The sun shone high over U.A. as Class 1-A gathered on the training field, nerves and excitement thick in the air. Izuku Midoriya stood among them, fists clenched at his sides. Today was his first real test as a U.A. student, and without a Quirk, he knew the odds were stacked against him.
Shouta Aizawa, their homeroom teacher, stood before them, his expression as unreadable as ever. "You came here to be heroes, but being a hero isn't just about dreams and ideals. It's about ability. And today, we determine if you have the potential to make it."
The Quirk Apprehension Test began.
First was the 50-meter dash. Izuku gave it everything he had, but compared to Iida's engine-powered sprint or Bakugo's explosive acceleration, he was left in the dust.
Then came grip strength. Without a Quirk to enhance his power, his score was dismal compared to the others, even Mineta.
The standing long jump. His attempt barely cleared the marked area while his classmates soared past.
One by one, the tests continued, and the gap between him and the others only grew. The final test—the ball throw—was his last chance to prove himself. He stepped up to the line, took a deep breath, and hurled the ball with all his might.
It barely passed 40 meters.
Silence settled over the field as the results were tallied. Aizawa barely glanced at the numbers before his eyes narrowed before speaking, his tone as cold as ever.
"Midoriya, pack your things. You're expelled."
Izuku's heart stopped.
"W-What?" His voice wavered. "But—why? I—I did my best!This isn't Fa-!"
Aizawa's sharp gaze met his as he used his capture scarf to bring Izuku closer. "It's not about what's fair, your best isn't enough. This is a school for heroes. Your lack of a Quirk puts you at a severe disadvantage. You don't have the potential to stand alongside these students. I won't waste time on someone who can't survive in this world."
The weight of the words crushed him. The classmates he'd just met looked on in stunned silence. Some, like Uraraka, had pity in their eyes. Others, like Bakugo, looked almost unsurprised.
As Izuku turned to leave, Bakugo scoffed loudly. "Hah! Guess it was only a matter of time, Deku. What the hell did you think was gonna happen? You seriously thought you could be a hero with no Quirk? Pathetic."
A few students exchanged glances, whispering among themselves. "How did he even get in?" someone muttered. "Did the school mess up or something?"
"What a joke," another voice snickered. "No Quirk, no chance."
Izuku clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms as his vision blurred due to the sensation of heat gathering behind his watery eyes. He had dreamed of this moment for so long, and now—
It was over before it even began.
Izuku couldn't take it. His breath hitched, his vision blurred, and before he realized it, his legs moved on their own. He ran. He ran as fast as his legs would carry him, away from the field, away from the judgmental stares, away from everything that told him he had failed.
As he ran, voices echoed in his head, taunting him, suffocating him.
"You'll never be a hero, Deku!"
"You're just a useless, quirkless nobody."
"People without power shouldn't even try to be heroes."
All Might's words cut the deepest. "So can you be a hero, not without a Quirk."
"Stop..." Izuku gasped, his breathing ragged. "Please, stop...!"
The voices only grew louder, swirling in his head, drowning his thoughts in despair. "Stop... stop... stop!"
He didn't see where he was going. His feet pounded against the pavement as he turned a corner blindly—and suddenly, his body slammed hard into someone, sending them both sprawling onto the ground.
"Oof! Hey, are you—?" The person he collided with groaned as they sat up, rubbing their head. "Jeez, what's the rush?"
Izuku blinked, dazed, and looked up to see a girl with short orange hair and striking teal eyes staring at him in confusion.
Itsuka Kendo.
And just like that, the world snapped back into focus.
Kendo's eyes widened when she saw the tears streaking down his face. "Hey... are you okay?"
Izuku sucked in a sharp breath, scrambling to push himself off the ground. "I—I'm sorry," he stammered, his voice hoarse. "I didn't mean to—"
Kendo grabbed his wrist gently, stopping him. "Midoriya, right?" she asked, her tone soft but firm. "What happened? You're crying."
Izuku's body tensed at her words. He hadn't even realized how broken he must have looked. He tried to shake his head, tried to force out some excuse, but the words caught in his throat. His vision blurred again, and he gritted his teeth, his shoulders trembling.
Izuku: Y-you k-know me? H-Have w-we met b-before ?
Kendo: Oh right I forgot to introduce myself I'm Itsuka Kendo from 1B and as for how I know you, you were the first quirkless person to pass the UA entrance exams it's kinda being talked about by everyone, but that's not important, why are you crying ?
Tears continued coming down Izukus cheeks hearing her question.
"I... I failed," he choked out, his voice barely above a whisper. "I failed before I even got the chance to try."
Kendo's brows furrowed. "Failed? What are you talking about?"
Izuku laughed bitterly, a dry, hollow sound. "Mr Aizawa expelled me. He said I have no potential. That I don't belong here... and he's right."
Kendo's grip on his wrist tightened. "That's not—"
"It is!" Izuku's voice cracked, his bottled-up emotions spilling out. "Everyone's always told me I can't be a hero. My whole life, I've been told I'm worthless because I don't have a Quirk! And I tried—I really tried! But it wasn't enough. It's never enough."
His breath hitched, and he squeezed his eyes shut. "I just... I wanted to prove that I could do it. That I wasn't just some useless nobody. But... maybe they were all right. Maybe I really was just fooling myself."
Silence hung between them, broken only by Izuku's ragged breathing. He expected Kendo to scoff, to pity him, to tell him to stop whining.
But she didn't.
Instead, Kendo exhaled slowly, then reached forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Midoriya... whoever told you that you're worthless? They're wrong."
Izuku's eyes snapped open, his tear-streaked face twisting in confusion. "But—"
"No buts," Kendo interrupted. "You got into U.A., didn't you? You passed the entrance exam. You made it here on your own, without a quirk. Even if they expelled you, that doesn't erase everything you've done. That doesn't erase you."
Izuku opened his mouth to argue, but the words died before they could leave his lips. He stared at Kendo, searching for any trace of mockery, of pity—
But all he saw was sincerity.
And for the first time that day, the crushing weight on his chest felt just a little bit lighter.
Kendo then pulled out her phone and quickly typed something. "Meet me here later," she said, showing Izuku the address on her screen. "It's my family's dojo."
Izuku blinked, confused. "Why?"
Kendo gave him a determined look. "Because if U.A. won't teach you how to fight without a Quirk... then I will. And then I know for sure you'll be able to reapply into the hero course with some martial arts training under your belt"
Izuku's eyes widened, gratitude welling up inside him. "I... I don't know what to say... Thank you, Kendo!But w-why are you doing this?"
Kendo: Well why wouldn't I...My grand father always taught me that true strength comes from showing kindness to those who need it most...And I think you could use some...You know kindness heh
Izuku looked at her with awe and a smidge of shock...But then, realization struck him—this was the longest conversation he'd ever had with a girl.
His face turned red in an instant. "U-uh, I um, I-I'll be there!" he stammered, waving his hands frantically. "Not that I don't want to! I mean—I really appreciate it! I just—uh—" He stopped himself, squeezing his eyes shut in embarrassment.
Kendo chuckled, shaking her head. "Relax, Midoriya. Just show up, okay?"
Izuku nodded furiously, still beet red. "O-okay!"
Kendo gave him one last smile before stretching her arms. "Well, I gotta get back to class before Vlad King notices that i've been gone too long."
Izuku blinked, still recovering from his embarrassment. "R-right! You should go. I-I mean, I don't want you to get in trouble because of me!"
Kendo smirked. "Don't worry about it. Besides, I think it was worth it."
"H-huh?" Izuku tilted his head in confusion.
"You needed someone to remind you that you're not alone," Kendo said, her voice softer now. "And I don't mind being that person."
Izuku felt something tighten in his chest—gratitude, relief, maybe even a little disbelief. Someone actually believed in him?
Before he could respond, Kendo took a step back. "Alright, see you later, Midoriya!" she called over her shoulder as she jogged back toward the school.
Izuku stood frozen for a moment, watching her go before he let out a deep sigh.
He glanced down at the address on his phone, gripping it tightly. Maybe... maybe this wasn't the end.
With newfound determination, he wiped the lingering dampness from his eyes, took a deep breath, and turned to leave.
Just as he exited the school gates, his phone buzzed in his pocket.
"Eh?" He quickly fished it out and glanced at the caller ID.
Grandpa?
Hesitantly, he answered. "H-hello?"
"Izuku, my boy!" a deep, warm voice greeted him. "It's been too long. I just got back to Japan, and I'd love to see you. Think you can come over?"
Izuku hesitated, his emotions still raw from the day's events. But hearing his grandfather's voice—someone who had always been kind to him—sent a small wave of comfort through him.
"Y-yeah," Izuku said, trying to steady his voice. "I'd love to."
"Good! I'll send you the address. See you soon, kid."
As the call ended, Izuku stared at his phone. First Kendo, now his grandfather... maybe today wasn't the worst day of his life after all.
Timeskip: Hiroshi Midoriyas house
Izuku stepped cautiously into his grandfather's house. The air inside was oddly stale, as if no one had been there for a while.
"Grandpa?" he called out, but there was no response.
Something was off. Hiroshi had invited him over, but the place was completely silent. No signs of movement, no lights on.
Izuku frowned and began searching the house. His grandfather's study was still neatly arranged—books stacked in their usual places, papers organized—but there was a small, blinking red light coming from the desk.
Curious, Izuku approached and saw a small projector-like device that looked close to the one he got from UA sitting among the books. He hesitated before pressing the flashing button.
Immediately, a holographic image burst to life. Izuku gasped as his grandfather's figure appeared, his expression serious and tense.
"Izuku... if you're seeing this message, then I may be in trouble. There are things I haven't told you, things I should have said a long time ago. I don't have much time, so listen carefully."
Izuku's stomach twisted. "Grandpa, what's going on...?"
"I've been tracking something... something dangerous. It was never supposed to come to Earth, but now it's here, and I fear I may be too late to stop it." Hiroshi's voice grew heavier. "Izuku, if anything happens to me, you must be careful. There's a device hidden here in the house—an artifact not from this world. It's powerful, and if it falls into the wrong hands—"
BOOM!
The hologram flickered as a distant explosion rattled the recording. Hiroshi looked over his shoulder, urgency flashing in his eyes.
"No time—Izuku, find the device! Do not let them get it!"
The message abruptly cut out.
Izuku stared at the projector, heart hammering in his chest. "What... What the hell was that supposed to mean?"
A crashing sound from outside made him flinch. Something was here.
Swallowing hard, he turned and ran toward the storage room. If his grandfather had hidden something important, it had to be there.
Rummaging through the old containers and boxes, he shoved things aside until his hands brushed against something metallic. Pulling it out, he found an old, high-tech looking container with strange engravings on its surface.
Then—Beep. Beep. Beep.
The container was glowing.
Izuku hesitated before slowly lifting the lid—
And inside, nestled in a small compartment, was a black and green orb.
It pulsed with energy.
But before he could examine it further—
CRASH!
The front door was obliterated.
Izuku spun around, eyes widening as a towering figure stepped through the ruined entryway.
It's most distinctive feature is their tentacle-covered face, which resembles a Lovecraftian horror. The tentacles on it's face moved as it breathed but it's mouth was hidden by a breathing apparatuses that cover half its face, the creatures eyes were large, bulbous, and glowing yellow-orange, giving them an eerie, inhuman stare. With long, clawed fingers the creatures scratched the walls and over it's body was a pale yellow body suit.
It was a monstrous alien.
The same one from his grandfather's warning.
"Target acquired," the creature growled. "Surrender the device or be terminated."
Izuku's grip on the container tightened. His grandfather's words echoed in his mind—Do not let them get it!
He had no idea what was happening. No idea what this device even was.
But one thing was certain—
He wasn't going to just hand it over.