional' Quirks?" The Rat grins predatorially.
"In previous years, I could not accuse the Board of acting sympathetic to insurrectionists." Shouta snorts, hiding a smile in his capture scarf. Kayama and Hizashi don't bother to restrain themselves, both of them full body laughing in their seats.
"I know we changed the Sports Festival events this year to prioritize skill over power," Kan says, "How are we doing things next year?"
"I'm glad you asked!" the Rat says, pulling out two thick folders. "These contain my proposals for next year's entrance exam and Sports Festival, respectively. Do look them over and offer feedback."
"I notice Yagi isn't here," Shouta says. Nedzu nods.
"I'm afraid he's too inexperienced for this sort of thing. I have a solution in mind for that, but in the meantime most of these planning decisions will be made without him," Nedzu explains. Shouta nods, When Nedzu announced All Might would be joining the staff starting next year, he'd been apprehensive. All Might may be the Number 1 Hero, but he hasn't stepped foot in a classroom since he graduated UA. Shouta's glad to hear Nedzu has some idea for how to help with that.
"I take it he'll be helping with Class Z?" Shouta drawls. It's the only logical answer.
"Quite so! He won't be teaching in any official capacity, merely a recurring guest speaker of sorts. That should neatly take care of the legal side of things while letting him learn from you all." After a moment of silence proves no one else has any questions, Nedzu continues, pulling out packets from one of his folders. "Let's begin with the entrance exam. My proposed changes are simple, but I believe them effective."
Becoming a Quirkless Pro Hero is going to be an uphill battle. Toshinori knows that better than anyone, except maybe Young Midoriya himself. And that means that the boy needs allies. The UA Staff are all on his side. How could they not be? The boy is a walking ball of sunshine. One For All or not, he'll make an amazing Symbol for the next generation. But he'll also need equipment.
Maijima is good, but he'll likely be focused on teaching, and it wouldn't be fair to ask him to play favorites to someone trying out for a different course entirely. But Toshinori has someone else in mind. It's been a long time. We really should've caught up sooner.
Toshinori still remembers the phone number off the top of his head and dials. He hears the line pick up on the sixth or seventh ring.
"Toshi? God, how long's it been?" his old friend says.
"Too long. I'm sorry I haven't been calling as much lately."
"No, I remember you telling me you had something to do that might take you a while." Toshinori laughs. Had he really been that vague about finding a successor?
"I'm afraid that I'm still working on that," he says, "But Nedzu is helping now, so I'll have much more time to catch up. But I met someone very interesting."
"Oh?"
"Yes," Toshinori laughs. "A young boy with a sharp mind. He wants to take the Hero Exam next year and get into UA."
"Sounds like he's grown on you, Toshi."
"He has," Toshinori admits freely. "But I think Melissa would like to meet him."
"You sound like you know something," David Shield says. "What's this about?"
"Well," Toshinori says. "I thought, if Melissa transferred to UA for her third year, she would be here to personally help the first Quirkless Hero herself while he was in school." There's silence on the line for several seconds as Dave processes.
"Well I'll be damned," he whispers at last. "I think you're right; she probably would love to meet him. I know she loves it here at the I-Island Academy, so I can't make any promises, but I bet I wouldn't have to try very hard to convince her to visit."
"I'll keep my schedule open," Toshinori promises.