Human beings work in patterns. That was something Midoriya Izuku knew since he was three years old (granted, he was a very, very, smart three year old child, but still a three year old child). He saw how people thought in patterns, how social groups worked in patterns, even how the human body adapted to patterns, had them wired into it through muscle memory. When Midoriya Izuku turned four, he started recognizing that even quirks, which were treated as basically bullshit magic, worked in patterns. That was also why he just knew that his quirk wasn't simply pattern recognition! When his quirk came in, his eyes changed: The irises turned into pink lotus-like flowers, and whenever he would get emotional, the petals would "detach" and bounce around his pale blue sclera.
He knew there was more to his quirk, since it was a fifth generation mutation of two emitters, one of which had secondary physical adaptations. (His father could breathe fire and had a slight mucus membrane coating his throat for protection, and his mother could attract small non-living objects to herself). One in ten thousand children exhibited a quirk mutation, where a quirk was unrelated to the parents' quirk (which was a mistake, it was related, as he has been arguing online since his fifth birthday).
"Stop lying you useless Deku!" Bakugou Katsuki finally lost his patience.
Izuku knew his friend(?) well enough to know that between one to two months after Izuku's sixth birthday, Katsuki would snap at him - if his quirk was only 'flowery eyes', he would become one of Katsuki's prime bullying targets, especially since the blond boy would consider Izuku's lack of a strong quirk and perceived lies about it a betrayal. Izuku knew he could dodge the first few explosive punches sent his way, but not the next (Katsuki has always been in better shape). So he just decided to take the first one head on and fall to the ground, which should probably make Katsuki bored and leave him alone for a few more days. Scraped and bleeding on the park ground, neither of the children noticed that the flowers around Izuku started glowing a slight pale pink.
-- Eight Years Later --
Unfortunately for Izuku, knowing how to identify patterns doesn't grant him precognition, nor does it enhance his senses and make him more focused (most of the times, except when it did, something that caused Izuku no small amount of frustration), or improve his memory. Crucially, it didn't allow him to recognize patterns within himself and his own biases. Unfortunately, because Izuku knew right then and there that he forgot Bakugou (he hasn't been Katsuki for eight years, and Kacchan for ten) would probably try vandalizing his belongings today, as he always did after a teacher brought attention to Izuku. In his defense Izuku was preoccupied with analyzing the patterns of Kamui Wood's special move, Lacquered Chain Prison, it seemed that the angles in which his branches expanded and split followed a mathematical sequence, which was a glaring weakness since anyone with a bit of focus could notice and dodge (Izuku's entire social circle was an online forum of amateur quirk analysts, and his standard for 'a bit of focus' was very heavily skewed).
Izuku sighed as his notebook exploded in front of him, trying to stop the tears in his eyes.
"Are you going to cry, Deku?" Bakugou laughed cruelly, echoed by his minions. He tried preparing himself, but he could never know how hard his former friend and primary tormentor would go, only that he would always go further in his quest to trod on Izuku.
"If you want to do something, why don't you use your quirk? It's been years, you must have figured it out by now, you aren't a liar, right?" Katsuki's eyes gained a sadistic glint in them
"I know, maybe you should try mortal danger! A lot of quirks trigger like that! I'm sure there are plenty of rooftops you could use for your experiment". Izuku still sat silently, tears escaping his eyes. He tried to time the intervals and the speed in which they trickled. He never could figure out his own crying pattern, but the attempts usually calmed him down.
After his bullies left, Izuku picked up his burnt notebook and headed to the dojo he practiced in. It started as an attempt to trigger his quirk (since it previously improved his senses and reaction times when he was running away from Bakugou, and when he played dodge-ball in gym class), but it stayed as a great way to keep in shape and train for U.A. high school's hero course. He was running late, so he took a shortcut he usually avoids - the chances of running into muggers or vandals under the bridge on the way there was slightly higher, but Izuku decided it was worth the risk, since he was already physically harassed today. Nothing is ever absolute, but there is some safety in pattern distribution.
Of course, he was wrong to assume.
He saw a bubbling black tendril shoot towards him, and began dodging. Left, right, crouch a little, roll and jump off the wall forward, but not closer to the center of the slime - two solid eyeballs floating around. The tendrils splashed against the wall, so no recoil, Izuku thought. No need to watch his back. But the thing about patterns, is you have to learn them. Izuku didn't know that the slime could control his detached remains, but chose not to. When he grew comfortable, and started planing his escape, he tread backwards into a newly formed viscous puddle, that immediately tripped him and climbed up his body. Crap, Izuku thought, what a way to go. He couldn't see a way out, so he relaxed his muscles and held his breath, slowly exhaling in tiny gasps to elongate the time he had to think. His vision started to blur, and right when he passed out he saw a giant fist blow away the sludge, shining white teeth smiling a reassuring smile.
--
"BOY, CAN YOU HEAR ME?" Izuku blearily opened his eyes, and almost fainted again! His favorite hero, his greatest inspiration and source of strength, and as of five years ago his greatest source of anxiety, was slapping him gently in the face in an attempt to wake him up.
"A-All Might! I can't believe it Wow you saved me! C-can I have an au-" Izuku stopped himself from asking, immediately being struck by guilt for almost wasting his hero's precious time.
"Of course young man! I already signed this incredible notebook! I must say that with a mind like yours the future of heroics is bright!" All might smiled, but suddenly looked worried when Izuku's face grew horrified at his words.
"All Might how could you! You're losing more time every day and you wasted it signing a notebook?! A-and, you bothered reading some stupid notes from some fan you don't know? You have maximally three hours, unless you-"
Yagi Toshinori, better known as All Might, was worried the young boy in front of him would become a villain - When he complemented the boy's (very impressive, almost unique) analysis, the child looked like someone killed his dog. The explanation for the boy's horror was much, much, worse. He knew. All Might couldn't help himself, he spurted out blood, and in a puff of smoke he deflated, a tall, emaciated man with blond hair remaining in the dissipating cloud.
"Ah", said the child, stopping his words in the middle yet seeming completely unsurprised,
"So that's what happens when you overuse your quirk. Is it a natural effect, or the result of an injury? If it's a consequence of your quirk that means I was right and it's a stockpiling emitter, that has a limited amount of total energy that has started to run out".
Close, but note quite, Yagi thought with relief,
"But looking at your base form and taking into account the blood earlier, it's probably an injury - around four years, two months, and between five to seventeen days? That's when your activity patterns started to shift", Yagi had to put in more and more effort to hear the boy, as he devolved into muttering, but every word was priceless, terrifyingly accurate, as pink petals danced in his azure sclera.
"Ever since then your villain takedowns haven't dropped, but the average time it takes per takedown rose by a few milliseconds each month. Of course your media presence is what truly changed, stopping most public tours and replacing them with teleconferences was a completely new pattern, and people don't just..."
Only when he couldn't understand the child anymore, he cleared his throat
"Ahem, yes young man, what you said is correct! In fact almost scarily so!" All Might lifted his shirt, revealing a horrible sunken scar in his abdomen. "You understand why this must remain a secret though, right?"
"No All Might! I'm happy I managed to find you early enough. It can't remain a secret. That might work in the short term, but it will cause irreparable harm in the long run!" Yagi felt sweat accumulate on his forehead, the kid was very smart, maybe it would be worth it to hear him out?
"What do you mean young man, and while I'm in this form, please call me Yagi. What is your name, by the way?"
"Oh my god I'm so so sorry I can't believe I forgot to introduce myself to All Mig- to Yagi-san OH MY GOD I KNOW ALL MIGHT'S NAME-"
"Ahem!"
"Oh right, sorry Al- Yagi-san, My name is Midoriya Izuku, It is my greatest honor to meet you" He bowed from his waist, a ninety degree angle.
At least the boy was a fan, Yagi skimmed through his notebook and saw that the boy could probably defeat most heroes if he was physically fit enough, seeing as he had plans on how to overcome almost every move they had. Were they all that predictable? Was he that predictable?
"Please, explain why it would be better to reveal the fact that I'm close to retirement?" When Yagi lifted his eyes from the notebook, he saw the boy, Midoriya, collect the sludge villain into some bottles (Yagi couldn't believe he forgot! Well, he could, considering the circumstances).
"Crime has been dropping, Yagi-san, but around four and a half years ago there was a really sharp drop, probably some kingpin being taken down. Looking at past crime patterns in Japan, and similar cases worldwide, it's obvious that the power vacuum hasn't been filled. that isn't good. That means there are several large groups competing among each other, and when one wins, it'll subsume the remain of the others, and emerge much more powerful. Additionally, quirks are growing stronger, and while I don't think singularity will be apocalyptic, I think that-"
"Young Midoriya, please speak up, you're muttering again". Midoriya jerked up, as if he was surprised that someone was listening.
"Ah right, s-sorry. I mean, the next big figures in the crime world will be stronger than most of the last, both as individuals and as organizations. If you are going to retire, then the rest of the heroes need to prepare, mentally at least but also to up their game! You are a sole symbol in Japan and the world, if you suddenly retire it could bring about a wave of crime Japan won't recover from!" Yagi Toshinori was silent. It would take years to train a successor, and if what Midoriya was saying was correct, than a single successor wouldn't be enough.
"Young Midoriya, do you have anywhere to be? I want to take you to meet someone. All things considered, it is quite urgent". Midoriya looked panicked for a second
"AH! I'm late for training! I'll have to message them that I'll be missing it today, and mom too that I'll be late". Yagi smiled, and as Midoriya was making all of the required texts and calls, he fished out his phone and sent Nedzu a message to his private number, the one that meant he would get the message immediately and realize the urgency.
Aizawa Shota, the pro hero Eraserhead, sat exasperated in front of Nedzu, who would never admit the petty joy he took in making the man sit. Serves him right for expelling an entire class, Hewasn't the one that had to handle the paperwork and the disgruntled parents, as well as the therapy and follow ups so the kids wouldn't descend into villainy. Nedzu was going over some articles his friendly internet rival wrote, until Yagi came with his urgent news. He narrowed down Lotus' identity to a Japanese expat, that must have immigrated fairly recently (within the last seven to nine years, around the time his online activity started), and had teenaged children.
He was up to date on teen slang, and his Japanese was fluent, but every single quirk researcher in Japan wasn't Lotus - hence an expat. Nedzu was about to continue his review to Lotus' suggested Altered Quirk Inheritance Paradigm (AQIP), when Yagi entered the room, in his true form, followed by a jittery green haired child in a middle school gakuran - "I'm in U.A. I can't believe I'm in U.A. I must be dreaming..." - a very excited jittery young boy in a middle school gakuran. Time to introduce himself.
"Am I a dog or a mouse or a bear -"
"You're a Principal Gerbil, with amalgam Muridae bone structure in your skull, spine, and back limbs, probably a secondary quirk adaptation to account for increased cognition. The albinism is unrelated to your species or quirk".
Never had there been such silence in Nedzu's office. Never had there been such silence in all of U.A. The source of the silence was looking around from his seat, not noticing (or pretending not to notice) three pairs of dumbfounded eyes on him. It was that same boy that broke the silence.
"Oh my god this is so embarrassing", Nedzu was about to calm the boy and even congratulate him for a singularly unique (and correct) deduction, when the next words to leave the boy's mouth promptly shut him up.
"I can't believe THE principal Nedzu is wasting time with AQIP, you must think I'm so dumb I'm sorry that's just something I've been writing up, my friend MazeBuilder should be going over it soon he's much smarter than me so don't bother finishing it. Wow you really looked me up fast when Al- When Yagi-san told you he was bringing me here, but how did you link me to my online presence I thought I scrubbed it..."
Nedzu was grateful that the boy, apparently his many year colleague GreenLotus, descended into a flurry of incomprehensible mutterings, both since that meant he wasn't focused on how shocked Nedzu was, and as well as because Nedzu wasn't sure he could handle any more of what this young boy would say.
"Ahem, young Midoriya, please, introduce yourself first" Yagi sweat-dropped, and Nedzu was thankful for the diversion.
"Oh I'm so sorry, umm, again. I'm Midoriya Izuku, I was s-saved earlier by All Mi- by Yagi-san I mean and he told me to come talk to you about something. I promise it's not AQIP! Yagi-san thinks it will be worth it to talk to you though, please don't judge me based on that". How could a boy be at once so smart and so oblivious is a mystery that no amount of intelligence could help solve, Nedzu felt.
"Please be at ease Midoriya-kun, would you like tea?" The boy shook his head and Nedzu continued, "Also, please don't be worried about your AQIP, since I have been reviewing it for the last week, when you sent it to me". Yagi, Aizawa, and Midoriya all did a spit take.
"Y-you're MazeBuilder?" When Nedzu nodded Midoriya started sobbing uncontrollably, the fourth surprise he brought to the meeting so far (Identifying his species, being GreenLotus, and apparently knowing about All Might's true form being the first three).
"Midoriya-kun please calm down, why are you crying?"
"B-because now w-we won't be friends any-anymore!" Midoriya sobbed a truly heart-wrenching sob "Y-you were my best friend! I-I only talk to you a-and SetInStone and my mom and now you know I'm just a stupid k-kid and we won't be f-friends!" That... Was not what Nedzu expected. Again. This would require finesse and delicacy.
"Midoriya-kun please, I assure you that I was very impressed with our correspondences these last few years" Nedzu paused to let that sink in, he'd been talking to a literal grade schooler for years. "And I have no intention of letting them stop, if anything, I would hope that we can begin meeting in person now that we know each other". Aizawa raised an eyebrow at that, but Nedzu sent him a look that meant he was completely serious. Yagi nudged the tired hero and shook his head, trying to convey to him not to interfere. "But maybe we should set up a time later to discuss your marvelous theory as well as some more in depth analysis you did on those villains last week. For now tell me, what did Yagi-san bring you to talk about?"
"W-well, it has to do w-with the secret" Midoriya tried calming down, but was still gasping and stuttering a little, Yagi placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, they already had good rapport, Nedzu noted. "Are you sure it's fine i-if Eraserhead is here?" Izuku turned to Aizawa, missing the sadistic glint in Nedzu's eye, finally someone else will get shocked by the boy! "I mean, you're an incredible hero! My second favorite of all time! The way you took down the support gear smuggling ring was inspiring! B-but, it's not my secret to tell... I'm sorry Ersarehead-san. Oh! and can I please get an autograph?"
Shota would never expel more than one quarter of his class in the future. This prank had gone on far, far, too long. He had to commend Nedzu, the child actor he hired was impeccable, and Shota really was fooled for a long while, having the scenario be unrelated to him was a stroke of genius. Even when the kid recognized him he was still mostly convinced it was real, but when the kid mentioned the support gear smuggling he knew Nedzu had overreached. That didn't make the news and was scrubbed from the internet, and even the remaining speculations didn't mention his involvement.
He chuckled and shook his head while reaching for the proffered notebook, expecting to see a bold GOT YOU! scribbled there. What he didn't expect was to see extremely detailed diagrams of himself in various combat poses, in depth breakdowns of his tactics and moves, as well as a terrifying look into his weaknesses. He absently noted that on the other side of the page were a series of questions about his quirk. Does it work through mirrors? Glass? One sided Mirrors? Can it work with one eye (alternating winks?!)?. Good questions, top quality analysis.
Shota completely ignored the actor, seeing as the jug was up.
"I got it rat, no more expelling so many students. Is this where the budget went this year? What firm did this analysis, I want their contact information immediately". The actor whimpered and Shota saw the lanky blond rub soothing circles on his upper back. He rolled his eyes, but wow that actor was capital D Dedicated.
"Well Aizawa, you can look to your left to see who did your analysis. I'm sure that an autograph would be enough payment for Midoriya-kun".
"Nedzu you can't seriously expect me to -"
"ENOUGH AIZAWA-KUN! APOLOGIZE TO YOUNG MIDORIYA IMMEDIATELY!" The lanky blond was engulfed in a cloud of smoke and All-Might appeared in his place. Nedzu seemed unfazed, and the actor (the boy?) started apologizing frantically. Then All-Might(?) coughed some blood and in a puff of smoke the lanky blond returned. Shota took a seat.
"Aizawa-kun I assure you nothing here is a joke, you saw me get the message on my emergency phone, did you not? No matter how much you deserve retribution, there are lines not to be crossed, since it would break your trust, however slightly, in the emergency phone going forward". Shota nodded numbly. "Additionally, you were quite rude to Midoriya-kun, who may just be your biggest fan".
"P-please don't m-mind me Eraserhead-san, of course you have more important things to do -"
"Midoriya was it?" The boy nodded, still sniffling away the remains of his tears. "Nedzu and... All-Might? Are correct. Even without you having brought me this priceless analysis-" Midoriya made to say something but Shota injected a little more force into his voice "No, Midoriya, this analysis is extremely helpful. Probably more than you realize. Or, considering how well you dissected my weaknesses, as important as you realize but refuse to accept". Shota wondered how the boy could have such a low perception of himself.
"Midoriya, even without this, the way I dismissed you out of hand was wrong, and it would be illogical not to apologize when I made a blatant error in judgement. I am sorry for not believing you". Silence, the thin All-Might raised his eyebrow and gestured towards the notebook. "And of course I'll sign your notebook".
Shota could swear the kid's quirk was localized weather control, since he went from intense flooding to a smile so bright it outshone the sun in record speed.
"Thank you Eraserhead-san I can't believe it!" All-Might cleared his throat and made a gesture,
"Young Midoriya is correct - the secret is not his, it's mine, and Aizawa-kun should know it. Especially considering what I brought Midoriya here for". The lanky blond lifted his shirt, and started talking.
--
All-Might is running out of time. Shota was reeling. Nedzu knew, and Midoriya had figured it out on his own. Then Midoriya started explaining his thoughts. He brought out data, not from the top of his head, thankfully, but from an intensely encrypted notebook titled 'Help All-Might/Prepare For The Worst'. The kid didn't have a perfect memory, but he was organized to a fault. Numbers, trends, case files, examples, conjecture. Everything pointed to the truth of what Midoriya was saying. Two unfortunate patterns were about to coincide - All-Might would run out of time, and the criminal underworld was due for an increase in activity.
Nedzu looked as troubled as he did, and exchanged a meaningful glance with All-Might. It seemed to take the tall hero a few seconds to understand
"Are you positive Nedzu?" Midoriya looked up, sharing Shota's confusion, positive about what?
"Yagi-kun, I have been in contact with Midoriya-kun for around seven years, and during the last four of them we would correspond nearly daily. I assure you there is no better candidate out there".
It had been a very very long day, Izuku thought to himself. He was so embarrassed the first time his mother had called, since it was in the middle of All-Might's explanation. Thankfully they were all very understanding, and Nedzu even told her to come to U.A. to meet with him, since they would be a while. Then when Nedzu and All Might started talking about something he didn't understand, he thought he might have drifted off to sleep.
"I apologize, young Midoriya, there is more to my secret - both the limit to my activity and the villain who gave me the wound that led to the limit. You see Midoriya, I am not the first to have my quirk. I inherited it from my master, who inherited it from hers".
Izuku pinched himself.
"Not dreaming..." he mumbled. Nedzu chuckled (but not maliciously! Maybe he does want to still be friends?)
"I assure you Midoriya-kun, what Yagi-kun is saying is true. It goes back to the dawn of quirks..."
Izuku found the story of the two brothers riveting and terrifying. When All Might explained that his quirk was a stockpiling quirk he couldn't help a small fist pump and a mumbled "knew it". It just stockpiled energy for eight generations! He saw Eraserhead (He still couldn't believe he met his two favorite heroes in a single day, and his best friend as well! If he could gather the courage, he would ask for a picture later, since this would probably be the last time any of them would make time for someone like him).
"Now young Midoriya, you have a brilliant mind, and a heroic heart. You know that I am running out of time. I would like to offer you my quirk".
Wait. He almost vibrated in his seat. No way, he could get a strong quirk, be a hero. He was about to agree, or burst in tears (probably both), but suddenly stopped himself. He didn't notice the concerned look of the adults around him when they saw his excitement transform into heartbreak.
"You- You shouldn't waste such a chance on someone like me. You said that One For All" (He knew All Might's quirk's name!) "Enhanced your master's quirk. I still don't know exactly what my quirk does beyond changing my eyes and slightly enhancing my ability to recognize mathematical, statistical, and physical patterns-"
"Wait you don't have an intelligence quirk?" Eraserhead and All Might asked him together,
"N-no. I don't know exactly what it does, except that there are emitter elements that I haven't activated yet. Sometimes it enhances my perception and reflexes, but not consistently. And I can't analyze patterns that have to do with myself, so I'm stumped". Nedzu looked interested, while Eraserhead and All Might were gaping that he was just naturally that smart.
Izuku looked up at his hero.
"That's why... you should offer your quirk to someone with a complementary quirk, that could make the most of it". Nedzu coughed slightly and put down his cup.
"Izuku, may I call you Izuku, if you are serious about us being friends?" Izuku nodded rapidly, tears pooling once again in his eyes, "What you mentioned isn't a reason to pass over someone like you. We will proceed with what you suggested, preparing the heroes slowly, starting with those we trust won't leak the information about All Might's retirement. Meanwhile however, there is no reason we can't work on training you physically and experimenting to discover your quirk's functions. Even if you won't inherit One For All, I fully expect you to enroll in the hero course next year-"
Nedzu paused and looked at his screen, "Oh, your mother has arrived, perfect, I'll talk to her about withdrawing you form school since you clearly don't need it, meanwhile Aizawa-kun and Yagi-kun can start drawing up a training plan. Please wait outside while I talk with your mother, and be here tomorrow at eight a.m."
Izuku nodded dumbly, this was better than any dream he could have imagined, maybe the sludge villain got him and he was dead? "WHAT DO YOU MEAN SLUDGE VILLAIN" He heard his mother's panicked shout, and realized to late he muttered his last thoughts out loud. Thankfully he wouldn't be part of her conversation with Nedzu.