Chapter 13: Hero by Another Name
Something was ticking Bakugo off and it looked a lot like Deku.
Ever since he got his 'quirk', which he still called fake news, Deku had been acting differently. Over the years, Bakugo had been trying to get the nerd to use his quirk in a fight, just to show how much better his was then the freaks.
But whenever he thought he had him cornered, either at school or heading home, he would down right refuse or just vanish like he was never with them in the first place. Kind of like the day before teach told the class Deku had a quirk.
Bakugo would make some sparks at his desk or make a small explosion in front of the nerd, the reactions would vary between terrified and startled. Deku would constantly mumble about… whatever he didn't care during his scare tactics.
As of recently however, especially the past few days, Deku had been… quiet. Normally whenever he did try to pull a scare, Bakugo would get some pathetic reaction and he and the rest of the class would get a good laugh for the day. Now, Deku barely acknowledged him, barely even wincing then walking off like it never happened.
So. Deku thought he was top dog, huh?! He'll show him! It would have to wait till after school though, don't want anyone seeing the massacre that he and his cronies would do to the nerd to show him his place beneath his boot.
First, let's give him a reason to show.
The bell rang, queuing everyone to pack up for home time. Bakugo waited for all the other no names to get out and he made his move. He sauntered over to where Deku was starting to pack up, one of his 'precious journals' sitting smack dab in the middle of his desk. Perfect.
No. An even better idea popped up. Bakugo signaled his extra's to the other side of Deku.
Just before the nerd's hand could grab the journal, Bakugo swiped his journal. While the nerd was caught off guard, the extra's made off with his school bag. Now flaunting it like some sort of prized catch. Deku whipped around to Bakugo, those same, weak, cowardly eyes staring at him.
"Glad I got your attention. Now here's what gonna happen…" Bakugo motioned his grunts to start rooting around in his bag, at the greenette's dismay. Shithead tried to get up, but Bakugo quickly got him to sit down, shoving his igniting hand on the nerd's shoulder.
After some rooting around, Extra #1 pulled out a small box. What is this? The explosive blond glanced to the nerd to see if it meant anything. Judging from his quivering, it was jackpot. Bakugo then motioned Extra #2 to dump the rest of the bag's contents on Deku's lap. He couldn't help grin at the quirkless freak's reaction, a mix of shock and anger.
No way he could turn him down now.
"You are going to show up behind the school in ten minutes. If you're not there, I'm torching this…" He flaunted the journal in the greenette's face. "And the shitty box." He pointed to Extra #1's hand still waving the box around. "You think you're better than me just 'cause you got a bullshit quirk?! Not fucking likely! Bout time someone showed you your place."
With his point thoroughly made, Bakugo left the classroom, with one of his cronies carrying clearly the most valuable thing to the nerd. "You really think Deku will show? Guy's a coward, even with a-" Bakugo stared daggers at Extra #2 for even thinking Deku had quirk. He quickly shut up.
"He'll show. Doesn't have much a choice now. Considering I got this." Bakugo swiped the box from Extra #1 and opened it. Inside was a card with a bunch of flowery nonsense on the cover and under it, with some small pillows holding it in place was a small sliver locket. The hell was he using this for? Whatever, he could probably sell it for a quick buck if Deku didn't show.
The blonde then opened up the card, inside was a few pictures of flowers and a bunch of made-up gibberish written inside. Who the fuck was this for? Valentines for aliens? Bakugo crammed the card and locket back into the box and shoved it into his own school bag.
He couldn't wait to show the nerd his place on the pecking order.
--- 10 Minutes Later ---
Bakugo checked his watch. Almost ten minutes. Still the nerd didn't show. Whatever, he'll just catch him on the way back home before he had to deal with the hag. Extra #2 mocked the nerd openly for not showing seemingly correct that he was a coward.
Bakugo already knew that. it was about showing him who's boss and to show with his pathetic 'quirk' Deku could never be a hero. No matter how much bull he put into it. Just as the three were about to leave, there stood the nerd himself, holding his bag's strap tightly. Those same eyes again.
"A-Alright. I'm here. N-Now give it back!" Bakugo smirked and dropped his bag to the ground. Behind the school was a decently open yard area for PE activities and off to the side two sheds sitting side by side. The perfect place for an anonymous beating. "I'm sorry? Was that order?" The blonde looked over his shoulder to his cronies. "Did you guys here that right?" The extra's mockingly echoed Deku's words back to him then laughed. "Future heroes don't take orders from runts like you."
"I-I-I'm warning y-you! Give them back!" A warning? Oh, he was asking for it. "Or what? You gonna make a little crab pinch me? Or better yet just make another Deku for me to pummel? You can't do anything. You're nothing!" Deku started shaking.
"YOU. WILL. NEVER. BE. A. HERO." Deku stopped, his hair hiding his eyes as he looked down. Was he going to cry? What a baby, Bakugo almost felt bad for the proceeding beat down but quickly got over it to show him a thing or two. Bakugo took a step towards the nerd.
And something sharp quickly flew by his face.
The blonde stopped mid step and looked what had whipped by his face. What he saw was a large icicle embedded into the ground a few inches behind him. Bakugo felt something wet trickle down his cheek. Touching his cheek with two fingers, it looked like blood.
"What the he-" Before another word left him, another one of the icicles was aimed right between his eyes, the sharp point just inches away from skin contact. He could feel the cold freezing the sweat going down his brow. "Don't just stand there! Get him!"
The blonde's eye went from anger to shock as two icicles were aimed directly at his cronies' throats. They were too scared to move. Extra #1 was turning blue from not breathing. What is this…?! Hair still hiding his eyes Deku walked past Bakugo to Extra #2. "Where is it?" He spoke with no emotion. It sounded more like a suggestion for his future health then a question.
Extra #2 was on the verge of tears before relenting and pointing to Bakugo's bag. "COWARD!"
"I-I'm not dying for this man!" Extra #2 pleaded for Deku to let him go, but there was no response. Not even a reaction from the nerd. What the hell. Deku rooted around the bag until he pulled out the small box, quickly checking the contents and sighing with relief when he saw everything was ok.
The greenette then grabbed the bag and stood back up and walked to beside the explosive quirk user. He tried moving his arm to try and hit overconfident piss ant, but he backed away perfectly then he waved his hand slightly and another icicle appeared right against Bakugo's shoulder, pressing against his uniform.
The nerd started rooting around in his pocket and grabbed his journal from the blonde. But not before dumping everything in Bakugo's bag at his feet. This close, Bakugo could see his eyes. They looked nothing like the Deku he knew for years.
After that humiliating display. He looked Bakugo dead in the eye. A single green eye stared back from a part in his hair. "You think you'll get away this?! I'll crush you into paste!"
"I have and I will. You don't really want the school to find out you, 'the next number one' got beaten by a 'quirkless freak'. Do you?" How dare he… Bakugo shouted more, threating to eviscerate the nerd and turn him into a burnt crisp.
What he wasn't expecting was a hard right hook straight into his gut. The extra's only looked out in awe.
"Holy shit dude…" Bakugo collapsed onto his knees clutching his stomach. The spikes now aimed at the back of his head. What the hell?! Deku was supposed to be a weak nobody! How is he doing this?! How did he get so strong?! Who was this?! This wasn't Deku.
"I'm more of hero then you'll ever be Katsuki." After that, Deku snapped his fingers and the spikes holding the extras hostage dropped to the ground, shattering as they contacted the rough, dry dirt. The spikes aimed at Bakugo's head floated right above his pile of things and shattered over them.
With that, Deku walked away. Not bothering to look back. All three looked to the nerd as he walked away. While the Extras feelings were mixed with awe and relief, Bakugo was filled with rage. The explosive blond stood straight up and made a mad dash to Deku, his palms bursting with smoke and sparks.
"I'LL NEVER LOSE TOO YOU!! NEVER!!" Bakugo leapt to Deku, arms outstretched to deal some real damage. Deku ducked under the blonde as he launched himself. Bakugo redoubled his assault and charged again. Blasting forward with his quirk.
Deku was dragging his shoes in the dirt. Whatever. Bakugo didn't care. The nerd dies, here and now! Deku then tapped his foot to the ground and a column of dirt erupted from the field and uppercutted the explosive quirk user in the jaw. Sending him up a few feet before falling on his back.
Bakugo shot up and only found that the nerd was gone. Where did he- He was just- ARRGGGHH! The blonde then flinched as a quick pain filled his jaw, silencing him. How did Deku do all that? No. That couldn't be him. That was one of his tricks. It had to be.
"Did… Did Deku really do all that?" Extra #1 murmured to number #2. Both hiding behind the equipment shed, wanting to avoid being impaled.
"I don't know but… he beat Bak-"
"WHAT WAS THAT?!" Bakugo roared, smashing the ground with his fists. Sparks bellowed from his palms. The goons quickly retreated back behind the shed. Bakugo then got up and started walking, adjusting his shoulder as he left the scene. He did not win. It was a flook, not a real fight. Deku got a cheap shot. That's how he won. Which he didn't.
Deku would've fought head on, despite the eventual beatdown. Not hold someone at basically gun point and going for a low blow during the whole thing. Bakugo didn't fight Deku. Or was this the real Deku and no one knew? What happened to him?
Ugh, this was pissing him off to no end. He would think about it later. First, he needed an ice-cold drink for his jaw. At least there was a sale today. He'd get them in bulk. Get his mind off of what just happened.
---
"yOU'lL nEvEr bE a hErO. Yeah right, I've already saved more people than he would even bother with…" Izuku muttered to himself as he took a longer route home to vent what happened not even 5 minutes ago. Izuku thought he was having a pretty good day. Had it all planned out.
He would get up this morning and pick up Netossa's and Spinerella's wedding present from the pawn shop Izuku frequented. An engraved sliver locket where they could fit a picture into. Then make a decent looking box and card during his free time to wrap it all together. The art club really helped him with that one.
Afterwards, head home, add some finishing touches, check the recorded footage of when he slept last night, then present the gift to the newly weds when he got back to Brightmoon. What Izuku didn't account for was Kac-Bakugo being a di-… jerk. Being a jerk again. Everything just came crashing down on him at that moment. And he snapped. He still couldn't believe he actually hit Bakugo. A real good hit too.
It made him feel… some type of way. Both good and bad.
Bad in that he shouldn't have punched him in the first place and that it would bite him back later for sure. That and he shouldn't have done it in the way he did. Izuku basically held them at knife point!
…If a knife was made up of a sharpened magicked ice and could be fired like a nail gun. "AGH! Off topic" Izuku ruffled his hair to get back on topic.
"Good", in some really heavy quotes, that Kacchan really, really deserved it and it felt really good.
No. No. No. Izuku. You shouldn't have done that at all. You should've just spooked them with the spears and grabbed your stuff and left. Not make them terrified of you by holding practically knives at their throats. On top of making Bakugo even more likely to fight him. Well… at least no one would believe him. If he wanted to keep his reputation at the very least.
At least the gift was safe. It took nearly all of his savings, but he thought they would like it. Plus, it's a gift from another world. That probably upped the uniqueness of it. Now Izuku was just walking around trying to alleviate some pent-up aggression from his soured mood. All thanks to Kacchan. Again.
"Why does he hate me so much?!" Izuku shouted to no one particular. It reverberated around him as he noticed he was walking through an underpass. Well at least no was around to think he was crazy.
As if the universe was trying to say otherwise, Izuku heard the screeching of something metallic grinding against concrete. Not one to take a possible ambush lying down, Juliet beat that out of him, Izuku jumped back as the manhole cover beneath him shot out and a grotesque stench hit the young sorcerer's nostrils.
"Awwwwww. Come on kid. I wanted to make this quick and quiet. I just need your skin for a few. It wouldn't hurt." As he heard the echo of a voice from the open sewer. A large mass of disgusting smelling slime spewed from the hole now bearing a massive tooth filled grin and beady yellow eyes.
Definitely the grossest thing he's seen so far. Izuku also really doubted trying to wear someone's skin while their still alive wouldn't hurt. "Well, I was hoping for a quick disguise kit, but I think I got time to squirm my way in and make room for mys-" Izuku fired a blinding bolt of magic into the slime villain's eye, cutting him off. A painful shout echoed through the underpass.
"AGGGHHH! YOU RUNT! I'm gonna make you watch me pull your organs out!" Not happening. The sorcerer primed his other hand with a bolt spell. Feeling antsy to get back into the thick of things. The slimy crook tried to whip at him with several tendrils made up of the same sewage smelling slime the entire being was made up of.
It was easier to dodge them due to the fact Izuku was focusing his attack at the villain's eyes, keeping him disoriented and stopping the villain from overwhelming him with his numerous tendrils. It wouldn't take long for the slime to figure out to cover his eyes whenever Izuku shot at them. So, he had to think of a plan to neutralize the villain.
Running away was out of the question. If he left, who knows how many people could get hurt when he had the power to stop it in the first place. Izuku could try stalling, it sounded like the villain was short on time. Maybe he was running from a hero? If that was the case, then he had to slow him down more.
The sludge villain then brought a massive torrent of slime in Izuku's direction. With little much choice, he conjured a quick barrier to stop the majority of the slime from barring down on him. What he didn't account for was the slime that slipped underneath him and grabbed hold of his legs.
In one swift motion, the living sludge dragged the sorcerer across the ground then held him upside down, dangling by his legs. A disgusting cackle left the villain. "Finally. Not so quick now are ya! Really thought I was outta time there." Izuku put his hand behind his back and prepared his ice spears as the sludge monologed, taking in his 'victory'.
Since the sludge was more liquid then solid, judging by how slimy it felt being held like this, the spears could freeze him in place. That just left the question if it would freeze him too much. Would it just slow him to a crawl and freeze him into some sort of stasis? Or would it freeze him to a point that it would shut down everything?
Before Izuku could debate more about his current situation, a boisterous laugh rang out from the opposite end of the underpass. Attracting their attention. Was that…?
"Never fear citizen! For I am here!"
"All Might?!" Both shouted out at the arrival of the number one hero. Was the sludge running from All Might? That was never going to work out in the end. Said villain was now freaking out, no longer focused on the hostage in his slimy grasp.
"GET READY FOR A…" Uh oh. Still dangling upside down, Izuku created a much stronger barrier as the number one winded up an attack and just in case shielded his face with his arms. The villain tried to scurry back into the sewer.
"SMAASSHH!!"
A powerful wave of force blew away the retreating villain all across the walls and ground of the underpass. As well as dropping the greenette to the ground in the ensuing blast of pure force. After the wind died down, Izuku took in his surroundings.
Sewage green sludge covered the immediate area, mostly scattered across the ground with remnants dripping from the ceiling and walls. The stench was somehow even stronger. Most likely because it was all around him instead of concentrated on one being. Izuku slowly removed the remaining sludge around his ankles and picked himself up.
"Are you alright, young man?" Izuku looked over to the number one hero marching towards him. His ever-present smile still shining even in the shadowed underpass. Wait. This was All Might! Make yourself look presentable! Izuku quickly dusted off whatever sludge was left and bowed deeply to his rescuer. "Y-Yes sir, th-th-thank you!" Oh my gosh this was so nerve racking!
His idol was standing. Right. There. And was asking how he was! Oh, this was too much. Izuku's speech devolved into incessant ramblings. All Might simply stood there not sure where else to take the conversation. "Yep, still the same young Midoriya." Did- Did All Might know his name?
With the sudden stop of Izuku's muttering looking directly at the great hero, All Might cleared his throat. "…Yes. My assistant Mr. Yagi speaks very highly of you and how you are shining example to those around you, and I can see why!" Oh. My. Stars. He was getting recognized by All Might. He- He had to get an autograph! This was a once in a lifetime opportunity! Izuku pulled out the crumbled notebook from his pocket and a pen from his bag and asked for an autograph. Very, very nervously.
All Might let out a boisterous laugh. "I would be more then happy too! But first we must CLEAN!" The pro posed with his last word. "Would you give me a hand young man?" All Might wanted his help? HIS help? This was too much excitement for him. Of course, we would accept! But what would they use to gather up all this mess?
"Fear not! For I have the perfect solution!" In a single movement, All Might pulled out two large empty soda bottles from his belt and brandished one to Izuku. "Come! We have much to scoop!" The pro then walked over to the wall most covered with the remains of the villain and began funnelling it into the bottle with his hand. Izuku awkwardly stood in place looking to the bottle in his hand then to the slime covered ground.
Without further ado, Izuku started scooping. Using a barrier as more of a handheld scraper then the form of protection he's more used too. Yep, from a somewhat distinguished sorcerer to a on-hand scraper, how the mighty have fallen.
---
After a decent effort on both sides, the underpass was spotless. No sign someone exploded all over the place. The only thing that remained was the manhole cover lodged into the wall and the stench which was slowly dying out. Izuku and All Might convened on the other side of the underpass. The villain now safely stored in the two bottles.
Mostly in All Might's. Izuku kept getting distracted his idol was standing only a few feet from him. He then gave the dregs of what he collected to the number one, who fastened them to his belt. "That was excellent scoop work there, my boy! I thank you for your cooperation." It felt like he was going to explode. That was twice now. Today was just an absolute roller coaster! "Although I am surprised how spry you are despite your injury."
Knocked out of fanboy mode for a second, Izuku looked up to the hero. "…How did you know that?"
"Err…Mr. Yagi had also brought up your injury to me in passing. Saying that it was very serious." Oh. Right. The whole healed in one week instead of weeks or a month. That would seem suspicious. And of course, he would talk to All Might about it. He was just surprised that the hero would bother remembering that.
Izuku would have to be more careful about what he said from now on. Who knows how weird this looks. "W-Well s-sir, not too serious since I'm all better now…" Rubbing the back of his head combined with an awkward laugh. Despite his smile being ever present and never moving, Izuku could feel All Might's gaze upon him. Scanning his entirety.
After being satisfied with his search, All Might nodded. "I see. I will be sure to tell Mr. Yagi you are in good health then. Now, I believe I owe you an autograph." Fanboy mode officially back on, Izuku readied a blank page for the number one to write in. All Might placed his signature smile onto the paper with his name underneath, then turned away from the sorcerer.
"Now I must be off! This villain won't arrest himself!" With a laugh and a salute, All Might leapt into the sky. Blasting some wind into Izuku's face when he lifted off. He didn't mind though, Izuku got to meet his idol in the flesh and get an autograph! A genuine, from the man himself, autograph!
He just hoped they gathered all of the sludge villain. Izuku could still feel the slime dripping onto him. Which quickly got him to double check his bag and the gift to make sure they were still in one piece and not drenched in foul smelling ichor.
---
Now a fair distance away from any prying eyes, the pain in his chest only growing for holding this form, Toshinori landed on an empty rooftop. He leaned against the railing as he hacked and coughed, a thick smoke seeping from his large form. All the while hiding his diminishing form as his time for hero-ing was up.
That was too close, the weakened hero thought. As the last of his power seeped away for the day. Coughing having subsided, Yagi lowered himself against the railing. Taking a moment to breath and think. Of course, the kid was there. Trouble just seemed to magnetize to him. Just like Yagi in his first few days as All Might.
But that wasn't the point of this thought, was it?
It was how he seemed so able to move despite barely being able to lift a chair only a few days ago. How did his injury heal so quickly? Although being late to stop the villain before Midoriya engaged them himself, Yagi had caught a glimpse of him moving as if it hardly affected him or at all.
The kid told him what his quirk was the day he got registered. Light manipulation of some kind. There was no wink of a healing factor or being able to heal others. It just didn't fit right. How was he able to move as if it never happened in only a few days with no outside help? Then a darker thought hit Yagi like a truck.
Young Midoriya could've made contact with… No. That was impossible. Yagi stopped him. He was dead, to never return. But it would explain how he was able heal so quickly and how his quirk seemingly appeared out of no where. The kid could have multiple quirks. Just the thought made the pro shudder.
No. No! Young Midoriya was a shining example of what it means to be a hero! That was his quirk and his alone! There must be another reason for the kid's quick recovery.
Midoriya did seem hesitant to speak about his friends over seas. He had mentioned one of them could teleport at will. It wouldn't be too far fetched (or legal) if he had contacted his friend and they teleported over and healed him. But that brought up how powerful his contact is if they could teleport all the way from America to Japan in a blink.
Asking him directly would be out of the question. Perhaps with time, he could ask about them in more detail. Until then he would have to contend with that as a satisfactory answer. It also brought up another thought. Yagi was getting weaker and the flames of One For All were fading within him.
He had to find a successor in the next few years. All those who knew his secret knew it was a matter of time and urged him to find one. Before One For All was lost. Yagi searched for years since his battle with…Him, but with no luck. Midoriya had filled nearly every box Yagi had set for himself for finding a successor.
The only thing stopping him was that last thought, how Midoriya was hiding more then he let on, and what the boy might say once he learns the truth.
Before he got sidetracked with another heavy thought process, Yagi stood up and started walking to the entrance to the roof. He still had a villain to return. Going down the stairs of the building, Yagi checked his belt to jostle the villain to see if they were conscious or not.
He didn't find anything. The bottle holding most of the villain was gone. Then an explosion rang out from a few blocks away. Both heard inside the building and seen from a window as Yagi marched down the stairs. "Please be unrelated."
The second bottle, the one containing dregs of the villain, was frothing in the bottle, trying to escape. Yagi held up the bottle towards the window where he last saw the explosion and the dregs inside slammed against the side of the bottle facing the window.
"…Shit…"
--- A few minutes earlier ---
Ugh… No wonder the drinks were on sale. It tasted like actual garbage. At least it was cold, acting like a cheap icepack for his jaw before he got home. Maybe the old man would like'em. Bakugo had dragged Extra's 1 and 2 with him despite them even thinking Deku had beaten him.
A few explosions and dragging them out by force later. They were more then willing to shut up and listen again. One of them carrying a large pack of the supposedly lemon-flavored drinks. That didn't stop them from opening their traps and talk about shithead and how 'cool he was now'.
He was, has and never will be anything more then. A. DEKU. Bakugo grabbed a large soda bottle in frustration and blasted it across the alley. bouncing off the walls and zipping past the Extra's behind him. That got them to shut up again. The last thing he needed right now was another reason to be more pissed off then he actually was right now.
A grotesque slopping noise echoed in the shortcut they were taking from the store and a disgusting stench hit their noses. The fuck is that smell!? Bakugo turned on his heels to see a large mound of sludge begin to form and take up most of the alley.
"That's a pretty strong quirk. You mind if I borrow it?"
Goddamn it…
The extra's screamed and ran away.
GODDAMN IT.
--- A few minutes later ---
"Ok, thank you again!" Izuku thanked the store clerk as he left with a small cleaning kit and some air fresheners. The gift was still in perfect shape, but the kit was to give it that professional shine so when the couple opened the box, they would think it was finely crafted not a pawn shop hand me down.
The air fresheners were for himself and his bag. Despite their being no sludge on them, the smell still persisted on the fabric of his uniform. The last thing he wanted was to get home and stink up his room or worse, his room in Brightmoon.
Thankfully Izuku managed to get them at a decent price. He would spray them down, let them settle for a few minutes then wash them thoroughly until the smell came out. Today was going to be one heck of a story. Fighting another villain, meeting his idol… letting his emotions get the better of him… Gut punching his former "childhood friend".
How much was he willing to talk about that part? He still hadn't mention Kacchan or quirks to either of his friends. Izuku had to tell them eventually. At least quirks so they had a clear understanding of what his world was like.
Telling them about today probably would help a little, just get some stuff off his chest. He just hoped he didn't let slip to much. Like the discrimination. Or the bullying. Or how heroes are more commercialized than they should be. Or how you needed a license to be legal hero.
Glimmer would hate that last one… She would hate all of them actually now that he thought about. Oh man, what would she think about that doing anything quirk related without the license was illegal and you could get reprimanded for it.
An explosion rang out, knocking the sorcerer out of his thoughts of how his princess friend would actually hate everything hero society was and looked up to see black smoke begin to bellow a few blocks away. Curiosity getting the better of him, Izuku dashed over to investigate. Putting his purchase into his school bag as he ran.
The scene wasn't to far from the store and he could already see a large crowd of people piled up, fenced off by police. Izuku pushed himself through the crowed to get a better look. Immeaditly the massive fires lining the buildings took his attention with several heroes trying to put out the flames. What could get this many heroes for a simple fire?
Izuku got his answer as he could see the culprit through the last of the crowd stopped by a barricade. The sludge villain from before was going rampant through the street as two heroes were hesitant to approach. Another two with water related quirks were busy putting out the raging fire.
Why wasn't the villain taken out yet? Death Arms could easily shake the earth and contain the villain in a tight crater with no way to escape. Although busy with the fires, Backdrift could cause the sludge to lose density with sustained water coverage. What was stopping them.
"Let the kid go villain! I'm not gonna ask twice!" A hostage? Was that why they couldn't approach? If that was the case, where are they? Izuku squinted to focus his vison to try and find the hostage. They would have to be close by to be held as leverage. He did mange to make out a figure struggling within the villain's very being. Grasping against the sludge to try and get out. It kind of looked like…
"BUZZ OFF HERO!" A more humanoid hand was pointed at Death Arms and an explosive burst fired off from its palm. The hero dodged just in time but now more of the street was on fire. How did the villain acquire a quirk like that? He couldn't do that when they fought. The figure finally managed to dig themselves out from the chest up for a few seconds before the slime began to envelope them again.
"Oh no you don't leverage. I need you to get out of here!" Then Izuku could see the hostage's face filled with stress and slight fear, the red eyes that tormented him for years stared back for only a moment and Izuku knew who the hostage was.
"K-Kacchan…!" He… He had to do something, he had to save him. The heroes couldn't do anything what gives you a chance? Subconscious telling him off. If the heroes couldn't then… and now with Bakugo blasting anything whenever he was free for even the briefest of moments getting close would be near impossible. It was only a matter of time before the villain got away. What could he do?
"Of course I do you idiot! You're one of the bravest people I've ever met." Was that…
"You are far too modest for someone of your potential…" But that was only…
"Thank you for saving us. We thought we were abandoned." That made him…
Words and moments rang through his head as his hands raised and started to glow. Everything slowing down to him in that one moment.
"You are not worthless. You can be anything you want to be if you believe in it hard enough…"
An illusory mask and scarf began to wrap around him, hidden within the distracted crowd.
"…And I won't stand for it if anyone says Izuku Midoriya is anything but amazing."
Midoriya Izuku, Japanese student, waited by the start line. Raring to go.
Midoriya Izuku, Sorcerer of Brightmoon, dashed forward. Ready to tell the world he was here.
---
Running on nearly one lung was probably the reason why his insides felt like they were imploding. It was karmic justice for him losing the villain at some point between leaving Midoriya and landing on that roof to collect himself. How could he be so careless! He should've just walked to the nearest police station or agency.
Instead, thinking to do this grand leap into the sky that made his fans yelp with glee when they saw him flying by. Not realizing his belt was loosening as he flew. Damn it!
Using the dregs as a makeshift compass to lead his way. Yagi arrived at the scene, on the verge of throwing up whatever food he was able to eat. He poked his head around the corner, not bothering to push through the large crowd of people gathered front and center, to scan the situation.
It wasn't looking good. The whole street was on fire. Two of the five heroes were unable to help because of the fire and the large crowd that they should have cleared already when the fires started.
Another was far too distracted with trying to douse the inferno around them from spreading to other buildings or harming the people. And what his eyes could tell him, the villain had a hostage now. Far more secure than last time.
How could he let this happen?! He was All Might! Always willing to save the day with a courageous smile no matter what happened to him. Now he was nothing but a helpless civilian. The only thing he could do was watch. Yagi couldn't risk shortening his time more then what he had now. Still…
"If only I wasn't so weak…" Head dropping in shame, clutching his side.
"Wait, Is that a kid!? Get out of here!" Wait. Kid?
Yagi perked up and looked back to the burning street to see someone in a black student uniform dash towards the danger. Their identity hidden behind a All Might Halloween mask with an illustrious lilac scarf wrapped around their neck, flowing with some sort of ethereal quality. It couldn't be.
"Hey, isn't that the masked vigilante from a few years back?" A member of the crowd mentioned.
"Yeah, I think your right! The one that saved those other kids, right?"
…That could be any vigilante. Lots of them wore masks to hide their identity. Completely different.
The masked hero then created four copies of themselves surrounding them before rushing the villain.
…Once again, the universe humbles Yagi Toshinori…
Yagi could only watch as the now five strong vigilante started blasting the sludge villain all over. Concentrating fire on the tendrils that failed to whip at any of them and the eyes to only better their chances of attack. While the villain was impaired, one of the masked vigilantes, most likely the real one, jumped onto the villain and started clawing away at the slime holding the hostage to the villain's body.
"Oh, no you don't!" The angered slime whipped at the vigilante, knocking them off. Now on the ground, the masked hero was slow to get up, favoring to draw something to an angled piece of rubble before completely getting up. What was he up to… The vigilante then leaned against the rubble, waiting for something.
"Move. Move…!" Yagi urged him quietly. Unable to stay quiet seeing someone so young was actually fighting. As the fighting continued, the copies were being destroyed as the tendrils began to hit their targets. As soon as it contacted one, it would dissipate into faint particles before vanishing. Then there was only one. The real one.
Not wasting anytime, the slime lashed against the standing still hero with full force. "MOVE!" Yagi shouted out. The hero dodged the first half of the slimy appendages before a faint green glow appeared behind the hero on the rubble.
The hero jumped up slightly, now sitting right in the middle of a large glowing circle. Then, a large column launched forward with tremendous force, carrying the masked hero like the tip of a spear. And much like a spear pierced right through the sludge grabbing along the way the hostage by the wrist as they blasted forward.
The moment left the old hero slack jawed as blood spurted from him in surprise. "Unbelievable…" Falling off the sudden stop of the hero's attack, the two then got up as the sludge started to reform, crushing the column that pierced through him. "I'm getting real sick of being blown apart today. You two are going to pay for that!"
Thoroughly enraged, slimy appendages frantically flailed all over the immediate area, causing mass destruction to their surroundings. The masked hero had put up some sort of shield of light, blocking the attacks from harming him and the hostage at his side, still coughing from his time congested to the villain.
The same couldn't be said about the other hero who had tried to get closer after the hostage was out of the way but was knocked aside by the speed and force of the slime's attacks. The absolute flurry of attacks clashed against the large green shield. The masked hero focusing all he could so their defense didn't shatter.
Then Yagi started seeing cracks in the shield.
And he took one mighty step forward. A shroud of steam concealing his growing form. No more watching from the side when he was needed.
"Enough of this!" All Might blasted forward to the villain assailing the hero. The pro leapt right between the shield and the slime, grabbing as many flailing tendrils as possible. Some of the ichor latching on too the hero. "A-All Might?" The masked hero questioned in surprise of his sudden appearance. While the sludge tried to squirm out of All Might's powerful grasp.
"Can't let you youngsters have all the fun today! As for you villain, let's move over, eh?" All Might pulled the majority of the slime away from the shielded hero. As if literally taking his words of making some distance, the masked hero blasted his shield with a strange bolt of energy. Making the shield move forward, pushing against the large mass of the villain. All the way towards the middle of the street. "Excellent work young hero! Let's finish this!" The masked one nodded and dropped the shield it vanishing completely.
Leaving the villain completely exposed. "It's about time I cleaned up this mess… Do you remember this, villain!?" All Might readied his fist for a great attack. "DETROIT…" The villain tried to escape the opposite way but was stopped by the young hero's light shield.
"Not Again!"
"SMAASSH!!"
An even greater blast of pure force blew apart the slime across the entirety of the street, scattering in even greater pieces. The same force caused a majority of the fire to be extinguished in a hurricane of powerful wind. Clouds began to roll in and it started raining. Afterwards, All Might raised his fist in triumph and the crowd behind him roared in celebration.
In the ensuing celebration and roar of the crowd, Yagi glanced to see Midoriya slip away from the scene into a ruined alley way. Leaving the other heroes to check on the student hostage. Now that he had a closer look at the other boy, why did he look so familiar?
All Might stuck around to ensure everything was taken care of and the hostage had received medical attention. He also couldn't help but hear how the punching hero Death Arms congratulated the boy on his bravery and quirk while dismissing the vigilante that did all of the work.
The student in question however was scowling in silence. He was given a green bill of health and walked away from the scene. Shoulders hunched. Hmm, strange. Perhaps Midoriya knew this boy and that was the reason he couldn't wait and leapt into the fray. Perhaps he should congratulate Midoriya himself.
As All Might was about to leave, he was ushered by Death Arms. "Thanks for help All Might. Couldn't have done without you."
"Don't thank me. I simply finished what that young hero started!" A bellowing laugh left the great hero. "Speaking of. You wouldn't have happened to see which that vigilante went did you?" All Might already knew where this conversation was going but decided to humor the other hero. "I'm afraid not. Were you going to thank him as well?"
"No. We had the situation handled before the vigilante got caught in it all. I was going to have him brought to the station for questions and punishment. He messed with the whole th-"
"The situation where you stood idly by while a child did your job for you? The situation that could have been solved much faster had you cleared away the crowd before it had gotten out of hand. Allowing for the other heroes to assist in the capture?" A single burning blue eye stared down the other hero.
"W-Well that was because they- we- I"
"How you were more focused on dragging it out for said crowd instead of finding ways for the other heroes to help in the rescue?"
"Our quirks were completely usel-"
"It should not matter what quirk you have or not. What does matter is if you have the mind to think and plan around your weaknesses with the others beside you and find a way forward. No matter who you are up against." That line Yagi learned from an old friend. He never thought he would use it. At all.
"…"
"I believe I've said enough. Clean this up, understand?" Lowering his voice to only where Death Arms could hear him. "Y-Y-Yes s-sir."
"Good. Don't bother looking for that hero. You will never find him." All Might leapt away, realizing how hypocritical he sounded with every word because he was the reason the sludge villain had even escaped in the first place and how he thought like that for quiet a few years. He had to get his point across, however.
Death Arms put his hand to his chest to see if his heart was still beating after the intimidating stare from the number one.
---
What even was today?
Izuku couldn't help but ponder as he was finally making his way home after the long day. The slime villain some how escaped and taken Kacchan as a hostage, he rushed in a hastily casted disguise and fought the villain, no longer wanting to stand by. He freed Kacchan from his slimy tomb using a pillar rune to launch himself through the villain and grab his… whatever was going on between the two.
Then All Might showed up out of nowhere, single handily winning the day. Izuku helped a little. He just couldn't stand by and watch someone he knew get hurt like that. Even if they hated his guts.
All that he did know that today was going to be one heck of a story to tell. He still wasn't sure to include-
"OI! SHITHEAD!" Speaking of…
Izuku turned to Bakugo absolutely scowling with held back anger, but not him for some reason. More to the ground in fact. "K-Kacchan! What are you doing here?"
"Don't pull that shit with me Deku! I know it was you." Did he actually or was he bluffing? "I-I'm sorry but w-what do you mean?" Bakugo grumbled, stuffing a string of curses before continuing on. "You know exactly what I'm talk'n about shithead and don't lie, your terrible at it." Ok, so it looked like he knew. Sort of.
"What was going through your shitty nerd head!? I know it was you who fought that slime creep and was winning before you pulled me out with what you pulled after school against me." Bakugo growled but still restrained himself. Keeping his hands in his uniform's pockets.
"I-I-I-…" No sense in hiding. "I couldn't wait for the heroes to save you. I finally have the power to make a difference and when I saw you I… I couldn't help myself and I ran to save you." A small content smile adorned Izuku features as he explained his thought process to the blonde.
Bakugo's eyes narrowed as they made contact with Izuku's own. "Fucking figures. Knew it was you. Always prattling about what a hero should be." Bakugo mocked Deku's words before pointing directly to him. "Listen Up! I'm gonna find out what happened to you and how you got your bullshit quirk. And when you get into U.A. 'Cause I know you will try…"
"…I'm gonna show you who's number one! Got it Deku?! No bullshit running away! ONLY ME CRUSHING YOU!" Bakugo closed his hand towards the sorcerer. Trademark sneer on his face. Eyes burning with pride. Izuku blinked a few times before a looking to the blonde with the same look of declaration.
"We'll see about that." He smiled. Having made his declaration, Bakugo stomped away, grumbling. "…Stupid shithead Deku, bah…" Izuku shook his head and his smile persisted as he saw Bakugo leave. Better start heading back too, he thought.
"Young Midoriya please! *hack* wait!"
Coming in from the right of an intersection came Mr. Yagi. Blood splattering from his mouth as he ran to get the greenette's attention. "M-Mr. Yagi!? What are you doing here?" Mr. Yagi finally reached Izuku and stopped just before to take a breath. Putting his hands on his legs as he tried to collect himself.
"When I… heard you… recovered I came running to… to see you… wow that was a lot..." After some minutes of Mr. Yagi trying to catch his breath and Izuku offering some tissues for him to clean the last of the blood on his chin, the old advisor to All Might stood up. "Thank you, my boy."
"What are you doing here Mr. Yagi? I thought you would be working."
"When All Might came back and told me you had no such injury that I told him about (sorry for not telling you first) I dashed out of the agency to try and find you. As I recall, I thought you would contact me when you were healed."
Oh. Right. It kind of slipped his mind. Past few days have been a hurricane for him. "Sorry about that but I'm feeling better now." Izuku reassured the blonde on his health. Yagi nodded, accepting his words. "I'm glad to hear it. Now, have you decided on if you want my training? I assure you it won't affect my work."
"About that…" Izuku took in a deep breath before speaking. "I'm sorry but, I have to refuse your offer." Bowing apologetically. Yagi's face did not move an inch.
"Might I have a reason for your choice?" Ok, here goes.
"I am already under a strict training regimen. If I ever turned away from it or tried doubling on another one, I'm sure I wouldn't be able to stick to one and would fall off in it. And I would most likely overexert myself should I try tackling both."
"I've discussed it in length with my tutor and while another teacher would help in some cases, I should wait to learn more when I get into U.A or on my own. I'm sorry."
Yagi remained silent while Izuku returned to a standing position, facing the blonde advisor. He really hoped he didn't upset him. Taking his offer and refusing it to his face. All Might's most trusted aid. After a moment to process, Yagi spoke, making the greenette jump slightly. "I see… That is… disappointing to say the least."
"Mr. Yagi, I-"
"But I understand why." Raising his hand to cut off the sorcerer. "…Would you like to know why I chose you for this?" There was a reason? Izuku just thought it was because he wished to see the young hero grow. "That is one reason… but there is another…" Yagi looked Izuku dead in the eye. "What I say next does not leave this conversation. Ever. Do you understand?" It must have been serious if he was swearing secrecy and trusting him with so much. Izuku nodded.
With a hefty sigh, Yagi told his second reason. "…Do you recall when I told you about that villain All Might faced all those years ago? The one that gave me my injury?" He did. "All Might was gravely wounded ever since then too but has kept it secret to the public." All Might was injured too? How powerful was this villain?
"Since then, despite what other heroes or the news has been telling everyone, All Might was getting weaker in both his health and age."
"With the trusted few that knew this, myself included, he had asked us to find a successor. One that would inherit his power and be the next Symbol of Peace. All Might would still give hope to the masses while we would search for a successor." This was a lot to take in. What did he mean by inherit his power?
"Exactly what you think it means young Midoriya. His quirk isn't like other quirks. Tell me, what do you know about All Might's power?" Not much. Everything the greenette had was mostly theories from fellow hero fans and quirk forums. Even then all they usually pointed to was it was a simple muscle or strength augmentation quirk. Yagi chuckled at the notion. "Not quite, but it does improve his strength considerably."
"It is more like a stockpiler quirk. Much like Fat Gum's in a way. He taps into a vast pool of energy and releases it throughout his body. Enabling him to do the things he does. Even the more unbelievable stuff. At first glance, that doesn't sound too interesting. The reason it is not like other powers is because this one could be passed on to another."
What. Giving someone a quirk? That's impossible! It's been proven countless times you can't give or take a quirk and give it to someone else. "It's true. All of it. All Might wasn't the first to possess this power. It was passed down from his mentor and their mentor before them. It growing in power with every passing."
"This power is called…One for All…" One for All…?
"Why are you telling me this?" This was all unbelievable. Then again, who was he to say that?
"Because I think you could be his successor and inherit One for All. You and your deeds speak volumes to that. Filling every box that he and I set to find in a successor. Every person who has had One for All has had one distinct heroic quality to them. They couldn't let others be hurt when they had the will to try and save them."
"A quality I see in you. Young Midoriya. Your countless deeds both heroic or simply kind have shown me that you would be the perfect choice for it. I've spoken with All Might to help train you when he is off duty to help in controlling this power. Should you choose to accept it."
What should he say. WHAT SHOULD HE SAY. No wonder All Might knew who he was, Mr. Yagi has been telling him nothing but good things and qualities that would make him perfect. Should he accept? Everything was telling him to say yes. From Mr. Yagi trusted him enough to tell him this and the fact that All Might respected him enough to even agree with it. It was… it was…
Not something he wanted.
No matter how he looked at it, Izuku couldn't bring himself to accept. He had a power of his own, not some power that never belonged to him or even felt like he earned. Not like he did with his magic. He earned it, with people who saw he was strong even without a quirk.
"…To be honest, if I still didn't have anything to show or I was still quirkless, I would have taken that offer in a heartbeat. But…" Izuku pulled out a small ashen gray journal from his school bag. The crescent moon shaped buckle a little worn from use and wear. He dragged his hand across the leather with a fond look in his eyes. Reminiscing even.
"…I met this girl and she told me that… I could be whatever I wanted to be if I just tried, and that I could be my own hero. Even with no flashy quirk of my own. So that's what I'm going to do." Izuku looked back to the blonde whose own face was unreadable, simply looking between the book in Izuku's hands and the sorcerer himself.
"Be your own hero… Is that your answer?" Izuku nodded. Wholeheartedly
Yagi chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "You certainly know how to disappoint an old man, don't you? This friend of yours must mean a lot to you."
"She does. She's my first real friend. Even when I was quirkless." Yagi sighed but nodded to the sorcerer's answer. "Well, I hope I shouldn't need to tell you not to flap your gums to the first person you see about One for All, right?" Izuku nodded. Even offering to help in his search for All Might's successor.
"Since you know, I can't exactly stop you even if I said no. Alright, I'll hold you to it then." Yagi grinned and offered his hand in passing. Izuku accepted and shook it. With it, solidifying his word. Yagi then made his excuses and started to head back down the way he came. Not before turning back quickly.
"Oh! And nice work with the sludge villain! That was another reason why I chose you!" Yagi shouted from the street. How did- Did everyone know it was him behind that mask!? "Afraid not. But I know how much of an All Might fan you are. And some advice, next time pick a disguise that won't immeaditly give off your personality or one that you haven't been ousted in before." The old blonde laughed as he walked away down the street.
Leaving Izuku taken back and embarrassed. He knew he should've made a different mask, especially since Mr. Yagi knew his last bout of vigilantism had the same disguise. All Might must have told him about it.
But it's been a long day and all he wanted to do was to get home and prepare for the wedding tomorrow. Izuku, with a little more pep in his step, walked home. Eager to get just a little rest before another hectic day started.
--- Yayorozu Manor, later that day ---
After a fair day of study, the creation quirk user was now relaxing in her room with her favourite pass time. Reviewing the periodic table. After all, she needed to know what material the item she wanted to create was made of before hand. Otherwise, it wouldn't turn out well.
She was about finished with her pass time before her phone beside her started to ring. The screen saying it was a call from Mina Ashido. Ever since she, Mina and Kirishima were rescued by what the latter two called "All-Mask" A ridiculous name, she mused, they had become fast friends over the years.
Mina had affectionately called their friend group the "Vigilante Appreciation Club, Name pending" despite all three of them wanting to become heroes and enter U.A. Instead of putting it to her ear, Yayorozu answered her friend's call and put them on speaker phone.
"Yooooo, Yamomo! How you been girl?"
"Yamomo" cracked a smile at the energy filled girl calling her. "I'm doing alright Mina. How are you doing?"
"I've been great! Have you checked the news today? There's something you might wanna see~" Interest now thoroughly peaked, wondering what she meant by that, Yayorozu switched her television on to today's news network from the relaxing crackle of the fireplace channel.
"You got it on? It's gonna. Blow. Your. Mind! Kiri showed me and he nearly flipped my couch!" Kirishima wasn't exactly the hardest to get excited, the raven-haired girl thought. She looked back to the broadcast from earlier today.
It looked like another after report from a villain attack. Nothing she hasn't seen already. The crew on scene interviewing the heroes that had been there and how a majority couldn't assist due to a number of factors. One of which caught Yayorozu's attention.
One of the heroes, Death Arms, was telling the news crew about how a vigilante had interfered and made the situation worse in some cases.
Footage began to play showing the same vigilante fighting the villain head on while Death Arms was hesitant. Yayorozu narrowed her vision to the vigilante. The image becoming clearer when she saw their red shoes, and All Might mask. "Is that…?"
"YEP!" Mina shouted from the phone.
She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Their rescuer was there. Jumping into a situation and doing what they could to save someone despite them not being able to win. Even if it did look like they were winning for the most part. The broadcast winded down with how the day was saved thanks to All Might's intervention. Putting out the fire around them and taking down the villain.
"I don't believe it…"
"Well, you better! 'Cause we're having a club meeting tomorrow about how we can find our masked hero!" How was she going to do that? "Simple! Their uniform was nearly identical to the one the other guy was wearing. Baku- something. We find him, we're one step closer to finding out our masked hero."
"Mina, you do know how crazy this sounds right?"
"Aren't you the one who wanted to thank them "properly"?"
"…Yes… but I'm sure they would be going to U.A too. So maybe we can find them there."
"Ugh, but that's still two years from now! Who knows where they'll be by then!"
"Most likely U.A. In their regular identity. We find them by matching their quirk with what we saw and what happened today. Which allows for far more evidence to prove it when we do find them."
"…Fine. But if I find out they went to another hero school or aren't there, I want a mega karaoke machine. Deal?"
"Alright Mina, deal. We'll discuss details in the usual spot."
"Yeah, yeah. Night Yamomo."
"Good night Mina."
--- A Japanese Sorcerer's Handbook: Spell: Runes---
Written in a filled section of the unknown spell tome by an unknown author.
Spell Name: Varies
Spell Type: Varies
Description: Runes are a special type of spell that instead of needing to be cast instantly or require a constant feed of magic, they only require a set amount of magic to function properly and will remain inactive until used. Perfect for setting traps or for situations you'll know will go sour and can't cast a spell quick enough.
Runes can vary based on the type of spell you wish to store. Look to the offensive spell section for more detailed information. However, while there are some spells that can be turned into runes. It cannot be said the other way around. Found that out when I tried mixing a wind spell with an ice rune. Thought I could create some sort of freezing wind trap. I still shudder whenever I think back on it. Was cleaning out frost from- (whatever was written here was hastily or angerly scribbled out) – office for weeks.
Notes: I remember my first rune. Accidentally locked my mentor out of her tea cabinet. Boy, did Lig- (This passage has been scribbled beyond repair. It continues some time later. Probably a couple of years later.)
Tried a spin on the pillar rune the other day. Got me out of a tight situation with a bunch of shady associates I used to deal with. They certainly weren't expecting me to ride the resulting pillar through the roof. It hurt like hell, but I got out of it fairly ok. Should work on my other runes though. Don't want the next deal or my new crew to figure me out for a sorcerer.
I want to leave that life behi- (The rest of the note is illegible.)
Caster's Notes: Trying this out for the first time was extremely dangerous but worked out in the end. Even if Kacchan Bakugo still hates me for it. Still, I should look into ways to better control the pillars or better yet, look into more ways of manipulating the result of the rune. Perhaps even create makeshift weapons from the reformed material. Possible creation runes?