Izuku Midoriya wasn't like the other kids at Aldera Middle School. He didn't have a quirk. Not one.
In a world where quirks defined a person's value, his lack of powers made him invisible and an easy target.
Every morning, the sharp voice of Katsuki Bakugo sliced through the hallways like a thunderclap.
"Hey, Deku! What's it like being powerless? Gonna trip over your own feet again?"
Laughter followed like a cruel echo, but Izuku tried to keep his head down, focusing on the ground beneath his feet.
But today felt different.
As he turned a corner, his foot caught on something—air? The edge of his own doubt? He stumbled and nearly fell down the stairs, the laughter ringing louder, mocking.
Frustrated and defeated, Izuku clenched his fists. The words of All Might, the Symbol of Peace himself, echoed in his mind like a harsh decree:
"You can't be a hero without a quirk."
That day, the weight of failure pressed down on Izuku like a stone. He walked to the edge of the school rooftop, heart pounding, the wind cool against his face.
"I'm not a hero… I'm nothing," he whispered.
He stepped closer to the ledge.
Then, the air around him shimmered.
Green light bloomed from within—a gentle yet powerful aura that wrapped around him, slowing his fall as he slipped.
Heart racing, Izuku stumbled back onto solid ground.
Fear and wonder tangled within him.
When he returned home, his breath came fast and shallow. He collapsed onto his bedroom floor, the weight of what just happened threatening to crush him.
And then—
A faint glow emerged from the corner of the room.
A book—bound in crimson leather and etched with glowing runes—floated gently toward him.
His fingers trembled as he reached out and touched it.
The book's cover flared red, and a voice echoed softly in the quiet room:
"Hello, Matthew."