Chapter 8
Fort Erskine, CA - July 2042
It was late evening and Doctor Teruko Hatsume was focused on her computer screen while her fingers feverishly glided across her keyboard. Her desk was unorganized and littered with various files, papers, and bookmarked textbooks regarding Meta-Abilities and human anatomy. Dark bags hung under her eyes, indicating how little sleep she had been getting. Despite that, she still somehow maintained an energetic, perky aura around herself.
"Yes, yes… everything looks good so far…" She mumbled to herself in Japanese. "Initiating test ninety-nine…" Pressing the Enter key, Teruko stopped and leaned back in her chair while waiting for the program to run. A short moment later, the program completed and a green checkmark was displayed along with various miscellaneous data.
Teruko smiled brightly and fist-pumped in excitement. "Yes! Aside from some minor side-effects… the subject should be stable after the serum is fully integrated into their genetic code."
'Of course nothing's for certain until we perform the actual procedure. Nothing beats real-world data, after all…' She pensively mused while deleting the serum's data off the computer, and then shredding several documents on her desk.
"This stays with me though…" She told herself. The serum's molecular formula was only for her to know. No one else could be trusted with it. The safest hands were still her own, she believed.
Pushing aside a few documents, Teruko reached for the phone and dialed an extension before waiting for someone on the other end to pick up.
"Yeah, hello… Howard?" She reverted her speech back to English. "Are you still in the lab?... Good. Listen, I need you to get everything prepped. Our first subject will be the day after tomorrow…"
Her eyebrow lifted at her colleague's surprised tone on the other end.
"... I thought I told you already; the Midoriya kid. We're moving up our first procedure for him… Yeah, he's the scrawny one, remember?"
She rolled her eyes and groaned. "Yes, he's still here. Don't act surprised."
"... He's 41 kilos (90 pounds) …" Teruko pinched the bridge of her nose. "Yes, yes, he needs to eat a sandwich, but none of that will matter once he undergoes the procedure… Don't worry about the Colonel. He's technically already agreed to it. Look, you and the staff just get started on preparing everything. I'm heading to the lab to get a head start on synthesizing the serum myself. Everything needs to go–"
Teruko paused as her office door abruptly opened to reveal Peggy standing in the doorway with a fierce expression.
"–smoothly…" Teruko finished. "Listen, I'll be there soon. Gotta take care of something first. Thanks again, Howard." She hung up the phone and directed her attention to the USMC soldier. "Corporal, how's it going?" she asked cheekily. "What can I help you with?"
Peggy silently glared at the redheaded scientist.
"Silent treatment, huh? That's fine." Teruko picked up her satchel and began putting a few documents into it. "I was just on the phone with Doctor Howard Shield. You remember him? He was recently at the Innovation Expo. Brilliant man… right blend of confidence and arrogance. If I wasn't already interested in someone else, I would've considered dating him. But I'm getting sidetracked," she went on. "We're currently preparing for Izuku's procedure. It's scheduled to take place on the 4th. The Colonel won't like having to invite his guests to view the whole shebang with such little warning, especially since it's on a national holiday, but that's his own fault honestly."
"You're so confident that Izuku will last till the deadline tomorrow." Peggy tersely noted.
"Apparently you are as well." Teruko looked at her with a knowing smirk. "Why else would you be here at such a late hour… the day before the deadline? Come to convince me to reconsider, hmm?"
"You're making a mistake, Teruko." Peggy kept her voice even. "Izu-kun isn't suitable for–"
"Don't tell me who's suitable or not." Teruko sternly interjected as her teasing tone abruptly vanished. "I created the serum, remember? It's my baby! I would never willingly administer it to someone whose body couldn't handle it."
"I don't get it…" Peggy clenched her fists angrily, starting to lose her patience. "Why Izuku?"
Teruko looked at her with an unamused frown. "You still haven't realized it yet?"
Peggy looked at her in bemusement.
The redheaded scientist sighed deeply. "You're really disappointing me right now, Corporal… You're better than this."
"Don't patronize me!" Peggy sighed heavily and then lowered her head, her hair casting a shadow over her eyes. "Alright, I'll do it…"
"Hmm…?" Teruko tilted her head in confusion. "Come again?'
"The procedure." Peggy reaffirmed, looking at the scientist resolutely. "You originally wanted me to be the A.M.P's first subject, right? I've changed my mind. I'll do it."
A moment of tense silence passed between two women.
Teruko finally broke the silence. "Really? What makes you think I still want you as a candidate?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Don't play dumb with me, Teruko. You know I'd be an excellent candidate; otherwise, why waste so much time trying to recruit me, convince the higher-ups to transfer me here, and finally grant me authority to train the SSR recruits?" Peggy called out. "You were hoping I'd change my mind while I was here, right?"
Teruko chortled. "Such a smartypants, are we? So… what if it is true? What will you do?"
"I'll volunteer to be the first subject. In exchange, you dismiss Izu-kun as an A.M.P candidate. Does that sound fair?" Peggy offered.
"Hmm… What about poor Izuku? What will come of him in this scenario of yours?" Teruko questioned.
"Transfer him to the science division and let him work as an assistant? He's always been fascinated with Meta-Abilities anyway." She suggested. "You've seen his notes, haven't you? He'd be more useful in the lab than on the battlefield."
Teruko hummed and momentarily contemplated Peggy's offer. "As tempting as it sounds, I have to respectfully decline. I've already made up my mind. However, if you're still interested, I could squeeze you in to be the second subject. I'm sure Private Barnes won't mind being pushed back to third–"
"Why are you so fixated on Izu-kun?!" Peggy shouted, unable to suppress her frustration any longer. "Out of all the eligible recruits, you're choosing him?! The poor guy can barely even finish his exercises without passing out or throwing up! I don't understand!"
Teruko didn't respond immediately. "You really want to know?" She paused, adopting a thoughtful expression. "At the Innovation Expo, when you turned me down and left, I overheard your conversation with Izuku from afar."
Peggy silently gasped, remembering that night vividly.
"After hearing the conviction in his words, I was curious about him. So, I followed him to the recruiting station." Teruko recounted. "He failed his physical test badly. But, in spite of all that, he still wanted to become a soldier. Not for his own glory, but simply for the sake of others."
A wistful smile formed on Teruko's face. "I've only seen conviction like that in one other person in my life…and…" She then shut her eyes as if she were recalling a bad memory. "...I… I failed him…"
Peggy watched the doctor curiously. She had never seen Teruko look so serious and emotional before.
Teruko clenched her fists and looked up with a determined expression. "I won't fail again. Izuku will be the first subject. I'll turn him into the hero this world needs. End of story."
The ravenette was stunned by the conviction in Teruko's words.
Teruko exhaled deeply. "Corporal, let me just say, you may think you're doing the right thing–trying to make Izuku quit or convincing me to reconsider…but you're not. This isn't something a friend should be doing, let alone a best friend."
Peggy tried to rebuff but couldn't find her voice at that moment.
Adjusting her satchel strap on her shoulder, Teruko walked past a stunned Peggy to the door. "I'll leave it there. Please shut the door on your way out, Corporal. Goodnight." With that, she turned off the office lights and walked away; her footsteps echoing down the empty hallway.
With the only light coming from the open doorway, Peggy was left standing alone in the room with a morose frown.
'Not what a best friend should be doing…'
A memory from nearly two years ago suddenly played back in her head.
Peggy stood by a hospital bed with a frail balding woman lying in it. The beeps of the cardiac monitor and various other hospital equipment filled the room. They were the only other occupants in the hospital room.
"Peggy… sweetie… it's good to see you again," the sickly woman weakly said.
"It's good to see you too, Ms. Inko." Her smile dropped slightly. "I'm sorry I haven't been here to visit lately. I've been preparing to ship out to San Diego soon."
"For the Marines?"
Peggy nodded. "For basic training, yes."
Inko smiled brightly. "I'm proud of you… your father's proud… I'm sure your mother would be proud too…"
The ravenette smiled, becoming a bit bashful. "T-thank you… I appreciate that."
"Reminds me of a talk Izuku and I… were having a few months back. He was planning to enlist for the Marines next year…" Inko mentioned, a little out of breath.
Peggy frowned and looked away. "Yeah… he's told me about that. I… I said I'd support him, but–"
"But he shouldn't count on getting in, right?" Inko finished, slightly surprising Peggy.
"Y-yeah…" Peggy dropped her head, feeling ashamed. "I'm sorry. I should have more faith in–"
"It's okay, sweetie." Inko interjected. "I… told him something similar…"
"You did?" Peggy blinked, surprised.
Inko weakly nodded. "Izuku is a kind boy… Selfless by nature…. but he's also stubborn to a fault…You know this." She paused to catch her breath. "He won't give up…even if he is… outmatched…"
Seeing how much Inko was exerting herself, Peggy laid a hand on her shoulder. "Please, Inko… don't overexert yourself…"
"It's alright… I need to say this… while I still can…"
Peggy felt her stomach twist at the potential meaning behind that statement. Was she just tired? It was as if she were implying that… oh no. "Ms Inko… the chemo… is it–"
Inko shook her head despondently. "No…"
Peggy's expression dropped as she felt her typical calm and collected composure begin to falter. "… I'm so sorry…" Her bottom lip began to quiver. "This… this shouldn't be happening to you… You're the sweetest, kindest woman I know…"
Inko reached out to take Peggy's hand and smiled softly. "It's alright… these things happen… it's no one's fault…"
Peggy was hesitant to ask. "Does Izu-kun know?"
"I haven't told him yet… but I think he may already know…" Inko said forlornly. "I've spoken to Hisashi… he won't be able to leave Japan anytime soon…"
Peggy bit her tongue at the mention of Izuku's father. The man had practically shipped off his wife and child to another country and barely ever associated with them, aside from sending some money every now and then. Now his wife was on her deathbed, and he still refused to take time away from his work?!
'Worthless piece of sh–'
Her thoughts were interrupted as Inko went on. "He'll send money till Izuku is eighteen though… So, there's that…"
"You and Izu-kun shouldn't have to accept any money from him." Peggy retorted, keeping her ire in check. "Honestly, I never understood why you never divorced him, Ms Inko."
Inko frowned somberly. "It's... complicated…" She then shook her head. "But this isn't about Hisashi. This is about Izuku." She looked back up at Peggy with big brown eyes. "I know… this may not seem fair… but… can you promise me something, Peggy?"
Peggy gently squeezed Inko's hand, looking at her attentively. "Anything. What is it?"
"I… won't be there for him anymore… and neither will his father…" Inko's eyes misted over. "I know you're leaving soon, but… don't forget about Izuku."
Tears leaked from Peggy's eyes. "I would never. He's my best friend."
"You and he have always been close… Look out for him, please…" The mother requested with big pleading eyes.
The ravenette nodded determinedly. "I will."
"Thank you…" Inko smiled fondly. "Maybe someday you two can be something mo–" She trailed off as her eyes grew heavier. "... oh… sorry, sweetie… getting tired again…"
"It's alright." Peggy replied. "I'll go pick up Izu-kun from school and we can both come back later after you nap. Sound good?"
Inko nodded weakly, shutting her eyes and resting her head back.
Peggy smiled. "Alright. I'll be back soon. Rest up, Ms. Inko."
She headed to the door until she overheard Inko mutter something underneath her breath as she dozed off. "My boy… be there for him…"
Peggy walked out of the hospital room and quietly closed the door. She then leaned up against the door and began to softly weep as the emotional dam burst. It was all too much for her to handle.
Back in the present, the USMC Corporal remained standing in Teruko's office, with a few tears falling down her face upon recalling one of her last conversations with Inko.
'Ms. Inko… you said to look out for Izu-kun, but… would you approve of my actions?' Peggy inwardly questioned. 'Am I really looking out for him like I think I am?'
After what seemed like hours, Peggy finally walked out of the office and proceeded down the corridor in an introspective daze.
The next day had arrived and the SSR recruits were in the middle of afternoon workout drills.
"Faster! All of you!" Corporal Yamamoto ordered. The recruits were currently doing 3 sets of 25 military pushups, sit-ups, squats, and jumping jacks. At the moment, they were doing their second set of sit-ups–with the exception of Izuku, who was still on his first set. "The faster you finish, the faster your fifteen-minute break starts."
"Yes ma'am!" The group responded.
'This… sucks…' Izuku inwardly lamented. 'Those punishment drills… really wore me out…' He tried to keep his lunch down while struggling to lift his upper body off the ground. 'But… can't give in… gotta keep going… さらに先へ.'
Even if he was falling behind, he knew he had to keep going. Everyone else was tired too, so there were no excuses for not finishing!
'At least… Peg-chan… isn't targeting me today…' He mused, trying to find the silver lining in his pain.
It was no secret to the recruits that since training had begun Corporal Yamamoto would find any opportunity to call Izuku out and/or punish him. Whether it was during barrack checks, formation drills, or lagging behind in exercises. However, the USMC Corporal had been rather lenient with him today oddly enough.
In the midst of the painful exercises, he did occasionally catch her sneaking glances at him; however, she quickly diverted her attention away when he noticed her. Izuku couldn't help but wonder what was on his childhood friend's mind. Something was definitely bothering her.
Well, he could think about it later. Right now, he still needed to get through his first set of exercises.
Meanwhile, as the recruits performed their exercise drills, Colonel Phillips and Dr. Hatsume were both walking across the training grounds. Teruko wore a white t-shirt with a cherry blossom tree imprinted on it under a white lab coat, black trousers, and black slip-on shoes. Colonel Phillips was clad in an Army Combat Uniform (ACU) that consisted of camouflage jacket with the US Army Colonel insignia badging, matching camo trousers, and green combat boots.
"I see it… but I don't believe it. How that kid managed to survive to this point is truly baffling." Colonel Phillips remarked.
Teruko rolled her eyes. "More like commendable, Colonel. The kid's proven you and Corporal Yamamoto wrong. Admit it."
Phillips merely grunted in response, unwilling to concede just yet.
"I don't want to tell you how to do your job, but you should contact that senator friend of yours soon." Teruko advised while looking over a document on a clipboard. "Let him know that Cadet Midoriya's procedure is scheduled to start at 4:30 PM tomorrow if he wants to see it for himself."
"Doctor Hatsume, I implore you to reconsider." Phillips urged.
"Reconsider what?" Teruko inquired, still looking at her clipboard. "The time? I get that it's short notice, but 4:30 should give him more than enough–"
"That's not what I mean." Colonel Phillips interrupted. "I meant choosing that little string bean as a subject!"
"Ugh, this again. I swear…" Teruko groaned and rolled her eyes before she looked up. "I don't have to reconsider anything. If Cadet Midoriya was able to last 10 days and prove his worth, then he'd undergo the enhancement procedure ASAP. And he has done that. That was our agreement." She narrowed her gaze. "Don't tell me that your word doesn't mean anything, Colonel?"
He exhaled deeply in vexation. "I am a man of my word."
Teruko nodded in satisfaction. "Good. Today's July 3rd, and the time is," she stopped to glance at her watch, "1:25 PM… only five minutes left till our agreed deadline. Hate to break it to you yah, but if Cadet Midoriya hasn't quit by now, he likely won't in the next five minutes. You lost."
The army colonel and meta-biologist stopped and observed the recruits exercising.
"Doctor, you stick a needle in that kid's arm it's gonna go right through. Look at that," Phillips pointed to the frail teen, who was breathing heavily while doing jumping jacks. He glanced back at Teruko with a humorless expression. "He's making me cry!"
"There are more important qualities I look for in candidates than physicality." Teruko countered.
Phillips leaned closer and lowered his voice. "Do you know how long it took to set up this project? All the groveling I had to do in front of Senator What's-his-face committees?"
Teruko sighed heavily. "Yes, yes… I know. Getting all of this approved was no easy task. Trust me, I get it."
"Then throw me a bone." Colonel turned back to the recruits. "Barnes, Carter, McKenzie, Howlett… any one of them would make for a good choice. They're strong, fast, and obey orders. They're soldiers."
"They'll make for good super-soldiers when their time comes." Teruko nodded in agreement. "However, the enhancement is a luxury for them while for Cadet Midoriya it's essential."
"I don't get it." Phillips felt his frustration growing. "What's your fascination with that kid?"
"He's the clear choice." Teruko replied. "He's intelligent, resourceful, and his perseverance is inhumane at times." She paused to look back at Izuku proudly. "Even though you and Corporal Yamamoto have been against him from the start, he still keeps pushing forward."
Izuku paused from his exercise to bend over and hurl on the ground.
Teruko grimaced at the sight and turned back to the army colonel with a sheepish smile. "Heh-heh, well… after he empties his stomach, that is." She sweat-dropped.
Phillips was unamused by the sight.
Teruko quickly added. "From my understanding, he's also managed to win over the entire platoon. They're pulling for him. He inspires others around him whether he realizes it or not. All the traits you want in a good soldier, no?"
"Yes, but…" Phillips looked at her suspiciously. "... are you sure your decision wasn't based on anything else?"
"Such as?" Teruko raised an eyebrow.
"The fact you and him share the same ethnicity?" He bluntly suggested. "Are you sure you're not looking skin deep only, doctor?"
Teruko frowned and directed an exasperated look at the colonel. "Colonel Chester Phillips, if I've learned anything over the years of studying Meta-Abilities and the human genome in general, it's that race, ethnicity, and nationality mean nothing in the grand scheme of things. What truly matters is character." She narrowed her gaze sharply. "That's the basis for my decision. Don't ever accuse me of being guilty of such shallow thinking again."
The army colonel flinched at the intensity in the ring-eyed doctor's glare. "Apologies then, doctor," he said sincerely.
Teruko glared at him momentarily before exhaling and turning away. "I guess I'll forgive you this time… Just don't let it happen again, Colonel Phillips."
Phillips recomposed himself, and then glanced at his watch. '1:28. I've still got two minutes…' He thought. 'Looks like I'll have to use it after all…'
"For what it's worth, I agree wholeheartedly with your statement. Character does matter." He paused to reach into his jacket. "For instance, I first enlisted into the army after 9-11. I had thought of signing up years before then but was too hesitant. Following that tragic day, I couldn't ignore the call of duty any longer. I served several tours across the Middle East. And while I was over there, I learned something…"
He paused to pull out something from his jacket, catching Teruko's attention.
"What are you–" Teruko gasped when she recognized the object.
In the colonel's hand was a freaking grenade! "I learned that people show their true character when they look Death in the eyes." He stated with a stone-faced expression.
Pulling the safety pin with one hand, he tossed the grenade toward the SSR recruits over 15 yards (~13.7 meters) away.
"GRENADE!" Phillips exclaimed.
Corporal Yamamoto and the SSR recruits were taken aback by the sudden exclamation.
'The Hell?!' Peggy inwardly shouted.
Physically and mentally exhausted from the days of training, no one was thinking clearly at the moment. As soon as the grenade had dropped in the middle of the group and they heard the colonel's exclamation, the recruits immediately panicked and scattered to escape the 5-meter kill radius.
Izuku, who had been on the ground doing pushups, spotted the grenade rolling 10 yards (~9 meters) away from him. He knew he couldn't kick it far enough away in time, and they were out in the open anyway. Everyone in the vicinity would still be endangered from the fragments. So, he did the only thing that he could do by immediately picking himself off the ground and diving towards the explosive!
Bucky, who had swiftly dived behind a parked ATV nearby, looked back in horror. "Izuku, no!"
Peggy gasped in terror and started running towards him. "Izu-kun!"
"GET BACK!" Izuku shouted back, making her and anyone else who thought of running towards him stop. "GET AWAY!"
Positioning himself over the grenade, he prayed his small body would at least absorb the majority of the blast. He shut his eyes and waited for the end.
Several more seconds passed, but the explosion never came.
Izuku peaked his right eye open. 'What? Grenades usually detonate between 4-5 seconds.' He recalled his past studies of military armaments. 'Why isn't it going off yet?'
The recruits looked on in shocked confusion at the scene.
James was the first to recover and scoffed. "It's a dummy grenade. False alarm."
Bucky blinked twice and then sighed in relief. He stood up and ran towards Izuku. "Hey, 'Zuku… you alright?"
Izuku sat up and tentatively held the grenade in his right hand, confused. "I… think so?"
'A dummy grenade? Why would the colonel throw this at us when we're out in the open?' He wondered. 'What's the point in making us panic like that?'
Bucky smiled and laid a hand on the scrawny teen's shoulder. "Dude, that was freakin' awesome."
"I… uh…" He looked away and sheepishly rubbed his neck. "... it's n-nothing! My body just moved on its own… I wasn't even thinking…"
"That makes it even more impressive." Sharon chimed, kneeling by Izuku's side with a grin. "Guess big things do come in small packages, huh, 'Zuku?" She teased, making him blush.
"You're talking about me, right?" James remarked while stepping up to the trio. "Seriously, bub, you got some serious guts for pulling that stunt." He grinned roguishly. "We may just make a soldier out of you yet."
"Pft," Bucky waved off, "as far as I'm concerned, Izuku already is a soldier."
"Please," Izuku's face became flushed, "you're giving me too much credit."
Bucky and Sharon helped Izuku to his feet as the other recruits gathered around Izuku, praising him for his selfless act–which further flustered the scrawny teen.
Colonel Phillips, meanwhile, looked on with a dumbfounded expression. 'That kid… he didn't even hesitate…'
"Well, well…" Phillips turned to Teruko, who was shooting him a cocky smirk. "... is that enough character for you, Colonel?"
Colonel Phillips was speechless. As a long-time military man, he recognized that falling on a grenade was an incredibly selfless act of self-sacrifice. After all, more Medals of Honor were awarded for falling on grenades to save comrades than any other single act in US military history. In fact, some of his old comrades from his time serving in the Middle East had died by falling on grenades.
He couldn't refute or dare minimize what he had just witnessed. The Army veteran suddenly found himself looking at the young scrawny recruit with a newfound sense of respect. But he'd still get the last word in at least.
He side-eyed the doctor with a neutral look. "He's still skinny."
With that last remark, Colonel Phillips turned and marched away.
Teruko grinned victoriously and then turned in Izuku's direction with a proud smile. If there had been any inkling of doubt in her mind over her choice, it was now completely erased.
Peggy, meanwhile, was glued to her spot as she had watched the scene play out with shocked wide eyes.
"Um… Corporal?" Peggy was snapped from his musings when Izuku approached her, holding out the dummy grenade. "Was this a test or something?"
Teruko chuckled and stepped up to the shorter teen. She took the grenade and handed it to Peggy. "Very observant, Izuku! Come with me," She placed a hand on his shoulder and led him away, "we'll need to start getting you prepped." The redheaded doctor glanced back at Peggy with a smug grin. "Sorry, Corporal. Cadet Midoriya will have to miss the rest of today's training. Hope you understand."
"R-right… understood." Peggy weakly replied.
"Corporal?" Izuku looked at his friend curiously.
The ravenette, however, refused to meet his gaze and looked away crestfallen–which only concerned Izuku.
As the eccentric scientist led Izuku away, the other recruits stepped up to Corporal Yamamoto.
"Uh, Corporal, where is she taking Izuku?" Bucky asked. "We've still got another 3 hours…"
"Is Cadet Midoriya alright?" Sharon sounded concerned.
Peggy sighed and turned to the group. "Cadet Midoriya is fine. Doctor Hatsume is taking him aside for the rest of the evening to debrief him."
"May I ask for what?" Bucky cocked an eyebrow.
"You'll find out later this evening. For now," She exhaled tiredly, "I want all of you to take a 30-minute break. We'll meet up here and pick up where we left off. Dismissed."
"Yes ma'am!"
With that, Peggy walked away in the direction of the dining facility; hopefully, the staff could serve her some green tea. She needed it to calm her nerves, if even slightly.
Was this actually happening? Was her friend really going to be used as a test subject? Trying to make Izuku quit via increasing his exercises and later hounding him and Barnes didn't work. Talking to Doctor Hatsume wasn't successful either. The Colonel didn't have the authority to turn down Hatsume's choice either; however, she suspected that he wouldn't now after seeing Izuku's recent stunt.
Was there anyone else she could talk to? That's when it hit her. There was still one person she hadn't talked to yet. Peggy knew it would be an unpleasant conversation, but it had to be done; otherwise, she couldn't dare call herself Izuku's friend.
Doctor Hatsume, meanwhile, continued to guide a clueless Izuku in the direction of the base's science facility.
"There's a lot to fill you in on before the procedure," Teruko explained, "but I'll do the best I can to lay everything out for you. Of course, you're pretty smart so that shouldn't be an issue."
"Wait, what?" Izuku looked at the doctor, befuddled. "Doctor Hatsume–"
"Teruko." She corrected.
"R-right… What are you talking about? Fill me in on what?" He gasped lightly as his eyes widened in realization. "Wait… you don't mean–"
"Yep. Congrats, kid!" Teruko grinned brightly. "You're getting your enhancements much earlier than originally planned! Exciting, right?"
Everything seemingly stopped around Izuku as he could hardly believe what he was hearing. Was this a dream? He pinched himself and flinched when he felt the pain.
No, this was reality.
"I… I…" Izuku stammered, feeling his body tremble.
"C'mon, kid! We're wasting time out here." Teruko patted the dumbstruck Izuku on the back. "I'll explain more on the way."
Hours later, Izuku exited a building that served as the base's science facility. He proceeded down a gravel pathway in the general direction of the dining facility. He was still in disbelief–trying to come to terms with everything he had been debriefed on by Doctor Hatsume.
He, Izuku Midoriya–the sickly, weak, awkward kid of Fresno–had been chosen to be the first candidate for the A.M.P. Though he had hoped he would eventually be selected (after all, who wouldn't want to have superpowers?) it had never been his goal to be selected first. He never dreamed in a million years that he would be picked over more qualified people such as Bucky, Sharon, James, Namor, Nick, or really any of the other recruits.
This whole thing wasn't even close to what he had in mind when he signed up at that recruiting station. All Izuku wanted was a chance to help his nation and–perhaps deep down–prove he wasn't a worthless sick kid to the doubters back home. How did it turn into him volunteering to become a guinea pig for the military?
'Maybe it's not so bad…' Izuku tried to reassure himself. 'If Doctor Hatsume's enhancement procedure works, it could really help everyone in the long run; me, especially. I won't be holding back the others during training anymore! Plus, I'll be more capable of helping people and fighting if I have to.'
That's if it works, though. Despite his optimism and faith in Doctor Hatsume, that unsettling and real possibility remained at the back of his mind.
'But…what will happen if it doesn't work? Will I… die…?' Izuku paled at that thought.
He was only 17, not even 2 weeks remained before he turned 18. Yes, the potential rewards were great, but so were the risks involved. Was he really ready to risk his life on a monumental gamble like the A.M.P?
Izuku's gaze fell to the ground as he ruminated on that question. Lost in his trance, he accidentally walked into someone in front of him and stumbled backwards.
"W-whoa…!" As Izuku was about to fall on his rear, a hand quickly reached out and grabbed Izuku by his uniform. He looked up and, to his mild surprise, saw it was Peggy who stopped his fall. "P–uh, C-corporal?" He corrected himself.
"Everything okay?" She asked in a concerned tone he hadn't heard from her since arriving at the base. It took him off guard for a short moment.
"Oh! Uh y-yeah," He stammered while regaining his footing. As Peggy let go of his jacket, he brushed himself off and stood up straight. "I-I apologize for running into you. I wasn't looking where I was going! I know I should be more mindful, ma'am."
For the first time in a while, a small smile tugged at Peggy's lips. "It's alright. You don't have to call me Corporal right now, Izu-kun. We're technically on our evening break time." She softly said.
"O-okay… Peg-chan…" Izuku eased up slightly. This was out of the blue. Peggy had been avoiding him whenever she could outside of regular training hours. Nevertheless, it was a welcome surprise.
"Are you sure everything's okay?" Peggy worriedly inquired. "You look like you have a lot on your mind."
Izuku slumped his shoulders slightly. "Y-yeah… I do. Doctor Hatsume told me more about the procedure. It's… a lot to process, I guess."
Peggy nodded and briefly paused. "Um, Izu-kun?"
"Yeah…?" He looked back at her.
"Do you think I could have a word with you in private? Right now?" He didn't miss the pleading tone in her voice.
Izuku knew something was weighing heavy on his friend's mind. He had noticed for the last few days. Maybe she was ready to open up about it?
Izuku smiled and nodded. "Yeah, absolutely."
After taking a silent stroll through the woods down the flagpole trail, Peggy and Izuku stopped at the midway point. At the edge of the small clearing, the pair took a seat on a fallen log. They looked toward the flagpole and the sun setting over the horizon, casting a mixture of warm colors across the northern California sky. A small breeze blew across the treetops, only adding to the natural serenity.
The pair sat in comfortable silence as Izuku wondered if he should initiate the conversation or wait for Peggy to speak first.
"Izu-kun," Peggy finally broke the silence, "we never got to go on many vacations growing up, did we?"
Izuku shook his head. "No. We didn't have much money. Mom was a full-time nurse too, so she was always on call."
"Yes… but we did go on one trip together. We went to camp out at Redwood National Park for a weekend, remember?"
Izuku's eyes widened. "Oh yeah… I do. I think I was 9, right?"
Peggy nodded and smiled. "You were. I had just turned 11 in June. We went on the trip for your birthday."
"That's right. Such a fun trip." Izuku tilted his head back in reminiscence. "It was so cool getting to see Sequoioideae in person rather than just pictures."
"Sequoioideae?" She blinked, confused.
"It's the scientific name for redwoods." Izuku elaborated.
"Pft!" Peggy shook her head, failing to suppress a giggle. "You could've just said that, Izu-kun."
"Yeah, I guess I could've." He scratched his cheek, and then looked at her excitedly. "Hey, did you know the redwoods are the tallest and some of the oldest trees in the world? Some of those trees are over a thousand years old. Think of the stories they could tell if they could talk."
The ravenette snickered. "I can't imagine them saying much. They don't go anywhere since they're rooted into the ground, silly."
Izuku chuckled back. "Yeah, that's true. But," he smiled coolly, "think of all the things they've lived through, and all the lives they've touched. They do so much for the environment around them."
He went on. "They clean the air, support other plants and wildlife, and can sometimes even make it rain, believe it or not. Even though they're firmly rooted, they still do so much for everything else around them. No matter how bad things get… the summers, winters, storms, fire seasons… they always find a way to live through it, standing tall and proud."
Peggy turned to Izuku curiously. Where was he going with this redwood talk?
"I know it sounds silly, but… I kind of want to be like them in a way." He commented, wistfully looking off in the distance as the sun disappeared under the treetops. "Someone that'll stay rooted and stand tall despite how much the world changes around them. Someone who can touch the lives of those around them in a meaningful way, yah know?"
Her eyes widened ever so slightly, understanding the hidden meaning in Izuku's words. She turned away with a small smile. "Leave it to you to romanticize something like a redwood. You're such a dork, Izu-kun."
Izuku chuckled while rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah… All that to say that the redwoods definitely became my favorite tree after that trip."
Peggy looked back, raising an eyebrow. "You actually have a favorite tree?"
"Yeah…" He tilted his head curiously. "Doesn't everyone? What's yours, Peg-chan?"
"Well…" She briefly considered the question before coming to an answer. "I guess the Bonsai tree."
"Bonsai tree?" He wasn't expecting that answer. "How come?"
"Well…" She averted her eyes as her cheeks turned a light shade of pink. "I think they're cute."
"Cute?" He repeated. He wasn't expecting that answer.
"Yeah." She momentarily paused before continuing, "They're small and can fit in any home, and are really pleasing to look at. With constant trimming and care, you can train them to grow into any desired shape too."
Izuku smiled at her explanation. "That makes sense. Growing a bonsai tree is an art in and of itself. The daily care and trimming you do on them is also considered therapeutic by many. Plus, it's a staple of Asian culture too."