Chapter 25: Bare Your Teeth!
Izuku slammed a fist into the punching bag, sending it swinging wildly on the chain. A series of similar bags each leaking sand from massive holes in their shells laid scattered nearby. It had been a long time since he had trained near his maximum percentage of One for All, but he was slowly getting used to the power jump from eight percent to twelve. He had kept it low for the licensing exam, using only short bursts of ten percent to supplement his strength, but now that he was fully healed it was time to try and burst through that barrier. Twelve percent felt comfortable, but after an hour in the gym he could feel the way the lightning was beginning to strain at his skin. It felt a little like he was a balloon left a touch overfilled. Enough time at this percentage would do damage to him eventually, but the trade off in power was immense. He figured he could get away with using ten percent constantly on patrol and cranking it up to twelve when he needed to fight. He might even be able to use fifteen percent in emergencies for short bursts but he really didn't feel like taking a trip to Recovery Girl today if he turned out to be wrong.
But that power jump meant he needed to know exactly how hard he could hit someone at his current percentage without causing too much harm. Hence the sandbags.
He let the dull thuds of flesh on leather distract him as his mind began to wander. Ochako had said something last night that sounded eerily like what Roy had told him in his dreams.
"... you shouldn't have to be a martyr, Izuku."
"The people need heroes, not martyrs. You can't save anyone after you're dead."
That wasn't what he was doing, was it? Heroes constantly put their lives on the line for others. He wasn't martyring himself, he was just being heroic.
Right?
The previous holders of One for All had all done that. They sacrificed their freedom, their safety, their lives, in order to preserve the hope that one day One for All could defeat All for One. How could Izuku risk anything less than what they had given up?
Still, Izuku dodged out of the way as the bag swung back towards him, something felt off. Ochako and Roy had struck something inside of him, something that was resonating with their message. But what was it? He landed two quick jabs, ducking underneath a phantom swing from his imagined opponent, and rammed a right cross into the side of the bag, punching a hole through the leather shell and burying his arm up to the elbow in the soft innards. He sighed, pulling his arm from the hole watching the sand pour out of the new wound in its side.
His mind flashed to All Might, not the larger than life hero, but the skinny man with his nearly mortal injury on his side. His mentor had given everything he had in order to become the Symbol of Peace. He had given decades of his life to the service of others, sacrificed his health, his relationships, and had nearly died to All for One twice before he finally brought him down. When the dust settled though, he was left with just his memories and a wound in his side that would never truly heal.
Was that what was eating at him? Was he just falling into the same traps as his mentor, giving everything up for a world that would always need more? If so, where did he draw the line?
"Careful, kiddo. I've heard that teenage boys have such dirty minds. I wouldn't want to get too lost in the thoughts of one." Izuku sighed. He turned and caught sight of Midnight, smirking at him as she leaned against the doorway.
"You're one to talk Ms. R-Rated Heroine. I'm surprised they even let you be a teacher some days."
"Ha! Believe you me, the PTA put up a hell of a fight when they announced my hiring. But who could say no to all this~" She shot him a wink and Izuku couldn't help but laugh. Nemuri had a knack for raising his spirits and he felt the heaviness in his heart start to lighten ever so slightly.
"I thought it was your day off." Nemuri shrugged.
"Shouta and Hizashi had something they needed to do today, so the rest of us were asked to keep an eye on you 'hellions'." She rolled her eyes at Eraserhead's preferred term for his students. "Where's your girlfriend? I thought you two were joined at the hip?"
"She's off with Nejire and Tsu talking to Rykyu about work studies." That had been big news yesterday morning when Aizawa dropped off requests from the Big Three. Ochako had gone full menacing aura mode when she found out, just like she had before the Sports Festival, and Izuku was psyched for her. Ryukyu was one of the more well-rounded heroes in the top ten, her dragon form lending itself to both villain captures and rescue efforts. He knew Ochako still wanted to improve her combat, but he was happy that she would actually get to pursue her passion and do some rescue work as well.
Nemuri hummed as she walked around the room, inspecting the sandbags that had long since bled out onto the floor.
"What about you? Shouldn't you be off getting ready? Don't you have your interview with Sir Nighteye in a little while?"
Izuku nodded. Togata had set him up with a meeting with the Foresight Hero after his demonstration to 1-A. Izuku was intrigued by the idea of meeting Sir Nighteye. He was All Might's only sidekick, but not a lot else was known to the public about the reclusive man. He had gone to Shiketsu and worked as an Underground hero for a few years before joining up with the Almighty Agency. His quirk let him see the future, but no one knew the activation requirements or even what it meant; the ability to see into a person's future was a frustratingly vague description of a quirk's effect. After six years with All Might, the two had split ways suddenly and Izuku had never had the heart to ask Toshinori why.
Based on his work with Togata though, Nighteye could be a great mentor for Izuku. Plus, when Izuku had called him to run the idea past him, Gran had hinted that the man knew about One for All. Izuku had had incredible mentors already, but someone who worked closely with All Might in his prime could be an amazing asset to help him grow into his role as the ninth holder.
"Yeah. I'm meeting him a little later though and I wanted to get some work in at twelve percent before I left, just in case he has me do a test or something."
"Hmm. Good plan. I haven't worked with the guy myself, but Shouta says he can be a bit sadistic, which is saying something coming from him." Izuku shivered. If Eraserhead thought this guy was a sadist then maybe this was a bad idea… "But, I'm sure you're going to do great, kid. Just make the best impression you can. And even if Sir Nighteye is dumb enough not to hire you, there's no rush. You can still work with me and Yagi for the semester and shoot for the winter work studies in a few months."
"Right." Izuku nodded. He knew that, he did, but it felt so important for him to get this work study. People were already starting to look to him to take up All Might's mantle. He needed experience fast. How was he supposed to tell the world that He Was Here if he was stuck in a gym at UA? Midnight shot him a knowing smile, probably already guessing what was going through his mind.
"So, twelve percent, huh? That's not bad. Any progress on your super moves?"
"Actually, yeah! I had this great idea to-" A high pitched ring cut off Izuku as Nemuri cursed and reached for her phone.
"Oh, fuck," Nemuri sighed. "Sorry, Izuku, I've got to run. Apparently two of the second year support students accidentally put an AI into one of the Zero Pointers and now it's tearing up Ground Beta. Good luck at your interview!"
Midnight sprinted away, leaving Izuku and a dozen broken sandbags. I guess all support students are evil geniuses, not just Hatsume.
"You ready for this, Midoriya?"
"Yeah." Izuku felt his nerves settle into a firm resolve. Nighteye's agency was modern looking, all glass windows and natural light, a spiral staircase dominating the center of the atrium. It was nestled between office buildings and if Togata hadn't guided him here himself, Izuku never would have guessed it was a hero agency.
"Sir can be a little intense your first time meeting him, but don't worry! He loves a good joke more than anything! If you make him laugh, you'll be a shoo-in!" Izuku sweatdropped at his senpai's excited tone. Make him laugh?! But Izuku wasn't funny at all! The two of them headed down a narrow hallway that ended in a single door. Mirio stopped to the side of the door, turning to him with a broad smile.
"Alright! Your future lies just behind this door. Now reach out and grab it!" Izuku took a deep breath in. This was it. He reached out and flung open the door.
"I Am Here, to interview for a Work Study!" Izuku stepped through the doorway and stopped short. Sir Nighteye, easily noticeable from his towering, lanky frame, was bent over a skimpily dressed woman who was tied to a machine that tickled her sides feathers. Izuku cocked his head at the scene.
"Kinky."
"So you like to tickle girls, huh?" Mirai raised an eyebrow at the teenager. Midoriya Izuku. The boy shrugged. "Hey, I mean if it works for you two, I won't shame you. My mentor tends to dress up in spandex and whip people; this is pretty tame in comparison." A chuckle escaped Mirio as he helped Bubble Girl down from the device. Mirai scowled, but smoothed it over with a blank face. Though from the rapidly blinking eyes of Midoriya, he doubted it was fast enough to escape notice.
"Leave us. Mirio, begin your workout before your patrol. Bubble Girl, I expect better effort on your reports from now on."
"Yes, Sir!" They echoed. The pair left the room as Midoriya sat in one of the open chairs. Mirai settled himself behind his desk, fingers steepling underneath his chin as he stared across at Toshinori's chosen successor.
He wasn't impressed.
His eyes flickered over the boy in front of him. He was short with none of the larger than life presence that Toshinori had borne. He was covered in scars, thick gnarled tissue overlapped with small surgical incisions over his fingers. He projected a rugged confidence but it held none of the easy charisma that Mirio had. It was much like the boy himself, all sharp corners and rough angles, the type of confidence that would serve him well in the Underground but wouldn't inspire the nation. He was younger, unpolished, rough and raw in every possible way. Mirio had already proven himself to be an exemplary hero, a worthy successor to the Symbol of Peace, but this boy was an unknown. Yet All Might thought he was the better candidate. Mirai felt a mild compulsion to laugh at the absurdity, but this was one joke too awful for laughter.
"It's nice to meet you, Sir Nighteye." That was the thing Mirai felt was most damning of this boy. He might have projected confidence, but underneath that thin veneer his smile was nervous, a weak little thing that threatened to drop from his face at a moment's notice. How would anyone see it and be reassured? How could it inspire others when it barely inspired the boy who bore it? Mirio's smile was a thing of art. It was bold and confident, infectious and warm. It was a brilliant light in a world of darkness. This boy was nothing but a candle that could be snuffed out by a stiff breeze.
"Tell me, Midoriya Izuku, what makes you worthy of bearing All Might's quirk?"
"Excuse me?" He blinked, taken aback. "What do you mean?" Mirai scoffed.
"I've seen more quirk control in toddlers. You shattered every bone in your fingers at your Sports Festival."
"I've gotten better since then." He defended. "I'm up to ten percent now and I can use the quirks of the previous holders."
"Hardly," Mirai waved his hand dismissively. "It was clear to anyone with eyes that you were barely holding out against those low level cretins."
"I got three new quirks that day! And I fought the League of Villains by myself with a broken arm!"
"Regardless of how impressive you may think that is," Mirai adjusted his glasses, "the fact remains that you are merely playing with a power you couldn't hope to understand. Your conviction is weak, your experience is lacking, and you spent more time flirting with the villains than resolving the situation. Simply put, there is no future in which you are a proper replacement for All Might."
"But-"
"I warned Toshinori. I told him that Mirio was the perfect candidate, but instead he chose you. A quirkless child who threw himself into danger in some desperate attempt to give meaning to his life."
"Sir!"
"It could not be more clear in my eyes," he rushed on, "that you are unfit to wield One for All. Now, wait here while I call in Mirio so you can give it to someone who will actually matter to the future of this country." The air pressure in the room dropped, a chill settling over Mirai.
"How dare you?" Lightning sparked to life in patches over the boy's skin. Mirai eyed it, hungrily. To think of what Mirio could do with that power at his fingertips. "You requested me for an interview to, what? Insult me?"
"Clearly you don't even have the requisite training to control your quirk in times of stress. How could anyone trust you to be a hero in emergency situations when your quirk activates off of temper tantrums?" The lightning shut off and Mirai nodded. "Let me be frank, I've watched what you've done so far and I find you lacking, boy. The only reason you were invited into this office was to determine if you could see reason and give One for All to someone who truly deserves it."
"Fuck you, Sir Nighteye." Mirai raised an eyebrow.
"That's the type of language you're going to use towards your superior?"
"That's the type of language I'm going to use towards some deluded sidekick who thinks that he has a right to ask me to give up my quirk!"
"It is not your quirk!" Mirai slammed his hands on the desk and stood to tower over Midoriya. "It is All Might's quirk! It has never been yours, nor will it ever be!"
Mirai's ears popped from the change in air pressure as it plummeted, wind whipping to life within the room. The smell of ozone rapidly overtook his sense's, heavy waves of static electricity making his hair stand on end. A burgeoning storm threatened to erupt in his office. Mirai had only felt this heavy danger in the air a few times in his life. It felt like Toshinori whenever he was on the hunt for All for One, smile long gone and eyes filled with steel. His knees threatened to give out underneath him, but he stood his ground. He would not be cowed by a child who had no respect for the legacy he held.
"You are no replacement for All Might! You will never be him! Give up this selfish dream, you reckless child! There is no chance you will ever become the Symbol of Peace! That is the immutable future I have seen!"
"You're right, Sir Nighteye. I'm not All Might." The storm died in the air, papers and baubles from his desk crashing to the ground. Mirai stumbled at lightening of pressure and fell heavily into his chair. "And even if Mirio had been chosen to be the successor, he wouldn't be All Might either. There is no next All Might, it's just about being the best hero you can be."
The boy walked to the door, stopping with his hand on the doorknob.
"You may be able to see the future, but you're blinded by your own agenda, Nighteye." The door slid open, and he stopped again. "You know, if you're taking the break up with Toshinori-san so badly that you're taking your feelings out on random teenagers, you may want to consider going to therapy, sir."
Izuku barely managed to keep it together on the way out of Sir Nighteye's agency.
Who the fuck did that guy think he was? Did he really expect that Izuku was just going to roll over and give up One for All? That shouting at him and berating him would suddenly make him realize he shouldn't have been a hero after all? Izuku almost wanted to laugh. He had grown up with Katsuki Bakugou, if words alone had been enough to break his spirit he would have given up his dreams a long time ago.
His own anger was compounded by the howling fury he felt from One for All. The vestiges were making their displeasure toward Nighteye clear; Blackwhip screamed beneath his skin and emerald sparks leapt off his arms as pedestrians began to avoid him on the sidewalk. The vestiges were desperate for him to go back in there and pound that pompous prick's head into his damn tickle machine, and Izuku couldn't really disagree with them. If he were less concerned with the legal ramifications, the Nighteye Agency would have been left as rubble in his wake. This was the guy All Might worked with for years? No wonder why Toshinori didn't talk about him.
His anger bled off as the emotional resonance from the vestiges began to fade. What the hell was he supposed to do now? Gran was busy working with the police on a secret case, All Might was retired, and the rest of his teachers didn't take work study students. Maybe he could talk to Nejire and see if she was willing to introduce him to Ryukyu, but the student contracts were due in two days! Plus, Rykyu was already taking on two students, it wasn't likely that she had room for another. Amajiki had seemed to like him, but Fatgum had the opposite fighting style from Izuku and didn't make sense as a mentor.
He sighed. Maybe he should just go back and put up with Nighteye. Izuku had to get better as a hero and the best way for him to do that right now was through experience. Sure, he could sit around and train at UA but that would only take him so far. He needed real world fights and practice using One for All against real villains. Mirio was a great hero: first in the Big Three, UA's shining star, and a lot of that could be attributed to his work with Sir Nighteye. Maybe Nighteye could make him great too if he swallowed his pride and put up with the man for a few months.
He knew what Nemuri and Ochako would say, that there was no reason for him to force himself into a work study that he hated just to get more experience, but there was just so much riding on this! All Might had already retired. The world was growing more unsafe by the day. He was the successor; he had to get out there and start making a difference!
You shouldn't have to be a martyr, Izuku.
Izuku let out a pained groan. So what the hell was he supposed to do? He could make himself miserable at the Nighteye Agency and gain a ton more experience or he could not do a work study for the semester and risk falling behind where he wanted to be.
Plenty of others aren't doing a work study, a voice in his head that sounded like Midnight pointed out. They're not falling behind, they're moving at their own pace.
That's easy for them to do, they're not supposed to be the next Symbol of Peace. Izuku thought back. Izuku's phone buzzed, cutting off the argument he was having with himself.
Phantom Menace
Hey! Centipeder said he saw you leaving the agency?
Everything okay?
Do you need me to call a ride back to UA for you?
Izuku fought down the anger that threatened to rise back up. From the sounds of it, Mirio had no idea about Nighteye's plan to replace Izuku with him. He had actually been a really great resource for Izuku, sending him all sorts of little tips on how to interview well and other bits of information about normal hero work that Izuku had missed out on from his shortened internship with Gran Torino.
The Child
No, I'm alright. Gonna walk to the station.
Sorry I left without telling you. Sir and I had a bit of a disagreement.
I don't think it's going to work out for work studies.
Izuku put his phone away. He had honestly been really looking forward to working with Mirio. Maybe he could convince him to spar with him a few times instead? Someone bumped into him, Izuku jerked from his thoughts abruptly.
"Oh, sorry…" the man kept running away, back towards the Nighteye Agency, an odd bird mask affixed to his face. That's weird… Izuku turned in the direction the man was coming from to see a large crowd being held back from a bank by police barricades. A villain attack?
Izuku pushed toward the front of the crowd using the many tricks he had picked up from years of watching hero fights. It was a little harder now that he had tacked on a huge amount of muscle from when he used to do this but he also had a much better purpose than he used to. As a kid he could only watch in awe as the action unfolded. But now, he could do something about it.
"What's the situation officer?" Izuku asked as he got to the front. He pulled out his license and passed it to the uniformed officer, a man with patches of silver and gold across his skin that made it difficult to pin down his age. "My name's Deku. How can I help?"
"Well, there's a bank robbery in progress but there's already a hero inside. Wait a second," The officer looked up from the card. "Kid, this is a provisional license!"
The back wall of the bank exploded outward, sending dust and bricks flying into the air. Izuku let loose with Blackwhip, dozens of whips catching as much of the debris as they could before it could hit the bystanders. A hulking figure stepped out of the opening. He was nearly eight feet tall with bulging muscles that strained underneath coarse brown fur. His arms extended just past his knees, with long razor sharp claws protruding from each finger and stuffed duffel bags clasped in each hand. He had small beady black eyes and an almost canine shaped face with gleaming fangs. His fur sprouted from just above his eyeline, covering his back and arms leaving pale scarred flesh over his chest and face. A bear mutation? Given the fact that he just blew out the wall, I'm guessing it gives him super strength too.
"Everyone, please clear the area!" The crowd tripped over one another as they rushed to get out of there. Izuku rose into the air, lighting crackling to life around him. One for All thrummed in time with his heartbeat. Two tendrils of Blackwhip snaked out of each wrist and Danger Sense woke up, flooding him with a wave of information. "Officers, there's a woman on the other side of the street who seems like she's broken her ankle. Please, do your best to keep people away from the bank. I'll handle this."
"HA!" The bank robber rolled his shoulders as he strode out onto the sidewalk. "You're gonna handle me, pipsqueak? That's cute, kid, but stand aside before you get hurt. You don't wanna mess with Bearhead of the Wild Villains!"
"Oh I wouldn't worry about me." Izuku flashed a wicked smile. "I've handled plenty of guys bigger than you."
"Well c'mon then. I'll even give you the first shot."
Izuku narrowed his eyes. Now that was a mistake on his opponent's part. Even if Izuku was in his school uniform and not his hero costume, this guy had nothing on Muscular or All Might. Now that he could see him better in the light too, Izuku almost started to get excited about this fight. He was big, but a huge amount of his weight was in his arms and back, leaving his sense of balance off center. Izuku could use that to his advantage and end it in one hit. Guess I'll get to try that super move after all. He shot forward, racing toward the villain headfirst. The man smirked, shifting his legs apart slightly.
"You're fast but stupid if you think you can take me head on!"
One massive clawed hand lurched forward in a sloppy swing at him, but with Danger Sense and twelve percent of One for All the villain was practically moving in slow motion. Izuku dodged underneath the swing and through the villain's legs, coming up behind him. Blackwhip trailed behind Izuku from his back, latching around his ankles and making him stumble. Before he could react further, Izuku had wrapped his legs around the bank robber's neck, using Float to get him the necessary height. He canceled the seventh's quirk, letting his momentum and gravity spin him toward the villain's front as his torso began to fall. He tightened his grip with his legs, and as he passed horizontal Izuku shot out more strands of Blackwhip from his wrists, burying the tendrils into the sidewalk. Let's hope this guy's quirk gives him some toughness too. Izuku flexed his core and legs, pulling on Blackwhip as he dragged him forward and up, until finally the villain left his feet.
"RUSHMORE SMASH!" Izuku slammed the man head first into the sidewalk, the concrete cracking with the force. There was a dull thud as the rest of the now unconscious man crashed to the ground, leaving a stunned silence from the crowd. Shit, I need to stretch more before I try that again. I feel like I nearly tore an abdominal! Izuku gingerly rose to his feet, careful of his screaming muscles. Nothing had torn or broken, so Izuku was willing to call it a successful first test of his new super move.
"Everybody okay?" Izuku asked, generally pitching his voice toward the police who were staring slack-jawed at him. Jeez, I mean I know I'm not that tall but you'd think they would have had more faith in me. He kneeled back down to the ground and checked the pulse of the bank robber. His pulse was steady and there was no blood, so Izuku assumed he had just been knocked out. "Can you call an ambulance for this guy? I'm going to go inside and see if I'm needed anywhere else."
"No need, kit." Izuku paled. Oh shit. "I already got the rest of these chumps handled." Izuku turned with mounting horror into the smirking face of the Number Seven Hero, Mirko. She shrugged three other criminals, each of them unconscious and handcuffed, off her shoulder, letting them fall to the ground at her feet. The first thing Izuku noticed about her was that she was shorter than he expected. She was only a centimeter or two taller than he was, though her ears added to her height significantly. The second thing Izuku noticed was the half angry, half amused expression she wore while scanning him over.
"Those were some pretty familiar moves, kit," She said. She cocked her hip and tossed her long white hair over her shoulder as the police and paramedics rushed to take care of the criminals. "Care to explain where you got them from?"
Izuku bit back a curse. He had spent hours before the licensing exam studying the moves of various heroes for inspiration. Blackwhip could make a passable version of Kaumi Wood's special move and because he could manipulate the thickness of the tendrils he could even replicate some of Best Jeanist's techniques. Smokescreen wasn't quite as useful as Somnambulist, but Midnight had taught him how to use it in a stronger version of her Lavender Nightmare super move by using Smokescreen to obscure his body and several strands of Blackwhip to act as multiple whips to attack opponents.
By far the bulk of his research, however, centered around the Rabbit Hero. Her quirk gave her incredible speed and strength, on par with the strongest of strength enhancers. Her quick and hard-hitting fighting style fit perfectly with what Izuku was trying to become as a hero. Izuku had watched dozens of hours of her kicks in an attempt to recreate some of them for his shoot style. His Rushmore Smash was based on her Luna Tijeras and he had ideas for how to make her Luna Fall and Luna Arc work with Blackwhip and Float. Mirko had taken on an almost mythical status in his notebooks; her entries had started to look like All Might's before Gran Torino had convinced him not to mirror his mentor quite as much.
And of course she just so happened to be there for the first time he tried it against a villain. Was it possible for him to die of embarrassment?
"Ahhhh," Izuku rubbed the back of his head. "I got them from watching you, actually."
"Oh, really? Just how closely did you watch these legs? Must have been pretty close if you were able to actually pull that off." Izuku fought a losing battle against the blush that overtook his cheeks.
"Well who wouldn't watch them? They're pretty incredible." Another moment of silence hung over the street. Izuku could practically feel the stares of the crowd, half of them thinking that he was dead for his stupidity, the other half intensely jealous of his daring. Izuku internally prepared to get a swift kick to the head but to his relief Mirko threw back her head and laughed.
"Damn, kit! You're a bold one, huh?" When her chuckles died out she turned back to Izuku with a curious expression. "Y'know you look kinda familiar. Are you a sidekick or something?"
"No, I'm actually a student."
"Hah?! Oh! That's right, you're the little green guy that was with All Might in Kamino, right?" Izuku felt himself sweatdrop. Little green guy? "Not bad stuff for a kid still in high school but if you're trying to get to my level you're gonna want to bulk up your legs. These thighs aren't just for show, you know?" Izuku's gaze dropped to her legs before flicking back up to her knowing smirk. "Anyway, shouldn't you be in school or something, kit?" She asked, waving at his UA uniform.
"I just came back from a work study interview and stumbled into this whole situation."
"Work study, huh? You get the job?"
"Uh, no. I actually, uh, I kinda told him that he should go get some therapy and I walked out." Mirko barked out a laugh.
"Hell yeah, kit! Too many of these old fuckers think they're hot shit and can tell everyone else what to do. Good for you for showing some teeth… shit, what's your name?"
"Midoriya Izuku, ma'am."
"Well good for you, Memoriam."
"Uhh, actually it's Midoriya." Mirko waved him off.
"Yeah, whatever, Maralago. What's your hero name? 'Cause the vultures are starting to swarm and they're definitely going to want a piece of you, kit."
Noticing for the first time the growing crowd around the two heroes, Izuku started to mentally review all of the lessons on PR management that Midnight had drilled into his head. Stand Tall, Smile, Be Bold, and Fake It 'Til You Make It! Alright, let's do this, Izuku!
"It's Deku." He said in response to her question. Mirko looked vaguely surprised.
"Like useless? Bet there's a story there, huh? Well, you'll have to tell me about it later. Look alive, kit! Watch a pro at work and don't get too distracted behind me." She shot him a wink and walked towards the reporters, ears flicking back at the wave of noise.
"Mirko! Mirko! Who's the kid?"
"Mirko, how did you catch the Wild Villains?"
"Mirko, who will you be wearing at the Billboard Gala next month?"
Izuku felt a wave of annoyance and guilt at the last question: annoyance because it was ridiculous that that was what reporters had latched onto, not the fact that Mirko had captured four bank robbers by herself or that she was more than likely going to become the highest ranking female hero ever in the next Hero Rankings. The guilt stemmed from the fact that he would never have to deal with questions like that simply because he was born with a Y chromosome.
"Kid's name is Deku, I was doing my job, and-" Mirko's grin grew slightly more feral."-maybe I'll go buck naked just to spite you, lady." Izuku choked as even more reporters started screaming questions at her. Evidently Mirko had decided that she had had enough though.
"Alright that's it for me, you can ask the kid the rest of your questions." Mirko squatted down and leapt onto the nearest rooftop before bounding away into the distance. Izuku had time to think Traitor, before the explosion of noise and lights from cameras took over his senses.
"Deku! Are you Mirko's sidekick?"
"Deku, is that really your hero name?"
"How old are you?"
"What's your quirk, kid?"
"Deku, what happened today?" Latching onto the last question, Izuku looked at the reporter who had asked, a younger woman with a fierce expression that reminded him eerily of Ochako when he got between her and desert.
"Mirko pretty much had the scene handled, but the fighting spilled out into the street. I was in the area and was able to engage the final robber as he fled the scene."
"You're a first year student, right?" The woman asked. "What made you step in to fight?"
"Someone had to." Izuku shrugged. "That's what heroes do. We act when no one else can. People needed help, so I stepped up."
"Why do you want to be a hero?"
Izuku gripped his fist tightly. There were a million reasons he wanted to be a hero. He wanted to make his mom and All Might proud. He wanted to prove to himself that he could. But most of all…
"I want to save people. Really save them." Izuku looked out at the crowd and felt his nerves turn to steel inside of him. "Not just from villains or disasters, I want to save them in the ways that really matter. I want to bring people hope, to make them smile. I want people to see me and know that things are going to be okay." He thought of Toga, knelt in the dirt and crying, and he thought of himself, scared and alone because of a quirk he didn't have. "I want people to know that no matter how dark it gets, there will always be people willing to help. There will always be hope."
The silence stretched. A few reporters stared at him and Izuku fought down the urge to fidget. This was what he had signed up for in being All Might's successor. If he wanted to become the next Symbol, he needed to get used to people looking to him for answers. Eventually the same reporter spoke up again.
"What's your hero name so we can look for you in the future?"
"The Hopeful Hero: Deku."
"Well, we look forward to seeing you grow, Deku."
"Thank you." He shot his best All-Might-like grin toward the crowd. "Get home safely, everyone!"
Izuku took his cue from Mirko and rose into the air with Float before dashing away in the direction of the train station. He hadn't had time in the heat of the moment, but now that he was away from the crowds his nerves began to surface. Gah, I hope that was good. I don't think I sounded too cocky, but what if I sounded too meek? Especially going second after Mirko! She probably made me seem like such a noodle! He deflated slightly at the thought. And I still haven't figured out my work study situation! Oh man, Nemuri's going to fill the next few months with interviews, isn't she? He shuddered at the idea of a full semester of Midnight's torturous media practices. Maybe it was just some small local stations who caught the fight? Yeah! Not every villain fight makes national news, especially not routine bank robbers. Yeah, I'm sure nobody even saw that interview!
Hana leaned back in her chair, flipping her hair over a shoulder. Her back ached from the hours she had spent hunched over her laptop and her stomach growled angrily, reminding her that she had skipped the rest of her lunch break, but she was pleased. The story was some of her finest work. There was little information known about Midoriya Izuku or the Hopeful Hero: Deku. There was a distinguished mark on the report for his provisional license, meaning at some point during his exam he had impressed the HPSC with his actions, but no notes about what he did. It wasn't until she stumbled across a video of Kamino that she had put two and two together.
She had felt the charge in the air when Deku had leapt into action against the Wild Villains. When she was in college, eager to get her foot in the door of hero journalism, she had practically stalked All Might. She went to every villain fight, desperate to get a glimpse of the hero, and whenever he appeared with that boisterous laugh and proud declaration of 'I Am Here!' the wind had changed. It was filled with energy like the world itself was holding its breath with his presence. She had never felt anything like it before or since.
Until today.
Deku held that same presence, that same incredible power as if his very existence could change the world itself. They weren't the same, All Might was bold and loud whereas Deku had a more quiet strength, a humble confidence that All Might lacked. In the years to come it would be commonplace, but as Hana posted the first ever interview with future number one hero she allowed herself a small smile. Deku's not there yet, but maybe one day he'll be a symbol in his own right.
A Symbol of Hope.
Midnight was waiting for him at the gate as Izuku walked from the train station back to UA. His costume case thumped against his leg, irritating his aching thighs even more. I definitely need to focus on bulking up my lower body more. One for All gives me all the power I'll ever need, but I'd prefer to be able to use my super moves even at lower percentages. Guess I'll have to talk to All Might about getting some more focused training in at our next session.
"Hey." Izuku waved to his mentor. "I'm guessing by the fact that the buildings are still standing you managed to bring down the robot?"
"Majima is still pissed," Nemuri snorted. "Between you, Todoroki, and those support students he's had to replace three zero pointers this year. We haven't needed a new one in the past six years."
"Ahhhh," Izuku rubbed the back of his head. "My bad."
"Nah," she said, throwing an arm over his shoulders. "He secretly likes being busy. Plus it gives his problem child something to do instead of just blowing up his lab. And speaking of problem children," Nemuri brought her other hand up to rub her knuckles in his hair. "Someone, better have an explanation about how he managed to team up with a hero even I can't manage to get the number of." Izuku half-heartedly fought her off, eventually freeing himself from her grasp.
"It wasn't exactly on purpose. I was leaving Nighteye's agency and I just kind of ran into her." Nemuri narrowed her eyes.
"And why exactly were you leaving his office?"
"I, uh, may have told him off after he suggested that Togata would have been better suited for my quirk and then walked out."
"Cool. Killing Sir Nighteye has suddenly jumped up to the top of my to-do list."
"I'll help you hide the body," Izuku muttered darkly. "I can't believe that asshole really thought I would just roll over and give up like that."
"He really must not have done his research if he thought that was the case." They stopped outside of Heights Alliance and Izuku let Nemuri pull him into a hug. "I'm proud of you, kiddo. No matter what that idiot thinks, you're going to be an amazing hero, Izuku."
"Thanks, Nemuri." She released him, but held him at arms' length, pinning him with a stern glance. "Don't think this will get you out of doing more interview practices now, though. Just because your first one went well doesn't mean there's not room for improvement."
"Yes, ma'am.'
"And we still need to head to the police precinct tomorrow to fill out paperwork considering you don't have a work study mentor to help you with it." Izuku bit back a curse. He hadn't even thought about paperwork!
"Okay." Nemuri gave him a searching look before patting his cheek.
"Good boy. Now get some sleep, kiddo. I'd say you earned it."
Izuku gave her a tired smile and plodded into the dorms. Paperwork was an issue for tomorrow Izuku, tonight was for sleeping.
Naomasa rested his head in his hands. Mic had already led Eraser away, knowing how much his husband hated losing control of his emotions in front of others. The squad from Tartarus were finishing up locking away Kurogiri-Oboro - the prisoner. Naomasa had to stay and oversee it. As the detective attached to the League of Villains case, it was his responsibility to make sure that whoever it was that they had in custody stayed there.
Naomasa had seen a lot of fucked up things in his years on the force, but being forced to interact with the revived corpse of your childhood friend who had been experimented on and brainwashed by a supervillain probably took the cake. He ran a hand over his face as if he could wipe away the horrors. Kami, if he was this affected how the hell was Eraser even standing after all this? Naomasa felt his respect for hero tick a little bit higher, not that there was much higher for it to go anymore. He pulled out his phone and scrolled down to a rarely used number that had been forced into his contacts after one too many shots with Present Mic.
Truth Serum
It didn't work.
We're going to need you to come in.
He didn't have to wait long for a response.
The Witching Hour
When and where?