Archive of Our Own

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Disclaimer: I do not own Boku No Hero Academia.
The early morning air was crisp, the faint hum of students chattering filling the schoolyard as groups of friends loitered near the gate, laughing, exchanging stories from the weekend, unbothered by the weight of another school day. But for Izuku Midoriya, mornings were never peaceful.The footsteps behind him were rapid, aggressive, and all too familiar."Beat it, twerp," Katsuki Bakugo's voice rang out, sharp, cutting through the mundane drone of the schoolyard. "Or else I'm gonna beat your quirkless ass!"The words were nothing new, and yet, no matter how often he heard them, they always landed like a punch to the gut. Izuku flinched on instinct, his entire body tensing as he clutched his bag tighter to his chest. His heartbeat quickened, his breath hitched, and for a split second, he braced himself for impact.But nothing came.Slowly, hesitantly, Izuku peeked through the small gap between his arms, only to find that Katsuki had already walked past him, his usual entourage trailing behind him, laughing at his expense.He exhaled shakily, his grip loosening around his bag."Great, right in the morning I have to deal with this," he muttered under his breath, trying to shake off the lingering tension in his shoulders.Laughter erupted from behind him, cruel and mocking, Katsuki's friends no doubt continuing to revel in his humiliation. Izuku didn't need to turn around to know that they were talking about him. He could feel their eyes burning into the back of his head, waiting for him to react, to give them another reason to ridicule him.He straightened his posture, inhaling deeply, willing himself to focus.
"One day, I'll prove him wrong."
The thought settled deep within him, not quite as firm as he wished it to be, still fighting to exist despite the overwhelming doubt clawing at the edges of his mind.Many years ago, Katsuki Bakugo had been his friend. They had spent their childhood idolizing the same hero, dreaming of becoming the next great protectors of society, racing down the streets with imaginary capes fluttering behind them. But that time had passed. The moment quirks manifested in their generation, the gap between them had stretched wide and unrelenting. Katsuki, with his explosive power, had been celebrated, admired. Izuku, with nothing, had been abandoned, discarded, and eventually... hated.What had started with name-calling had grown into something much worse. Ostracization. Isolation. Violence. And yet, somehow, Izuku had never truly hated him back. He didn't have the energy to.The sun continued its slow ascent, its golden light peeking through the gaps in the school building, casting long shadows across the pavement. He shook off the weight of the morning's encounter and made his way inside. The school bell rang just as he reached the entrance as Izuku's stomach plummeted. "I'm late!"His feet moved before his brain could properly process it, his legs burning as he sprinted through the halls, weaving through students who barely spared him a glance. By the time he reached the classroom door, his lungs were on fire, his forehead damp with sweat, his breath coming in ragged, uneven gasps. With a sharp inhale, he yanked the door open as a loud thud echoed through the room as the entire class turned in unison, eyes locking onto him like a spotlight."Ah," the teacher drawled, unimpressed. "Midoriya, what a surprise."Izuku swallowed thickly, his throat raw from the sudden exertion. "S-Sorry, I—""You're late," the teacher cut him off, barely sparing him a glance as he marked something on the attendance sheet. "Not the best way to start your third year, is it?"Izuku's gaze dropped to the floor, embarrassment scorching through him as he forced out a small nod. "I—I know. It won't happen again."There was a beat of silence before the teacher waved a dismissive hand. "There's only one seat left. Sit down so we can begin." Izuku nodded quickly, shuffling between the rows of desks, keeping his head down as he avoided the gazes of his classmates. As soon as he sat down, he exhaled softly, willing himself to become as small and unnoticeable as possible.The hushed whispers started almost immediately."Apart from being quirkless, he's also careless now? What's the point?""Does he actually think he can keep up here?""I heard he put down U.A. on his future plans. U.A." A snicker. "As if he has a chance."Izuku's grip tightened on the edge of his desk. A dull thunk hit the back of his chair. He tensed, recognizing the presence behind him before he even turned his head.Katsuki smirked down at him, his red eyes gleaming with something dangerous."Guess we're gonna have fun this year, huh, Deku?"Izuku's stomach twisted, his nails digging into his palm beneath his desk. He didn't respond. He didn't need to.The teacher cleared his throat, finally gaining the class's full attention. "Since it's the first day of the school year, I'll be lenient. But remember, this is the most important year of your education. Soon, you'll be applying for high schools, and for many of you, that means hero courses."Excited murmurs rippled through the room.The teacher smiled knowingly. "I know many of you plan on applying to U.A., given their prestige. It's an ambitious goal, and a few of you have the talent to get in." His gaze flickered toward Katsuki, who grinned smugly."However," the teacher continued, his tone shifting slightly, "there are those who need to set realistic goals."Izuku's blood ran cold. The laughter came before the words had even fully sunk in. He didn't have to guess who they were laughing at. He could feel it."Him? Midoriya, a hero?" a girl to his left giggled, covering her mouth as if the thought alone was too absurd to say out loud."He's quirkless," another student scoffed. "He wouldn't even pass the written exam, let alone the practical one."The teacher didn't stop or correct them. He let them laugh for a few more seconds before finally waving them down. But the smirk tugging at the corners of his lips didn't go unnoticed.Izuku's chest felt tight because he knew this would happen. It always did. But knowing didn't make it easier. He could feel Katsuki's stare burning into the side of his face, but he refused to meet his gaze. He already knew what would be waiting for him after school.As the final bell rang, Izuku didn't wait. He shot up from his seat the moment he was allowed to leave, moving as quickly as possible toward the exit, weaving through the students in the hall in an attempt to avoid—"Deku!"His breath caught in his throat. A surge of panic spiked through him as he felt the presence behind him getting closer, the unmistakable sound of Katsuki's footsteps chasing after him."Get back here!"Izuku didn't think. He ran. His heart pounded in his ears as he pushed his body forward, his legs screaming in protest as he sprinted toward the school's exit. But he wasn't fast enough.A flash of movement. A sharp boom. Pain exploded through his ribs as Katsuki's foot connected with his side, sending him sprawling across the pavement in a small alleyway just outside the school's fence, his breath leaving him in a sharp, choked gasp. He barely had time to react before a hand gripped his hair, yanking his face upward.Katsuki crouched before him, his expression unreadable. "You put down U.A.?" he asked, voice eerily quiet. "You actually think you have a chance?"Izuku didn't answer as Katsuki's grip tightened. "You're pathetic."The air between them was thick with something more than mere hostility... it was suffocating, pressing down against Izuku's already bruised and battered body like an invisible force."Goddamn bastard," Katsuki muttered, his voice laced with irritation, but his tone carried something darker, something bitter and seething beneath the surface. He tilted his head slightly, his smirk widening as he rolled his shoulders, cracking his knuckles with slow deliberation. "Thinking you could get away from me. There's no one around here to save you, Deku, and I swear—" his smirk twisted into something far more sinister, "—I'll make it painful."Izuku's breath hitched, his pulse thundering in his ears as he scrambled backward, his hands gripping at the damp pavement beneath him. His mind screamed at him to run, to fight, to do something, but his body refused to cooperate."S-Stop… Kacchan, I—I'm sorry!" His voice broke on the words, high and desperate, but he knew it was useless. He knew Katsuki wouldn't stop, wouldn't listen.Katsuki scoffed, his expression twisting in disgust. "Huh?" he mused, cocking his head as if genuinely confused. "I thought I told you already not to call me that."Then, without hesitation, he drove his foot into Izuku's stomach.The impact sent a violent shock through his ribs, a searing pain exploding outward as Izuku let out a strangled gasp, his entire body curling inward in an instinctual attempt to shield himself. His fingers dug into the ground, his vision flickering with static as he struggled to breathe through the pain.Katsuki knelt beside him, his grip harsh as he tangled his fingers into Izuku's hair, yanking his head upward with a force that made him whimper. Their faces were inches apart now, Katsuki's sharp, unforgiving gaze piercing straight into him, cold and unrelenting."You really think you can get into U.A.?" Katsuki's voice was quieter now, but far more dangerous. His tone carried something beyond mockery, something close to offense, as though the very idea of Izuku aspiring to be anything more than a stepping stone beneath his feet was an insult to his existence. "I thought I made it clear that I will be the first and only person from this school to get into U.A." His grip tightened, yanking Izuku's head even higher. "Are you trying to make fun of me?"Izuku's breath shuddered. He felt cold, a numbing sort of fear creeping into his bones, making his already weak limbs feel even heavier. He wanted to answer, to shake his head, but his voice had abandoned him. His mind was screaming at him to run, to fight back, but his body was useless, trapped in the suffocating weight of Katsuki's hold."Answer me!" Katsuki's voice snapped like a whip through the silence, sharp and commanding. When Izuku still didn't respond, Katsuki abruptly released his grip, shoving his head backward.Izuku gasped as he hit the ground, his skull slamming against the pavement. His vision blurred for a moment, black spots dancing across his eyes.Katsuki's gaze flickered downward, something catching his attention. His lips curled in intrigue. There, sticking out from the partially unzipped front of Izuku's bag, was a notebook. For a brief moment, something unreadable crossed Katsuki's face. His fingers twitched slightly, hesitating just for a fraction of a second before he reached forward and snatched it.Izuku's sluggish mind barely processed what was happening before he heard the rustling of pages being flipped through."What the hell is this?" Katsuki muttered, his voice sharp with disbelief. His scowl deepened as he read the title aloud. "Hero Analysis for the Future?"Izuku's stomach dropped.No.No, no, no—Katsuki let out a scoff, his expression twisting as he turned the pages, skimming through Izuku's careful notes, his detailed observations of Pro Heroes, his theories on battle strategies, all written with unwavering passion and hope. Izuku felt himself go weightless, his breath freezing in his lungs."This..." Katsuki laughed, but it was humorless, bitter. He lifted the notebook higher, shaking it mockingly. "You seriously think a quirkless reject like you can compete with anyone?"Izuku felt like he was sinking. His body was still, but his mind was spiraling, caught in the horrifying realization that this was his world, this was the reality he had been forced into, where dreams were nothing but fuel for ridicule. His silence only seemed to amuse Katsuki more. He crouched down again, waving the notebook just within Izuku's reach, as if daring him to try and take it. "C'mon, Deku. Say something."Izuku could only watch, wide-eyed, as Katsuki's smirk widened. That was when Katsuki's expression changed, his eyes flickered with something far more wicked."…Actually, this gives me a great idea."A sick sense of foreboding settled in Izuku's gut as he watched Katsuki bring the notebook between his hands. "For a quirkless piece of shit like you," Katsuki continued, his grin sharp and unrelenting, "this thing is useless.""No!" Izuku barely had time to react before he saw the telltale flicker of a spark.A sharp explosion erupted between Katsuki's palms, engulfing the notebook in a burst of flames. The paper curled, blackened, crumbling to ash in seconds as small embers floated to the ground.Izuku's eyes went wide, a strangled sound catching in his throat. "Give it back!" His voice broke with raw desperation as he lunged forward, but Katsuki easily sidestepped, letting the last burning scraps fall to the ground."You wish," Katsuki mocked, stomping his foot down onto the remaining embers, grinding them into nothing beneath his heel.Something inside Izuku snapped.A surge of emotion... rage, grief, and tangled together into something unrecognizable, something overwhelming. His breath hitched as he swung wildly, fists clenching, aiming for Katsuki's smirking face—But he missed.Again.And again.Katsuki merely dodged, unimpressed. "That's the spirit," he taunted, his movements effortless. "But who said you get to hit me?"Izuku barely registered the words before a hand clamped over his face, as a sharp, controlled explosion, just strong enough to burn but not enough to maim, detonated against his skin. Pain exploded across his face, his body jolting backward before everything went dark.The last thing Izuku heard was Katsuki's voice, sharp and cruel."Just a little goodbye present for you, Deku."The blast caused Izuku to lose consciousness, his lifeless body lay on the ground.The first thing Izuku registered was the deafening roar in his ears, a sound that pulsed and grew louder, swallowing everything in its wake. His mind drifted through a haze of emptiness, weightless and unanchored. Where was he? What had happened? He could not remember. His body felt distant, separate from him, a hollow shell barely capable of recognizing the world around it. The thought disturbed him, but he couldn't move, couldn't think... until the darkness began to shift.A flicker of something beyond the void. A sensation, cold and sharp against his skin. He recognized it now, rain.A shuddering breath left his lips as his awareness returned in fragments, piecing itself back together. He lay sprawled across the damp alleyway, the cold seeping into his bones, numbing his limbs. No had even bothered to check up on him. His uniform was ruined, soaked through by the downpour that continued to batter against him mercilessly, each drop an icy pinprick against his skin. The scent of wet earth and rusted metal filled his lungs, mingling with something acrid... smoke, burnt paper.His vision swam as he turned his gaze upward. The sky was painted in shades of deep gray, storm clouds blotting out the stars. The rain continued to fall in thick sheets, disguising the warm trails of liquid that streaked down his cheeks. He wasn't sure if it was the rain or his own tears anymore."Why do I even bother?" The thought was barely more than a whisper in his fractured mind, a quiet, bitter admission to the empty night.His fingers curled weakly against the soaked ground, dirt clinging beneath his nails as he struggled to push himself up. Every movement sent sharp pangs of pain through his ribs, his stomach twisting in protest. The dull ache in his limbs felt like the remnants of something far worse, something he could barely remember. But he knew the truth. He didn't have to remember every detail to know what had happened.Katsuki.Izuku clenched his jaw, his breath uneven as his body trembled. Not just from the cold, but from something deeper, something raw that clawed at his chest, suffocating and relentless.
"What did I do to deserve this?"
He had asked himself that question a thousand times before, but tonight, under the suffocating weight of the storm, it felt heavier than ever. His body refused to cooperate as he attempted to stand, his legs buckling beneath him, sending him crashing down into the mud once more."Move, damn it!" His breath hitched, his voice breaking as he forced his body to listen. He slammed a fist against his thigh, then again, and again, his teeth gritted in determination or perhaps sheer desperation. "Move!"He squeezed his eyes shut, his chest heaving as he fought against the helplessness that threatened to consume him. Then, a sudden hollow laugh escaped him.It was quiet at first, barely more than a breath, but it grew, shaking in his throat. It was absurd, wasn't it? The entire situation was ridiculous. He had spent his whole life chasing after a dream that was never his to begin with. He had told himself over and over that it didn't matter, that he would prove them all wrong, but now, faced with the brutal reality of his own powerlessness, all he could do was laugh.The sound faded just as quickly as it had come, leaving behind an empty ache in his chest.Slowly, carefully, he forced his body upright once more. His head swam, the world tilting dangerously, but this time he didn't fall. His knees wobbled as he bent down, fingers brushing against the tattered remnants of his belongings. His bag was barely recognizable, the fabric torn, the zipper half-broken, the pages of his notes crumpled and burned beyond saving.He stared at the wreckage for a long moment before sighing, shoving whatever was left inside the ruined bag and slinging it weakly over his shoulder."Mom must be worried sick," he muttered under his breath, his voice hoarse from exhaustion.His limbs protested as he began moving, each step sluggish and uneven. He barely had the energy to focus on where he was going, his mind clouded by the lingering pain in his ribs and the weight of his own thoughts. He glanced at his watch, squinting through the blur of rainwater and exhaustion. 10:37 PM."Mom's definitely going to kill me." He let out a humorless chuckle, shaking his head slightly. How was he supposed to explain any of this?The streets were eerily quiet, the usual hum of the city drowned out by the storm. Streetlights flickered dimly against the pavement, their glow distorted by the falling rain. The air was thick with the scent of asphalt and damp concrete. As he moved through the empty streets, a strange sensation crawled, setting every nerve in his body on edge. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, and a cold dread settled in his gut.He wasn't alone.A voice broke through the silence.
"Well, what do we have here?"
Izuku froze. His heart slammed against his ribs as he turned toward the voice. His vision was hazy, blurred by exhaustion and rain, but even through the fog, he could make out a shadowed figure just beyond the dim glow of the streetlight.The figure took a step forward. "People like you shouldn't be wandering around this late at night."Izuku's breath came out in shallow gasps, his instincts screaming at him to run. But his legs refused to move. The figure tilted its head, its presence suffocating despite the distance between them. "A little slow on the uptake, huh?" A pause. "No matter. You're not worth the trouble, anyway."Then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the shadow was gone.Izuku's pulse pounded in his ears, his breath catching in his throat. His mind struggled to process what had just happened, his body still frozen in place.Then... another presence. A firm weight settled on his shoulder as Izuku's body jolted violently, a sharp gasp escaping his lips as he spun around, his mind screaming not again, but the grip was gentle."What's wrong, young man? You shouldn't be walking around alone this late at night."Izuku blinked rapidly, his vision finally sharpening. His heart stuttered in his chest. Standing before him, bathed in the glow of the streetlamp, was a figure he had idolized for as long as he could remember. A towering man, clad in red, white, and blue. Golden hair. A radiant smile.All Might.Izuku's breath caught. "I—I ... A-A-ALL M-," he stammered, his words barely forming. His mind was still spinning, his body still trembling, but all of it was overshadowed by one undeniable truth. He was standing face-to-face with the greatest hero of all time."Are you injured?" All Might's voice was steady, concerned. "Do you need medical assistance?"Izuku swallowed hard, shaking his head. This couldn't be happening to him. "I—I tripped earlier! Hit my face pretty hard," he lied nervously, trying to ignore the way his hands trembled at his sides. This wasn't the time to say these things to the greatest hero of all time.All Might studied him for a moment before nodding. "Well, it's great to see you're alright, young man. Just doing some patrol work." He straightened, his smile returning. "I must be off, but be sure to get home quickly."Izuku's breath was unsteady. He knew that this was his only chance. If he didn't ask now, he would never get another opportunity. "All Might—!" The words escaped him before he could stop them.All Might turned back, his expression patient.Izuku's fingers curled against his damp sleeves, his voice small but firm. "Even if I don't have a quirk… can I still be a hero?"The silence that followed was unbearable. All Might's expression shifted, something unreadable passing through his gaze before he sighed. "Heroes risk their lives for others," he said carefully. "I cannot simply say that you can become a hero without a quirk."Izuku's breath came out unevenly, his fingers gripping the strap of his ruined bag."If you want to help others," All Might continued, his voice lighter now, "then you could become a police officer. It's a respectable occupation. It's not bad to dream… but you have to be realistic."Then, with one final look, All Might turned and leapt into the sky.Izuku stood there, motionless, the rain soaking through his clothes, seeping onto his skin.The words rang in his ears, hollow and final.All he could do is turn and walk home, his dream crumbling at his feet.The front door groaned open, its hinges creaking under the weight of the late hour. The Midoriya household, once warm and filled with the soft hum of television static and the occasional clatter of kitchenware, had long since fallen into an eerie stillness. But the moment Izuku stepped inside, the silence was shattered."Izuku!" His mother's voice rang out.Inko Midoriya was already moving, her slippers scuffing against the wooden floor as she hurried down the hallway, her eyes wide, frantic. She barely gave him a second to step inside before her hands found his shoulders, gripping them gently but firmly, searching his face with eyes that had undoubtedly been filled with nothing but stress and fear for hours."It's almost midnight!" she scolded, her voice trembling just as much as her fingers. "I've been worried sick! Where have you been?" Her gaze drifted downward, and then her breath hitched. "Izuku—what happened to you?"She reached for his arms, brushing over the dirt-streaked fabric of his uniform, her fingertips ghosting over the bruises beginning to bloom across his skin. He instinctively flinched at the contact.Izuku tried to force out a casual laugh, but it came out as something brittle, forced, unnatural. "I, uh... kind of fell down on my way home," he mumbled, shifting his weight awkwardly, refusing to meet her gaze. "An elderly couple saw me and insisted I go to the hospital for a check-up."His voice was weak, tired, barely hanging together. Inko frowned, unconvinced.She studied his face, her lips pressing into a thin line. She knew her son better than anyone. She knew when he was lying, when he was hiding something, when he was trying to shoulder the weight of something far too heavy for a child to bear alone."Then why didn't the hospital call me?" she asked, voice gentle but firm.Izuku hesitated, staring at the floor like it held all the answers he wished he could find. His fingers curled slightly, his nails digging into his palms."They said it wasn't anything serious," he lied, forcing the words out as smoothly as he could manage. "So they let me go after a few check-ups."A beat of silence stretched between them.Inko still didn't look convinced, but after a moment, she sighed, shaking her head. She didn't push, she never did. That was both her greatest kindness and her deepest regret."Alright," she said softly, though the worry in her eyes remained. "Just… be more careful, Izuku. Please." Her voice wavered, something raw bleeding into her words. "I love you, you know that. You can talk to me if something's wrong."The warmth in her voice nearly undid him. Izuku forced himself to nod, offering her what little smile he could muster. "I know, Mom," he whispered. "I'm okay."A blatant lie.Inko exhaled deeply before noticing the sorry state of his school bag. The fabric was soaked through, tattered at the edges, and covered in mud. She sighed, shaking her head fondly despite her exhaustion. "Your poor backpack…" she murmured, lifting it gently from his shoulder. "I'll clean it up for you." Then, with one last glance at him, she reached up and smoothed his hair back, a mother's touch that had comforted him since childhood. "Get some rest, sweetheart. You've had a long day.""Sure thing, Mom," Izuku replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "Goodnight."With that, he turned, walking stiffly down the hallway, his body aching with each step. The moment he reached his room, he slipped inside and carefully shut the door behind him. The lock clicked into place.Izuku exhaled, long and slow, before collapsing onto the edge of his bed. His limbs felt heavy, weighed down by exhaustion, but his mind was an endless spiral of thoughts, each one sharper, crueler than the last. His eyes wandered across the dimly lit space, landing on the shelves filled with All Might memorabilia. Posters, figures, limited edition magazines, all relics of a dream he had spent his entire life clinging onto.It felt suffocating now. Like a shrine to something that no longer belonged to him.The events of the day pressed in on him all at once. The laughter of his classmates, Katsuki's voice ringing in his ears, the sickening crack of his body hitting the ground, the ashes of his notebook scattering in the wind. And then, above all else, the words."It's not bad to dream… but you have to be realistic." Reverberated in his mind countless times like echoes.It was the final nail in the coffin as his breath came out shaky, his throat constricting. His fingers trembled as they curled against his knees. He squeezed his eyes shut, his entire body shuddering as the weight of it all came crashing down. He had tried so hard. He had wanted it so badly. But in the end, not a single person believed in him.Not his mother. Not Kacchan.Not even All Might.His chest tightened painfully, and before he could stop himself, a choked sob tore its way out of his throat. Tears spilled freely, hot and unrelenting, carving paths down his bruised cheeks. He curled inward, his shoulders shaking as quiet, desperate sobs wracked his body. His hands pressed against his face, as if trying to block out the world, as if trying to hold himself together when everything inside him was falling apart.The question clawed at him, raw and unanswerable.
Why do I even exist?
The tears kept coming. He wept, and he wept, until the exhaustion finally pulled him under, leaving him alone in the silence of his room.
A/N: Hello everyone and I hope you enjoyed reading the first chapter of

Villain of Tomorrow

. Recently I have had an interest in portraying Izuku Midoriya and how he would play out in the BNHA universe if he turned out to be a villain. But also, in a way where it makes sense, has a serious tone, and it's hopefully written well. If you are interested in me continuing this story, please let me know and make a review so I can see what I can improve on. Thanks again.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The first thing Izuku became aware of was the light. It streamed through the thin curtains of his bedroom window, painting streaks of gold across the ceiling and walls, creeping closer until it reached his face. The warmth of the morning sun brushed against his skin, coaxing him toward consciousness. He turned away from it instinctively, rolling onto his side, his back to the light as if that alone could delay the inevitable pull of the day ahead.His body ached. Not just the dull, throbbing pain from the bruises left by Katsuki's fists and explosions, but something deeper, making even the smallest movement feel laborious.The memories of yesterday clung to him as it lurked just beneath the surface of his mind. He had spent the entire night wrestling with them, caught between exhaustion and the sharp pangs of reality, his thoughts looping endlessly in his head. Every time he closed his eyes, he heard their laughter, saw their sneers, felt the searing pain of Katsuki's hand against his face.And then, worst of all... The man he had idolized for as long as he could remember had confirmed what everyone else had always told him. His dream, the one he had clung to since childhood had been nothing more than a fragile illusion, doomed to crumble under the weight of reality. Izuku remained still, his dull green eyes staring at the wall in front of him. The poster of All Might towered above him, vibrant and triumphant, frozen in a moment of victory. Once upon a time, that image had filled him with joy, with admiration, with hope.Now, it only made him sick. His fingers twitched as he reached up toward the poster, his breath shallow. The urge to tear it down, to rip it into shreds, burned inside him. His arm tensed, ready to pull—A knock came on the door, shattering his trance."Izuku, dear, it's time to get ready for school," his mother's voice called through, her tone warm but laced with an unmistakable gentleness, the kind she always used when she was worried. "I made your favorite breakfast, so don't take too long or it'll get cold."Izuku didn't answer. His arm slowly lowered, his fingers uncurling as he let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He kept his gaze on the poster, his blank expression reflected faintly in the glass."Izuku?" His mother's voice softened, more hesitant this time. "Is everything all right?"For a moment, he didn't move. He felt suspended between the past and the present, caught in the remnants of last night's despair and the quiet reality of the morning. Then, finally, he forced himself to speak. "Yeah," he muttered, his voice hoarse, stripped of any emotion. "I'm coming."On the other side of the door, Inko Midoriya hesitated. She lingered for a moment, her fingers lightly grazing the surface of the door as if debating whether to knock again. She had always been able to sense when something was wrong with him, but lately, that feeling had become unbearable. In the past her son had been so open, so expressive. Now, it felt like there was a wall between them. One that had been built brick by brick with every passing year, every unspoken fear, every painful truth neither of them had the courage to address.But she didn't push. She never did.With a quiet sigh, she turned and made her way back to the kitchen, leaving Izuku alone once more.The sunlight had spread further into his room, casting soft glows across the shelves lined with All Might merchandise. It felt suffocating, that light. Like it was trying to reach inside him, to pull him into a world that no longer felt like his. Slowly, Izuku stood, his muscles protesting as he moved toward the window. He grabbed the cord to the blinds and pulled them shut, blocking out the morning entirely.The room dimmed, shadows stretching across the walls. It was better this way.He turned toward his mirror and caught sight of himself. His reflection was pale, his skin marred with dark bruises along his jaw, his cheekbone still tender from yesterday's encounter. The bags under his eyes were heavier than usual, deep and dark, a testament to the sleepless night that had left him feeling hollow.But it didn't matter. None of it did. With slow, methodical movements, he crossed the room and opened his door. His schoolbag freshly washed, now neatly folded as it rested on the floor, placed there by his mother sometime before he woke up. He picked it up without a second thought, slinging it over his shoulder before heading toward the front door.He had just slipped on his shoes when he heard her voice again."Wait, Izuku—aren't you going to eat?" Inko stepped out from the kitchen, a concerned frown tugging at her lips. "I made your favorite, sweetie. You should have something before you go."Izuku didn't look up as he tied his laces. "I'm not hungry, Mom," he said quietly. "I'll just grab something at school later."Before she could protest, before she could say anything else, he opened the door and stepped outside. The door clicked shut behind him.For a long moment, Inko simply stood there, staring at the empty space where he had just been. Her hands curled slightly over the fabric of her apron, her heart aching in a way she didn't know how to put into words. Something was wrong. She knew it... But she also knew that Izuku would never tell her.The school gate was quiet save for the occasional rustle of wind pushing cherry blossom petals across the pavement, swirling them into delicate patterns of pink and white. The morning air was cold with the scent of fresh earth lingering from the previous night's rain. Katsuki Bakugo stood with his usual group of friends, their expressions smug and expectant, their eyes locked onto a singular target. Izuku Midoriya.The green-haired boy walked toward the entrance, his steps slow and deliberate, his mind elsewhere. He barely registered the group of students waiting for him, didn't care for whatever they were planning. He had endured worse... What was one more day?"Hey, Deku," Katsuki's voice rang out, sharp with irritation, laced with something meaner, something possessive. "Where do you think you're going?"Izuku didn't react. He kept walking, his gaze fixed on the school ahead, his posture rigid, mechanical."You really messed him up, huh?" one of Bakugo's lackeys chimed in, nudging Katsuki. "Or maybe he's just finally grown a backbone."Katsuki's lips curled into a snarl, his patience snapping. His hand shot forward, and before Izuku could take another step, a sharp impact crashed against the back of his head. The force sent him stumbling, his knee scraping against the rough pavement as he caught himself."Listen to me when I'm talking to you, quirkless nobody!" Katsuki barked, his hands clenched into fists, tiny bursts of heat flickering between his fingers.Izuku remained on the ground for a moment, his body motionless. Then, as if nothing had happened, he pushed himself up, dusted off his uniform, and continued walking, unfazed.Katsuki's eyes widened in disbelief. His anger surged tenfold. "That goddamn Deku… he thinks he's better than me?" He crackled in his palms as his fury threatened to spill over, but before he could act, one of his friends grabbed his shoulder."Hey, not here," the boy warned, his voice low. "Teachers might see us."Katsuki inhaled sharply through his nose, forcing himself to stand down, but the anger didn't fade—it festered, boiling beneath his skin. His fingers flexed before he extinguished the sparks in his palms. "Fine," he spat. "I'll deal with him later."Stepping forward, he caught up with Izuku, his movements calculated, predatory. Throwing an arm around the smaller boy's shoulders, he leaned in, his breath lukewarm against Izuku's ear."When lunch break hits, meet me outside," Katsuki murmured, his voice devoid of humor, laced only with quiet malice. "And don't even think about running." He pulled away, tapping his knuckles against Izuku's head as he walked off. His friends followed suit, each one snickering as they passed by, giving him similar taps, some harder than necessary.Izuku barely felt it. His mind drifted, his thoughts a tangled mess of nothingness and everything all at once. He could still hear All Might's words ringing in his head, could still feel the weight of them pressing against his chest. He entered the classroom without a word, slipping into his usual seat near the back. The chair creaked under his weight as he sat down, resting his arms against the desk, his eyes unfocused as they settled on the window.In the distance, the towering glass structure of U.A. stood, its emblem gleaming proudly against the morning sun. A symbol of greatness, of hope, of everything he had ever wanted to be."Look at him," a voice scoffed, snapping him back to reality."He's staring at U.A. again."Laughter rippled through the classroom, hushed whispers bleeding together into a cruel symphony."Midoriya thinks he's gonna be a hero?""What a joke.""Quirkless freak."Days ago, those words would have stung. They would have chipped away at him, left cracks in the fragile walls he had built around himself. But now, they barely registered.The sound of the classroom door sliding open signaled the arrival of the teacher, and as if on cue, the chatter ceased. Students hurried to their seats, feigning attentiveness as the school bell rang overhead. "Midoriya," a voice called, firm but not unkind. Izuku blinked, lifting his head to see the teacher standing before him, watching with thinly veiled concern."Are you even listening?" the teacher sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Class is over. It's lunchtime." Izuku stared at him blankly, as if processing the words took longer than it should have."Go eat something," he said simply. "And Midoriya?" He waited until the boy's eyes met his. "If I catch you staring at the clouds again instead of paying attention, you're getting detention."Izuku nodded, barely registering the words as he stood up and slung his bag over his shoulder. The moment he stepped into the hallway, he was met with the sight of Katsuki leaning against the wall, arms crossed, foot tapping impatiently against the tiled floor."It took you long enough, Deku," he sneered, pushing off the wall. "Are you deaf or something?"Izuku stared at him, his expression unreadable. Katsuki's grin twitched at the edges, his eyes scanning Izuku's face, searching for something—anything—but finding nothing. The silence irritated him. "Did you forget what I told you this morning?" he asked, voice laced with annoyance.Izuku didn't respond.Katsuki exhaled sharply through his nose, biting his lip before jerking his chin toward the staircase. "Follow me," he ordered. "We need to talk."There was no point in resisting. Izuku followed as the two ascended the stairs in silence, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the empty stairwell. As they reached the top floor, Katsuki pulled a small key from his pocket, fitting it into the handle of the rooftop door. With a quiet click, the lock released, and the heavy door creaked open, revealing the vast open space of the rooftop.A gust of wind swept past them, ruffling their hair, carrying the distant sounds of students below."Step out," Katsuki instructed, stepping aside. Izuku obeyed, walking forward until he stood near the edge, looking up at the vast blue sky above. The clouds drifted lazily, undisturbed, oblivious.The door shut behind him. "Do you know why I brought you here?" Katsuki's voice was dangerously calm, far too steady.Izuku turned slightly, just enough to glance at him from the corner of his eye. "If I had to guess," he murmured, "it's nothing that benefits me."Katsuki grinned. "Oh, it benefits you, alright." There was a shift, a shift so slight that most wouldn't have caught it, but Izuku did. The way Katsuki's muscles tensed, the way his grin stretched just a little too wide.And then pain.A sharp kick to the ribs sent Izuku crashing to the floor, the impact knocking the air from his lungs. He gasped, coughing violently, his vision swimming. Katsuki loomed over him, his foot pressing against his chest, keeping him pinned. "You're acting like a real smartass lately, Deku," he mused, his voice dripping with amusement. "I don't like it."Izuku groaned, barely able to move as Katsuki stepped back."Do you wanna know why I really brought you here?"Izuku barely had the strength to lift his head as Katsuki grabbed his collar and hauled him up, forcing him to face the rooftop's edge."You see that?" he whispered, voice deceptively soft. "That's your way out. Start a new life, maybe you'll get a quirk this time." Katsuki's grip tightened as he pointed outwards to the ground. "No one would care. No one would miss you. You're nothing, Deku."The wind howled around them. Izuku's breath hitched, as Katsuki began to laugh. "Go on, then," he urged. "Do it."And for the first time in his life, Izuku truly believed he might die. The world around him slowed to an unnatural crawl, a sickening stillness washing over the rooftop as the weight of his existence bore down upon him. He could feel the pressure against his back, the cold metal railing digging into his ribs as Katsuki loomed over him, his breath hot, furious, manic.Izuku did not resist. There was no struggle, no desperate flailing of limbs, no final act of defiance. The fire in his heart had long since extinguished, drowned beneath years of torment, crushed beneath the weight of every cruel word, every strike, every reminder that he was nothing.And then, in the thick of his despair, a familiar presence returned.A figure materialized before him, perched lazily on the very edge of the railing, staring out over the city skyline as if none of this truly mattered. The way the figure sat was almost casual, relaxed, as if it had been here all along, waiting patiently for this very moment to arrive.The edges of its form flickered, indistinct, shifting in and out of clarity like a mirage in the summer heat. Yet, even through its incomplete form, Izuku could tell it was human, or at least something that once had been.A deep, knowing voice echoed in the empty space between them. "So this is how it ends, huh?" it mused, tilting its head slightly as if pondering a thought. "I always wondered how long you'd last before finally breaking, and well… I suppose I have my answer now."Izuku's breath faltered slightly. The figure's voice was eerily familiar, yet foreign all the same, as if he had heard it a thousand times in whispers within his own mind but never had the courage to acknowledge it."You only have a few moments left," the figure continued, its voice both matter-of-fact and taunting. "Once you go over that edge, there'll be screams, horror, devastation." A pause. "But... after they learn who it was just Deku? Who's going to care?" The figure exhaled, shaking its head. "You'll be nothing more than a joke. Absolutely worthless and not even worth remembering."Izuku's throat tightened as he though in his mind, "Who… are you?"The figure chuckled. "Now that's the right question." Slowly, it turned its head, and though its features remained incomplete, Izuku could feel the weight of its gaze burning into him. "You already know the answer."Izuku swallowed, his body trembling. The figure leaned forward slightly, an amused smirk ghosting its lips. "I am you. Or at least, the part of you that you've spent your entire life trying to ignore. The anger. The hatred. The resentment. All the things you buried because you were too afraid to admit they existed."It spread its arms in an almost theatrical manner. "But now, here we are. No more running. No more pretending. Just you… and me."Izuku's breath shuddered, tears pricking at the edges of his vision. His lips parted, and before he could even think, the words spilled from him in a desperate, broken whisper.
"Help me."
For a brief moment, silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating. Then, the figure grinned, its form shifting, solidifying... molding itself into something far too familiar."Good," it said, voice low and satisfied. "I was hoping you'd say that." As the shape completed, and Izuku found himself staring at… himself. An eerie, perfect reflection, save for the unsettling smile stretched across its face, void of warmth.A sharp shift in reality yanked Izuku back to the present. Katsuki gripped the collar of his uniform tighter, dragging him over the ledge, but something in Izuku had already changed. His body no longer slumped in defeat. His muscles twitched. His mind was still. His heart, once so fragile and uncertain, now beat with something unfamiliar, something new.And before Katsuki could react—
BAM!
Katsuki's head collided violently with the metal railing, his grip on Izuku immediately releasing as he stumbled back."What the fu-?!" he spat, eyes wild, his body recoiling from the unexpected blow. He shook his head around to find out who did it. "Who the hell was it? Show yourself!"Katsuki froze when he saw Izuku standing in front of him. It was Izuku, but something was different.Izuku stood still, his posture eerily relaxed, his gaze dark and unreadable. But most unsettling of all was the expression on his face—a slow, creeping smirk that Katsuki had never seen before."Something wrong, Kacchan?" Izuku asked, tilting his head slightly. "Did you hit your head too hard?"Katsuki's mouth opened, then closed, his fists clenching at his sides as a wave of confusion swept over him. "The hell are you on about?""Let me finish," Izuku cut him off. "I've sort of grown impatient letting you speak all the time," Izuku pointed out with frustration, his body shifting forward ever so slightly. His movements were fluid, calculated. "This is hilarious," he murmured, almost to himself. "Just look at your face.""Is this really the Deku I always knew?" Katsuki thought."You know, I should probably thank you," Izuku continued, sighing dramatically. "I never would've gotten to this point without your help. It's… refreshing."Katsuki's instincts screamed at him that something was wrong. But he buried it, crushed it beneath his anger. "Looks like you finally lost your damn mind," Katsuki spat, lifting his fists. "Good. Gives me an excuse to beat the shit outta you."The school bell rang in the distance, but neither of them moved as they waited for an opening.Then... Katsuki lunged. He threw a right hook aimed for Izuku's head, but Izuku ducked effortlessly, the wind from the punch barely grazing his hair.Katsuki smirked. "Not bad." Then he drove his left fist into Izuku's stomach.Izuku let out a choked gasp as the air was knocked from his lungs, his body doubling over. Katsuki wasted no time, grabbing him by the collar and shoving him toward the ledge. Izuku barely managed to stop himself, his back colliding roughly with the guard rail. Katsuki advanced, but before he could reach him, Izuku moved faster than he should have, his body twisting as he tackled Katsuki, sending them both tumbling to the ground.The next moment, they were locked in a struggle, fists and elbows thrown in every direction, legs tangling as they wrestled for control."Get the hell off me, Deku!" Katsuki growled, slamming his fists into Izuku's ribs over and over, causing explosions to hurt him. Izuku tightened his grip, blood escaping his lips as he attempted to push himself away from the ledge in the scuffle. His breathing was ragged, his mind clouded, yet there was something intoxicating about this.And then... A misstep. A slip as both of them tumbled.Katsuki's breath suddenly exhaled. His stomach lurched as the sensation of weightlessness gripped him. But then... a hand. Izuku's fingers wrapped around his wrist at the last possible second, holding him inches from the edge of falling. Katsuki dangled, his heart pounding so violently it hurt. Izuku remained prone, his grip unwavering, eyes locked onto Katsuki."Is this what you wanted, Deku?" Katsuki spat, though his voice cracked at the edges. "Tell me!" He began to form tears in his eyes, he did not want to die... "Deku!"Izuku didn't answer. His hold tightened, his muscles straining, his entire body trembling as he tried to pull Katsuki up. Students had gathered below from the noise heard above. A teacher sprinted across the courtyard. Shouts of alarm rang through the air.Yet before anything could be done, Izuku felt his grip slip and for a second the world slowed. Katsuki's eyes widened, a single tear slipping free.Izuku watched in silence as Katsuki fell, his back faced the ground as he looked into Izuku's eyes.He fell with sickening sound.Screams erupted throughout the school grounds, horror and disbelief tearing through the gathered students as they crowded toward the scene. Izuku remained where he was, unmoving, staring down at the lifeless body below that once was his friend. His chest felt tight, yet strangely light.He raised a trembling hand to his face as is fingers brushed against his lips. He was… smiling.There was no fear. No pain. No feeling of guilt.
A/N: Well I have to say, I hope my ideas so far have been expressed well. I won't really be saying much as to what will transpire in the story as we go, because that's up for you guys to discover. I was asked if Izuku Midoriya would gain a love interest, and it might happen. However, these kinds of things likely won't be at the forefront of the story. Thanks to everyone who has so far favourited and followed my story, it really makes me happy. See you in the next chapter.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Izuku sat in a small room still wearing his school uniform. He waited for what seemed an eternity. Izuku looked at the desk in front of him, a cup of freshly made coffee had gotten cold.The door to the room opened, "Alright Midoriya, I apologise for making you wait," said the police officer, he sat down across the table from Izuku. "I'm Detective Naomasa Tsukauchi, I'm leading the investigation for Bakugo's death."The detective glanced at the untouched mug. "Don't like coffee?" he asked."Oh no uhm, not really," Izuku responded. He could not stand bitter drinks.Naomasa leaned back against his chair and pointed towards the door. "Well in that case, do you want me to get something else for you?" Naomasa asked. "We've got tea and most likely some other drinks.""I'm good, thanks," Izuku said. He shifted his eyes down to the ground.Naomasa stared at him for a moment, he placed document files on the desk."I'll be frank with you Midoriya. I'm only here to get information on what happened, and we're riding on the fact that it was an accident," Naomasa said. He opened the folder, showing a picture of Katsuki. "You were the only one on the roof when Bakugo fell."Izuku stared at the picture silently. "We are aware of your history with the boy. It wasn't that hard to figure out from the people who were around you daily," Naomasa said. "But why were you both there?"Izuku told him what transpired, he explained the details of Katsuki bullying him and leading up to the point when they went up to the roof."You're telling me that after he brought you up, it ultimately resulted in him tripping and falling off the ledge," Naomasa said, he rested a finger on his chin.Izuku nodded. Even though it was his actions at the end that led up to that moment, it was the truth. Inside his mind, Izuku laughed to himself and questioned at how it even happened."Was there anything else?" Naomasa asked. He shifted through another paper, writing down information.Izuku noticed it was his chance to make the detective feel more sympathetic to him. "Before he fell, he brought me up there to commit suicide."Naomasa's eyes moved up from his glasses, "Interesting, if that's the case, I'm sorry you had to experience that." He attempted to see if Izuku's body movement or speaking behaviours changed. He was unsettled at how a Junior High boy seemed unfazed from the events that transpired, and how normal he acted after mentioning he was almost killed.Naomasa copied Izuku's sitting position, he brought his legs closer together. "With everything that happened, why do you appear so calm?"Izuku took a moment to reflect on the question, he did not want to say anything that would make him suspicious. "I don't know sir, it's just that I've never really been close to him after his quirk developed." He paused. "And I'm just trying to forget about what happened."Naomasa could not fault the boy. He was aware of the negative perception people with no quirks got. Let alone how children would view that and prey on those who were different.In reality, Izuku never wanted to forget the moment when Katsuki fell. He could not get enough of the face he last saw before his bully died. Izuku wanted to see it again, he did not understand why, but it felt good.Naomasa was about to ask another question before a speaker in the room interrupted him, a woman's voice spoke through. "Detective Tsukauchi, the final piece of evidence you requested earlier had just arrived. You can go ahead and pick it up."Naomasa raised his forehead a little, he placed his mug down. "We'll take a break for a bit, I'll be back in a few minutes Midoriya, sorry about that."Izuku wasn't sure what they meant by evidence, but he did not remember at any point where his actions would be seen as guilty of murder. He glanced over the room, one thing caught his attention. Izuku noticed it was the only other object in the room apart from the table. A large vase of flowers stood in a corner, it portrayed an assortment of visible colours, yet something did not belong there."Better keep my mouth shut and not say something I'll regret," Izuku thought. He was not certain if a recorder was placed there, but it was better to be safe than sorry.Thirty minutes had passed, yet the detective did not return. Izuku bored out of his mind, counted the number of visible dots he saw on the drywall ceiling."1132, 1133, 1134…" Izuku counted. The door opened right before Izuku could continue."Sorry about the wait," Naomasa said. Izuku noticed that he did not bring his folder with him. "The good news I can tell you is that you've been completely exonerated from any sort of suspicion."Izuku sat in disbelief, "Did it really take that fast?" he thought."If you're wondering why... we reviewed video footage from a security camera that was stationed up at the roof. I guess it was there for a good reason," Naomasa stated. When he reviewed the footage, Izuku's story aligned with what was shown."Along with all of the witness accounts being factored in, everything comes together so I'm sorry for putting you through all of this," Naomasa said, he sat back down on his chair."Granted that this was proper procedure," he retorted. "If you were the one responsible for his death, then it would spell out a different story."Izuku looked down, it was difficult for him to keep a straight face. "Oh, I didn't mean to mention that," Naomasa laughed, he misunderstood Izuku for being scared."With that out of the way, unavoidably there is also some bad news Midoriya."The boy looked at Naomasa, confused from what he meant. "Due to the incident that occurred a few days ago, we felt as if it was in the best interest to transfer you to another school. Some of them in this region take 3rd-year transfer students in," Naomasa said, he stopped to regain his breath. "But due to the situation, they're not willing to take you in. I hope you understand."Izuku looked at the detective, twiddling his thumbs. He did not care about school anymore."The school you're in right now can't legally expel you, so there are no other real options for you," Naomasa said quietly. He stood up from his chair and gestured Izuku to do the same.The detective put one hand on Izuku's shoulder. "Your mom is waiting outside.""Izuku!" Inko cried out, she ran towards her son and hugged him with tremendous force."Mom, you're hurting me," Izuku whispered. He attempted to get out, but she did not let go."I was so worried, I thought you were hurt, and they did not let me see you." She looked at the detective with an angry look. Naomasa put his hands up, feigning ignorance."Pretty sure that is illegal to do with a minor," Izuku thought for a second, but he was just glad to have gotten out."Did they do anything to you?" Inko asked. She let go of her son, wiping her tears away.Izuku looked at her. "No mom, everything's fine."The detective smiled at the sight. "I don't mean to interrupt your reunion, but there's still something I need to mention," Naomasa said, he put his hands inside his coat pockets.Inko and Izuku faced towards him. "We've done our best to keep the details surrounding this tragedy away from the news outlets," Naomasa said. He passed Inko over his business card. "If they start bothering you and your son, give me a call and the department will sort it out." He opened the door and left the building.Inko placed the card inside her purse as they exited the police department, she let out a sigh. "Izuku, I was hoping we could visit Bakugo's family and give them some proper closure."Izuku did not like hearing that. "I don't think they'd like to see me, and if anything, isn't that the police's job?" Izuku murmured an excuse."Don't be like that!" Inko replied in shock. "Mitsuki and Masaru always liked you when you were younger, and it would be better if you explained to them what happened. Tell them that he was a good friend."Izuku's eyes lit up in anger. "What about how I feel?" Izuku shouted, surprising Inko.Several passersby stopped and faced towards the outcry in the street. "Do you even know who he was to me? Why should I do something like that for him?" Izuku berated his mother, he clenched his fists."Have you ever stopped to consider my well-being over others for at least one day?"It was the first time Inko witnessed her son act that way. His words left her stunned, and before she could respond, Izuku ran off."Izuku wait!" Inko cried out.Izuku continued to run as fast as he could. He wanted to be left alone, "Just anywhere but here," Izuku reasoned to himself.The sun had already begun to set. Izuku continued running aimlessly forward, confusing pedestrians as he passed them. His body grew tired, but Izuku mustered on until the point of fatigue.Izuku had lost sense of time and direction. The only thing that faced in front of him was the ocean, glimmering in a red pastel colour. Seagulls flew over as they attempted to catch fish swimming in the water."You're just overreacting," a voice said behind Izuku. "That's not who I am. That's not who we are."The embodiment of Izuku's natural desires reappeared in front of him. Only it's face mirrored his look, the rest was covered in shadows once again."Just look at you. Even after you took care of Katsuki, you're conflicted," the shadow said. "Make up your mind. You shouldn't care about how others feel about you. Mother might have made it look like she cared, but she was the first one to throw you under the bus.""She's not your mother!" Izuku countered immediately.The shadow looked at Izuku with disappointment. "I thought we have already gone over this," it said. "I understand how you feel, but this is getting us nowhere."Izuku blinked, staring at the shadow. "Then what do you propose I do?"The shadow snorted. "Must I repeat everything again? Whatever…" The shadow stopped, it spoke in a chilling tone. "Stop caring about others and also how they feel about you.""First rule, and the last rule," it said. "I don't expect change immediately, but there is already some progress.""Yeah well that's because I was led up against a wall, I had no choice," Izuku said."But it felt good when you did it, I know it felt good," the shadow replied back.Izuku could not argue with it, there was some truth to that emotion. When Katsuki fell, Izuku felt relieved."I don't plan on coming back out again," the shadow said, it looked at Izuku with dead eyes. "I'm not here for emotional support. If you intend on paying back the world that had left you to die, it's only your actions that will prove it.""You're right," Izuku responded with an expressionless face, he realized what a child he had been. In front of Izuku stood the only thing that truly understood him.Izuku looked back towards the shadow, but it was already gone.Inside the house Inko paced back and forth, worrying about her son. She initially wanted to head back to the police office and have them find Izuku, but she soon realized they would not do anything if he had been missing for one hour."I just hope he's okay," she thought to herself. "Maybe I did push him too far."She grabbed the house phone, dialling 9-1-1. She looked at the screen displaying the number before cancelling it and placing it back down on the stand. Inko did not know what to do.The front door's handle suddenly moved. The door opened, revealing Izuku standing beside it."Izuku? You're back?" Inko asked, still not believing what she had seen.Izuku nodded, he entered inside and closed the door. "Just had to take a breather, I am fine now," Izuku said."Look dear, I'm sorry about earlier," Inko admitted. "I didn't consider your thoughts about it.""It's fine," Izuku responded. He took off his shoes and walked passed Inko into the hallway. Maybe his mother cared for him he thought, but it was too late.Inko turned to face Izuku, "If you're hungry, I can make some dinner."Izuku waved back, "Sure, I'll be in my room. Call me when it's ready," he said with a flat voice.Inko was not sure how to respond to what she had witnessed. She did not know whether to be happy that her son came back or feel frightened by the way he acted.Izuku closed his door and removed his school vest, following up with his dress shirt. He walked up to the mirror and looked at himself. From across the shoulders to his hips, his body was covered in scars and burns that he had accumulated from injuries Katsuki had given him since childhood.It did not bother Izuku anymore, he intended on wearing it like armour. A reminder to himself of who he was, and what had been done to him.Izuku chuckled when he remembered how hard he always tried to hide it from his mother. Even now he was certain she did not know. He looked at the desk in front of him, a large pile of notebooks he had written down lay untouched."Regardless of what its intentions were, I guess it could still prove useful to me," Izuku said to himself. He opened the notebook at the top and looked through its contents."Top hero quirks and how they can be improved," he read. Izuku flipped to the next page and saw a drawing of All Might.
Quirk: Super Strength and Awesomeness

How to Improve it: …
Izuku stared at the page before he let out a small laugh. Even though All Might told him he could not be a hero. Izuku respected his sense of duty and actual effort into saving others instead of himself."I guess I am going to have to do more research," Izuku said. He closed the notebook and walked up to the closet, grabbing a long-sleeve shirt and putting it on. "There is still a lot of more interesting quirks for me to learn about," Izuku thought, before sitting down on his bed.He was not certain of how he would enact revenge against the society that wronged him. Izuku pondered for a while, he then came to a short-term solution.Izuku rested his chin on his hand, "All I have is information about hero quirks and some villains, but I need more if I want to get somewhere with this." Izuku did not know where to start yet it did not matter to him. Just the thought alone of him doing something terrible made his heart tremble with excitement. He had not felt that way since Katsuki's death."Izuku, dinner is ready," Inko yelled, loud enough for him to hear. Izuku stood up and left his room, he walked over to the dinner table and sat down.Inko shifted over with two plates and placed one beside him. She noticed that Izuku acted happier than how he was earlier."Well someone looks better now," Inko said joyfully. "Just make sure school doesn't bring you down.""Oh, it won't," Izuku said immediately.Inko was surprised once more, she could not tell what her son was thinking. He seemed like a completely different person.Izuku took a bite out of his fish. "I'll be home later tomorrow,""Oh. Why's that?" Inko asked with curiosity."I'm planning on doing some research for an assignment that's coming up," Izuku replied, grinning towards his mother.
A/N: Thanks for reading the third chapter, and I hope that you are so far enjoying reading it. We'll have to see where the story goes in the near future, but I can promise you that there's some exciting stuff I have planned out. Thanks again for reading, favouriting, and following. Cheers!

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Izuku stood outside of his apartment. The morning breeze had set in, pushing small scraps of paper beneath his feet. Izuku rubbed his eyes, he had trouble sleeping the night before. Initially it was from his excitement, but whenever he tried to close his eyes after, his body would not go to sleep.Izuku walked down the building stairs. "If I'm going to do this, I'll need to find an opportunity where I get to meet a villain in private," Izuku thought.He knew his plan was reliant mostly on luck, finding someone trustworthy was going to be difficult."School comes first though for now," Izuku muttered, he held a brand-new notebook in his hands.The atmosphere changed at the Junior High school ever since the incident. Katsuki was beloved by everyone due to his exceptional talents, they were sad to have him gone.All of the students stop and whispered when they saw Izuku, keeping their distance from him.Izuku was annoyed at how much attention he received. A group of first years stared at him, to which they only saw eyes of pure hatred, which seemed to penetrate into their souls. They quickly ran off, passing by him.Izuku walked over to his classroom, his classmates quieted down immediately. He sat down once again at the chair he was given at the start of the year, this time no one was going to kick him in the back.One of the students finally made the courage to speak up against Izuku. "It should have been you..." the student said in grief. "Why is it you that had to be here?"Izuku turned to face his classmate, he smiled. "That was very nice of you to say," Izuku remarked sarcastically. "Glad to see you being ignorant as ever.""What did you say?" the boy asked. He walked over to Izuku, grabbing his collar."Now you're resorting to violence?" Izuku asked with a bored expression. "How heroic of you."They stood there in silence until the teacher slapped them both on the head."Enough with the fighting, both of you. I don't want to see that again," the teacher said.The boy turned to his desk."Bye-bye," Izuku said quietly, he waved his hand."What's wrong with him?" asked one student behind Izuku."Pay no attention, he's just trying to mess with us," said another. "He should have ended up in prison."Izuku ignored them. They were all insignificant to him."Midoriya," the teacher walked up to him after the last class ended. "Don't provoke them right now, it's a tough time for most of them."Izuku looked at the teacher with perplexity. He had to clear his ears in order to make sure he heard what he thought he did."Whatever you say, teacher," Izuku responded back. He left the building, heading towards the downtown area."Is this what I'm really dealing with on a minor scale?" Izuku thought. "It's already gotten this bad. How many more people are going to be thrown away to rot?"Izuku moved his backpack towards him. He opened the top and took out a pencil and notebook that he had brought with him."Time to look around," Izuku said gleefully. "I wonder what quirks I'll learn about today." His habit of analysing information was the last trait Izuku had kept unchanged.It did not take him long to find an alleyway with the sound of people brawling."Lucky," Izuku said, he put his hands together. Quietly Izuku walked closer to the fight that had taken place. He noticed that there were mostly thugs, but one of the aggressors stood out."Show me your blood," the towering figure screamed. He picked up one thug by the head, the lifeless body lifted away from the ground. Before Izuku could examine the quirk, the thug's head exploded from the tremendous amount of force exerted on it.A small amount of blood sprayed onto Izuku's notebook, yet his eyes lit up with excitement from what he had witnessed. "What was that?" Izuku thought. He only saw for a brief moment when the man's hand grew in size. "Did he just alter his physical strength?"Izuku was lost in a million discussions that his mind went through, his habit of muttering long sentences began to spill out. Izuku instinctively started writing down observations and theories of the quirk the man used to commit murder with."Blonde hair. Around two meters tall and…" Izuku was interrupted by a body flying past his face. He initially thought he had been seen, but the blonde man continued fighting the remaining gang members. Izuku looked at the headless body that rested beside his feet. It was a shame he thought, he would never learn its quirk."Is that all that you've got weaklings?" the murderer asked. "I was told it would be worth my time fighting you."The man opened up his arms, inviting them to hit him. "I'll give you one chance. You can hit me, and I won't block it with my arms." The thugs hesitated. One of them then quickly rushed forward sticking out a combat knife towards the man's chest.Izuku could not see well from the man's back. Yet he noticed that he stood unworried. The murderer chuckled to himself before grabbing the thug by his hand, smashing him against the wall.Izuku finally saw what the unknown man's quirk manifested into. Muscle fibres surrounded his arm and chest, the knife still protruded out of it. The man took out the blade, throwing it down on the ground."Didn't say I wasn't going to use my quirk," the man cracked up. He reverted back to his regular form."Screw that, I don't want to die here," said one of the thugs running off. The rest who were alive followed suit.The blonde man scoffed, "Weaklings."He was about to exit the alleyway before a quiet sound behind him caught his attention. The man turned around, he noticed something prodding a thug he killed earlier with what looked like a pencil."What the hell," the man thought before slowly walking up towards the sight. It took him by surprise when he saw a teen in his school uniform looking at the body with a curious expression. The boy mumbled to himself, occasionally writing down something in his notebook.The man interrupted him, "Shouldn't you be in school little boy?" It confused him as to how the kid in front of him remained calm from his presence, let alone the fact that a dead body was laying in front of him.Izuku looked up towards the man, realizing that he had been found out. He stopped writing in his notebook. "Classes already ended," Izuku responded back. "Can you give me just a second to finish this up?"The man continued to stare at the boy, he was puzzled from what he heard. "Who are you affiliated with?" he asked, looking at the bloodied notebook. He felt a weird vibe from the boy, it gave off mixed signals."I'm just someone who is interested in quirks," Izuku responded. He closed his notebook."That doesn't answer my question," the man said, he tensed up his arms for a possible confrontation.Izuku stood up, bringing his body up to face the man. "It's just me, but…" he stopped. "The more I look at you, it reminds me of a villain I have read about."Before the man could respond, Izuku raised his voice. "Ah! I remember your quirk, you're Muscular, aren't you?" Izuku asked with interest."That's right," Muscular replied. He was impressed that someone recognized him.Izuku changed his tone, he looked happy. "Your quirk is amazing! It's like so strong. Powerful enough to pretty much overtake anyone.""Uhm, thanks. I guess," Muscular said, not knowing what else to say. His day was just getting weirder and weirder."What kind of other things can you do? How long can you use it for? Are there any side-effects? What made you decide to go down the villain path?" Izuku rambled on, he spoke almost without taking a breather."Jesus kid. Calm down, will you?" Muscular asked. He rested one hand on his head, shaking the back of his hair slightly. The boy piqued his interest. "Why isn't he scared of me? Shouldn't he be afraid that I'll kill him," Muscular thought."Oh, sorry," Izuku said, shifting his head down."Don't be," Muscular said reassuringly. "Say, you didn't happen to have anyone know or follow you on the way here?"Izuku thought for a second, he looked at the alleyway entrance he came through earlier. "No, I don't think so."Muscular let out a grin. "Good." He raised his hand, forming a punching stance towards the boy. Muscular flung his fist towards Izuku, the blow created enough force to dent the building wall, cracks formed around the stone.Izuku looked to his left, the fist had barely scratched him. He felt a sharp pain on his cheek, blood dripped slowly to the ground."Not bad," Muscular said. "I don't sense any fear in you. However, I suggest you forget what you saw here earlier, for both of our sakes." He looked at the notebook that Izuku had held from the beginning."I'll be taking that.""Huh," Izuku asked. He then realized what had happened, attempting to grab it back. "But you can't! It's mine.""What did you say?" Muscular asked. He glanced at Izuku with rage, stopping the boy from complaining. Muscular then folded the notebook and placed it in his back pocket.Izuku looked at the bent notebook protruding out. He drifted his eyes with a disappointed look, knowing it would be best not to provoke the man who killed others with relative ease."You should be glad I'm letting you live. I would have killed you if you attempted to run away," Muscular said. The alleyway had begun to reek of blood, he had already wasted too much time talking."You're a bit on the weird side, but I like you." Muscular stepped back, he created a large set of muscles around his legs. "What's your name kid?""Izuku… Izuku Midoriya," he said without thinking."Heh, didn't your parents ever tell you to never give out your name to strangers?" Muscular asked. He shook his head in disbelief."Well I, uhh," Izuku staggered. Muscular jumped into the air, passing over the building in front of him.Izuku fell from the knockback. He got back on his feet after a few seconds, scraping the dirt off his shoulder. "Holy shit," Izuku said, the jump startled him. He naturally moved his hand around to find his notebook, upon which he realized he no longer had anymore.He opened his schoolbag, taking out another one. Izuku wrote down everything he could remember. As he finished, Izuku wiped his forehead. He was surprised to feel sweat."Time to head out before anyone realizes I was here," Izuku thought. He heard police sirens in the distance as he left the street.Inside a small lounge, a man sat by the counter waiting for the bartender to finish his drink. The door slammed open, Muscular entered through with an annoyed look."Giran, the place you sent me to, had a bunch of nobodies there," Muscular said. "It was a complete waste of my time."Giran took out a burning cigarette from his mouth, butting the end of it inside a receptacle. He exhaled a large puff of smoke to the side."Don't be like that. Their boss had some intel on the existence of our organization," Giran said with a calm look. "I take it you destroyed the files in his safe?"Muscular walked over to the bar counter and sat parallel to Giran from across two seats. He waved off to the bartender, who had his face and arms covered in black mist. "I'll get an IPA, tap of your choice."The bartender nodded, he handed over Giran the drink he made earlier."Yeah they're gone, it's the last we should hear of them either," Muscular responded.Giran grabbed his drink and took a sip. "Good. Small or not in scale, right now the boss is intending on playing his cards right," Giran said, looking at the glass. He put the cigarette back between his teeth.Muscular shrugged. "As long as I get to kill someone, I guess it's tolerable.""Speaking of waiting until the time is right," the bartender asked. "Did we hear anything about looking for more potential villains to join our cause?"Giran exhaled and looked at the bartender. "Well I have been looking Kurogiri, but so far it's a mixed bag."Kurogiri placed a glass under the tap, pouring beer into it. "What do you mean it's a mixed bag?" he questioned."Well, for starters I already found some that pass the criteria. But the number is small, and only a few I still have to get background checks on," Giran noted."That doesn't sound too bad," Kurogiri stated, closing the tap.Giran took out his cigarette once more, he waved it around in his hand. "I have already searched extensively in the entire applicant pool. And it's not necessarily increasing too.""That's why we exist," stated Tomura Shigaraki behind them. Muscular turned around and saw a young man with light blue hair. "Great," Muscular thought to himself. "Another kid I have to deal with today."His eyes slowly opened, "Hey Giran, I actually came in for another reason today." Muscular grabbed the glass of beer Kurogiri handed him."Does the name Izuku Midoriya ring any bells?"Giran thought for a second. "No, it doesn't. Why do you ask?"Muscular reached for his back pocket, grabbing the notebook he took earlier. "Met him there when I was killing off the rest of the group. I think you might be interested in seeing this." Muscular said. He put the notebook on the table and slid it over to him."What's this?" Giran asked. The notebook he looked at had no title."I grabbed this off him when I talked to him. I don't know who he is, but he was an interesting fellow," Muscular said, gulping down the last ounce of his drink. "Take a look."Giran opened the notebook, revealing detailed information on Muscular's quirk. Several pages explained the quirk's weaknesses, abilities, and ways on how to improve it."What's scary about this, is that it's all true. He wrote all of that after seeing me use my quirk maybe two or three times," Muscular said seriously.Giran was surprised, there were a few things in the notebook even he did not know about. "Interesting indeed," Giran noted. He placed the cigarette inside the bowl."Is this something that has to do with his quirk?"Muscular asked Kurogiri for another glass. "Not certain, I don't even know if that boy is a villain."The entire group was taken aback. "I'm surprised you even let someone live, nevertheless the fact that it was a child," Kurogiri said.Muscular dismissed his comment. "That's not the point. He's probably thirteen or fourteen, but I think he's good enough to join the league. Can't speak for his fighting skills though."Giran sighed audibly. "I can't deny what you've shown me. I hate to say it, but his talent exceeds my own when it comes to quirk analysis," he agreed with Muscular.Tomura attempted to grab the notebook but was stopped by Giran. "That's up for Muscular to decide. If he wants you to see, then he'll give it to you."Tomura walked away, clawing his fingers at his throat with frustration.Giran walked up and passed the notebook over to Muscular."Apart from this wonderful news, you've actually decided to visit at a perfect time. The boss is here," Giran pointed out. The entire group was surprised once again, there was no news of his arrival.Clapping was heard in a dark hallway behind them. "As expected of you Giran, you never fail to entertain me with your antics.""You flatter me sir, but I'm just an old man with connections," Giran replied with respect."I heard the conversation you had. I am curious in the boy as well, he may prove useful to us," the voice pointed out. A man wearing a suit appeared out of the door, a large mask covered his entire head and neck area."Indeed, All for One it is as you say," Giran said. "However, I am not certain how to approach this scenario, we know nothing about him.""There is no need to worry about that, I will personally assess him myself," All for One stated.Tomura had been watching from the sidelines, he did not like the interest his master took towards the boy.All for One looked at the group gathered at the bar. "That covers it then, good work all of you. The preparations are coming along nicely." The mask covered his smile.Giran nodded, "Would you like me to inform the non-present members of anything?""That won't be necessary," All for One said, he put his hand up. "Focus on the recruits.""And Tomura…" the mask turned to face him. "I will need to speak with you soon."
A/N: Sorry about ending the chapter on a slight cliff-hanger, however, I want to briefly mention that I have decided to continue writing this story to its full completion. Currently, my drive for writing is high, so expect 2-3 chapters per week. I will make sure the quality is consistent throughout. Thanks for reading if you see this.

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Tomura walked into the pitch-black hallway that his Master had come through earlier. He tripped over a small crack, almost falling down before he regained his footing.All for One gave off a small chuckle, he stopped to look at the hair that streamed across a hand on the young villain's face. "I apologise Tomura, I did not stop to consider that you could not see. The lighting should be installed here soon.""It's alright Master, my eyes just haven't adjusted yet. I'm sorry for delaying you," Tomura said, not wanting to disappoint All for One.All for One turned around, he continued to walk down the seemingly unending path."Master, may I ask why you wanted to speak with me?" Tomura asked, still holding one hand along the wall."Everything I wish to tell you will be said in time. There is no need to rush things Tomura," All for One told him. "You seem to have been troubled lately. Part of me calling you today is because of that, the other reason I will explain to you once we arrive."Tomura's eyes had finally adjusted to the dark, he caught up to All for One. "I'm perfectly fine, I'm not a kid anymore," Tomura said."Tomura," All for One said chillingly, he stopped once more. "Do not lie to me ever again. Your emotions are unbalanced. Need I only look at you, and the entire picture appears in front of me."All for One's presence towered over Tomura, making the young man afraid of the repercussions. Moments passed yet nothing happened. Tomura never understood what his Master thought underneath the mask, but his love and respect for the man in the suit were greater than anyone in the world. All for One took him in ever since he was a child. Giving him food, shelter, and a place he could call home. Tomura considered the man his own father.Silence stood over between them, it was interrupted by All for One taking a step towards a door that had appeared in front of them."Follow me," All for One said.They stepped through the door that had opened by itself. The place revealed a small room, resembling an office. It had been refurbished everywhere, a large desk was spaced out in the middle. The man gestured Tomura to sit down at one of the seats.All for One walked over to a large leather chair and sat down. He put his elbows on the table, crossing his hands together. "You disagree with the decision I made with Giran earlier."Tomura stood in silence, his hand had grabbed the top of the chair, but his body froze."I don't disagree with your deci–" Tomura said, before being interrupted."Sit, before you speak," All for One ordered.Tomura sat down quickly, he was afraid. "Yes Master," he said in a small, hushed breath."Do you believe I made a mistake in wanting to recruit the boy?" All for One repeated."No, it's just that…" Tomura stopped, he did not want to show his envy."Just what?" All for One asked. He grew impatient with the young man.Tomura nervously readjusted the hand that blocked his face. There was no chance of getting out of the question. Tomura thought quickly, he chose the best option available. "Isn't he just a kid? Seems like a waste of time and effort into making someone join. He might possibly not even be a villain."All for One looked at him, knowing it was likely not the real answer Tomura had in his mind. Yet the response All for One received was not bad either."Funny you should mention that. When I brought you in, where you not just a little boy?" All for One pointed out. "Some of the recruits that have joined or will be soon, are of his age as well."Tomura sat in silence. There was no arguing with the man he feared and respected."You are right about the last part though," he said. All for One changed his hand posture. "However, that doesn't mean it's not impossible. Even if the boy is not a villain, ideologies can be changed."Tomura felt a slight relief, his answer had barely passed as legitimate. He moved his head up, scratching his neck from anxiety."The other reason I called you here for, is that you'll be taking over the operations and leading them once we are ready," All for One said.This surprised Tomura. He never expected his Master to put such a heavy responsibility on him. He felt compelled to earn All for One's trust."I have high hopes in you. Hopefully, this will prove to be a useful teaching experience," All for One told him.A smile touched Tomura's lips. "Of course, Master."Izuku continued walking the streets on a Sunday night, attempting to find any quirk that intrigued him. Two days had passed since he met Muscular, and during that time he had not found anyone that excited him as much then."Ouch," Izuku whispered. He looked at his bandaged right hand he had accidentally cut the night before. The wound still stung, and he could see that it re-opened. A small red stain appeared in the middle of his palm.Izuku walked passed several passersby before feeling a large rumble in his stomach. He had been preoccupied with searching for villains, that his mind had forgotten to eat the entire day."Guess now wouldn't be a bad time to take a break," Izuku thought. He took out his wallet, two one-thousand-yen bills sat inside. He looked around and spotted a fast food restaurant.Izuku frowned. "No real option here."He opened the door, revealing a run-down place. Izuku walked over to the ordering station, but no employees were in sight. Izuku could tell that they did not get many customers."Oh sorry," shouted out a voice in the back of the store. A fat burly man stepped out, greeting Izuku. He placed his hands on the counter. "What can I get you?"Izuku looked at the signs above him. "I'll get combo number six." He passed over the two bills to the man."Pick any drink you want from the fridge," the man pointed out, returning Izuku his change.Izuku looked at his hand, he had been short-handed. "Sure," Izuku said. "No wonder this place is shutting down," he thought to himself. Izuku walked over to the fridge, at the corner of his eyes, something caught his attention.The only customer in the restaurant besides Izuku stared at him profusely. Izuku felt uncomfortable but disregarded it. He walked back to the counter for his food."Sorry for making you wait. Here you go, a double patty with fries," the large man said with enthusiasm."Thanks," Izuku muttered, grabbing the plastic tray. He was not going to bother arguing with what happened earlier.Izuku turned around and walked over to a table in front of him that was the furthest away from the other customer. He placed the tray down and sat facing the street window. He grabbed his bag, taking out the notebook he had been writing in while observing quirks.The other person continued staring at Izuku intensely, for minutes even at a time. Izuku tried not to pay attention but his curiosity got the best of him. He looked up and made eye contact with a girl that looked around his age.Izuku quickly looked down, his face flustered. "Oh god," Izuku thought. He shifted his eyes nervously, looking at his notes. "Why has she been staring at me for so long?" Izuku was not certain if he had been found out once more from his outings. "Better to just keep to myself and leave soon."He was interrupted by the chair in front of him moving. Izuku was preoccupied in his thoughts and did not realize in time that the girl he had looked at earlier, sat down right in front of him."What the hell?!" Izuku shouted inside his mind. The girl's sudden appearance startled him even more. "Who is she?""Hello there cutie," the girl said, resting her chin on her hand."W… w… wh-wha… what?" Izuku said in surprise. He did not know how to handle the greeting that appeared to smash his face wide open. He was not used to talking directly to girls.The girl laughed, smiling at him. "Just saying hi. Jeez you are super cute." She looked at Izuku's bandaged arm. Izuku noticed and quickly moved his hand underneath the table."Awww," she cried out, puffing her face. "I just wanted to look at it."Izuku was confused. The girl was beyond his comprehension. "Uhm, why?" It was the only response he could think of. He knew he had to choose his words carefully."Because I like blood silly!" the girl said with an amused tone. "And I like you.""I... I-I… Thanks?" Izuku responded. He did his best not to look at the girl directly."You're so adorable when you look away," the girl teased him. "I'm Toga Himiko but you can call me Toga if you want.""Why is she so friendly with me? Does she really like me that much…" Izuku pondered."What's your name?" Toga asked spontaneously.Izuku knew better not to give out his name this time, but he felt something pointing at his leg, slowly rising up. Izuku gulped down his throat, realizing what she was doing."Izuku," he said quietly. The knife underneath the table still continued to move towards his inner left thigh. "Midoriya." Izuku gave up, knowing it was best not to upset her."Izuku… Midoriya," Toga repeated, lifting the knife away from his leg. She smiled, "Can I call you Izu-chan?"Izuku's face blushed. He put his hands up to cover his face. "Please. Please don't call me by that name," he said nervously."Why not Izu… chan?" Toga said, she began to enjoy teasing him more.Before Izuku could respond back, Toga grabbed his injured arm and started caressing it with her cheek."Himiko- I mean Toga… W-what are you doing?" Izuku asked.Toga then tapped his nose with her right hand. "Boop!"Izuku sat there in silence, giving up on trying to question her. Toga examined his hand before grabbing something from her cardigan, she then wrote on his notebook. He looked and saw a phone number that she had written down in cursive. Next to it, a heart was drawn, with a smiley face inside.His eyes flashed before noticing that the mysterious girl stood up and began walking to the exit of the restaurant. Their eyes met once more, as Toga made a phone gesture towards her ear, mouthing off the words, "Call me."The door closed. Izuku replayed the scenario in his head a thousand times before he finally understood what had happened. He sat in his chair like a deer staring at car headlights.He was suddenly brought back from a voice that called out to him. "Sir, we are already closing down for tonight," the man said behind the counter glass.Izuku nodded, he stood up and threw his half-finished burger into the trash. He walked outside, heading back to his house."Just what was that?" Izuku asked to himself. "Why did I even let myself get pushed around by her?"He placed his hand on his forehead. The thought of a girl liking him was something he always wanted, but his interest lay more into whether she had any ulterior motives. "That's just not something someone normal would do. She had a god damn knife," Izuku thought. Yet he could not deny that it made his heart race a little."She might know my name… But if I'm careful, I'll avoid walking into her at public places," Izuku said. "Calling her is definitely out of the question." Izuku grabbed his notebook to erase her message but realized quickly that it was not written with a regular pencil."Ink? Wait, no… is that blood?"Izuku sighed, "Yeah, definitely not meeting her again."Izuku maintained a steady pace. He thought about all of the close encounters that he had come across after deciding to observe villains. Izuku tried his best to be quiet and cautious, but at some point, there could come a time when he would have to defend himself."Best option right now would be getting a knife, but the problem is that I am not familiar with using it properly," Izuku muttered. "Let alone the difficulty in getting a proper one."Izuku crossed a small road and entered a shortcut that passed in between a small community of houses."Ho. I'm impressed with how well you articulate your thoughts when it comes to hurting others." Izuku heard a deep voice address him. A tall figure leaned across a tree, Izuku was not able to see the man's face. Izuku formed a defensive stance, but his body was telling him to run."No need to get defensive young man," said the man. "I take it you've already grown tired of people surprising you."Izuku stayed quiet, assessing whether the person in front of him was a threat. "Are you a villain?" Izuku asked with a straight face."Indeed, I am, but I have not come here to be your enemy," said the voice. "In fact, I am here to offer you a proposition." The man stepped forward, revealing a giant mask that covered his entire head."I am the leader of a specific organisation that centres itself towards giving villains a voice. In fact, you might know one of the members you had met a few days ago. He goes by the codename… what was it? Muscular, yes."Izuku was interested in what the man in the mask had to say. "And why have you, the leader, decide to confront me alone? That seems a little suspicious."The man in the suit laughed. "I have to give it to you for not stumbling at what I had said previously. It seems as if you had expected for this to happen." He took one step closer to Izuku. "The reason why I am here is that I am the only one who can offer you to become special. Someone strong, someone who could enact revenge against the world and false heroes who had left him to suffer."Izuku was not able to understand what the man meant. "What does he mean to make me special? How could I become strong?""It seems you do not understand just what I can do young Midoriya," the mask said. Breathing sounds were heard going through tubes exiting the back."I am offering you a quirk, a powerful one at that."Izuku stood in disbelief, he did not know how the man knew he was quirkless. He thought to himself if it was really even possible to be given a quirk artificially. "And what do you want in return?" he asked sternly."Amazing, you really are able to comprehend things quickly," the man responded. "I only wish you to join us, however, I do not want to force you. This is your decision to make.""We are aware of your extraordinary skills when it comes to analysing quirks. Your past has created the mindset of the perfect villain, and I thought it would be a waste to let that go."Izuku was impressed with how the man knew everything about him. He did not know if it was a quirk that allowed him to read minds, but something was different about the man who had decided to confront him."I'm interested," Izuku said. An opportunity had finally jumped into his hands, letting go of it was not an option. Izuku thought of several ideas that would explain the man's quirk, but nothing came to mind."In that case, you will need this," the man replied. "There is only one contact here, call it tomorrow exactly at 5 PM and you will be given instructions on where to go." He handed an old phone into Izuku's hand. "I look forward to speaking with you again."Izuku watched the man exit the shortcut. He never expected this encounter to had happened so fast. Izuku let out a large sigh. "He knew everything, just who was that?"He looked at the phone that was given to him. It was covered in glitter, with pink embroidery. "Ha, this is just something else," Izuku chuckled. He smiled and looked at the moon, "Isn't this just great?"
A/N: I guess the ship has finally decided to exit the docks. We'll see how Izuku's and Toga's relationship comes around in the future. The story is slowly starting to gain traction in terms of pacing, and I am excited to write what's in store next. I have also made a new story cover because why not? I hope it fits the theme a bit better. Thanks for supporting and reading

Villain of Tomorrow

. See you in the next chapter.

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Izuku sat in his room staring at the phone he was given by the mysterious man in the mask he had met last night. "It's finally happening," Izuku emphasized. He did not know if he could trust anyone, especially the man who had offered him a quirk."The leader of a group of villains wants me to join him. He mentioned Muscular, which means that they most likely saw my notebook." Izuku snickered. His plan had somehow worked, though he never expected it to happen so quickly.He twirled a pencil in his hand, the clock read four minutes until 5 PM. Izuku picked up the phone, flipping it open. One contact was seen on the list with a phone number below it, but no name was written down.Izuku knew it was a burner phone, deciding to write down the number in case anything happened to it. "I wonder if the leader will pick up, this is just too exciting." He rolled around in his bed with enthusiasm, burying his face into a pillow. "Two more minutes, two more minutes!""Quirks. They definitely will have some interesting ones," Izuku said with a muffled voice.The sunset had begun to gloom over Izuku's bedroom. Posters that surrounded his walls were nowhere to be seen, figurines and other merchandise on his desk and shelves were thrown away. The room was bland, yet it made Izuku happier. The hero who Izuku believed in and worshipped was now a memory he wanted to bury deep inside his mind, but no matter how hard he tried, he could never forget it.Izuku took a deep breath before lifting his face from the pillow. Thirty seconds. Izuku quickly rose up in a sitting position, he stared at the contact, his finger hovered over the dial button.
Click.
Izuku pressed the pink phone against his ear, waiting for a response. Five seconds past, then ten. He was worried no one would answer until he heard a phone get picked up on the receiving end."Hello?" Izuku asked without skipping a beat."I am assuming this is Midoriya," said a scrambled voice."Yes, it is," Izuku replied. "Man, they are crafty," he thought."My Master had informed me to notify you of where he wishes you to go. Specifically, today," the voice spoke with cool courtesy. "We expect you to be there no later than two hours.""Ok, where do I need to go?" Izuku asked, his hands trembled."I will provide you with the address in the form of a text momentarily."The call ended before Izuku could reply. He looked at the phone screen, shortly after a message appeared showing an address."Ok, time to go," Izuku said. He grabbed a knife he had taken earlier from the kitchen. Izuku rolled up his shirt, revealing a makeshift holster that sat around his hip. Izuku shrugged before putting the knife inside."Getting really tired of people walking up on me unannounced," he thought as he put on a grey sweater. "I don't really know what to expect, but it's better than being empty-handed."Izuku arrived towards the street he was given. The sky had grown dark, droplets of rain began to hit his face. In the alleyway, stood a moderately sized commercial building, showing no signs of any villainous activity around it."Just a normal building… Don't know what I was expecting," Izuku said, almost laughing to himself.He walked over to it, noticing there were only two entrances. Izuku glanced upwards, a security camera stared at him with a tinted red glow. He stepped over to one door and attempted to open it, yet the handle stood in place.Izuku looked to the right, noticing a post-box resting inside the brick wall. He stood for a second before realizing what it was there for. Izuku shifted over to the box and opened it, revealing a shaft that exited through the other side."Makes sense," Izuku said. He grabbed the phone from his pocket. "I guess they want this back."He placed it inside and closed the hatch, waiting for a response. The rain had grown heavier, pouring down relentlessly on his hair and clothing as Izuku waited for what seemed an eternity. The door handle rattled after a few seconds passed, a voice was heard inside right after, "Come in."Izuku grabbed the door handle and opened the door, which caused the joints to creak loudly."Welcome to the League of Villains," said a tall figure in a formal suit, bowing towards Izuku.Izuku slowly closed the door behind him, attempting not to make any more noise than necessary. Before he could close the door fully, one of the hinges ripped apart from the wall. Izuku ducked in time as the door swung back open, only to be stopped from falling to the ground from the bottom hinge that stood untouched.Izuku looked at the man in front of him, then to the door, and back to the man again. "Uh, D-d, I… That wasn't supposed to happen," Izuku blurted out. He attempted to put the door back into its place, only for it to fall down again."This building is a little rundown. Do not worry about it," said the man.Izuku looked back and noticed the person speaking to him had features that were different for a regular human to have."The name is Kurogiri, it is a pleasure to meet you."Izuku was still embarrassed from what transpired, he looked towards Kurogiri with a nervous smile. "Midoriya, nice to meet you as well.""Follow me, the Master wishes to see you," Kurogiri said. They walked through a hallway before entering a lounge with a bar on the right, several unfinished drinks stood on the counter. Kurogiri shifted his head to the direction of Izuku. "I take it you do not intend on doing anything out of the ordinary?"Izuku looked at the fog coming out of Kurogiri's white collar, a cold smile appeared on his face, yet his light-hearted tone had not changed. "Of course not, I do not wish to cause any more trouble."Kurogiri felt a slight change in character from the boy behind him but chose to ignore it. He faced towards a man that sat in one of the couch sofas."Twice, we've run into a little accident at the front door," Kurogiri said with a calm voice, pointing to the hallway from where they had entered from. "Would you please fix it?"Twice instantly stood up, his mask was not able to cover the happiness he got from someone remembering his name. "Sure thing my man," he said, running past them while humming a song.Izuku observed the man in black spandex run towards the entrance. Izuku stared with confusion as Twice began to skip in long strides, arguing with himself if he was pretty."Don't bother with him," Kurogiri sighed, he shook his head. "He's had a troubled past, but Twice proved himself to be quite useful for us.""I would imagine," Izuku responded."Well then, it's best we do not keep the Master waiting," Kurogiri resumed. "Enter the door to your left, he'll greet you shortly." Kurogiri walked over to the bar, he grabbed the glasses and went to the sink to wash them."Very down to earth place," Izuku thought without a second to spare. "Aren't they worried I'll do something?"Izuku circled towards the door Kurogiri told him to enter but was interrupted by a group of people talking, seemingly getting louder as they approached the lounge from another hallway. Before he could turn the handle, his eyes opened as he saw the girl he had met last night, walk towards the bar."Oh Jesus," Izuku said to himself, attempting to open the door without alerting her."And so, like I saw this cute boy and I really wanted to mess him up, but you know… I guess it can't be helped that we were in a public place," Toga explained, before letting out an angry cry. "And you know what? I gave him my phone number, and he hasn't even called me yet! Isn't he stupid Dabi?"Dabi looked at Toga with a defeated look, "Haven't you already told me this around FIVE times today? At this point, I think I know how he looks better than I do myself." He shifted one hand across the front of his black hair.The sound of a door opening caught Dabi's attention immediately. He looked at who it was before he pieced it together. Dabi pointed towards Izuku. "Wait, isn't that him?"Toga instantly turned around to face the door Izuku opened. Her face blushed, "Izuku! What are you doing here? I was worried you'd never call."Toga attempted to walk forward but was suddenly interrupted by the door slamming shut. She stood in place silently."Hey! Come back here!" Toga shouted, instantly running towards the door. She was stopped by Dabi grabbing onto her school uniform."Wait," Dabi commanded. "That room is off limits."Toga looked at Dabi with an annoyed face. "Then why is he going in there?""That is because the Master requested it," Kurogiri said behind the counter, wiping a glass with a towel in his hands. He had seen the entire situation unfold."Why? I haven't even seen the leader personally myself," Toga retorted. "Just who is that handsome, mysterious boy?""Interesting that you should ask. A few people including Master had taken an interest in him. Possibly he will be recruited into the League."Toga's face grew even redder. "Oh? So, he's a bad boy?" She placed both of her hands on her cheeks. "Sneaky little guy, you like playing tricks huh."Dabi let go of Toga after realizing she would no longer attempt to follow after the boy. "Izuku…" Dabi muttered, he was definitely interested as well as to why the leader took an interest in him."If we're recruiting kids like him, that means he's a little different," Dabi pointed out. "Kurogiri, how much do you know about him?"Kurogiri looked at the door before placing the glass on the counter. "From what I understand. His ability is to analyse quirks and then determine their value. Which the man who recruited you, personally said he was outmatched in that regard.""As for the rest, I do not know, but there must be something else, I'd have to say."Dabi readjusted his jacket, he sat down by the counter. "Different indeed, I can definitely see that now." He ran his finger across the table, swiping it up afterwards. "I am not going to be able to refrain her once he comes out. If he comes out."Kurogiri laughed. "He should be fine. I cannot really read into his personality, but he gives off that aura.""He does now?" Dabi asked with a curious expression. "Very interesting."Izuku stood inside an empty room with two wooden chairs fixed in the middle, facing each other at a close distance. A small lamp burned brightly, illuminating the walls and floor. Izuku moved his eyes to spot anything out of the ordinary but did not find anything. He walked over to one of the chairs and sat down.Izuku waited for a while before a portal appeared behind the other chair. The masked figure Izuku met last night approached towards him."I apologise for my tardiness. Lately, there have been a few changes in the schedule.""Oh no, it's fine," Izuku paused for a moment, waving his arms. "I just got here.""Well I am glad you have decided to consider my offer," the man said. "I understand you came here because you wish to join us?""I do," Izuku said, "but I still have some questions. Everything you told me sounds way too good to be true, and quite honestly I can't trust you or anyone else here.""A fair reason. I suppose it would be better to make you trust me as soon as possible. I go by the name of All for One, however, I ask that you do not go around spreading that name. Take it as you wish, but me wanting to recruit you is genuine.""Is that because you saw the notebook Muscular took from me?" Izuku asked. He saw his reflection through All for One's mask, it did not seem so far that the leader was lying to him."Impressive young man, but I did give you hints regarding that," All for One told him. "That is one of the reasons why I want you, but the other is a bit more complicated."Izuku had his suspicions from the last comment. "What do you mean by complicated?" he asked, shifting one leg on top of the other."I want you here also because of the potential inside of you. I have never seen anyone else exert that type of promise," All for One said, only speaking half the truth. His smile lay unseen behind the mask blocking his face. "By giving you a quirk, all I ask is that you work for us. A small price to pay back."Izuku knew he was being flattered. "Seems awfully nice of you to be giving me so much."All for One chuckled. "See, that is what I like about you. Behind the little scared kid act you pull, lays a dormant power of emotion that has been cultivated through years of pain and suffering," he said, "there is no need to put on this act in front of me." He crossed his arms around his chest. "I had planned to confront you about this later, but I see now that it is best to clear that up with you. You have already shown me glimpses of it."The boy sat motionless upon hearing what All for One said to him. The silence was broken after Izuku's eyes looked at him coldly. "I guess I didn't try hard enough," Izuku said, changing his tone. His nervous attitude had completely disappeared. "You seem to know a lot about me, but I can't deny that I am not happy about this opportunity." He lifted his sweater, taking out the knife from its holster, dropping it into the ground."I apologise for being suspicious, granted that I wouldn't have been able to do anything with it anyway."All for One looked down at the knife. Even he was surprised at how sudden and different Izuku appeared. "You are right that it would not have made a difference," All for One said calmly. "Even someone with a quirk would not make it out alive from this building if they attacked us.""I know right?" Izuku said, smiling at the mask, "Well I am not stupid enough to actually do that. I am just glad someone has taken an interest in me so quickly.""Oh? You mean to say you wanted this right off the start?" All for One asked with curiosity."I suppose. However, I didn't have anyways of confirming the existence of a villain organisation," Izuku responded.All for One clapped slowly. "You really are interesting Izuku Midoriya," he said lightheartedly. "I will give you the opportunity to seek retribution." All for One stood up from his chair, walking up to the boy.Izuku stood still. All for One moved his arm, placing it on top of Izuku's head."Is something suppo-" Izuku felt a sharp jolt run across his body. The pain caused him to fall to the ground, he was unable to move no matter how much he attempted to thrash around. Izuku began to breathe heavily, his head diffused all five of his sensations.The last thing Izuku heard was All for One's chilling laughter.Izuku opened his eyes, noticing that he sat on his chair once more. He could make out All for One pacing around slowly, which made Izuku assume he was waiting for him. Izuku's pain subsided, but his head and body still felt sluggish. He moved his head from his shoulder.All for One noticed. He moved the chair and sat down. "Glad to see you alive and kicking.""You could have warned me," Izuku said. He attempted to clear his mind. "That hurt like hell.""Did you expect me to give you a cookie and have it eaten with some tea?" All for One asked.Izuku smirked, "Of course not. But what did you do to me?""I've given you a quirk of course, and one that would fit you very well. Given all of the things you have experienced," All for One declared. "If you learn how to wield it properly, then I doubt anyone would want to fight you."Izuku coughed, looking at All for One. "Even you?""Already turning into a comedian I see," All for One laughed, dismissing the question. The echo rattled among the room, bouncing from the concrete ceiling. A smile exited from his lips, he could not imagine how much the boy would prove useful to him."I think it would be best for you to figure out the quirk yourself. I have only recently acquired it, so I do not know everything about it," he specified. "Your body should be able to move in a little bit."A gate appeared beside All for One, he paused before entering it. "Oh, and I think a good name for your quirk would be Reciprocity. Use it well." He stepped through the portal, disappearing into the void."Reciprocity?" Izuku asked to himself. "Like exchanging gifts between one another?" He stopped to think, "But that wouldn't make any sense."Over time Izuku began to feel the sensation of his body. Gradually he was able to move his toes, and then stand up from his chair. Izuku stumbled, almost crashing into the wall."Great," he thought to himself. "In for a real ride here."Izuku was finally able to regain his footing. He looked at the door from where he had come through earlier, he had no other option than to open it."Welcome back Midoriya," Kurogiri said, "I take it that if you are still alive, you have been accepted.""Yes, that is right," Izuku said, his legs were still wobbling. "Say, can I get a glass of water?"Kurogiri was not certain why the boy stumbled. He felt Izuku stare at him with unnerving attention."I'll make it right away," Kurogiri said with hesitation, it was as if a completely different person was standing in front of him.Izuku walked closer to the counter, noticing a man with black hair holding a drink. "The name is Dabi," he said. "And I'd advice you turn around before it is too late."Izuku heard a shout behind him. He quickly moved to his left, dodging someone charging at him at full speed.The person smashed into the counter with their head, falling down to the ground. This caused Kurogiri to jump in terror from the noise, he then realized that his precious bar had possibly been damaged."Oww," Toga groaned, rubbing the front part of her head. "Why did you dodge me?" she asked.Izuku stood in bewilderment as the girl rose up, completely ignoring the fact that her forehead was bleeding immensely.Kurogiri rushed frantically to find a towel. He was not going to let the table drip any blood onto the carpet."Are you alright?" Izuku asked with disinterest."Yeah, I'm ok," Toga replied. "Completely fine and dandy!"Izuku looked at Toga, not knowing how to respond. He had purposefully tried to avoid her, but he was left staring at her face that was covered in blood."Why didn't you call me?" Toga asked. "Are you trying to play hard to get?"She then slapped Izuku in the face. Resulting in her covering her cheek from the sudden sharp pain she felt. Izuku turned his head to face Toga after being hit. He wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, revealing an irked look. He was interrupted suddenly by Toga."Ouch, why did that hurt me?" Toga asked with perplexity. She looked at Izuku before a smile formed on her lips. "This makes me excited!"Toga was immediately grabbed by Dabi and pulled back. "Idiot, don't you realise what he would have done if you kept provoking him?""Huh?" Toga inquired, looking up towards Dabi standing behind her. "What do you mean?"Dabi looked at Izuku, "He's not the same person you met before.""What. So, you mean he really is a bad boy?" asked Toga, not paying attention to Dabi's warning.Before Dabi could explain what he had seen. Izuku smiled, putting his hand up to show no aggression. "It's fine. I appreciate the concern you have for her, but I won't do anything."Dabi looked at Izuku, still grabbing onto Toga. He did not know what the boy was thinking of. Only that for a split second he showed murderous intent stronger than anywhere he had seen."Alright," Dabi replied back to Izuku, releasing Toga back down. "My bad for stopping your little lover's quarrel."Toga looked at Izuku happily, "He called us lovers!" She squealed, covering her face in excitement.Izuku shifted his head, the sudden anger he felt earlier had completely disappeared. He reached into his pocket, taking out a handkerchief. "Here, take this and wipe the blood off your face." Izuku did not know how to feel around her.
A/N: Izuku finally gets his quirk and it's something I believe that would play out very interestingly. I will dive in more as to what his power and limitations are as we keep going in further. As always, thanks for reading the chapter and I hope you have a wonderful day/night.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Izuku, you'll be late for school if you don't wake up," Inko shouted, loud enough for him to hear.Izuku grunted, he barely slept the night before. After running in with the League of Villains and ultimately joining them, he was told to meet one of the members back at the location the next following day."And to top it off," Izuku thought, "All for One actually gave me a quirk. How could he even do that?"His mind could barely contain the excitement of figuring it out fully. Izuku moved his left hand that rested on his bed and reached out to the ceiling as far as he could. He felt that he made actual progress into fulfilling his dream."To think so many people would become heroes only for the sake of fame," Izuku said quietly. "Ironic that they call themselves that when they care more about themselves. Or even worse, hurt others because they feel more superior."Izuku laughed at the idea of Katsuki becoming a hero, and all the classmates that shunned him once they learned he had no quirk. Izuku stared at his protruding hand, before dropping it back down. His mind jumped back onto the conversation he had with All for One.Izuku remembered the man hinting to him of what his quirk did. It had finally dawned on Izuku what All for One meant when he called it Reciprocity."It most likely happened when I got hit by Toga," Izuku pondered, raising his chest up from the bed. "When I got slapped by her, it was obvious that she felt pain the same time I did.""Does that mean people feel the same pain if they physically hurt me?""Izuku!" The door to his room busted open, with his mother looking at him with an angry face. "I don't know what's been going on with you lately, but you're going to miss school if you don't leave in a few minutes," she said frantically. Inko looked at the room for the first time in a while. "What happened to all of your All Might merchandise?"He looked at his mom before exhaling deeply. "I grew out of it Mom."Inko looked at Izuku with a surprised gaze, then realizing she was holding him up from getting ready. "We're going to have a talk about all of this after school when you get back," she said, closing the door with a loud bang.Inko was aware of her son acting strange ever since the incident that took place with Katsuki's death. She was worried that it had affected her son much deeper than she initially thought. "Is he getting enough sleep? He seems completely out of it lately," Inko thought to herself. She walked over to the kitchen and grabbed Izuku's lunch.In his room, Izuku had put on his school uniform. He had forgotten what his mother told him. His only thoughts raced on the conceptualization of the new quirk he was given, and what he was to do this following afternoon.He stopped to look at the mirror on the wall out of habit. It was a routine tradition for him to look at it every morning and tell himself he could be a hero."Not anymore I can't," Izuku muttered. He had thrown that life away, there was no turning back.Inko marched over to her son's door upon realizing he had not exited yet. She opened it, revealing Izuku holding his hand near the handle."Oh, well glad to see you waking up," Inko apologized, handing him the lunch box. She looked at Izuku's face, yet felt no emotional response come out of him.In that moment, she suddenly believed she had seen her son show a regretful look. But Izuku stopped her train of thoughts by hugging her unexpectedly. He did not say a word, only letting go of her once she repeated to him multiple times that he would be late.Izuku stepped out of the apartment door, it was the last time he would ever see that place he thought. Izuku knew she cared for him on the outside level, never saying the things he needed to hear when he was depressed. But it was difficult to say goodbye to his mother. He did not wish to cause her any more trouble."I will never bother you again," Izuku said quietly, walking out of the apartment lobby. He knew him leaving would make his mother worry even more, but it was better than her finding out who he had become.The morning had grown bitter cold outside. Izuku shifted his arms closer to his jacket, his legs grew sore as he treaded towards the hideout. "This better work out well," Izuku said bitterly.He walked by the towering buildings covering the street below, wearing a face mask and hat that covered his hair. Preventing potential onlookers from recognizing him if the police put up a missing poster.Several police sirens were heard in the distance, gradually getting louder. Izuku looked, seeing several police cars race past him on the road to a distant fire."Another villain attack?" asked one man to a woman. "It's awfully getting more frequent.""I wonder if All Might will save the day," she replied with hope.Izuku passed by them, pushing his head down as they looked at him for a moment. Izuku sighed with relief upon realizing they turned back to face the fire, still pointing towards the smoke that rose higher into the air.No matter how hard Izuku tried, the name All Might echoed in his mind. Izuku remembered the man standing above him, telling him it was impossible to become a hero."It's not like he was wrong," Izuku said to himself. Somewhere deep inside his heart, he still believed that All Might was the perfect hero the world never deserved.Eventually, Izuku approached the hideout, opening the door with a key Kurogiri had given him earlier. He could see the bartender pacing behind the bar, occasionally moving bottles around the shelves."Welcome back," Kurogiri said, upon noticing Izuku's arrival. "Giran is already here, but he told me to tell you to wait here until he comes back."Izuku nodded and walked over to one of the couches. He noticed another person sitting in a carefree position, twirling a knife in his hands. Izuku sat down, not paying much attention to him."So, you really did join us?" the man asked with a condescending tone.Izuku turned to face him. "Is that a problem?""Not necessarily, but I do not trust you Izuku Midoriya," said the man. "What proof is there that you really are one of us?""No need to show hostility Tomura. Save the little games for later," Giran said, coming into view. "He might be new, but I'll show him the ropes around here."Tomura scoffed at Giran's comment. He placed the knife into a sheath, before tossing it at the coffee table. He looked at Izuku, "You are useless to me Midoriya. Don't expect me to buddy up with you just because Master took an interest in you."Tomura stood up and left the bar, grabbing onto his neck. Giran walked over to Izuku, pointing to the knife. "I believe that is him declaring to you to prove yourself."Izuku thought to himself as to how much of a child the man named Tomura acted in front of him. "And why should I take it seriously?" Izuku asked. "I wouldn't be surprised if he was held as an object ridiculed among most of you."Giran smirked. "That may be so, but the boss wishes him to take the mantle in the near future. Best just to stay back and let him do his thing for now.""For now?" Kurogiri asked him with a concerned voice. He had known Tomura ever since All for One brought him in as a child."Kurogiri, you're misinterpreting what I meant," Giran said, sighing audibly. He took out a cigarette pack from his jacket. "Tomura acts like a child often, but hopefully with his new position that will change for the better."Kurogiri loosened his shoulders. "I see, sorry about that."Giran placed a cigarette in his mouth, bringing a lighter in between his hands. He opened the top of the metal case, sliding his thumb over the ignition. A puff of smoke came out from his nose. "I suppose we should start heading out young man, otherwise we'll be running late on time."Izuku rose up from the sofa, "Of course, uhm," he paused.Giran heaved another puff of smoke. "You can call me Giran, it doesn't matter to me," he said, turning towards the exit. "Oh, and I think that knife is yours now. He did a similar thing to other recruits recently.""No harm in that then," Izuku said casually. He picked up the holster and placed it in his pocket.Izuku followed Giran into the entrance of a skyscraper he had never been in before. The staff whispered and hurried around after noticing Giran stepping in. Izuku was curious at the sight."Do they know you?" Izuku asked."To some degree," Giran admitted. "Granted it's only from a business perspective. They are not aware of the organisation."They continued to walk to the front desk until the receptionist greeted them. "Welcome back Sir."Giran nodded, looking at the man's face. "Is it alright if I smoke here?"The receptionist stared at Giran with a blank look, regaining his composure immediately after. "Of course. Sir, you are one of our most valued partners. You need not even ask.""No need to be so stoic. Let the old man joke around a little," Giran said, looking at Izuku to see a response. "Well anyways, I am here for a little shopping." He slid over a piece of paper on the table.The receptionist glanced at it before smiling. "Glad to have you back. Please head over to the 23rd floor, and one of our associates will greet you there.""Splendid," Giran replied."Sir." They were interrupted by the receptionist looking over the counter. "Is this boy with you?""Yes, yes he is." Giran smiled, revealing one of his front teeth missing. He gestured over Izuku to follow him.The receptionist turned back towards his computer, grabbing onto a phone.Izuku accompanied Giran over to a large elevator. "I hope that won't be a problem?" he asked."It's fine. I suppose they are surprised to see me not come alone here for once," Giran said amusingly. He pressed a button, calling down the elevator.Izuku was amazed at what he had witnessed earlier. "Why was Giran known around here, and why so publicly?" Izuku thought with perplexity."Giran, was there a reason for you bringing me here?"Giran looked at the boy beside him. "Of course there is. I brought you here because of your unique talents. But most importantly to prepare you for what you are going to face down the line."A noise was heard above them, indicating that the elevator arrived. The doors opened, with a security guard stepping out. Bowing the moment he saw Giran."There will be no need to join us," Giran said to the bodyguard, gesturing that they wanted to be left alone."As you wish Sir."Giran and Izuku stepped into the elevator. "I suppose I can now tell you why we are here," Giran told him. "The boss wants to get you some proper equipment, as he told me your quirk is centred more on the defensive side."Izuku looked at the elevator door, he could barely make out his reflection.Giran continued. "This place will provide you with everything you need once you meet your actual instructor. I initially wanted to have you work alongside me, but I feel that your expertise would serve better in another field."In hindsight, Giran had an underlining feeling that the boy would overshadow his own work, but he saw potential in training him as something even more terrifying. "With his young age, it's definitely still possible to mould him," Giran thought, smiling at what the boy beside him could become.Izuku had not given much thought at what Giran implied, yet he was still excited at the new life he was given. Izuku's line of thought was suddenly interrupted."I was impressed to find out that your analysis skills had nothing to do with your actual quirk. How did you manage to do that?""Well, I have always had a fascination for understanding quirks better. It's something I started doing ever since I was little."Giran laughed. He was surprised at how unbelievable Izuku's answer was. "You really do surprise me, young man," he said, looking at the floor indicator above him."We're almost here. And one last thing." Giran turned towards the boy. "I suggest you come up with an alias for yourself whenever you have the chance. Don't want to be spreading your actual name around."Izuku thought to himself. A codename was something he definitely needed if he wished to keep his identity safe.They were greeted by a woman in her thirties as soon as the elevator doors slid open."The Gatemaster is waiting for you. Please follow me."Giran glanced at Izuku, raising his eyebrows. "I'll do the talking. Only speak if they address you." He walked out of the elevator with Izuku following after him.The woman opened a large set of wooden doors, revealing a wide circular room with an assortment of priceless furniture and paintings. In the middle stood the Gatemaster, adjusting his glasses. He placed a glass of whiskey on a stand to his left."Good afternoon Mr Giran. It's been a long time," said the Gatemaster, crossing his hands together. "What brings you here today?""I've brought someone along that I wish to be put in your care," Giran responded. He looked at the glass of alcohol, a large smile appeared. "You know me so well.""Naturally," the Gatemaster said. He then focused his attention on Izuku. "And what sort of setup would this gentleman require?""Go through the usual," Giran noted, "but a quick and aggressive style would fit better I believe.""Understood. Young man, please follow me."Izuku looked towards Giran. "It's fine, I'll follow in once I finish that drink," Giran said.Izuku followed the Gatemaster at a distance. They arrived at another set of doors, at which two servants opened sharply."An aggressive approach," the Gatemaster said quietly to himself. "In that case, I assume you have all the other bases covered."Izuku attempted to respond but was left in a momentary shock from what the room presented. An assortment of weapons spanned across one wall. To his left, stood an old man wearing a tailored suit, patiently waiting for his cue.The Gatemaster turned to face the old man, "Richard, we'll start off with the attire. Take your time with him."The old man nodded, gesturing Izuku to come up to him."Please sit," he said with a raspy voice.Izuku was not able to make sure of what he had witnessed in the span of five seconds. He never knew this kind of world existed."Please lift up your arms," Richard said, taking out measuring equipment. He wrote down the sizes spanning across Izuku's body.The Gatemaster watched with interest at the boy who sat on the opposite side of the room. "Certainly, surprising that someone of his age has come here," he thought. "Giran must have taken a real interest in him."Richard patted Izuku's upper shoulder with a mock-up suit. "I believe…" he paused, looking at Izuku's form. "That a vest would suit you well."Izuku had no reason to question the man behind him. As he had no experience or proper opinions on the matter. The old man removed the piece of clothing from Izuku. He walked over to the Gatemaster with a piece of paper."You may leave Richard, thank you."Richard bowed. Only leaving Izuku with the enigmatic man sitting in the corner."Well then, I believe it is time for the final portion. Always my favourite."The Gatemaster placed his cigar on a desk. He stood up and walked over to the wall covered in weapons. "I am certain this is your first time seeing a gun, given the reaction you displayed earlier. However, I take it that you might have some preference?""I wouldn't know," Izuku responded silently."No matter," the Gatemaster said. "We'll start by looking at the sidearms."A voice appeared by the door, "The best option for him." Giran leaned across the door, waving the finished glass.The Gatemaster nodded. "In that case, we'll start by looking at something more compact." He moved his hand across several pistols, before selecting one, he moved forward and brought it to Izuku."This is the HK VP9SK, manufactured and built in Germany. It's a semi-automatic handgun with a 9mm caliber. Its design features ambidextrous controls, with twenty-seven customizable grip configurations. It comes in with standard iron sights and a new feature called charging supports. The magazines carry ten bullets, but we've found it able to hold eleven. A decent starter gun if you ask me."Izuku stared at it blankly, barely being able to understand the information the man spewed out.Giran laughed at the situation that unfolded. He picked his way carefully towards them. "He'll take that one. We're not the type of people to question your expertise," Giran said."Very well," said the Gatemaster. "Where would you like us to send everything to? The usual?""Yes," Giran told him. "However, I ask that you provide triple the amount of ammunition."The Gatemaster nodded, placing the gun back onto the wall. "Then I bid to both of you farewell and a good day."As they exited the room, Giran immediately wrapped his arm around Izuku's shoulder. "Not bad kid. Let's head back and meet the person who will be training you."Inko sat in her living room, expecting her son to arrive soon. She still did not know how she would handle the situation properly, only playing out the scenarios in her head.A sudden ring from the home telephone caught her off guard. Inko stumbled towards the phone, picking it up with frantic breathing."Hello, this is the Midoriya household," Inko said, holding the phone with both of her hands."I am the vice-principal from Aldera Junior High. Am I speaking to Ms Inko Midoriya?"Inko was not certain why the school called her. "Yes, this is. Is everything alright with my son?""Miss, that is the reason for our call. Your son Izuku Midoriya was absent from school today. We are calling to confirm with you if he was not present due to an illness or other reason.""Izuku left for school this morning," Inko said with a confused look. "He should've been at school. Are you sure it's not just a mistake on your end?"The phone stayed quiet for a while. "It says here he hadn't arrived through the gate this morning. Which is confirmed through his homeroom teacher's attendance sheet. We also reviewed them for the other classes, and it plays out the same story."Inko was in shock, she did not know what to do. "Since this is his first offence, we only wish to give Izuku a warning. Please let him know that absences without reasoning will not be tolerated. Thank you, have a good day."The phone line died right after. Inko recalled her son's odd behaviour earlier in the morning."Izuku," Inko grieved. Tears began to swell in her eyes. "What happened?"Her body instinctively moved towards her room. She opened her cupboard drawer, revealing the business card of the detective she last met with Izuku the week before.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter. I had a lot of fun writing it and now it only leaves for a lot more things to be addressed as the story goes on. Can't thank everyone enough for reading and it always makes me excited to see you guys follow and leave comments/reviews. It's always my favourite part, regardless of the context. Love you guys.

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"This is where I drop you off," Giran said as the lights began to glow around them. "Your new equipment should arrive by the end of the week.""I take it I won't have to wait long for my instructor?" Izuku asked with just the hint of a smile.Giran placed a hand over the top of his forehead. "Listen, kid," he said. "If I were you, I'd take all the time to relax before he comes."Izuku sat on a small workbench staring at his feet. He could tell Giran was serious. "Is it really that bad?" Izuku asked softly."It's worse than whatever you can imagine inside your head," Giran said. "If you survive these upcoming months. Then I guarantee you'll come out as a completely different person."Izuku had a feeling of what Giran and All for One had decided on for his future in the organisation. He wished it had been done with less secrecy. "Am I being trained to make up for what I lack with my quirk?" he asked."That is correct, Midoriya," Giran replied. "The boss wishes for you to gain experience in actual offensive and defensive combat. And with my suggestion, a few more things are being thrown in there for you to learn. That is why I called him here." His voice echoed through the large room."And one more thing," Giran stepped over to the exit. "Your teacher has a reputation for never having even one of his students stay alive past the second week. Make sure not to disappoint us."Izuku looked at the underground expanse he entered moments earlier. It sported state of the art gym equipment, a fitness area with combat dummies, a shooting range, and many other things Izuku had never seen before.He heard the door open once more. A tall figure appeared, wearing a mask that covered the entire face. Izuku attempted to greet the mysterious person, yet he was unable to speak a word. The atmosphere in the room darkened as the man walked closer to Izuku."Is it you?" he asked with a chilling voice.Izuku nodded. It was the first time he had felt frightened by someone after the incident with Katsuki.The mask stared at Izuku with silence. "What is your quirk?"Izuku shared his unease. He did not have the opportunity to figure out everything before. The man in front of him stood impatient, waiting for a response."I don't know much about it myself. But from what I gathered, any injury inflicted towards me from another person is sent to them as well.""In that case, we will personally test it now," said the mask. Without pause, he stepped on the boy's shoes.Izuku staggered back, audibly crying out in pain. The man looked at his foot. "Indeed, it is as you say," he said. "What else do you know?"Izuku placed his right leg back on the ground, his foot still throbbed. "I don't know." Before he could say anything else, Izuku felt a sharp sting enter his left upper arm. Izuku dropped to his knees, gripping his injured arm with his other hand. Blood began to drip down to the floor, exiting a large wound.The instructor stared at the knife he had thrown towards the boy. Taking a mental note of what he had witnessed."Alright, that is everything I need to know for now," the man said dryly.The knife was buried deep inside Izuku's flesh, yet no matter how hard he tried to yell out, nothing came out of his mouth. Izuku shifted his head down, his sight grew dimmer as each second passed."Stand up."Izuku could hear the man talking to him, but his mind refused to pay attention. He began to breathe heavily until all of a sudden, he felt his mind and body regain their composure. Izuku opened his eyes to find the man removing the blade out of his arm."The only reason why you are still awake is that I am able to inject adrenaline into your system," the man said, taking out a roll of bandages. "This is the one and only time where you get help from me. Whether you die or not during training is none of my concern. I still get paid. Is that clear?"Izuku lifted his head, staring at the mask with animosity. "Yes sir," Izuku replied back."Good. You have the mental fortitude, but everything else about you is weak," the masked man pointed out, tossing the bandages to Izuku's side. "Cover your wound to stop the bleeding. We will begin training in two minutes."Izuku covered his arm frantically with the covers the man provided him with. Even though his body had been pumped full of adrenaline, the wound still caused immense pain. "This resembles more of torture than training," Izuku thought, not knowing if he would make it out alive in the upcoming weeks. "God damn Giran wasn't kidding when he said I should have taken my time to relax."He was interrupted once more by the man in the mask. "Do you know what I will be attempting to turn you into?" he inquired with an almost joyous tone. "I am training you to become a cold-blooded assassin. Not specifically the ones who kill left and right, blindly following orders they receive. No. You'll be the one that hunts those who kill." He grinned at Izuku. "The name is Zero, I look forward to seeing your progress."He threw the knife at Izuku's feet, it was still covered in blood. "We will start with a sparring match. Try to kill me using the knife," Zero commanded.Izuku picked up the dagger. He hesitated for a brief second before charging towards his teacher, pointing the edge of the blade towards Zero's chest. Izuku was instantly parried and thrown across the room, hitting the stone wall. The blowback caused Izuku to cough up blood, his arms shook wildly under his weight. Everything in his body hurt.No matter how many times Izuku attempted to hit Zero, he found himself attempting to get back up on his feet."This is no good," Zero barked. He looked at Izuku with disgust. "No form at all. You only run towards me while dangling that knife like it's a toy."Zero landed a kick into Izuku's stomach, causing the boy to fall down. Zero grabbed the knife from Izuku's hand before stabbing it into the mat floor, it stood one inch away from his face.The mask moved over to Izuku's ear. "This is a weapon. Learn to use it like one."Izuku stood up slowly, taking out the knife from the mat. Zero studied him. He noticed that the boy's reaction times were steadily getting faster with each attempt."Your quirk is useless if you cannot attack me or anyone else," Zero said. "You'll only be left as a punching bag."Izuku regained his breathing. "You don't have to tell me that," he said after a moment. "I know I am weak.""Why do you think this is important?" Zero asked. He pointed towards Izuku's chest. "Because if you train your body to overpower quirks by itself, and you combine it then with your powers. No one will be able to stop you."Both of them faced each other, preparing for another standoff. "Only focus on using your body and mind," Zero stressed. He took out a switchblade from his back pocket. "This time I will be attacking back."Izuku gulped. He did not have to imagine what the man would do if he failed to meet his expectations. He took a step forward before slowly circling around Zero, keeping the blade in front of his chest."He's getting down the basics after just an hour of him studying me," Zero thought. "He's a natural learner, but he still does not understand what it means to kill or be killed." He knew that Izuku was instinctively avoiding to fatally harm him.Izuku rushed his right hand forward, slicing downwards onto the stomach. Zero dodged in time, placing one foot back on the floor, kicking Izuku into the chest with his left leg. Izuku's body launched up into the air, his lungs grasped for anything they could find.Zero closed in, slashing Izuku's chest with one clean swipe. "You are afraid of killing," Zero growled. "That needs to change." He brought down his hand, stabbing Izuku's left leg, twisting the knife inside.Izuku screamed in pain as Zero pressed on harder. "Where did all of your spirit go?" Zero asked. He felt his leg burning. "You are nothing you understand?"He watched as the boy gritted his teeth. "Just say that you give up and I'll stop," he said. In his mind, Zero was prepared to kill the boy by throwing the knife if it were to happen. To his surprise, Izuku sent a kick that forced him to let go of the handle.Zero looked at his leg, only to see it bleeding. "That is one nasty quirk," he said calmly.Izuku stared at Zero with rage. He left the switchblade protruding out of his leg, preparing for the next round."All right, that is enough sparring for today," Zero said.Izuku refused to stop, he rose his arms up. Zero could see the boy's eyes give off murderous intent. "He's in the zone," Zero said to himself. "This kid really is something. He's not even afraid after everything I've done to him."Before Izuku could move, he was punched straight into the chest by Zero. He landed on his back, unable to move from the huge strain that was placed on his body."Big eye opener for how much my attacks hurt," said Zero, clutching his own chest. He walked over to Izuku who lay staring at the ceiling, breathing heavily. "Finally calmed down?"Izuku did not respond, he could not talk even if he wanted to.Zero sat down beside him, looking at the knife he stabbed Izuku earlier with. "He intentionally left it there, smart kid.""In ten minutes, we'll be moving on to me actually teaching you proper fighting stances and techniques," Zero said, he looked at Izuku before removing the knife from the boy's leg. "As for your quirk, you should already know it's strengths and weaknesses by now. But I will say it anyway, so pay attention.""Any direct physical contact from someone will result in them feeling the exact same pain your body does. This extends to any physical object as well, but only if the person is in direct contact with it when it hits you. When I threw the knife at you when we met, I felt nothing. But when I stabbed your leg, I got the same injury."Izuku attempted to laugh but instead spurted out blood from his mouth. It began to cover his lips until a towel was thrown over his face. Zero looked at Izuku, the torn shirt revealed burns and scars across his entire torso."No wonder why you're so different from the rest," Zero noted. "Expect tomorrow to be harder."Izuku could only think of how ridiculous it was for it to only be the first day of training. After everything he experienced with Zero, Izuku had never felt more alive.He moved the towel away from his face. "Yes sir," Izuku muttered, smiling at the man.The sounds of gunshots rattled across the room. Zero watched in silence as Izuku emptied an entire magazine into a target fifty yards away."You've gotten better, but you missed one shot from the heart," Zero pointed out.Six months had passed since he started training Izuku. The boy that stood in front of him was no longer the same person he met when he first arrived. Cut off from the outside world, Izuku focused on training day and night. Learning how to expertly shoot guns, fight with a variety of close-combat weapons, and how to protect oneself barehanded. Along with other skills that would allow Izuku to stalk and observe targets.Zero knew that his time was running out with the boy and that there were still many things for Izuku to learn. "In the end, it will all come down to getting more experience in real combat," Zero said quietly.Izuku placed his pistol on the table, overhearing his teacher's comment. He turned to face him. "Sir, you make it sound as if what you taught me isn't as bad as what's out there.""Yes and no, kid. There are many different types of people out there, quirks that might possibly overshadow you," Zero said. "You only get better at fighting that, when you do it for real."Izuku looked at Zero, acknowledging his point. He wore a black suit vest the Gatemaster's company had made for him. Izuku had begun to wear it two months ago, and it still held up from the bashings he experienced every day."I'm surprised it's held up for so long," Zero said, pointing out Izuku's outfit. "The look of a true professional, and yet even it's durability surprises me," he said. "Where can I get one like that?""You would have to speak to Mr Giran about that sir. I had no part in making it.""Speaking of that man," Zero remembered. He still wore his mask to protect his identity. "I've told him your training is complete with what limited time we had. I will be leaving today."Izuku stared at the man who trained him to near death experiences several times. Even though it was hell to endure everything thrown at him, where at times Izuku wanted to murder that man. He still felt deep respect."Thank you for everything Zero," Izuku said, letting out a seemingly warm smile.Zero was startled at Izuku calling him by his alias for the first time, but he felt the same."And thank you for the money!" Zero replied.As they shook hands, both contemplated how they would kill each other in the near future.Izuku sat on the couch beside the bar. It was the first time he had come back after he had been sent down to train. Kurogiri was seen wiping the already cleaned glasses for the third time."Sometimes I wish we had actual customers," said Kurogiri, "the bar is already small in itself.""While I haven't seen a human face for half a year," Izuku teased him.Kurogiri placed his hands on the bar counter. "Well in that case, why don't I catch you up on what's going on," he said sincerely."Alright," Izuku moved over to the bar seats. He readjusted the tie around his neck."Splendid choice on the outfit, not many go for that route anymore," said Kurogiri with pleasure. "Apart from the suit, I see that your demeanour has changed as well.""That tends to happen when you're at death's door every minute," Izuku replied, placing his hands on his lap. "Now everything just seems clear to me, but it's difficult to explain.""In other words, you've matured," Kurogiri chimed in. "It's quite obvious. Well anyways, glad to have you back."Izuku smirked. Kurogiri had not changed at all since he last saw him. He had wondered what Giran was up to as well, "Probably smoking a cigarette somewhere.""Hey Kurogiri, get me a pint of beer," shouted a voice in the distance. "Oh and look who it is."Izuku turned around to find Muscular approach him. "Glad to see you actually alive and well you know, here," he said, laughing to himself."I haven't actually thanked you yet for introducing me here Muscular," Izuku said with a delighted look. He reached out his hand towards him."The pleasure is all mine," Muscular responded, shaking his hand. The force alone almost caused Izuku to fall off his seat. "Still writing down quirks and scaring the shit out of people?" he asked.Izuku laughed, pausing to look at the wooden pattern on the table. "Not as of yet, haven't had the opportunity to."Muscular stared at Izuku, and then to Kurogiri. "Haven't you told him what's coming up soon?" he asked with a confused expression."Well, I was about to until you came in and took the floor," Kurogiri countered. He placed the glass of beer in front of Muscular. "In the next few months, we'll be starting our advance and making a name for ourselves."This caught Izuku's attention, he had always wondered what the League of Villain's major goal was. "Just for fame?" he asked Kurogiri."Not fully, but it's more about showing the world that the society of heroes is that of a broken system.""It means we get to kill people," Muscular said with excitement, "Almost anyone we want."Izuku stayed quiet, there were definitely people he knew deserved what was coming for them, but he also did not want to involve innocent people getting mixed inside the crossfire. "It's heroes that act for their self-interests… that I want to deal with personally," he thought.The bar phone rang. Kurogiri walked over and picked it up, listening for a few seconds before closing the line. "The Master wishes to speak with you as soon as possible Midoriya. Same room as last time if you remember."This excited Izuku. He had been preparing to do something meaningful ever since he had joined. It was his chance to make a good first impression on the man who had given him his quirk. Izuku stood up and walked over to the door, waving goodbye to the bar.Inside, stood a desk with a television monitor that was turned on. In the background, Izuku could make out a figure that was sitting in a giant chair, waiting for him."Welcome, welcome Izuku Midoriya," it said, "it has truly been a while since we last spoke. Please, take a seat.""All for One, was there a reason for calling me?" Izuku asked impatiently, barely holding in his enthusiasm."There is always a reason if I am involved," All for One stated. "I see that you have completed your assimilation into the league. And so, I am here to inform you of two tasks I wish you to complete. One is short-term, and the other one a bit more complicated.""Of course, what would you like me to do?" Izuku asked.All for One moved his hands across the screen. "For the first task, you and Toga Himiko will be subduing and eliminating two heroes, that of which I will provide you with the names for tomorrow. The other I will explain to you in more detail once you return but know that it will be an infiltration mission that only you can pull off.""That is all. You may rest for tonight," All for One advised. "I will send Kurogiri all of the details you will need to know for tomorrow.""Understood," Izuku responded immediately. The conversation was short, yet Izuku was delighted.
A/N: Not much to say for this chapter apart from just major plot points being set up. We get to see a bit more character progression with Izuku and how that will now translate with his work and relationships with other characters. Thanks for reading as always and leaving a comment/review. Love you all.

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Sometime late in the evening, Izuku had left the hideout with Toga. He looked at the paper Kurogiri handed him earlier, noting down their instructions. Izuku tapped on the paper, before placing it into his coat pocket."Our leader has made his intentions pretty clear," Izuku said, turning to face the girl beside him. "I thought we were supposed to kill them, but now I understand what he meant."They were tasked with finding two heroes and bringing them back alive to the organisation, regardless of what state they were in. Izuku had heard one of their names in the past, he remembered writing down a detailed explanation of the hero's quirk.Toga ran up to Izuku, hugging him suddenly. "That's the first thing you say to me after we haven't seen each other in a long time. Especially when we're finally alone?" She nudged her face into his shoulder.Izuku pushed her forehead away with the tip of his finger, causing her to pull back. "As much as I appreciate you showing affection towards me Himiko. Now isn't the best time.""I thought I told you already to call me Toga," she replied with puffed cheeks. "What's with you all the sudden, you know… changing the way you act and speak?" Deep inside her mind, she was thanking the gods for letting her be on a mission with him.Izuku paused for a moment, resting his hand in front of his lips. "Yeah, sorry about that. When you first met me, that was me putting on a front semi-unconsciously." He gave off a fake smile. "Mostly so that others did not get suspicious of me.""That sounds, sort of complicated," Toga said. "But you're still as cute as you were before. Your eyes really give off a menacing look now."Izuku initially saw Toga as an annoying and unstable person, but over time had come to not mind her presence. Even though she flirted with him at any given opportunity, he still had to keep a watchful eye on her. "Her fascination with blood and people getting hurt is beyond extreme," he thought to himself. "She might actually stab me and call that a love tap." He scoffed at the idea of her hurting herself from his quirk, "She'd probably actually like that.""So, did they want me to do anything specific?" Toga asked, twirling her hair."Actually yes. I don't really understand, but it asks to collect a sample of blood from one of the heroes."Toga's eyes lit up, her cheeks blushed even harder. "Finally! I'll have you know I love watching people bleed!" She then shifted her hands nervously in front of her cardigan. "But it will kind of be embarrassing with you watching me do it."Izuku let out a surprised look, not knowing how to respond to what he had heard. "What the hell is she even going to do?" he thought nervously. "And why did she say it like that?"Toga noticed the slight change of character from Izuku's usual cold appearance. She was not going to let her chance of teasing him get away. She took a few steps forward and turned around to block him."What? Is this going to be your first time?" She asked with a timid look."I… Uhm…" Izuku hesitated. "Like… W-what did… what?" His face flustered even more upon glancing at her face. He shouted inside his head, "This is not right!"Izuku was interrupted from Toga bursting out with laughter. She pointed at him while trying to cover her face with her other hand, barely being able to keep her legs straight from what she had seen. "Ha-ha, the look on you just now! And what was up with the way you talked?"Izuku turned his face away from embarrassment, "Seriously, what's with this girl," he said to himself, regaining his composure shortly after. He shook his head in disappointment, thinking at how ridiculous he let the situation unfold itself."It's better that we keep on moving," he said, passing by Toga who began to wipe away tears from her eyes. "They'll be running through their scheduled patrol soon. We won't get another chance.""Aww come on, I only wanted to have some fun," Toga retorted.He looked towards Toga, paralyzing her movement. She had never seen Izuku's eyes stare at her that way. Toga had heard from Kurogiri what the boy beside her went through during training. She only saw bitterness, and the eyes of somebody that did not give off a normal human appearance."We don't have time for this right now," Izuku said. He took out black leather gloves. "I believe I have made my intentions clear about wanting to get this task done without any problems. There is no room for error."Toga gulped with unease as Izuku began to walk away, not waiting for a response from her. "Hey, wait up!" Toga cried out, running after him. She was curious and scared at the same time to find out what was coming."You know, with all things considered. I did not expect us to be doing this daily Miss Uwabami," said a young man, treading along behind her. He carried several shopping bags, barely keeping up. "Can you explain the reason for us doing this?""To catch villains of course," Uwabami said with a laugh, waving her long blonde hair away. 'I've got to keep my popularity afloat, otherwise modeling and just doing commercials won't be enough.""I thought you said you'd help grow my fan base," the high school boy said. He wore a newly designed costume. "You told me this internship was going to be a lot safer."Uwabami sighed. "Look, lately the media has been criticizing me, so I've decided to show the public that I truly care for their safety," she said with a mocking voice. "Deal with it for a few more days until we catch some poor fellow committing a crime. Afterwards I'll show you around.""Yes Maam.""Oh, and I'll be relying on your quirk to catch them," Uwabami said playfully, sticking out her tongue. She did not want to get her hands dirty.They walked through the back alleyways in a poor district. Uwabami stared at the trash that was thrown across the path, this made her want to leave as quickly as possible."Uhm, Maam. Is it possible that we take a quick break? My arms feel like they are tearing themselves apart," the boy said with exhaustion. It was obvious that he had never trained extensively for any physical endurance."I don't mind, but just not in this filthy place." She stopped suddenly, the tips of her hair rose up. Sensing danger ahead of them, she raised her hand to alert the intern. "Wait Tsuyoshi. There is someone there, just standing and looking at us."The intern yawned, "Where? I can't see that far away in the dark." He placed the shopping bags on the ground. "Are you sure it's not just your imagination or some kind of cat just passing along?"He waited for Uwabami to reply yet was met with silence. "Maam, is everything alright?"In front of her, she could sense a relentless murderous aura that seemed fixated on her, not giving up for as long as she waited for it to pass. She finally managed the urge to speak, her eyes shook in fear. "Who are you? What do you want?"They could hear silent footsteps approach them, each step resonating with more sound. Uwabami looked up to see a young boy wearing a suit with a black vest. The deadly feeling she felt earlier immediately disappeared. "It was just a kid?" she thought, exhaling quietly."Hey, boys in your youth shouldn't be walking alone in the middle of the night," Uwabami said in a sweet voice. "Did you get separated away from your parents?"The boy with dark green hair stood in front of her with his head facing down. He did not respond to her question."Is everything ok? It's ok to be scared. Come to me, we are heroes. I'll bring you over to the police so we can find your parents." Uwabami smiled, she thought to herself how lucky she was, "Maybe this will just work out better than finding a villain. It looks like he has rich parents, so they're probably freaking out about finding him.""Are you doing this because you truly wish to help me? Or that it will help you maintain your quota?" the boy asked dryly.Uwabami looked at him confusingly. "I'm not really sure what you mean by that. I only want to get you back home safely.""Why are you lying?" Izuku asked, raising his face to meet with Uwabami's. "What did you say earlier?" He smiled, placing his palms together. "Oh, I think it was something about keeping your popularity afloat.""Listen kid, I don't know what you heard me say but I suggest you leave before I do something about that mouth.""Oooo, scary!" Izuku replied sarcastically. At first, he only planned to subdue them with minimal force. But the anger he felt after hearing them talk, made him decide on another alternative. "And do you intend on actually doing it yourself, or will you order your lackey to do it for you?" he asked.Tsuyoshi stepped in front of his teacher, "Listen brat, we don't have time to play games with you. Run along before- "In that moment, Tsuyoshi saw the glimpse of a shiny metal object fly straight into his face. Before he could dodge, it lodged itself straight into his left eye. Uwabami watched in horror as the intern in front of her collapsed down to his knees, crying out in agony. Tsuyoshi covered his eye; his face and hands began to drip blood from the knife's handle that pierced out from his socket.Izuku found himself calmly taking out another blade, this time holding it out in the open. "I find it odd when hypocrites talk about selflessness. I'm disappointed to find out that you can't even defend yourself from a throwing knife." He began to slowly walk towards Uwabami."Aren't you a Pro Hero? Why are you just standing there?"As Uwabami continued to look at intern beside her feet, the only thought that raced in her mind was to escape. To run away and call for help if she could. Uwabami turned around to face the way they had entered through, only to find a girl blocking her path."No no no. That wasn't the right thing to do," Izuku warned Uwabami. "Why is it that you try to run away when a person is right beside you, unable to move. Especially when they are being pursued by someone holding a knife?""It's because she's a harlot!" shouted Toga in the distance.Izuku stopped, he moved his hands up, puzzled at what he heard. "Really? Really Toga? Is that what we were going for?" Izuku asked. "A harlot… What?" He adjusted his collar with one free hand.Toga shrugged. "Eh, I don't know. Just seemed like the most appropriate thing to say.""That has nothing to do with what I was trying to get across," Izuku complained, visibly face-palming. "As I was saying." He turned to look at Uwabami. "You trying to run away, only makes it worse."In that short time, Tsuyoshi had regained his focus. He quickly jumped up to attack Izuku but was kicked into the face. He flew towards a dumpster, smashing into its side.Izuku walked over to the person he had kicked, pointing at the body that lay on the floor. "See? Now that's a little bit better, but he's still just like you." Izuku lifted the boy's left arm, looking at Uwabami that stood frozen in fear."Let's teach him what it really means when you put your life on the line as a hero.""Wait no!" Uwabami blurted out in terror.Izuku placed his foot on Tsuyoshi's shoulder, breaking the upper bone with a swift motion to the side. He then quickly pulled the arm towards him, dislocating the shoulder.Izuku smiled as the boy in front of him wailed in agony and fear, unable to move from what had happened. Izuku patted his head, releasing his arm. "Now that's a good hero. I would have killed you if I could.""Please," Uwabami pleaded. "I don't know what you want, but please let me go. I'll stop being a hero.""It's a little late for you to say that," he replied irritably.Izuku wiped off the blood that hit his face earlier. He stared at the woman, until realizing that Toga had sneaked up slowly behind her, hitting the back of her head with the butt of the knife.Uwabami fell to the floor, the hit rendered her unconscious. Toga crouched down, "Can't let you have all of the fun, you sadistic fluff-ball." She grabbed an empty container from her back, taking out a syringe and connected them together. Toga glanced over towards Izuku, before stabbing it into the hero's leg."Suck the blood, suck, suck," she said, letting out a cheerful hymn."So that's what she meant earlier," Izuku thought. He was glad it wasn't anything worse.Izuku removed the blade he had thrown at the high school student earlier, afterwards taking out a small notepad. He moved over a small metal bucket and sat down on it besides the injured boy. "So, tell me. What kind of quirk do you have?"Tsuyoshi breathed heavily, occasionally moaning in pain. He had no idea if his teacher had escaped or not, but he was afraid of what the boy in the suit would do to him next."Why are you so quiet all of the sudden?" Izuku asked. "Just a moment ago you were calling me off and talking about gaining a fan base." He grabbed a pen from his vest pocket and began to tap it on top of the notepad. "It's a little different when you realize that a real hero must always be ready to risk their lives to protect others. Granted that I saw you show a little bit of that towards the end.""I am sure that all you did in your life since childhood, was think about how much money you would get, and how many people would fawn over you. But did you ever stop to consider helping a kid in your class that got bullied in school. Or help an elderly person cross the street? I'm sure you've had the chance to, but all you actually care about is reputation."Tsuyoshi stayed quiet, not knowing if saying anything would make it better for him. He slowly picked up his head from the ground, only to see Izuku look at him with a bored expression."I'm only going to ask once more. What is your quirk?" Izuku demanded. He brought the pen closer to the boy's other eye. "Otherwise you go completely blind if you continue to ignore me." He said nonchalantly."I… I can imitate anyone's voice after I touch them," Tsuyoshi coughed. He was losing consciousness from blood loss.Izuku was fascinated from what he heard. "This is all now slowly coming together," he thought, writing down everything he could analyse about the quirk. "I can see why All for One would want them."He then felt a presence appear above them from one of the building rooftops. The figure then jumped down in front of Izuku."I take it you are Compress," Izuku guessed, standing up from the bucket. "We've dealt with these two, but one of them will die if they aren't given immediate medical attention.""That will not be a problem," Compress said. "I will make sure that the boy stays alive until the boss is done with them."Compress placed his hand on Tsuyoshi's back, instantly turning him into a marble."And now just for this lady behind me."
A/N: Thanks for reading the chapter and I hope you have a wonderful day. I've got one big assignment coming up soon, so I will be focusing on that a bit more. Expect the next chapter in around 3-4 days. Just want to say thank you once more to everyone who had followed/favourited, and left a review/comment. It always motivates to keep on writing.

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"Mrs. Midoriya. As much as I would love to help you find your son, it's been several months since he's gone missing," Naomasa said. He brought down his hat, placing it on his lap. "There is just no information on his whereabouts, and we have no clue as to where he disappeared off into the first place.""Then try harder!" Inko cried out, trying to cover the tears that formed below her eyes. "My son is gone, and I don't even know if he is dead!" She desperately wished for the police to find Izuku, but no matter how many times she visited, Inko always got the same story repeated to her.The detective sat in silence. He understood Inko's feelings but was uncertain of how to explain to her what would happen in the next upcoming days. "Miss, there is something I need to tell you," he said with a defeated tone."The most crucial time to lead an investigation, generally occurs around in the first three days after a person goes missing. It's when the trail is still fresh, it's when most of our effort is put into finding someone." He placed his hands on top of the table, crossing them together. "We were not able to find your son within that time frame, it was as if he completely disappeared.""After extensive profiling with video security footage, potential witnesses, and many other things. In these past few months… we still could not find him. That is not something that we normally come across.""Are you saying you are just going to give up?" Inko asked. Her voice trembled with anxiety."Of course not," Naomasa said with no hesitation. He leaned his back across the chair, resting his shoulders once more. "Cases of missing people stay up for years, but that does not mean we can guarantee that we will find Izuku Midoriya."Inko looked at the detective, not knowing what to say or do. She felt as if the last ray of hope exited her. She knew that if the police could not find Izuku, no one else could."It only gets harder the longer we continue to search for your son," Naomasa continued. "We cannot strain so many of our resources for one person, especially for someone who has not appeared on our radar close to an entire year.""The only thing I can tell you is that this case will be put on hold in the upcoming week. Unless we are presented with new evidence or receive eye witness accounts of your son, we will not be able to find him."The tension seemed to rise higher in the room. Naomasa was concerned at how Inko would react to the news. She had visited the department every week after her son's disappearance, yet the only thing she was left with was the declaration that nothing would be done."I apologize for this mess, but do not give up Mrs. Midoriya," Naomasa urged as he stood up from his chair. "I'm sure he is alive.""How can you be so certain about that?" Inko asked, staring at the desk separating them.Naomasa did not move to the comment. He placed his hat back on his head and turned to face her. "Because I believe in miracles," he said.Something was different tonight. There was an edge to this quietness that made Izuku restless deep down. Two weeks he had been waiting for All for One to call him. Izuku passed the time by training underground, and occasionally make small talk with members in the league. Each day went by longer than the day that had come before it. Izuku wanted nothing so much as to study quirks and utilise the skills he was taught to see people suffer, but that was not a feeling he could share with anyone in the bar that day.Especially not with the man they were waiting for.Most of the members were called down for a briefing on the upcoming plans for the league. Kurogiri handed everyone drinks, while passing Izuku and Toga glasses of water.Toga stared at the glass cup with disgust. Proceeding to slam her fist onto the table. "Kurogiri! What is this weak shit?" Toga asked with discontent. "Give me booze.""I'd rather not, you are still a child," Kurogiri responded roughly. "And more importantly, we are about to start a meeting."Toga seemed to not hear him. She studied the vast array of bottles behind the mist-like head forming out of the bartender.Kurogiri sighed. "I suppose I can make something better," he paused. "What about a milkshake?"Toga's eyes lit up from the moment she heard her favourite word. "Yay!" Toga blurted out with excitement. "Now that's what I am talking about my man." She then smiled at Kurogiri with dark intent. "Just don't do that again Mister."Kurogiri ignored her and began to make the milkshake. "Can I just relax for one day without worrying that someone will get stabbed," he thought.Izuku sipped from his glass, noticing that their acting leader was late. Tomura was the one in charge of leading the meeting and operation Izuku had heard of before from Kurogiri. Since their faithful encounter, Izuku had grown to dislike the way Tomura acted.He suddenly felt a tap behind his shoulder. "Mind if I sit beside you?" the voice asked as Izuku instantly recognised it as Dabi's."Sure," Izuku replied quietly. "Make yourself comfortable."Dabi pulled away the seat ahead of him, sitting down in a crude manner. "Getting used to the villainous aspects of life?" he asked."I'm getting there," Izuku said. "But I still have a lot of things I am curious about.""Well it's definitely not the training side of it," Dabi observed. "I never suspected you to be doing missions already. Just not too long ago you were an ordinary civilian."Izuku shrugged. "You flatter me. I only did it once, and it was against two heroes that couldn't snap a twig in two even if they tried.""Easy or not," Dabi said, crossing his arms together. "The important thing is that you've gained the real leader's trust and thus mine. That is all that matters to me."Izuku nodded slightly. "Was there any specific reason you wanted to talk to me? I find it a bit odd that you would sit down here, right before something important is about to come up. You generally don't talk to others." The boy's smile was daring.Dabi chuckled slightly. "Assuming the meeting goes the way I've been told, then I would like to appoint you into the Vanguard Action Squad."Izuku was confused. He groped for any memories surrounding that name, yet nothing came to mind. His eyes swept back and forth over the bar, his mouth starting to mutter incoherent sentences.His thinking was interrupted by Dabi. "I don't expect you to know what it is. It's an impromptu group in which I was selected as the defacto leader. You'll understand what I mean soon.""I'm actually already a part of it too," Toga admitted, slurping on the milkshake Kurogiri handed her. "Granted that I don't know anything about it."Izuku placed his glass on the table counter. "I can already guess who the mastermind is," he muttered, low under his breath.Footsteps were heard in the distance, prompting most of the villains inside the bar to look towards one of the entrances. The door slowly opened, revealing Tomura with a half-smile. A hand was still attached to his face."Greetings everyone," Tomura exclaimed. "Thank you all for coming on such a short notice."The young man walked over to the bar, stopping several steps away from the group. "As you might know, Master has given me the direct role in orchestrating the league's next objective. Our first task will be to make ourselves known to the world by attacking the U.A admissions exam. We will take them by surprise and kidnap naive heroes, and make them into potential recruits. When the world learns of how easily the hero system fails at their peak, it will be anarchy.""Heh, you just tell me who not to kill," Muscular told him."This might prove to be difficult Tomura," Kurogiri said. "But it is still a great plan."Snickers could be heard at the end of the bar table. It stopped shortly after all the heads turned to see who was laughing.Izuku who was the only one still facing the bar turned around, holding the glass with his leather gloves. "I wouldn't bother doing that."Tomura glanced over at Izuku. His face slowly began to twist with anger. "And why is that?" he asked with an annoyed voice.Izuku placed a straw inside the glass and began to stir the ice gently. "Because the plan is shit.""What?" Tomura questioned. He began to scratch the side of his neck. "What did you say?""I said it is shit," Izuku repeated. "It's not going to work the way you intend it to."Dabi let out a small smirk, before returning to his calm usual expression. "That kid really just spoke out against the leader's pupil," he thought."What moron truly believes that attacking an examination full of hundreds of students would be a good idea. Do you even know who you want to take?" Izuku asked.Tomura clawed at his throat, as visible marks appeared. "No, we don't, but it's still better to do so. In the end, we prove that heroes are useless. No one will be able to stop us with the group we have assembled.""I see, so you intend on marching into the unknown and expect to just win," Izuku said. "Let alone the fact that you don't even know what kind of heroes will be present for the exam."Several of the members whispered to each other, questioning the legitimacy of Tomura's plan. They did not expect the man to come in so unprepared.Toga only stared at Izuku, her cheeks blushed at the sight of him badmouthing someone.Tomura's rage only grew. "And how would you know what we're up against?" he demanded.Izuku scoffed at what he heard. "Are you serious? You did not even bother to figure out what you were going up against?" He questioned, taking out the plastic straw from the cup. He swirled it around in the air before pointing it at Tomura. "I know it might be a little hard, but if you even put in a little effort to get a copy of U.A's database. You would have gotten it if you talked to the right people.""OK, that does it," Tomura growled. He ran up towards Izuku, moving his right hand to grab onto Izuku's face. Before he could reach the boy, Tomura felt a knife prod at his throat. He stopped several inches away from Izuku, yet he could only see the boy stare at him with cold eyes."Let me finish," Izuku said in a ticked off voice, moving the knife's edge deeper into Tomura's skin. "I'd rather not have to make your self-inflicted injuries any worse." He smiled playfully, placing the glass back on the table. "You even made me drop my straw on the floor."Twice whistled in surprise from what he had seen."Alright," Tomura accepted, not knowing if he would live. "If you're so smart then, tell us your plan and how it would be better.""Sure thing, leader," Izuku said mockingly, releasing the knife away from Tomura's neck. The man stammered back before regaining his composure.Dabi rolled his eyes, disappointed in having witnessed Tomura's behaviour and utter defeat. "Is this really the man I have to follow?" Dabi asked to himself."As I was saying," Izuku went on. "With the U.A admissions coming up, it's been confirmed that there will be twenty or more professional heroes attending it. One of which I understand will be All Might."The entire group stayed still, until one of them broke the silence."All Might? How the hell would we win against that?""That is exactly my point. Let alone the fact that there are twice as many of them, as there are us," Izuku asserted. "Going in now would be a fool's death wish."It was then that Dabi asked a question. "That all makes sense, but Tomura made at least one good point earlier. How would we find a better opportunity to show the world the same kind of message?""It's quite simple," Izuku responded. He sheathed his knife back. "We target specific students that have gotten accepted after the exams. Figure out the ones who can be easily manipulated and bring them here. Granted that we only do it when the teachers are present. That will give off the same message you all want to show."Tomura stared at Izuku, livid at how the boy embarrassed him in front of everyone."Would it not be perfect?" Izuku asked with a slight grin. "The students who get accepted will definitely have stronger quirks.""That is a good point, yet one big problem we'll face, is that we still won't know anything about how they operate," said Dabi. "We'll be going in blind if we don't learn their quirks, and not even know when to strike at the best time."Izuku shifted one leg across the other. "I do actually have a solution for what you just mentioned Dabi," he said."Oh? Please indulge us.""If someone were to apply to U.A and get accepted," Izuku stated. "We would get everything we need.""So now you're asking all of us to trust you?" Tomura asked, speaking for the first time in a while. "What makes you think you would be able to do this while none of us hold any trust in you. You're just a brat who's standing on his high horse."Izuku glanced over towards the man. "I thought I made it clear that your plan is complete utter trash," he said calmly. "If you want an actual plan that holds some merit, then I ask you to shut up." He then placed one finger over his lips and let out a small sound. "The grown ups are talking."Tomura was left speechless. He felt as if all the eyes in the room were laughing at him. He wanted it to stop."I want to make something clear to all of you," Izuku announced. He got off the bar stool and turned to face all of the villains. "I have no intentions of taking credit or even leading this operation." He pointed with his thumb at Tomura that stood frozen beside him. "This man is our leader, and that was decided by you know who. I only wish to help, and I am offering to put my life on the line for this.""God damnit Izuku, you'll start making all of the ladies fall for you," Toga said to herself. The thought of her crush being with someone else was repulsing to her.No one in the room objected to Izuku's proposition. Even Kurogiri who had generally always taken Tomura's side, was quiet.Izuku suddenly felt a hand place itself on top of his head. He initially thought it was Tomura but was surprised to see the man with light coloured hair had never moved. Only that his eyes showed surprise at who was behind Izuku."Master!" Tomura exclaimed, getting down on one knee.All for One waved his other hand for Tomura to stand up. He looked at the green haired boy in front of him and then to the group sitting besides the bar."I take it the meeting has gone well so far?" All for One asked. Everyone was quiet, uncertain of how to respond back. Until they heard the man chuckling. "I see. I suppose that was a pointless question since I had overheard everything from the start regardless."All for One removed his hand from Izuku's head. "An infiltration plan into the U.A?" he asked with a lighthearted tone. "You really do surprise me young man."Izuku was as baffled as everyone else who had heard what All for One said. Izuku turned around to face the tall looming man. The mask hid all emotions for Izuku to read."I thought you were the one who hinted me to do this All for One," Izuku asked with uncertainty."You are not wrong to think that, however what I had in mind was something completely different," All for One explained. "What you've come up with was something that never crossed my mind.""Master, please understand that we can't trust everything onto this boy," Tomura said."Silence, Tomura," All for One commanded. "I do not think anyone in this room disagrees with Izuku's plan. Let alone question his abilities.""But Master-" Tomura stopped. The sight of All for One's deathly presence frightened him."What Izuku has proposed will now be set in motion. However, that does not mean there will be no consequences if this fails," All for One announced. He looked at Izuku through the mask, wanting to test the boy's resolve."If you fail, you will be the one held responsible, and death will likely be the punishment. With that being said, do you still wish to hold onto your words?"Izuku stared at the black tinted mask with no hesitation. "When Am I free to go?"All for One began to laugh, with the sound echoing throughout the entire room. He smiled, thinking for how much longer the boy would entertain him. "Very well, you will begin the preparations," he said. For a moment he felt pride."What about us?" Muscular asked, raising his arm up. "Are we just to sit around and do nothing?""For a little while," All for One said. "Surely being given a better opportunity to survive, outweighs everything else."Muscular looked at Izuku, gulping down the last of his beer. "Kid, just make sure I get to kill a lot of them."Izuku smiled. "No worries, I'll save the strongest ones for you.""Now that's what I like to here," Muscular responded back. He stood up and walked towards the exit. "Don't take too long."The door slammed shut."Tomura," All for One said unexpectedly. "Since I still wish for you to lead this operation. I ask that you work with Izuku and prepare a proper invasion force once all of the keys have been set in place." He walked over to an open area in the bar, releasing a portal in front of him. "Do not disappoint me again.""Yes, Master," Tomura replied.
A/N: Another fun chapter to write. We finally get to see Izuku stand up against Tomura, and now everything is starting to play itself out. For the story, I plan to keep it similar to how it occurred in the actual manga. However, I will be obviously changing up things, so it makes sense and it fits Izuku's villain character more. Cheers.

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"How do you plan on doing this?" Dabi asked as he watched Izuku take out his old school bag. They both sat inside a rundown room that was given to Izuku ever since he joined the league. "I heard you say that you wouldn't need any assistance.""Yeah, it took me some time to figure out what my options were and keeping the league's involvement to a minimum is critical to our success," Izuku said, placing down his suit and equipment inside. He looked around for a while before finding his M9 Bayonet."You're not taking anything else?" Dabi questioned."Can't, it's too much of a risk," Izuku responded back, resting the knife at the top. He closed the bag, laying it down on the freezing concrete floor.Izuku had known he would need to convince a pulling act, so that his plan would work. Knowing that he would have to break one promise he made for himself many months ago. "Mom, looks like I'm only going to make things worse for you in the future," Izuku said to himself."I'm curious to know what you are planning," Dabi said. "Mind telling me what you wish to do? I won't share it of course.""Sure, not that I care much," Izuku replied. "I was initially debating between two plans, but it comes down to the one which carries less risk of me being found out. However, the first part will most likely be the hardest." He tapped his right foot on the ground slightly. "Initially I planned on disguising myself with a fake name and different appearance. But instead, I am going to reveal myself to the police and my mother."Dabi glanced at Izuku's posture with interest. "On paper that seems more riskier than just changing your identity, but it seems to actually be the other way around.""That's right. Coming back to my old lifestyle while keeping up a persona would work out much better. Anything I tell them will be believed without question… I am only just a kid after all," Izuku said, forming a smile at the end of his lips."On top of that, you've got no criminal history… recorded criminal history," Dabi pointed out, realizing perfectly what Izuku was up to. "You're one little sneaky guy. When did you come up with this?""Several weeks ago…" Izuku paused.Dabi noticed once more that something was odd. "Is something on your mind?" he asked.Izuku sat in silence, keeping the tightness around his mouth shut. The barely suppressed emotions in his eyes waited to explode from their prison. Izuku had spent almost an entire year preparing to confront the pledge he made to himself. The pure hatred and disgust he felt for the society who had left him to suffer were closing in, waiting for him to challenge it.Izuku was suddenly brought back into his normal state from Dabi's voice. "Is this about your family?"Izuku sighed. "I wouldn't be lying if I never said I had any problems with my mother," he admitted.Dabi worried he would press on too much, yet he wanted to help the boy. He felt as if they both shared a similar bond. "Do you resent her?"Izuku looked down, recollecting his memories of Inko. "I wouldn't say I would, but at the same time, I have nothing good to say about her too.""Then what is troubling you?" Dabi asked calmly.He then noticed Izuku's appearance slowly change into what he had felt the first time they met. Izuku's black aura manifested itself in front of Dabi, resembling a dark figure, towering over him."I shouldn't have to talk about her anymore," Izuku said quietly with a chill voice. "Sometimes it's difficult to remove the last remaining pieces of my past self. What I'm worrying about is how long I will have to wait."Dabi sat in his chair, unaware of how to respond to the sudden change in the boy. He only knew that he had to calm Izuku down.Izuku stared at the floor with cold dead eyes, seemingly unaware of Dabi's presence. Until he looked up at him. "Funny isn't it? You think I'm someone else."Dabi tensed up his arms. "Is it really you?" he asked bluntly."Yes," Izuku said. He moved his body to show no aggression, resulting in the dark aura evaporating. Visible traces of the shadow disappeared behind Izuku's back. "I just had to release the build-up. It's under control now." He smiled eerily, completely ignoring what had transpired earlier.Dabi looked at him, confused from what he heard. "Are you sure that's a normal thing to experience?""Normal? Far from it," Izuku shared. "That is just my real self, that I must hide from everyone else. Otherwise I would never be able to blend in." He scratched the back of his head. "Sorry for lashing out like that."Dabi exhaled deeply, resting his arms on his jeans. "I swear that you need to warn me about these kinds of things before you do them." He pointed at Izuku. "Can you control it?"Izuku laughed nervously. "I am getting better at it, but if I ignore it for too long… It's starts to eat away at my mind. Always telling me to remember the day I felt happiness and relief, when- ""Look, if you don't want to talk about this, it's fine. I am only concerned now if this will keep happening. Especially in front of someone who isn't us." Dabi said. He shifted his hands inside his pant's pockets."Don't worry," Izuku insisted. "The only reason I let my true self come out is because I have already accepted it, I just only need not ignore it for too long. When I completed my first task for the league, my mind became clear for a while. I am certain my consciousness is forcing me to never forget why I exist.""Need I even ask what it is trying for you to not forget?" Dabi asked.Izuku smiled. "It's reminding me to make the world understand where it's place is.""That sounds awfully vague," Dabi joked. "You'd make a great comic book villain."There was a pause, until both laughed audibly.Izuku took a breath in, before standing up from his bed. "I appreciate you worrying about me Dabi, but I'll be fine. I can release it at anytime like I did just now, but I would have to do it outside of anyone's presence.""Just make sure not to scare little kids with it," Dabi said."Why would I do that?" Izuku asked with a serious tone, breaking the cheerful atmosphere.Dabi gave him a weird look. "What do you mean? It's a joke.""It wasn't funny," Izuku said. "Why would I scare an innocent kid?"The young man hesitated from Izuku's sudden shift once more, baffled at why the boy cared so much about it. "Ok, look I didn't mean it that way. Sorry."Izuku grabbed his schoolbag and tossed it over his shoulder. "I'll see you around," Izuku said, as he walked towards the room's door, closing it behind him."Was my joke really that bad?" Dabi thought immediately. "Jeez, didn't think it would be this hard to ease up to him."Izuku threaded his way through his old neighbourhood. The sky was already dark, with street lights illuminating the road ahead of him. He passed the playground where he used to play often in his childhood.He stopped at the spot where Katsuki had beaten him up and left him to suffer under the rain. "Really brings back memories doesn't it Kacchan," Izuku thought.Izuku placed his bag down and opened it, taking out his knife and a set of dirty ragged clothes that he prepared earlier. He put in on, afterward removing the knife from its holster.Without hesitation, Izuku slashed himself across the chest and arms multiple times. The lacerations caused his shirt to tear apart. Gushes of blood sprayed out from his wounds, staining his clothing and skin. Izuku stumbled, almost falling to the ground. He knew he had to make his return believable.He slowly cleaned his knife with his shirt and placed it back inside his school bag. Izuku's legs wobbled under his own weight as he stood up and carried the bag with one hand. "Got to make it there…" he paused, regaining his breath, "before I lose consciousness."Inko had never liked living alone. After her son's sudden disappearance, it became apparent at how lonely her life became. She stared at the living room wall, watching the clock hands slowly move across the board. The dinner she prepared for herself had grown cold.The doorbell rang, yet she paid no attention. Until a large bang was heard across from the front door. Inko's head turned to face the entrance alarmed from what she heard. "Is that the police?" she asked with a loud voice.No response came, which prompted Inko to walk up towards the door. She looked through the peephole, only to find no one standing outside. She unlocked the door and grabbed the handle, slowly turning it. To her left, stood her son, leaning across the wall, breathing heavily.She looked at him, only to realise what state he was in. "Oh my god, my baby," Inko cried out. She did not know what else to say. At the same time, she could not believe what she was seeing in front of her eyes.Her motherly instinct took over. She grabbed onto Izuku and carried him inside the apartment before laying him down towards the front door entrance."I'm calling the hospital, everything will be alright," Inko urged him. She ran towards the living room to grab the phone.Izuku held onto his bag, before letting it go beside the wall. His vision grew blurry as he heard his mother run around frantically, calling for help on the phone. The last thing he remembered was Inko wrapping towels around his wounds.…"It looks like he's finally starting to wake up," said a distorted voice. "Get the nurses over here to replace his IV drip."Izuku attempted to open his eyes, but it was still difficult for him to discern what was happening. He could see several figures walking around him, wearing white garbs."We can call in his mother after we get him stabilized," the voice said.Izuku had begun to regain his vision with time, only to see him hospitalized inside a private room. One doctor noticed and walked over to him."You'll be alright son. Soon enough you'll be skipping around like everyone else," the man said. He nodded at Izuku before gesturing one nurse to replace his IV bag. He turned around to face the boy once again, "You're lucky to be still alive. I've never seen someone with so much blood loss due to excessive bleeding, survive." The man stopped, thinking that it would be best not to scare the boy."I've called for your mother, she'll be here soon."Izuku moved his head and stared at the ceiling. His plan had so far seemed to work. It was only a matter of time before he would have to explain how he got into such a situation."Blood pressure seems to be at a normal level. One-hundred and five after the blood transfusion," said one of the nurses. She read from a monitor screen that extended in front of her."Good," said the doctor. "Prep another packet of O-type blood just in case something happens.""Yes, Doctor." The nurse moved away from the screen, leaving the room with a clipboard.The doctor sat down on his chair. "You almost gave me a heart attack boy," he shared. He took off his glasses and rubbed the sweat off the top of his forehead. "How the hell did you even get into that state?"Izuku did not respond. Knowing it would be best to keep his mouth shut."In any case, I was surprised to find out that the boy who went missing a long time ago. Just happened to appear here after meeting an important client of mine."Izuku shifted his eyes to meet with the doctor, but it was still difficult for him to see clearly. He only saw the doctor give off a faint smile."Don't worry about the police questioning your self-inflicted wounds. I've made sure to change that when I wrote the medical report." The doctor said promisingly. "All for One sends his regards." He put back on his glasses and left the room before Izuku could reply.Izuku lay on his bed for a second, before laughing to himself. He could not believe how far his leader's influence reached. Yet he had no time to question why that was the case.The door suddenly sprang wide open, revealing Inko in tears. She ran towards him, hugging him."That hurts mom," Izuku muttered underneath her."Not this again Izuku," Inko said quietly. She backed up to see her son. "I'm so sorry for everything."She noticed that his appearance had drastically changed since she last saw him. Apart from the bandages that covered most of his upper body and arms. Izuku gave off a grim presence as if he had been fighting to survive the entire time. They glanced at each other for a moment, only for her to see his emotionless eyes, seemingly detached from feeling happiness or joy.She stumbled on her words, before holding onto his right hand. "Izuku, everything is ok now. You're safe," Inko reassured. Tears formed on her cheeks, and dripped down onto the bedsheets, "Who would do this to my son?"Izuku attempted to formulate a sentence, but his voice failed him. All he could do was watch his mother cry over him.It was a day later when the police showed up to Izuku in his hospital room. Naomasa's slumped shoulders rose at the sight of seeing the boy. It was as if a huge pile of weight had been lifted from his body and mind. "Izuku Midoriya," he said, "Glad to see you alive... and well." He moved over to the bed Izuku rested on, noticing the absurd amount of injuries sustained on the boy. "Never expected for it to happen this way, but we're glad that you're safe.""Thanks," Izuku replied. "Not really in the best shape, but I'm glad to be here anyway." He forced a smile."We've gotten the medical report just now, so I am here to clear up a few things with you if that's ok," Naomasa said. He took off his coat, fixing it over a visitor's chair. He moved it closer towards Izuku, sitting down in one heavy swoop.Izuku was quiet but respectful. "Of course, sir. But every time I think about it, I see myself reliving the same nightmare over and over again." He looked at the sheets covering his legs, gripping the covers with his hands. "That is the last thing I want to remember." He said, lying to the detective.Naomasa felt terrible for the boy, but he knew he had to get the job done. "We'll take this slow Izuku, and we'll stop if it gets too hard on you," he said.Izuku nodded, prompting the detective to start his questioning."Alright," Naomasa said. "You disappeared after you left for school in the morning on the 25th of April. Can you tell me what happened?""I decided to take my usual shortcut for school until I was kidnapped by several people," Izuku said slowly."Did you see their faces?" Naomasa asked."No, they put a cloth over my head immediately and I wasn't able to see anything," Izuku told him.Naomasa looked at Izuku and felt no indication of him lying. "Do you know why they kidnapped you?""I'm not really certain, all I know is that… I…" Izuku began to breathe heavily, clutching one hand against his chest.Naomasa jumped over, reassuring the boy that everything would be alright. "Take a deep breath Izuku. This won't take long, please understand that I am trying to help you."Izuku calmed down and let go of his grip. Slowly returning to his normal condition, inhaling and exhaling deeply through his nose."You tell me when you're ready. Ok?" Naomasa insisted."Sorry, I am good now," Izuku said quietly.The detective looked at his notes. "Where did they take you, and what did they do?""I don't know where I was, only that I was kept underground somewhere. I was kept as a slave, forced to fight for my survival."Naomasa's eyes widened, not being able to believe what he had heard at first glance. "They made you fight against your own will?" He asked with a shocked voice.Izuku looked at the detective, not saying another word. He had to be careful to not sound suspicious.Naomasa tapped his foot with contempt at the thought of someone doing such a horrific act. He moved his hand across his mouth, covering it slightly. "Do you know why they did it?""Entertainment," Izuku responded. "The reason why I am still alive is that someone helped me escape.""How did you escape? Please if you know anything that can be of use to us, tell me," Naomasa pleaded."I don't know who saved me, except for that I know it was a woman's voice. I don't remember much as I wasn't really aware of what was happening, my mind was in a comatose-like state… All I know is that this person got me out of there while being chased by them. The next thing I remember is waking up close to the playground in my neighbourhood, behind a large set of bushes."Naomasa listened, writing down everything single bit of detail. "And then I am assuming you went back home to alert your mother," he concluded.Izuku nodded. "That's all I know sir, I am sorry."Naomasa raised up his hands. "Don't be Izuku, this is not your fault." He looked over his notes, twirling his pen occasionally. "From what I understand, you were forced to partake in an underground organisation that deals with illegal fighting." He said with a stern voice. "Was there anyone else in the same position as you? And did you remember any faces you saw?"Izuku made sure to make it look like he thought for a while. "I know there were people who were taken in as well, but I never got to talk with anyone. Anyone who I saw wore masks on their faces," he concluded with a soft voice."So, they were careful with the way they operated," Naomasa thought to himself. "What the hell did this kid go through?" He could tell that the boy had changed from the last time he saw him. There was a different kind of atmosphere surrounding Izuku. One that definitely proved he lost his innocence.Naomasa knew there was no point in questioning Izuku any further. He did not want to make the boy relive any more of the painful things he experienced. "Ok, thanks for telling me everything you can Izuku. Even this, can help us figure out something," he said calmly, folding the paper away into his pocket. "If you ever remember something from this point on, let me know."The detective stood up and grabbed his beige coat and walked towards the door. Inko rushed in, looking at Naomasa and then to Izuku."Everything is alright Miss," Naomasa asserted to her. "I'll send you a report of his condition once I am able to, but please know that we'll do whatever we can to help bring justice to the people who did this.""Once your son gets better and is allowed to leave the hospital. I think it would be in his best interest to visit a psychologist so he can get the help he needs."Before Naomasa could exit the room, he stopped at the sound of Izuku speaking up."Mom," Izuku said with a sincere voice. "I want to become a hero so that this never happens to anyone else." He did his best to contain the laughter inside him. Everything had worked out perfectly.Naomasa smiled. He exited and closed the door. He had no idea of how else to feel about what the boy told him earlier. Something about their conversation felt odd, but he could not put his finger on what it was. The detective gripped his hat, "Regardless, I'll make sure to get to the bottom of this. Now that we know they exist, hopefully, we'll catch those bastards." He had no reason not to trust the boy's words.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Izuku reunites himself back into his old life, however only doing so in order to get what he wants. Now he plans on putting on the guise of wanting to become a hero, so we'll see how that plays out soon.

(Read below if you want to get a better understanding of my intentions for Izuku's character progression – Not a spoiler, but if you have already understood what I am going for, then props to you).

One thing I want to mention about Izuku's development, without also giving too much of it away. Is that while he has become a villain at heart and has psychopathic tendencies (LOL), he still has morals for what he views as wrong and right. It's pretty much similar to Stain's ideology, but with some different changes that I believe would fit Izuku's mindset more, while still honouring the original character. I am trying my best to make it believable and that his transition into a villain makes sense. Where some of his past hero-like thoughts still come out and shape him into the person he is today. It's a variation between Lawful Evil and Chaotic Neutral. You will sort of see this throughout the story, and you might have already seen through some little bits I have written. We don't know where his character will go, and I won't say anything else. But thank you as always for reading, you guys are the best!

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"Are you sure you want to do this?" Inko asked frantically. She watched her son put on his shoes at the front door. "You just got out of the hospital. It's ok if you go to a different place."Izuku sighed. "It's alright. How am I ever going to know if I don't try? Besides this will be my only chance.""I suppose that's true," Inko ended. She worried that Izuku was rushing things too quickly. Deep down she knew he would come back empty handed. "How does he plan on passing the entrance exam to the top school without any quirk?" she thought."Don't worry about me," Izuku said, placing on his last shoe and lacing the top. "I'm going to prove to everyone I can make it too."Inko looked at him surprisingly but was finally at ease seeing Izuku strive for something. She walked over to him and handed him his school bag. "Did you get everything you need?"Izuku nodded, grabbing the bag. "Yeah, I'll see you soon."As he opened the door, he was interrupted by his mother. "Izuku, don't disappear this time."Izuku put on a fake smile, "I won't."Two emerging towers ahead of Izuku displayed U.A. He continued to walk closer to the gates until the towers loomed over him. Izuku had come earlier than anticipated, only a few students entered through."I suppose it's finally time to show what I've been taught," Izuku whispered. "Let's see how the mighty U.A challenges those who it will deem unworthy of becoming heroes."Izuku decided to wait before entering. He leaned over to the fence on the right, carefully watching the students that walked past him."Quirks, quirks… Would not be a bad idea to see my competition," Izuku pondered. He then noticed a girl with brown hair and a boy with glasses walking to the gate."Hey guys," Izuku called out, waving towards them.The boy and girl stopped, confused as to whether or not he was calling out to them. The boy pointed towards himself and the girl repeatedly with a puzzled look."Both of you," Izuku said, showing a warm smile. He leaned off the fence and walked closer to them. "Sorry to be such a bother, but I was wondering if you were both a couple?" He tilted his head with a slight grin."W-w… What?" the girl babbled. Her face grew red as she covered her face with her hands.The other boy grew nervous before waving his hand several times in the air. "What makes you say that? Of course not!"Izuku stepped back. "Sorry, sorry," he said innocently. "Just a bad habit of mine to tease others."The boy sighed, with the girl slowly removing her hands away from her eyes."The name is Izuku Midoriya, but you can call me Deku. What's yours?" Izuku asked, extending his arm towards the boy."Tenya Iida, however, I would prefer that you do not throw around jokes at a time like this," Iida said. He shifted the glasses up from his nose. "Do you realise how important it is not to be late?"Izuku moved his arm back and shook the top of his head. "Guess he's not so friendly after all," he thought."Ochaco… Uraraka," said the girl quietly. She stared at Izuku with a half-scared and half-curious expression. Her face still showed a rose tint on her cheeks."Well," Izuku told them. "We've still got twenty minutes until the examinations start. I just wanted to say hi, as I only saw unfamiliar faces around."Iida glanced at Izuku, realizing his mistake. "Well I suppose we are here a bit early, but please do not bother me when we are about to undergo the most important stage of our lives."Izuku put his hands up. "In that case, I won't bother you," he said, smiling once more. "Good luck on the exams." He turned around and began to walk towards the gate, slowly humming to himself."Looks like someone isn't taking this exam as seriously as they should be," muttered Iida underneath his breath. He looked at the girl beside him. "That was a bit unexpected right?"The girl laughed slightly. "Yeah, that caught me off guard."Iida tensed his arms, before looking up at the glass towers. "I will prove to you brother that I can become just like you." He bowed slightly towards Ochaco, and then followed suit.Inside a theatre-like dome, hundreds of students sat waiting in the pitch black, hoping to start their entrance exams as quickly as possible. Izuku sat several rows from the back, watching the projector proudly display U.A Hero Academy. He noticed the boy he met earlier sit in front of him from across a few rows.The noise from the crowd was soon disrupted by a dark figure blaring into their ears."Is this thing on?" the voice asked. "One, two, three." Several taps were heard. "Just kidding! That was me tapping my throat." The voice joked."OK! Welcome everyone to the U.A entrance exam. For all of you tuning in, welcome to my show today! Everybody, say hello," shouted a man with long pointing hair. He moved his hand over his ear, gesturing for everyone to scream it back.The presenter was met with silence."What a great response," he replied back with a sad voice, before quickly springing back into action. "In that case, we'll get on with the presentation and I'll explain what you will be doing in the practical exam.""Is everyone ready?" the man shouted back at the crowd of examinees once more, yet no one responded back to his call.Izuku let out a smile, remembering the presenter that stood on stage. "That has to be Present Mic," Izuku muttered to himself. "I used to listen to him all the time." He was not certain anymore if the pro hero standing in front of him met his criteria."If you've read the handouts you've received upon arrival, you know that you will be conducting a mock battle in an urban setting right after this!" Present Mic announced. He pointed his finger up towards the screen behind him. "You will head to your designated battle centre alright?" he asked, not expecting a reply this time.A cough was heard across the room, leaving Present Mic unhappy. He had initially thought someone was about to respond to him.He cleared his throat. "Anyways, there are three different types of fake villains that you will encounter in the battle centres. Each specific enemy gives you points, with the harder ones giving out more."On the screen, three black figures resembling robots appeared. Each showcased one point, two points, and finally three points."Your goal is to earn points by using your quirk to destroy the villains. And please remember that attacking other examinees is prohibited. Failure to adhere to those warnings will result in your immediate removal."A hand quickly rose up three rows ahead of Izuku. "I have a question, sir," one student shouted out. Izuku turned to look at who stood up, only to find Iida patiently waiting to be addressed."Okay!" Present Mic responded, pointing towards Iida. A spotlight appeared over the boy, separating him from everyone else.Iida took out his sheet and presented it towards Present Mic. "On the printout, it says that there are four types of villains," he stated, moving his finger across to the unidentified fourth silhouette. "If that is a misprint, then U.A., the most prestigious hero school in Japan, should be ashamed of this ridiculous mistake. We, examinees, are here, because we wish to be molded into the perfect model heroes."Izuku scoffed at Iida's question, loud enough for the boy in glasses to hear him.Iida turned around to face Izuku, pointing towards him. "And you, what is your problem? It doesn't sound to me like you are taking this examination seriously." He then recognized him as the green haired boy that he met earlier by the entrance gate. "And to top it off, your previous behaviour was completely unprofessional. If you're here to mess around, then you should leave immediately!"Izuku looked at Iida with a scornful look. "I'm not here to mess around. I am only laughing at how ridiculous your question was," he said dryly. "You seem to be an elite-student, figure it out."Iida looked at Izuku, not expecting that kind of response from the boy. Before he could say anything back, he was stopped by Izuku speaking over him."They didn't make a mistake. I'm fairly certain they didn't address that villain because its points are irrelevant," Izuku pointed out. "Also, I suggest you don't point at people, it's rude.""I- uhm," Iida paused until Present Mic spoke over him."That's right," the pro hero announced. "But I would suggest that you sit down applicant number 7111. Still a great question though." Present Mic explained, giving a thumbs up to Iida. The spotlight over Iida disappeared as he sat back down on his seat, visibly irritated from what occurred.Present Mic glanced over towards where Izuku sat. "What the boy said earlier was right. The fourth villain is actually worth zero points. That guy is basically an obstacle, so to speak." He pointed back towards the screen. "There is only one in each battle centre. It's not necessarily impossible to defeat, but there is no real reason for defeating it either. I suggest that all of you try to avoid it, otherwise it may not end well for you.""I see, so it's basically like a video game where you have to avoid obstacles," said one boy to another behind Izuku."Yeah, this is pretty much just like a video game," said the other examinee.Present Mic presented his arms to the side, extending his fingers outwards. "That's all from me," he exclaimed. "Before we start, I will give you all a present – our school motto!"He continued, "The French hero Napoleon Bonaparte once said: A true hero is someone who overcomes life's misfortunes. Go beyond…" He raised his arms up to the ceiling. "Plus Ultra!"Plus Ultra appeared on the screen in red and yellow colours, flashing brightly towards all of the examinees. Izuku glared at the words presented, knowing almost none of the people in the room truly embodied those words."Now, everyone, good luck suffering!" Present Mic declared seriously.Izuku stood outside by a large set of doors. Inside was what he assumed was the battle centre he would be fighting in. With a medium sized group of around fifty people waiting until it would open, the final test to determine whether or not they would pass into the school was coming close.To his far right, Izuku noticed Tenya Iida staring back right at him. The boy adjusted his glasses and paced over to Izuku. His face still showing anger from what transpired earlier."What are you doing in the back here?" Iida asked. He placed his hand over Izuku's shoulder. "Are you taking the entrance exam to interfere with everyone else?""Of course not," Izuku replied irritably. "At least I'm here trying to focus and yet you're disturbing me." He removed Iida's hand and walked closer to the group."Okay, start!" announced a voice overhead, surprising everyone. "What's wrong? There are no countdowns in real fights!"The group looked up to find Present Mic standing on top of a tower above them, circling one arm quickly. "Run, run! We don't have all day!"The gate swung open, revealing a large makeshift city. Izuku sprinted off with the rest of the group, upon realizing that the exam had already begun.He rushed straight into the main street until one robot villain appeared out of his left view. Knowing that his quirk would be ineffective in offensive combat, Izuku had to utilise the skills he was taught by Zero.The robot swung its large arm over Izuku, only to have the boy dodge it. Izuku slid over and stood up immediately after, wiping the dirt off his face."I'm going to have to get in closer and find it's a weak point," Izuku thought. He shifted his feet on the asphalt, before sprinting at the robot at full force. He dodged another attack and jumped on top of its arm. Without a moment to spare, Izuku made his way to the back of the robot, noticing a red glowing light underneath the robot's head."Gotcha," Izuku muttered. He swung his leg towards it and smashed it in one blow. The robot stopped and let out a few noises before falling down on the ground, cracking the asphalt road from its own weight.Izuku exhaled. "Guess they didn't make it too hard if you pay attention." But he knew it would still be a long road ahead until he would get a passing grade. He looked around to find the other examinees fighting and defeating robots left and right. Time was running out.Inside a small control room, hundreds of screens were laid out across a wall. Showcasing each of the examinees and the actions they took during the exam. Several figures sat, as they watched in silence, assessing the performances."Looks like the results are coming along," said one of them. "We haven't informed the examinees on the number of villains in their locations, so it is interesting to see how they draw them out. Information gathering, mobility, being able to stay calm in any situation is critical to their success. As well as pure combat ability.""Doesn't this year's group look promising?" asked a female voice, turning to another figure."Well, we can't know for sure yet. Some applicants do show promise, while others I cannot completely grab a hold of yet with their powers," said a man next to her. In front of him was a large red button, and as he moved his finger closer to it, the protective screen opened. "Their true test is still yet to come."Back at the battle centre, a large rumble was heard, along with several explosions that appeared not too far away from the group of examinees. Everyone stopped to look at the commotion, only to find a large robot the size of several buildings approach them menacingly.Its movement caused windows to shatter, slowly destroying anything that stood in its way. It then placed one hand on top of an apartment building, only to crush the roof easily under its own force.One of the examinees stared at it, shaking with fear. "Isn't it a little too big?" he whimpered.The large robot raised its right fist, only to smash onto the road where most of the applicants were. A giant dust cloud formed, causing some of the examinees to fly back away from the blast.Izuku stood his ground, only to see the group of applicants he saw earlier run away from it, fearing for their lives. "So this is how people act after they've seen something terrifying," Izuku thought. One of the students bumped into him, causing Izuku to fall down to the ground. He turned to look, only to find Iida running away with the rest of the group.Izuku sighed as he lifted himself up with one hand. "Well, as much as I would like to fight that… I don't see how I would be able to defeat it." He said calmly, dusting off his pants. "Better to avoid it if it's not bothering anyone.""Two minutes left," Present Mic announced. He used his quirk to amplify his voice.Izuku turned around to leave but stopped at the sound of someone making noise. "Ow!" the voice cried out.At the centre of the rubble, lay a brown-haired girl. She attempted to escape by crawling away with her hands. Only to find that both of her legs were blocked by concrete, preventing her from getting out. Izuku realized it was the girl he met earlier in the morning."Oh shit," Izuku said quietly. He watched as the girl stumbled several times, failing to get up. "Come on, get out of there," he muttered, noticing that the giant robot was approaching towards her gradually.Without a second thought, Izuku's body ran to her, ignoring the fact that he would most likely fail if he helped her. He looked at the girl, only to see tears streaming down her face."I'll get you out of here," Izuku reassured Ochaco. "Can you feel your legs?"She lifted her head to look at the boy, "Deku?" she asked. Her voice was weak and muffled. "What are you doing here?""Came here to save you, you idiot," Izuku told her. "I asked you if you can feel your legs. Can you move them?" he asked."N-no," Ochaco said quietly."Ok, in that case, get ready," he said. "I'm going to make sure you get out of here."Ochaco pushed her face down to the ground. "It's not possible," she cried out. "Leave me before you get caught up as well."Izuku disregarded her warning, only to quickly raise the concrete slab that impaired Ochaco's movement. The sight of a boy her age lift something that heavy gave her chills."I'm picking you up," Izuku grunted, as he threw down the concrete to the side. He knew he had to get out of there quickly, otherwise, things would not turn out well. "You can complain all you want but do it after we get out of here."He moved his hands underneath Ochaco, picking her up. "A bit heavier that I expected," he muttered to himself. Ochaco's face lit up with embarrassment, but she was in no position to argue with the boy. Izuku positioned his feet back to the exit, only to find the robot's shadow pass over them.He sprinted away at full speed. Running as fast as his legs could take him, knowing he would have to rely on anything but his quirk to survive. Izuku barely managed to dodge a punch that the robot threw where they had been standing initially.The wind generated from the impact almost caused Izuku to fall and let go of the girl. "Didn't think they'd actually try to murder us," Izuku reflected. "Now this is entertaining!" In the distance, he could see the entire group watch in terror by the gate. "Typical," he thought.Suddenly the robot raised up its fist, preparing for another strike.Izuku stared back, only to see it approaching closer and closer to him. Realising that there was no escape, Izuku decided to do the only thing he could think of at that moment.Ochaco felt the boy's hands release her, only to see him throw her out of harm's way. Before she could let out a scream, the robot's hand came crashing down on Izuku.At that moment, Izuku felt his legs get crushed by the metal steel that hit him. He could only see his vision grow dimmer as he heard screams in the distance. He attempted to look up, but his strength failed him. Causing his head to fall down and bang against the ground.Ochaco watched in terror as the robot that tried to hit her, took down her rescuer instead. The robot's red eyes gleamed across the dirt cloud, seemingly satisfied with what it had done.She crawled over to see if the boy who saved her was okay, only to stop at the sound of explosions coming out from the robot. She saw the robot's legs start to slowly get crushed. The irreversible damage caused for it to slant, until it lost its balance and fell backward, leaving Izuku alone on the cratered road. As the robot fell to the ground, more explosions were seen towards the head and upper body area.Ochaco and the group of examinees watched with confusion as the seemingly undefeatable robot villain was left incapacitated. Black smoke slowly began to rise from the robot, making the scene look peaceful at last.In the distance, a siren was heard signaling the end of the practical exam. Several people came towards the robot and found Izuku laying down unconscious, with half of his body crushed."What was that?" asked one examinee."The moment he got hit, the robot exploded for no reason at all," said another person, staring at the smoke that continued to expand. "Assuming it was him, he must have done something when the dust cloud appeared. That was still unusual…""But if his quirk caused that robot to fall, that's an amazing quirk," pointed out a different person."They're not getting the point," Iida said to himself. "Didn't they see?" He turned to face Ochaco, who was still laying down on the road. "He ran out to save that girl. He was aware of how much time was left and that he would be jeopardizing his own safety… And even so, he did not hesitate at all."Iida clenched his fist, "If it wasn't an exam, of course… I would have done the same!" he reassured himself."Okay, good job everyone," said a voice behind Iida. A small old woman appeared with a walking stick in the shape of a syringe. "Good work, good work."She walked over to Izuku who was set out on the ground, still unconscious from the injury. "Oh dear, you were hurt this much?" she asked. "They really aren't making these exams any easier these days."The old woman extended her lips and kissed Izuku's head, letting out a weird noise. After removing her lips, the boy's legs began to heal immediately, returning back to their normal state."I know that U.A can go a bit reckless since I am here, but it is still ridiculous," the woman pointed out. "Alright, let's finish this quickly. Is anyone else injured?" she asked.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed reading this chapter. It took some time, but it's finally done… phew. As always, thanks for reading and following my story. Leave out a review, always a pleasure reading them. Critique it to hell, so that I can make it even better. :3

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

At the corner of Izuku's room, a letter rested on top of a small desk. Just earlier, Izuku's mother rushed over to him with the mail addressing his name, nervously telling him it was from U.A. Outside of his room, Inko paced back and forth, clutching her hands.Izuku sat in his chair, taking a moment to look at the letter. It was definitely from U.A. "Looks like it's time to see what they have in store for me," Izuku muttered.He picked up the letter and ripped off one end of the paper. Inside was a tiny metal object, which Izuku then promptly removed and placed on the table. At that moment, a light came out and manifested itself into a screen in front of him."Welcome and say hello to me as a projection!" the man shouted.Izuku instantly recognized who it was, yet it still surprised him slightly. "All Might?" Izuku wondered. "I guess the database I got wasn't fake." Izuku leaned back, no longer excited to see his former idol."Believe it or not, I have come to work at U.A this following year as a teacher," All Might said. He wore a gold stripped suit. "I'll make this as short as I can since you've been deemed a special case, but no matter!"All Might rested both of his hands on his hips, seemingly staring at Izuku through the physical projection. "Even though you passed the written exam, you got below the required amount of points on the practical exam. Of course, that means you didn't pass…""I knew that," Izuku remarked to himself. The dwelling emotions inside of him began to grow. "I am being punished for doing something no one else would do." He said, doing his best to suppress the anger he felt towards the students that proclaimed themselves as heroes, only to run away at the first sight of danger.The entire time, Izuku had been mentally arguing with himself over whether or not the decision he made at the exam was worth the sacrifice. He did not know how to feel about his actions. A part of him felt stupid for jeopardizing the mission, while the other repeatedly said it was the right thing to do.All Might continued, "… If that was all there was to it."Izuku's train of thought stopped. He looked back up at the screen and saw All Might resting both of his hands on his hips."The entrance exam you partook in was not graded only on villain points," All Might said. "How can a hero course reject people who save others and do the right thing?" He pointed towards the camera. "In my opinion, you were the one and only person who deserved to come out with a passing grade. But luckily there is a system that rewards points on people rescuing others.""Rescue points," All Might paused, "they're given by a panel of judges. It's the other basic ability we at U.A look at!" The screen changed to a scoreboard that displayed Izuku Midoriya on the left. "You gained sixty points just from that. You pass." All Might said.Izuku could not believe what he had heard. Unintentionally, his actions of rescuing the girl allowed him to progress. "I guess there is still some hope to all this," Izuku said, sighing out loudly."Come young Midoriya. Become a hero," All Might concluded. The screen turned off, leaving Izuku alone to soak in all of the information that was thrown at him."He really does represent the perfect hero," Izuku said, staring at the metal projector. "Yet even after all he said to me when we first met, I have nothing to answer back with."Izuku bent to open the top drawer from his desk, revealing the note on where he wrote the League of Villains' contact information. "Time to notify him," Izuku said with a dry voice.He dialed the number on the new phone Giran gave him before he left the hideout. He pressed it against his ear, waiting for a response."Who is this?" asked a distorted voice."It's exactly who you think it is," the boy said, carefully choosing his words. "I need to speak with the manager. It's important."Behind the phone, Kurogiri stayed silent."I made sure this call wouldn't get traced back if anything were to happen. We're in the clear," Izuku reassured him. "This is involving the plan I mentioned earlier."The static voice spoke up, still wary from the sudden call. "Understood, I'll forward you over."Izuku rose his shoulder up to keep the phone in place so he could still hear. He then slid over a piece of paper and pencil to write as the phone line reconnected."What do you want?" Tomura asked harshly."Not even a hello?" Izuku replied jokingly. "You've really grown sour over these past few days, haven't you?""Shut up little boy," Tomura snapped back. "I don't have time for your little games.""Oh? Knowing you, I thought you'd always be down to play," Izuku replied, smirking at the young man behind the phone. He lowered his pencil on top of the paper with a quick motion."I am only working with you because my master told me to do so," Tomura said. "Best hope that doesn't change."Izuku shrugged. "I know that better than you do." He began to write. "Anyways, I called you because the plan has been set in motion. All that I ask is that you wait patiently, and not do anything stupid."Tomura's voice growled through the speaker. "I hope your plan fails, and that everyone gets to see how much of a screw up you really are."Tomura waited for a disgruntled response but was met with a chilling tone."Let's not resort to that kind of behaviour. You and I are on the same team are we not?" Izuku spoke out softly. "I'd rather not clean up after things that turn red.""What did you say?" Tomura questioned loudly."Just go back and play with your building blocks," Izuku responded, ending the call. He exhaled out deeply, dropping the pencil from his grip, "No point of even getting anything out of that. I wonder what he's going to do now."Izuku sat quietly by his desk, his eyes roamed across the stack of notebooks he asked his mother to buy for him earlier that day. "Time to get to work," he said optimistically.The morning had dawned clear, with a gentle breeze that hinted the start of a new school year. Izuku set forth at daybreak to see the place he would go to every morning starting that day, excited to meet the classmates he would eventually plan to betray."Just the thought of seeing them find out who I am…" Izuku pondered, an enthusiastic look slowly creeped out of him. He then stopped himself at the sight of the school gate, slapping his face to erase any trace of his real side. "Alright, showtime."As he ran to the building in front of him, three large gates appeared. Each written with a large numeral representing the year's grade. He managed to open the one on the left, quickly making his way to his designated classroom."Class 1-A… 1-A," Izuku said quietly, reading a pamphlet in his hands. He stopped beside another large door, "Guess this is it. This place's too big… Is it for accessibility?" He placed his hand on the door's handle. "Let's see the merchandise," he thought.The door slid open and revealed Iida yelling at several classmates to sit down properly at their desks. Izuku was not surprised to see the teen in front of him pass the exam. He felt the elite student vibe come off from Iida giving commands."I'm telling you that it is disrespectful to the upperclassmen and the people who made those desks," Iida shouted out. Some of the students hesitated but ultimately followed his instructions.Izuku peered out of the door. "I see that he still has the same attitude from when I last met him."At that exact moment, Iida noticed Izuku's presence. "You're…"Izuku stepped inside, tapping his shoes in carefully. He ignored Iida's comment, only to find the boy approach him with a noble-like march."I am from Somei Private Academy. My name is- ""I heard," Izuku interrupted him. "We met previously before as well. Nice to meet you again."Iida stopped. "If I recall, you called yourself Deku… are you sure that's not just an insult?"Izuku laughed, raising one arm up. "I suppose, but it means something special to me. I don't mind being called that," he said with an earnest voice."I see," Iida said. His thoughts came back to the day of the exams, remembering the actions Izuku took. "Regardless, you realized there was something more to that practical exam, didn't you?" he asked. "I had no idea… I misjudged you. I hate to admit it, but you are better than me."Izuku rested his hand down, stunned at the sudden change from Iida's normal character. In his mind, he wanted to say Iida was right, but even he did not expect U.A to pass him."Oh, that curly hair!" a voice shouted behind Izuku. "The scary but not so scary looking face guy!"Izuku turned around and saw Ochaco appear beside him, looking happy."It's sorta the nice person! You passed, just liked Present Mic said when I came to them!" Ochaco blurted out. "Of course you made it. What you did back there saving me was amazing!" She moved her hands up and down repeatedly on impulse."I just did what I thought was right," Izuku remarked. "Sorry for throwing you at the end."Ochaco blinked. "It's ok, you got yourself hurt because of me. Nothing to apologise for… On second thought, I actually wonder if today's just the entrance ceremony and orientation. What is our teacher like?"Izuku had to take everything in for a moment, the girl was speaking to fast even for him. Their conversation was quickly interrupted by a cocoon-like figure lying on the floor behind them."Go somewhere else if you want to play being friends," said a raspy voice inside a yellow sleeping bag. "This is the hero course."Ochaco looked back, screaming in fright at the sight of the body appearing. The man inside unzipped a small part of the bag, taking out an unknown container, sipping the contents out of it.All of the students stared at the man with shock, confused at what they had witnessed."S-Something's here?" Iida shouted inside his mind."Okay, it took you a few seconds before you went quiet," said the man. He fully unzipped the sleeping bag, revealing long black hair, with a large scarf covering his neck. "Time is limited. You kids need to be more rational." He stepped out of the bag, still holding it in one hand."That's a teacher?" Izuku asked to himself. "Which means he's a pro-hero too? But I've never seen a hero who looked that worn out before."The man brought his attention to the entire class. "I'm your homeroom teacher, Shota Aizawa. Nice to meet you."All of the 1-A students were taken aback."You're our homeroom teacher?" Izuku asked."That's right," the man said. He took out a blue tracksuit from his sleeping bag. "It's kind of sudden but put this on and go out onto the field."The class erupted at the explanation from Aizawa. "A quirk assessment test?!""What about the orientation, or the entrance ceremony?" Ochaco stressed.Aizawa stood in front of Class 1-A, as his back slumped behind them. "You don't have time for such leisurely events if you're planning on becoming heroes," he said unenthusiastically.Izuku heard several classmates groan in disappointment. Surprised at how unmotivated they were."What's important to understand, is that U.A's selling point is how unrestricted its school traditions are," Aizawa continued. He turned his head to look at Ochaco. "That's also how the teachers run their classes."He pointed to the ground below him, showing an outlined circle. "You kids have been doing these things since Junior High correct?" He took out his phone and showed them a list of exercises. "Specifically physical fitness tests where you weren't allowed to use your quirks."The class stood in silence, listening carefully to their teacher."The country still uses averages taken from students not using their quirks. That isn't rational," he said, as he tapped his phone. "Well… the Ministry of Education is procrastinating, but that doesn't mean there is nothing we at U.A can't do. You will now be using your quirks."Izuku looked at the ground, uncertain of how his new-found quirk would help him in physical tests."Everyone, listen up," Aizawa announced. "The first test will be a softball throw. Iida, you're up.""Yes, sir," Iida replied. He moved inside the marked area and caught the ball Aizawa threw towards him.Aizawa nodded silently. "You can do whatever you want, as long as you stay in the circle."Iida shifted back to the end of the line and rose his track pants up to his knees. Revealing a set of exhausts that came out of his calves. He took a throwing stance, "Recipro burst!" Iida shouted as the exhausts from his legs spewed out streams of hot air. He rotated his body several times, gaining speed with every turn, finally releasing the ball at the last possible moment.It flew straight into the air, gradually falling down after a few seconds, smashing down into the dirt. Aizawa showed his phone screen to the students, revealing that the ball had flown just over six-hundred meters. Causing the group to gasp at the power Iida had shown them."Six-hundred meters? Seriously?" asked one boy with yellow hair. "This looks fun."A girl with pink-coloured skin jumped up. "We actually get to test our quirks!""It looks fun, huh?" Aizawa questioned. "You have three years to become a hero. Will you have an attitude like that the whole time?" He lowered his head down to stare at the class with an eerie look. "All right. Whoever comes in last place from all eight tests will be judged to have no potential and will be punished with expulsion."The entire class collectively drew their breath in sharply, upon realizing their teacher was serious.At the corner of the school building, All Might stood watching. "Those kids really didn't get the luck of the draw," he said with an exasperated look.Izuku watched as Aizawa took interest in him. The teacher noticed that he was the one of three students that remained unfazed from his comments."All eight tests?" Izuku thought. "And they are all only fitness tests?" He grabbed onto his wrist, staring at his hand's palm. "My quirk is completely useless here."Aizawa focused his attention on the class. "Keep in mind, we're free to do whatever we want when it comes to the circumstances of our students." He pulled back the top of his hair, revealing bloodshot eyes. "Welcome to the U.A hero course."All of the students tensed up from the challenge Aizawa presented them. With some starting to perform warm up exercises immediately."Last place will be expelled?" Ochaco protested. "But it's the first day of school! Even if it wasn't the first day, this is too unfair!"Aizawa scoffed. "Natural disasters, large accidents, and villain attacks. Calamities of such scale whose time or place can't be predicted, occur all the time. The world is covered with unfairness… heroes are the ones who reverse those situations," he stated. "For the next three years, U.A will do all it can to give you the experience one after the other. So that when you come across those hardships, you are ready."He lifted his finger, pressuring the students to come forward. "Overcome it will all you've got.""He's not wrong," Izuku thought for a moment. "But the test doesn't make sense to me.""All right, the demonstration is over. The real thing starts now," Aizawa said. A hand rose up from the crowd in front of the man. Izuku stood waiting for a reply."What is your question Midoriya?" Aizawa asked, seemingly annoyed from being interrupted."Teacher," Izuku began. "Doesn't this test seem a little short-sighted?"That took Aizawa by surprise. He lowered his phone, grinning at the boy's sudden questioning of his methods. The words came unbidden. "Are you implying to say this test holds no merit?""It does have a purpose," Izuku replied. "I completely agree with expelling those who do not show potential. However, this test doesn't account for almost all of the other aspects a hero must have."Iida and Ochaco looked at the green haired boy, bewildered and afraid that he was challenging the teacher."To remove someone just because they can't run fast or throw things far enough, while they excel in everything else is pointless.""Life is unfair," Aizawa reminded him. "These are basic skills any hero must overcome if they wish to serve the public. Or are you just worried that you'll be the first one to fail?"Izuku did not respond, knowing that there was no right answer to the question."I see, in that case, show me your resolve. If you believe this test is pointless, prove to me that you are a capable hero," Aizawa commanded. "In the end, what really matters is that you're able to defeat your opponents. Show me what you can do." He expected Izuku to fall down in terror, but only found the boy walk out, moving towards him."Alright," Izuku said. "What are the rules?""Wait Dek-, I mean Midoriya. You shouldn't take on his challenge," Iida spoke out. "Just apologise to the teacher and face the tests. I know you're more than capable of passing."Izuku placed his hand in between himself and Iida, signaling that he would be fine. "I am doing this to prove exactly what the teacher has pointed out. Otherwise, I am only complaining."Aizawa placed his phone in his pocket. "This kid is different from the rest," he thought. "No hesitation whatsoever. But it means nothing if he can't back up everything he's said."The teacher instructed the class to move back away to a safe distance. "Midoriya, I should warn you that I will be taking this seriously. I will use my quirk if I have to."Izuku nodded, taking the first offensive fighting stance Zero taught him. He prepared himself to confront the pro hero."We haven't had the opportunity to analyse your quirk yet Midoriya, which makes it a fair match in that aspect. All you need to do is land a solid blow on me and you win. You have two minutes, if you run out of time or are incapacitated, then you fail."Ochaco stared at the upcoming fight between student and teacher. She was filled with a terrible sense of dread, there was no way she thought that Izuku could defeat a U.A teacher, a pro hero, nonetheless."Well then, once the timer starts, you may begin," Aizawa said. He tapped the phone inside his pocket. "Let's go."At the sound of Aizawa's call, Izuku stood his ground, analysing the teacher's stance and equipment. He noticed that his opponent wore a large scarf but that it did not seem to be a stylistic choice. "I'm already getting the feeling that he can fight well at medium to short distances," Izuku muttered. "In that case, I'll have to rely on impulse."Usually, Aizawa felt confident when facing down someone, but he felt something off from Izuku not moving at all. He met with the boy's eyes, only to find the resolve of an unnatural feeling he had not seen in years.Aizawa did not have a moment to think as Izuku charged straight towards him. The teacher took a few steps back, removing the cloth around his neck. He launched both ends towards Izuku, forming two sharps strands. Izuku dodged in time, rolling to his side. He landed on his feet, springing back up to Aizawa."He's got the agility, but let's see how he faces against this," Aizawa said to himself. He tugged back the steel woven cloth, making it move towards Izuku from the back.Ochaco covered her eyes in fright at the thought of the boy getting hurt.The cloth landed across Izuku's left leg, wrapping itself around it. "Gotcha," Aizawa said. He felt something grip his own leg but saw nothing. With his victory assured, he planned on showing the boy the difference in their strength. He pulled the cloth with all of his force, lifting the boy up from the ground.None of the students were able to move as they saw Izuku get thrown across the field. His body twisted several times, bouncing on the dirt before coming to a stop. A visible pattern was seen scratched across the ground."Wait, look!" shouted Iida, redirecting the class's attention to their teacher. Aizawa lay on the ground, holding onto his head. The students stared in confusion from what they had seen. They looked back at Izuku, only to see him getting up slowly."What just happened?" asked a tall, lean student with black hair spiked downwards. "Why is the teacher hurt?""I don't know," Iida said quietly. "But this may have something to do with his quirk. I'm getting a similar vibe to what happened in the practical exam.""What do you mean?" asked one girl.Iida turned to face her and only saw a tracksuit levitating from the ground. He adjusted his glasses. "During the exam, I am fairly certain he defeated the zero-point villain. But it only happened when it attacked him."Class 1-A stared at Iida with shock. "He defeated that thing?" they all collectively shouted out."Yeah, although I think it was done indirectly. Just as what we saw now," Iida pointed out. "If that quirk is what I think it is, I wouldn't want to fight him at all.""Does that mean Deku could defeat Aizawa?" Ochaco asked.Iida sighed. "I don't think so, considering he's up against a pro-hero." He gave the class a look. "Also please stop asking me all these questions. Now's not really the time."Aizawa felt his sides and head hurt. "Son of a bitc-" He rose up to see Izuku throw a jab towards his face. Aizawa countered it with a swift up motion from his left arm, quickly throwing a counter kick at Izuku. The boy blocked it with both of his lower arms, taking a few steps back."Was that his quirk?" Aizawa thought. He felt his arms sting in the same location where he kicked Izuku. "It has to be… In that case, I'll have to use it."Izuku saw Aizawa's eyes turn red, along with bright yellow goggles resting around the neck. Izuku finally understood who he was facing off against. He broke from his fighting stance to the surprise of his teacher."Eraser Head?" Izuku asked. He placed his finger on his chin. "It really is you… can I have an autograph?"This momentarily stunned Aizawa. He was taken aback from Izuku's sudden change in character. Before he could respond, Izuku rushed forward, swinging his right leg at the man's head.Aizawa saw the boy's foot quickly approach him. He moved his head back, slowly seeing the soles of Izuku's shoe barely miss hit him. The momentum caused Aizawa to fall down, but he quickly recovered by placing his hands on the ground, doing a backflip to regain his footing."You are one crazy kid," Aizawa responded, keeping his gaze focused on Izuku. "Looks like you know who I am. I've rendered your quirk useless.""That doesn't change anything," Izuku said, breathing heavily. "I've got thirty seconds left. I can fight without it."Aizawa smirked. "Then come." He positioned his fists by his chest and head. "Go beyond. Plus Ultra."Izuku charged up another attack. This time sliding down, hoping to break the teacher's balance."Not good enough," Aizawa commented. He jumped into the air, throwing down one end of the cloth at the boy.Izuku quickly pushed himself away from the projectile with his hands. He stood up and dangled a knife in the air. "Teacher, it's kind of dangerous to be carrying around these kinds of things at school."Aizawa felt around the holster in his outfit, recognizing that Izuku had stolen it. "You can use it if you want. I told you that we do things differently at this school."Izuku smiled, moving the knife around in his hands."But," Aizawa interrupted him. "Time is up." He raised his phone, showing the timer at zero seconds. "I would say you lost, but I honestly wasn't expecting you to be that skilled."Izuku loosened his grip on the knife, placing it down on the ground.The teacher had his suspicions. "Where did you learn how to fight like that?" Aizawa questioned. "That isn't something a normal high schooler would know.""I was taught in martial arts and self-defense ever since I was little," Izuku lied. "I had to make up for what I lacked in."Aizawa had trouble believing the boy. Izuku's fighting style felt familiar yet distant at the same time. "Who trained you?" he asked without pause.Izuku staggered a bit, realizing he had shown too much. He showed a smile, "It was an older hero, but I only referred to him as master. I never really had the opportunity to ask, and as time went on, that was sort of the relationship we formed. I haven't seen him in a few years""That's an odd way of telling me you don't know, but regardless… you pass for now," Aizawa said, gesturing Izuku to move back to the group. "We're still continuing the tests, get ready," he shouted to the Class 1-A students.It was an hour later when Aizawa came up to all of the students panting on the ground, who were all desperately trying to get air in their lungs. His shoulders slumped, seemingly unimpressed from their efforts. "Class 1-A," he said. "I'll quickly tell you the results. The total is simply the marks you got from each test. It's a waste of time to explain everything, so I'll just show you the scores all at once.""Oh, and by the way. I was lying about the expulsion."The class blinked with their eyes wide open, silently staring at Aizawa.Aizawa put out a conceited face, smiling at the students with a stupid grin. "It was a rational deception, in order to draw out the upper limits of your quirks.""What?!" Class-A chimed in together, opening their mouths simultaneously.A girl with black hair and a ponytail that spiraled out from the back placed her hands on her hips. "Of course that was a lie," she said moderately. "It should've been obvious if you just thought it through.""Yaoyorozu, I don't think it was that easy to tell," said one classmate beside her."That was little nerve-wracking though, but I am still wondering how Midoriya was able to hold off against the teacher," another student replied, moving a large tail behind him.Aizawa interrupted them. "With that, we're done here." The man turned to his left and began to walk away. "There are handouts with the curriculum and all of that in the classroom. When you get back, look over them." He stopped beside Izuku, "Midoriya. I'd like to have a chat with you. Please follow me."The entire class got nervous, having witnessed their battle earlier.Aizawa looked at the class one last time, "Tomorrow will be packed with even more rigorous tests. Prepare yourselves."Izuku sat down in the teacher's room, calmly watching Aizawa walk over to him."Ok, I'll get straight to the point with you. Did you lie out of fear of everyone finding out what happened?" the man asked, sitting down on a chair. "I am aware of what happened because we get profile checks on students before we admit them. I've read the police report."Izuku gripped his hands, to show nervousness. "I apologise about lying. It is as you say, I can't bring myself to terms about what happened."Aizawa sighed, he rested one arm on the table. "Look, I am not here to say what you did was wrong. I understand what you had to go through, and I'm guessing that's where you learned how to fight like that."Izuku stayed silent."Figured as much," Aizawa said. "From all of the students I've mentored thus far, you seem to display a different kind of demeanor. The fact that you can fight almost on par with me and utilise a quirk that presents a multitude of safety concerns… is something that is generally beyond U.A's regular capabilities. Granted that your head is still in the right place."Izuku managed a small laugh, unsure if that was meant as an insult or compliment."You were the only one that has ever presented a counter-argument to my teaching methods, and then promptly not go back on your words. Here I thought kids these days were snowflakes," Aizawa commented. "Well at least some of them aren't I suppose.""Teacher, if I may ask," Izuku brought his hands closer together. "You talk about rational decisions, but when we were at the field. You really were planning on expelling the person in last place. I didn't get the feeling that you were lying.""I'll leave that up to your imagination," Aizawa answered. The boy really was something fascinating to behold at. The man stood up, looking at Izuku below him. "The main reason why I wanted to talk with you, is because I'm giving you a clear-cut warning."Izuku was unsure what the teacher meant. He only saw the man take out an eye drop from his pocket."Everything you showcased today was an eye-opener for me," Aizawa said. "Your quirk, in particular, is unprecedented. It can prove useful if you use it right, but unbelievably dangerous if something goes wrong. I'm certain your classmates will be careful, but there is still only one thing bugging me." He paused, dripping a few droplets into his eyes. "Can you control it?"Izuku looked defeated. "Well, no.""Then that is a major problem. You will need to learn to control it some way if you wish to stay here, otherwise you will become a liability to the rest of the students… is that clear?""Yes, sir," Izuku responded quietly."Listen, you've got a bright future ahead of you. But the power you wield will only bring hardships upon you." Aizawa exhaled, placing his hand on Izuku's shoulder. "You will only hurt yourself if you do not learn how to use it properly." He changed his tone to a more cheerful approach. "But that's why you're here. To learn from those who walked the same path as you… You're good to go now, I'll see you tomorrow in class."Aizawa exited the room, leaving Izuku unsupervised."That's where you are wrong Eraser Head," Izuku thought to himself. "I am past the line of hurting. There is nothing left for me to feel. The only thing keeping me afloat is seeing the look of terror from those who are a stain on this society."
A/N: Unintended pun there! But anyways, this chapter is written much longer than what I generally do. Would you guys rather have me slow down the upload schedule and provide longer chapters? Or keep it around the same two to three-day thing? Ultimately the output will be the same, but some people have preferences over the other.

One thing to mention, in the next upcoming week or two, exams and several large projects are coming up. So expect a dip in content until the end of April. Afterward, I'll have a lot more time to write, even more than I have now. I just wanted to let you guys know.

Have a wonderful day!

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The room was damp and cold. In the darkness sat two bodies shackled to the wall, with their heads slumped downwards, seemingly lifeless. One attempted to move their legs but was stopped at the sound of a large metal door opening. In the center, a light turned on, revealing an empty room with the two heroes. Tomura stepped in from the entrance; he wore a disgruntled look but showed a short glimpse of excitement to the prisoners. Kurogiri followed suit right after the young man, closing the door behind him.Bound hand and foot, Uwabami watched from the dust with disquiet in her golden yellow eyes. "I already told you that I don't know anything else," she told Tomura. "Please understand that you have already taken everything from us.""I am tired of you complaining," Tomura replied. He moved closer to her, crouching down to meet with her eyes. "You are right that we have taken everything from you. Now you're just a quirkless piece of human trash. Not that it really matters to me… I only want to ask you one final thing before you can say goodbye to this world.""Tomura, are you sure this is what the Master would have wanted?" Kurogiri asked with concern.Tomura waved his hand, dismissing the man's comment. "It doesn't matter anyway," he said bitterly. "Master has already gotten everything he needed from them. It's best we don't have any witnesses."Kurogiri stood silent, knowing it would be best not to anger Tomura after the call he had last night."Leave me here," the young man said, slowly turning his head towards Kurogiri. His eyes showed intense hatred, one that the bartender had not seen in a long time.Kurogiri bowed. "As you wish," he said calmly, moving the handle down. "I will be waiting outside."Tomura continued to watch until the door closed. He slowly twisted his neck back to the shackled heroes. "Do you know what is going to happen if you don't talk…" he began.Uwabami stared in horror as the villain placed his hand on the boy's head beside her. "Please stop!" Uwabami begged. "Whatever you're going to do. Please stop!"Tomura smiled. "Too late for that princess." He placed his last finger on the young hero. Gradually cracks started to form around the head, causing the boy to scream in pain, crying out for help. Tomura began to chuckle, watching the hero's body crumble into dust as the voice faded away."Tsuyoshi!" Uwabami cried out. Having witnessed the boy's death, she wailed around in panic, aimlessly thrashing her arms around."Be quiet," Tomura ordered with a rasping voice, yet the woman did not listen to him. Outside of the room, Kurogiri leaned across the wall, doing his best to occupy his mind on something else."I said, shut up!" Tomura raged. He brought his hand forward, expanding it in front of Uwabami. At the sight of the murderer's hand, she quieted down in fear of her life.Tomura removed the hand that covered his face. He creeped out a smile from his cracked lips, "Now that is a little better Miss." He lowered his hand away from her, resting it on his legs. "I promise to let you go if you answer this one question."Uwabami stared at Tomura, nodding her head frantically."Good!" Tomura grinned, "If only you had done that from the start… Now tell me all you know about how your attacker fought."Kurogiri waited patiently for several minutes after the initial screams began, only to hear it once more. The door swung open suddenly, with Tomura scratching his throat aggressively."I suppose, disposal is in order?" Kurogiri asked cautiously."Do as you wish," Tomura told him, still showing an irritated look. "My job is finished with them."Kurogiri waited until the young man left the hall. He stepped inside to find shackles covered in piles of ash.Izuku tucked in his white button-down shirt into the dress pants he was gifted months ago. The boy frowned. "It's already gotten tighter, and the only decent thing I have to wear for this class." Izuku stepped out of the changing room and proceeded to walk over the class waiting outside by a large constructed city. "Doesn't really matter that they see me in this getup. At least it will get the job done for this exercise.""Oh, Deku?" Ochaco asked, upon noticing Izuku appear from the gate. She held onto a large visor that covered her entire face."Hello," Izuku replied quietly. He knew that it was his opportune time to learn about the quirks his classmates possessed."That looks fancy! But so cool," Ochaco exclaimed. "Is that your hero costume?"Izuku looked down at his outfit. "Yeah, sort of. Apart from a tracksuit, it's the next best thing I own. The costume department got delayed in finishing mine on time." He looked at Ochaco only to realise her outfit stood out too much.Ochaco placed one hand behind her head, giving off a nervous expression. "I should've written down what I wanted… Now it ended up being a skin-tight bodysuit. It's a bit embarrassing.""Midoriya?" asked a voice in the large group behind Ochaco. "Why are you wearing formal clothing? They told us to wear our hero costumes."Izuku turned to see who addressed him. Only to find a boy with spiked red hair stare at him. Izuku squinted, turning his head somewhat sideways. "Wait, who are you again?" he asked apologetically.The boy walked up to Izuku, laughing at the question. "Aww come on, you don't remember my name? It's Eijiro Kirishima." He raised his arm to greet Izuku, "Nice to meet you. Call me Eijiro."Izuku looked at Kirishima hesitantly, ultimately shaking his hand back. "Likewise, Kirishima…" He paused. "By the way, I've just noticed, but aren't there only nineteen of us?""Now that you say it, that is kind of odd," Kirishima wondered. He turned to count the number of classmates present. "Doesn't Class 1-B have twenty?" he asked.Iida stepped towards them in a costume that surrounded his entire body and head. "That is right. Apparently, not enough students passed the exam. And the criteria set for our class was too high for anyone else to join.""But is it such a big deal?" Ochaco asked. "It shouldn't affect anything if we have one less person."Iida stopped. "I suppose you're right. Only time will tell.""Class 1-A, now it is time for combat training!" All Might announced. He wore a bright red costume, with a blue cape gently waving from the wind that passed by him.The class quickly positioned themselves into two lines, waiting for further instructions."Sir!" Iida began. He rose his right hand up. "If I am correct, this is one of the battle centres from the entrance exam. Will we be conducting urban battles again?""No, this time it's going to be a little different. We're moving two steps ahead," All Might said, pointing two of his fingers up. "Most of the time, fighting villains takes place outside. But if you look at the total crime rate percentage, indoor appearances from villains occur at a much higher rate. Things such as imprisonment, house arrest, and backroom deals. In this society filled with heroes, intelligent villains hide in the shadows!"Izuku laughed to himself. "He definitely hit that right on the mark," he thought until he suddenly lost all of his enthusiasm. "I wonder if he has even recognized who I am… Did it really not matter to you at all?"All Might continued, "For this class, you'll be split into villains and heroes. You will fight two-on-two indoor battles."A girl with a frog-like costume spoke up, "Even without basic training?""This is a real battle to understand those basics," All Might told her. He formed his hand into a fist, looking back towards the class. "However, the key this time is that there are no robots you can just beat up.""How will wins and losses be determined?" Yaoyorozu asked as she repositioned her long black hair."Will the punishment be expulsion like with Mr. Aizawa?" asked another voice.Iida still holding his hand up, immediately followed up with another question. "How shall we be split up?"Sweat could be seen on All Might's face, yet he did not fluster. "I'll answer all of your questions, but only after I finish explaining everything." He took out a small piece of paper and began to read. "The situation presented for you is that the villains have hidden a nuclear weapon somewhere in their hideout. The heroes' objective will be to dispose of it. That can either be done by catching the two villains or touching the nuclear weapon in the allotted time. The villains need to protect the nuclear weapon the entire time or catch the heroes in a similar fashion.""He mentioned groups of two… one person will be left on their own," Izuku thought. "Pity the person who has to deal with that.""Teams and opponents will be determined by drawing lots," stated All Might, presenting a large box."They're being decided so haphazardly?" Iida asked underneath his mask.Izuku placed his hands into his pockets and turned to face Iida. "Don't professional heroes often have to create makeshift teams with other heroes in different agencies? Seems like they're going for a similar approach to that."Iida dropped his hand, understanding Izuku's point. "I see. The insight to look ahead… Please excuse my rudeness All Might." He bowed his head to the teacher."It's fine," All Might replied. "Let's do this quickly!" He moved one hand into the air, staring into the sky. "Once we pick out the teams, everyone who isn't chosen to fight first will head to the monitor room.""Yes, sir!" said the group collectively."Oh, and from the recommendation of Aizawa," All Might chimed in. "Izuku Midoriya will be working as a one-man team." He looked at the boy he called out, "Sorry about that, but this is a handicap that has been placed on you."Izuku could hear one of the students behind him speak up. "Is it because he fought against the teacher?""Probably his punishment for speaking out… kinda lucky for any team that is going to fight against hi-""Denki Kaminari," Iida stopped him. "I'd say it's the complete opposite. A punishment? Sure. But do you honestly want to fight him after what we've witnessed last week?"Kaminari shrugged. "It's still a two versus one scenario. Combat strength isn't the only factor."All Might spoke up. "Now, now. While young Midoriya might be alone. Aizawa has decided it would be most fair to place him in that position because of his strengths, we only have nineteen students after all.The entire class glared at Izuku at the sound of him being declared the strongest."Alright, bring it on," Kirishima shouted. He pointed towards Izuku, "I'll be the one to take you down!""Great," Izuku thought. "Now everyone will want to beat the shit out of me."Inside the monitor room, several classmates tried to console Kirishima who sat on the ground embarrassed. Several others laughed at his previous statement."Looks like he won't be fighting Midoriya," said one classmate barely holding in his laughter.Outside of the abandoned building, stood Midoriya, examining the place he was assigned to protect. He suddenly heard All Might approach him."Young Midoriya," All Might said. "Set up and get ready, you have twenty minutes. Once the timer runs out, the hero team will break in and the battle will start." He placed both of his hands on his hip, "Learn to think from the perspective of a villain. This is pretty close to a real battle. I am not really sure of your circumstances but go all out. Don't be afraid to get hurt, show the other team what it means to fight. If things go too far, I'll stop it."Izuku stared at All Might. "When you say act like a villain. Am I able to act it out as a persona and take it seriously?"All Might laughed. "Do your thing, as long as it doesn't threaten the lives of your classmates. We have these battle scenarios for a reason you know!"Izuku put out a fake smile. "Yes, sir. I'll do my best!""Well, in that case, you may head in. I'll be briefing the other team. You'll be facing off against Tenya Iida and Ochaco Uraraka," All Might said. He turned to face the hero team and began to walk over to them. "Let's see what made Aizawa so interested in this boy," he muttered.Izuku took out a paper and pen, quickly laying out the structure of the building, along with its entrances and exits from all floors. He made his way slowly to the bomb on the fifth floor. "Looks like I'll be at a complete disadvantage if I let them get too close to the bomb… but I also need to make sure they stick together at first. Knowing their quirks, I can't let Iida run off on his own. Otherwise, he'll get to the bomb faster than I do." He bit onto his lip. "Yet if I defend the bomb and only stay on the fifth floor, then I'll be completely outnumbered. I don't know if I'll have enough time to stop them in such an open area."At that very moment, his eyes lit up. "Wait a minute," Izuku pondered, "All Might never said anything about not being allowed to move the bomb." He looked around the room, slowly letting out a grin.The other students looked through several monitors that showcased every known position of the building. They watched with perplexity at Izuku's thought process."Wait a minute. He can really do that?" Yaoyorozu asked.One of the doors opened, as All Might stepped in. He looked at Class-A, initially expecting the room to be filled with them talking nonstop. Only to find that the entire group of students were quiet, carefully paying attention to one of the screens."What's up everyone?" All Might asked. He startled the entire group, causing several students to fall on the ground. All Might looked down, offering his hand apologetically. "Sorry for scaring you guys… But what has gotten all of you so quiet?"Awkwardly, Yaoyorozu rose up from the floor. "Sir, are the villains allowed to do these kinds of things?" she asked, pointing at one screen.All Might looked and saw that the bomb had been relocated to the first floor and placed inside one of the small rooms. Along with windows on the fourth and fifth floor being covered by blue tarps."Did he just hammer them in?" All Might thought, surprised at the actions the boy took. He paused to look back at the girl. "Technically it is allowed, there are no rules preventing him from moving the bomb or using things inside the building. It's not like the hero teams were told where the bomb would be.""Isn't that a bit risky?" Kirishima asked. He touched the tips of his red hair. "What if they find it right away?""I don't think they will," Yaoyorozu said. "I suppose it's his way of closing the gap. But it will still be a difficult battle for him. He'll be useless if they keep their distance."Izuku hammered in the final nail to keep the tarp covered over one of the windows. He threw down the hammer onto the concrete floor and made his way to the second floor. Izuku took out the paper he had drawn on earlier. "One of my options were to fight Iida immediately but there is even a better plan for victory now.""One-minute remaining until the match starts," broadcasted a large speaker. "One-minute remaining."He quickly made his way down the flight of stairs arriving on to where he would plan to meet the hero team. "I'm relying on them to skip the first floor after they walked in through the only entrance. They'll likely not figure it out." He placed the piece of paper back into his pocket. "Considering their quirks, everything has been accounted for. I'll trick them into believing they had won."Outside Iida and Ochaco stood by the building. They had noticed that the upper two levels had been covered with something. In turn not allowing anyone to see from the outside or inside."He's really thought this through," Iida observed. "He knows our quirks better than we know his.""What do you mean?" Ochaco asked curiously.Iida looked at her. "If you used your quirk to fly up there, you'd be able to see all of the floors. But now most of them are blocked off, preventing us from knowing where the bomb is."Ochaco shifted her hands anxiously. "Deku is kind of scary when it comes to these kinds of things.""Scary?" Iida questioned. "Maybe not scary, but he's always surprised me. I just can't read him at all.""Ten seconds," announced the speaker.Iida gestured Ochaco to follow him towards the entrance. "Alright, we follow the plan we went over. Our best bet is to split up once we meet him. He'll probably target me first, so you'll need to run up and find the bomb as quickly as possible."A large siren was heard, signaling the start of the battle. "The heroes have 10 minutes to secure the bomb," the speaker declared.They walked inside the building and found it covered with many halls, separating into small rooms. To their right, a stairway led up to the second floor."That's our way up," Iida said quietly. "I'll do my best to keep him occupied but I won't be able to do it for long. If it gets too bad, I'll have to sacrifice myself by hitting him. If it goes well, then we'll both be knocked out."Ochaco nodded. "By the way, Iida, what if he is on the first floor?" she asked."I doubt it," Iida whispered. "If he made himself known here, then he'd be completely screwing up his positioning. We'd just be able to race up to the bomb and win. My guess is that he is waiting on the second or third floor.""Ok," Ochaco replied back nervously.They slowly made their way up the stairs. Only to hear a slow clapping gradually get louder in the dark hallway in front of them. Iida moved his right arm to the side, signaling Ochaco to stop."Heroes… congratulations on making your way over here," came a dry voice, its cold atmosphere was threatening in a way Iida and Ochaco had never felt before."You're here to win, after all, aren't you…?" In the distance, Iida saw a silhouette standing still, seemingly watching them with the intent to kill."Ochaco, he's blocking off the main hallway leading up to the next floor. Get ready," Iida told her quickly. Even though he knew he was facing off against Izuku, his body trembled."Now then, shall we start?"Before they could react. Izuku sprang up from the shadows and threw a kick towards Ochaco. Iida jumped in time to block it, causing Izuku to move back. The boy with green hair calmly stared at them, before letting out a small smile. "What a gentleman you are Iida," Izuku said. "However I won't be letting either one of you leave."Iida drew out a short breath and took a defensive stance. "Why did he just focus her?" Iida hesitated. "Does he not want her to advance instead of me? Or was it just a random kick…"Izuku noticed Iida pause. "It's quite simple is it not? Do you want me to repeat what I just said," he taunted Iida, still grinning at him. "There's still so much for you to learn."Iida suddenly felt Ochaco nudge his back."Iida, I have a plan. I think I know why he targeted me first. His maneuverability is considerably low when compared to yours. But in such a small confined space, it doesn't make that much of a difference. If he fights you here, he'll win."Iida stood in silence still carefully watching Izuku.Ochaco went on, "If he fights you, he'll catch up with me in no time. But if it's the opposite way around and we create an opening for you to pass through. Then Deku will never catch up."Iida nodded slowly, "Ok, that plan makes sense, but are you sure you want to fight him alone?""We don't have a choice," Ochaco explained. "This is our best option of winning."Izuku started to walk towards them slowly, with his hands down."I'll create an opening," Ochaco reassured Iida. "Don't worry about me, just run."In his mind, Izuku had laid out the scenario perfectly. He was not able to believe how well everything went. "And now just to show my aggression towards Iida and checkmate," he said to himself.He ran towards his classmates, and lifted his right leg, aiming it towards Iida's side. In that short moment, at the corner of his eye, Izuku saw Ochaco run at him. His kick landed straight into her, causing her body to slam into the corridor wall. As he turned around to face Iida, his body slowly began to rise, not allowing him to chase after the boy with the engine quirk.Iida sprang off at the opportunity and sprinted in the direction of the stairway leading upstairs. At the wall, Ochaco saw Izuku smile, noticing that something was not right.Izuku gradually began to laugh, not being able to contain it inside anymore. His body continued to float, yet that did not concern him.Several students in the monitor room sighed, upon realizing the hero team's mistake. All Might stared at Izuku, astonished at what the boy was capable of. "He actually fooled them," he said to himself. "But it's not over yet."After a few seconds, Ochaco was no longer able to keep Izuku into the air, releasing him right as she threw up onto the ground.The fall caused Izuku to land on his side. He felt something crack at the moment of impact. Izuku stood up slowly, covering his ribs. "You did me really good there, but in the end, it doesn't matter." He walked over to her, removing her ear piece and crushed it with his foot. "Now I suggest you give up Ochaco, otherwise things will not end well for you," Izuku coughed.Ochaco looked up at Izuku, not being able to recognise him at all. She feared what he would do if she said no."Alright," Izuku said. "While Iida is running around trying to find the bomb, I'll have you forfeit." He looked down at Ochaco. "Are we clear on that?""Clear," Ochaco replied quickly. She did not know why Izuku was so confident in letting Iida escape until it had dawned on her mind what had happened.The corners of Izuku's lips grew as he saw the alarmed expression from Ochaco. "Ah yes, I love seeing people's faces when they realise their mistakes. Truly spectacular," his voice rang out."It is exactly what you think, the bomb is on the first floor," Izuku said. "And now there is only one hero left." He turned to one of the cameras in the hallway. "Teacher, you heard her forfeit. Do I need to keep her in my custody?"A voice appeared in his right ear. "Yes, young Midoriya. Her partner still has the chance of freeing her.""What if I just knock her out?" Izuku inquired with a cold voice. "That doesn't seem to be against the rules.""I-, uhm… that might not be the best idea," All Might replied back through his ear."I know it isn't," Izuku said. "But you were the one who said this is a real battle. From a villain's perspective, why would I keep a hero awake if I knew they could potentially escape and fight back?"There was a long pause. "I guess you make a good point," All Might said. "Tell her to exit the building."Ochaco stared in confusion as Izuku told her the situation. "Can you move?" he asked."Yeah, I'm fine," Ochaco said. "But jeez Deku, you are really scary as a villain."Izuku made a surprised look, "Wait, really? I am?" he asked, blinking several times with his eyes wide open.She stood up, placing one leg forward. "Deku… you're acting skills are something else." She paused, "Teach me sometime!"Izuku stared at her with bewilderment, before she quickly ran down to leave. "Well, I guess they wouldn't think I am an actual villain," Izuku thought. "But I suppose I shouldn't have gone so overboard."Knowing that Iida would return any minute, Izuku walked down to the first floor and entered the room where he had hidden the bomb. It lay intact on the ground, completely untouched. Izuku put his hand over his hair. "Really glad this thing weighs almost nothing."In the distance, Izuku could hear Iida frantically running down each floor."Oh shit, oh shit, god damn it," Iida shouted out. He speeded across each room, making his way down. "Midoriya got me… There was no bomb on the higher floors!" He made his final approach towards the first floor, as the buzzard was heard signaling the end of the battle.Izuku stepped out of the room and found Iida sitting down on his knees, screaming with his hands up thrown into the air.Class 1-A could not believe what they had witnessed. "Scary…" most of them said simultaneously."Aizawa, you really weren't kidding when you said to give him a handicap," All Might thought. "What the hell was that? The young man didn't even have to rely on his quirk."Izuku walked out of the building with Iida and saw Ochaco waiting for them."Next time," Ochaco said restlessly. "We're making sure you're never the villain again!"
A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Leave a favourite/follow if you'd like to support the story. And a review/comment so I can see what you think of it. Thanks for reading as always, love you guys.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Izuku walked over to the monitor room with Iida and Ochaco. He opened the metal door to find All Might and the rest of the class waiting for them."Welcome back!" All Might shouted. He raised his hand to show a thumbs up. "Let's begin the review for the first battle. We're making it short and clear, we still have another four of these to go."He walked up to the monitor showcasing the statistics from the first battle. "In this battle, it was the villain's victory, which would be young Midoriya. Well, it goes without saying that the most valuable person was him.""To be honest, I'm a little surprised it turned out that way," Kirishima said. He looked at Izuku, showing a slight grin. "As expected of you of course. But don't count your luck yet when you face me.""He says that but he was crying just a bit early about not fighting you," a voice said behind the red-haired boy. "Not to mention that he won't even fight you."Kirishima turned around with an embarrassed look. "Hey Asui! Don't tell him that!" he said with a small panicked voice.All Might cleared his throat. "Ahem, I'd advise we continue. You'll have all the time to talk later.""Yes, sir!" Kirishima bowed straight at the teacher to apologise for his rude behaviour."No matter," All Might said as he directed the class to Izuku. "Young Midoriya won the battle, but apart from his victory. The other two didn't do so bad as well. Can anyone explain what happened on both sides?"Yaoyorozu raised her hand. "Yes, Mr. All Might. While Midoriya's plan worked out in the end, it was mostly reliant on the chance that Iida and Uraraka would not search the first floor. In order to account for that, he succeeded in fooling them by making the hero team believe the bomb was on the higher floors. However, the hero team had the right idea to split up in order to utilise their numbers advantage. Their only mistake was not to search everywhere first."All Might stood in disbelief from the girl's answer, "Sh-She said more than I expected." He looked at Yaoyorozu, "While there some other things you could have explained, that was still correct!" He said while giving out a thumbs up. "All right everyone, let's change locations and start the second match. Go about with this training after thinking about what was mentioned."All Might paused. "And Midoriya, make your way to the nurse's room to get yourself checked.""That was a lot more fun than I expected," Izuku said to himself, gripping onto his bandaged side. "I didn't get to see all of my classmates' quirks… But it's only a matter of time until I figure out our next move."Izuku made his way to the classroom door, and upon opening it saw most of Class 1-A waiting for him."Oh, Midoriya's here!" Kirishima said loudly. "I didn't really get to say much earlier, but good work!" He ran over to Izuku along with several others. "Man, I don't know what you were saying during the match, but you sure as hell proved yourself."Another classmate in his school uniform spoke up. "I can't believe you fought evenly against Iida and Uraraka, and then proceeded to actually win!""You definitely got that right Sero!" the pink haired girl exclaimed. She turned to face Izuku with her hands facing up towards her chest. "You did a good job preparing and fooling them!""I can see why Mr. Aizawa made you fight alone. You really set the bar, the rest of us had to give it our all too," said a boy with large lips. "But like Kirishima said earlier, there will be a lot of people looking at you now."Kirishima laughed, afterwards pointing to the classmates around him one by one. "We're all going over training together right now. This tall guy behind me with the pointed down hair is Hanta Sero.""I'm Yuga Aoya—" said a boy with dazzling eyes. He rested his chin on both hands, smiling creepily at Izuku, but was interrupted by the girl with pink hair and skin."I'm Mina Ashido!" the girl said abruptly, waving her arms in the air excitedly. "You did a good job fooling them!"The girl Izuku had seen wearing a frog costume, appeared behind Ashido. "I'm Tsuyu Asui," she said calmly. "Call me Tsu."The classmate with big lips stepped up, smiling. "I'm Sato! And this little guy below me is Mineta."Izuku looked down to see a boy with purple ball-shaped hair. "Oh god. Just from the way he looks, already gives me a bad feeling," he thought.From the corner of the room, one student with a beak and bird-like head closed his eyes, annoyed at what he saw. "You're too loud," he muttered, not loud enough for anyone else to hear."Tokoyami!" Iida shouted. He shifted over his way to the classmate, pointing out where the boy sat. "That desk is not a chair. Get off of it immediately." He started waving his arms up and down.A girl beside them with audio jacks coming off her earlobes stepped in. "It's not that big of a deal, is it?" she asked."Wh-?!" Iida shouted, but was stopped by another classmate."What's with those hands, anyway?" asked a boy with blonde hair. A large tail protruded out of his back, arching up.Iida looked at the floor with a dejected face. "You people…" He mumbled, slumping his shoulders down. Before quickly recovering and pointing at them with a serious expression. "I cannot condone that kind of disrespect to the desks. Especially to the great men and women who are now our upperclassmen!""You're too loud," Tokoyami repeated.The entire class turned to look at Iida, chuckling at the confrontation that took place.Izuku stared at them, only smiling a little. For a moment he felt warm until the one thing left inside of him reminded Izuku of where he stood. The boy's smile faded, knowing he could never get close to them."Remind me again of what the boy is up to?" Giran asked with a curious tone. He grabbed the glass from the counter, stirring the ice inside."He infiltrated U.A Academy from what I gather," Kurogiri said. "Taking it from his own words, he is determining the best candidates for us and when we will launch the attack.""Oh? So, he is running it himself?" Giran asked as a grin could be seen underneath his glass of rum. To his left, a fist smashed against the table, causing several drinks to almost tip over. Giran shifted his eyes to find Tomura, enraged from what he said."I suggest you do not play your little word games," Tomura warned.Giran scoffed at Tomura's threat. "You are the last person I should be worried about… Also, please enlighten me on how my death would benefit the League of Villains."Tomura stared at Giran, still giving off a scornful look."Exactly," Giran noted, placing the glass back down. "Regardless of the situation, I know where I stand."Kurogiri sighed. He looked over towards the man on the opposite side of the table. "Apart from you just coming here to drink. Was there another reason for your visit today?""Actually yes, however, I would advise this guy leaves," Giran said, pointing at Tomura. "Otherwise things might get a little messy.""What do you mean?" Tomura asked. He squinted his eyes through the hand blocking his face. "I'd rather stay here."Giran chuckled lightly, but Tomura did not so much as smile. "Just a warning. Do what you want," he said while taking out a cigarette pack. Behind the bar, Kurogiri watched the tension unfold itself. He relaxed his shoulders and went to dry off a few glasses he rinsed off earlier."You're holding off your emotions better," Giran said, to the surprise of the young man.Tomura stared forward with his chin resting on one hand. He did not move his head. "Are you mocking me?" he asked with a level tone."Well I would say no," Giran told him. "Apart from some little hiccups here and there, I would say there is progress if I compare you now from what you were in the past." He placed the cigarette in between his lips and burnt the end of it with his lighter.Tomura stayed silent, contemplating how much he hated the man.Giran puffed out a slew stream of smoke. "If I were you. I would take the time to prepare and work on assisting where you're needed." He took out the cigarette and held it in front of him. "That is what the boss would like to see. Otherwise, nothing will be achieved.""I am aware of what needs to be done," Tomura declared. "That isn't something you need to tell me.""You may be saying that," Giran said. "But your actions speak otherwise." He placed the cigarette back in his mouth and leaned back across the wooden chair. "The reason why I warned you earlier is because your friend Midoriya is coming, along with some other members."Tomura's eyes opened at the announcement of Izuku arriving so suddenly. He placed one hand over his throat, slowly beginning to scratch it with his nails."He wanted to tell me something, but now if I think about it… He probably needs to talk to you anyways," Giran noted. "Best to wait a few more minutes until he's here."Tomura tapped his finger on the bar counter. "Whatever," he thought. "Let's play the game his way for now, and then figure out what to do.""Speak of the devil," Giran said loudly upon noticing the entrance door swing open."Hello Mr. Giran," Izuku said with a smile. "It's been a long time since we've last seen each other." Behind the boy, Toga and Dabi appeared. "I take it you've been doing well?""So far it's been alright. Relaxing after a long day of work," Giran replied cheerfully."Well, that's good to hear." Izuku walked over to Giran and sat down beside him. "Sorry to bring this up to you on such a short notice, but I think it might be time for an upgrade. It will be kind of difficult to wear it as time goes on."Giran laughed. "Already getting too small? You youngsters grow up way too fast.""I appreciate you coming here," Izuku said earnestly. "It was difficult to convince someone of leaving the house on a weekend." He glanced over at Tomura, noticing the young man ignoring him."Well, what kind of news do you bring?" Giran asked. "Surely something interesting for the old man to hear."Izuku smiled wanly. "I've already gotten information on most of the students who attend U.A." He leaned close and lowered his voice. "Some of them might interest you. I though you'd best know first." He handed over a small note to Giran. "Consider it a gift from me."Giran placed the piece of paper in his back pocket and stood up. "I suppose it's time for me to head out. Send me the proportions on the phone when you get the chance, and good luck on the operation."Izuku waved goodbye to the man before addressing Tomura. "I need to discuss with you our next plans," he said coldly. "Preferably alone."Tomura pulled back his arms against the table. "Follow me."Izuku trailed behind the one man he knew he could not trust. He had little doubt that Tomura was going to treat him as an equal. As they approached the same corridor Izuku had walked through many times, he felt something was different about the place."You've been sort of quiet lately," Izuku noticed. "Change of character?"Tomura continued walking through the dimly lit hallway. "Would it make you happier if I said yes?" he asked with a low voice.Izuku placed a finger on chin, lifting an eyebrow. "I just find it odd with the way you've been acting, that's all." He rose his arms up to stretch, while studying the concrete walls around them. "Why here?" he asked abruptly."It doesn't matter where we stay," Tomura replied. He stopped moving and turned to face Izuku. "As long as it's just the two of us, we might as well do it here." The hand covering his face blocked off the animosity he felt towards the boy in front of him.Izuku looked at the young man curiously, shrugging at the answer he was given."What did you want to tell me?" Tomura inquired. "Surely you didn't come here to play around.""As a matter of fact, I did not come here to have fun," Izuku explained. "I came here to tell you of an opportunity that may benefit the league very soon."Tomura gave him a stony stare. "Have you finally decided to become useful?""Useful? Oh, surely," Izuku replied negligently. "Hear me out. I'm giving you exactly what you wanted right from the start. In a few days, the class I have joined will be training at an outside facility. Far away from anyone else that might possibly disturb our work. You want to prove the world that people live in a false sense of security? To oust those who fake their real intentions? Then this is our first chance to send a real message. But on the other side of the coin, we might have a problem with All Might showing up.""All Might," Tomura muttered quietly, scratching his throat audibly. "If it's All Might, then it only makes it better for us."Izuku sighed. "I understand the grand picture, but I do not think it would be wise to throw down all of our cards at once. Especially against the hero who has proved time and time again why he is the greatest." He placed his hands together, expressing a delighted look. "Instead of doubling down on capturing the students and attempting to kill All Might, why don't we test them first? Show the world how weak the best hero academy in the world is, completely unable to defend its students.""And why should I listen to you?" Tomura asked with displeasure. "I am in charge of managing our forces. I will decide what happens with or without you.""No, no, no," Izuku said coldly. "You forget that I hold all of the crucial information. I still haven't told you what day and time U.A will be going, and where off to specifically. If you choose to dismiss my advice, then I will not tell you anything. Master only wanted us to work together, no?"Tomura glared at Izuku scornfully. "You do not bring him up," he cautioned.Izuku gave out a wry smile. "Sure thing. But first—" He gestured Tomura to look behind him, only for the man to find a dark figure standing at the end of the corridor. It slowly walked towards them, each step echoing throughout the long tunnel."I appreciate you coming at my request," the voice spoke out. "It is only a matter of time until both of you begin the dream I have always longed for."Upon realizing who it was, Tomura took a few steps forward. "Master, why did you call him here?""Oh? Finally showing your true colours with that being your first question…?" All for One asked. His black visor towered over Tomura, reflecting the hand that covered the young man's face. "No longer afraid to speak up?"Tomura stayed silent, staring into the mask.All for One frowned from hearing no response come out. "I see that it is still too early for him," he thought. He turned to face Izuku, "I called Midoriya here because of what he told me. And I have decided that his plan holds more benefit to us."Before Tomura could respond, All for One interrupted him. "Tomura… I do not want to hear you complain after you've done nothing so far." He moved his arms to the side and brought his palms upward. "What has been proposed to me, benefits both of you regardless.""I have recently been experimenting with a few weapons that may aid you," All for One continued. "If All Might will appear as you say Midoriya, then these tools will definitely be of use." A smirk formed behind the mask. "A tool designed to fight against the number one hero.""If I may ask All for One, will it be sufficient to replace most of our members for the attack?" Izuku asked."That is what you requested," All for One stated. "And that is what will be given."Izuku smirked at the news given to him. "Splendid."
A/N: Build up for the next few chapters. We're moving onto the first major conflict, so I am excited to have that happen. I've already planned out a few things and I hope with the way everything is being set up… that it will lead to some very crazy things. Good crazy things.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“For today’s hero basic training,” Aizawa paused, as he gave off a tired look. “It’s turned into a class with three instructors, All Might and I, and one other teacher.”The class stood in silence, not expecting an announcement this early in the morning. Izuku sat at his desk, looking at his teacher with a confused expression. “Turned into? The documents only mentioned All Might and Aizawa.”Behind him, a large shout was heard. “Excuse me! What’ll we be doing?” asked Sero as he raised his hand upwards.“Rescue training,” Aizawa said while turning on the projector screen behind him. “Disasters, shipwrecks, and everything in between. These kinds of situations may not occur often, but it’s important you understand how to deal with them.”“The training will take place off-campus, so we’re taking a bus. That is all, start getting ready.”Izuku glanced around the room, studying his classmates deeply. Wondering how oblivious they were, whether any of them had potential for his visions of the future.  He started to get excited at the prospect of seeing fear spread among them, as his classmates helplessly watched in terror as they lost hope.“Soon the nature of this world will be unravelled,” Izuku thought.Izuku was suddenly thrown aback by his seat being slammed against him.

"Ah, sorry Midoriya, didn't mean to do that," called out a voice behind him. "Sometimes I forget about the tail."

Izuku paid no attention, he sat quietly in his seat, observing the rest of Class 1-A cheerfully talking about the field trip Aizawa mentioned this morning. But before he could take in the landscape through the bus window, he was once again interrupted by a head popping out above him.

"The teacher mentioned search and rescue Deku," Uraraka said with a slight smile, her hair loped to one side. "This is kind of exciting isn’t it? We've never been out of the school before too."

Izuku looked up at her, clasping his hands together and smiled back. "Yeah, it's really going to be fun. I'm excited to meet the pro hero Aizawa mentioned today."

"Oh yeah, do not know who it is but you're always excited about that," Uraraka responded.

"Excited, sure, but for all the wrong reasons," Izuku muttered underneath his breath, barely containing his depraved grin.“Eh, sorry… what?” asked Uraraka with a perplexed look. “Didn’t quite catch that.”

Before Izuku could say another word, the bus speakers blared on with a deafening cry. "Students, we'll be arriving shortly to USJ," said the voice, coughing loudly afterwards. "Make sure not to forget anything. Your teacher will be waiting right outside the bus."

"Is everyone here?" Aizawa asked with a dreary voice. His body arched forward, showing signs of sleep deprivation. He scanned across the parking lot and then back at Class 1-A. "Well, even if there was someone missing... they would not live to tell the tale."

All of the students froze up, knowing not to speak up.

Aizawa frowned, not looking forward to teaching for the entire day. "Right, well let us get a move on. We do not have all day," he finished, turning to face the giant building behind him.

In front of Izuku stood a large dome spanned across a wide-open area. Surrounded by trees in every direction, in the distance he could see several mountains span across the horizon with the sun slowly peaking out.

"What a spectacle… it amazes me to what lengths this school goes to, to fund such lavish places. Is it for safety? Or is it giving all benefits to those who rise to the top, swimming in all of their spoils, only caring about themselves in the end." He paused his train of thought for a moment and raised his forehead with sudden realisation, "how kind of them to give me such a stage for my performance."

In his pocket, Izuku held onto a small transceiver with a single button.As the Class-1A walked over to the entrance of the building, only to be greeted by a person wearing a wide astronaut suit. The visor masked their face, letting out only the occasional breath of air from the ventilator at the front.“Everyone, I have been waiting for you,” said the masked figure.With sudden realization Izuku’s eyes widened, recognizing the hero standing in front of him. “The Space Hero, Thirteen. Prioritises rescuing people from disasters.” He tapped on the ground for a second before shrugging it off, “Not a problem.”Thirteen raised her arm, pointing towards the facilities in front of her. “Let us go inside without delay.”Inside everyone could see an array of different landscapes, each with different scenarios.“A shipwreck, a landslide, a fire, a windstorm, et cetera. It is a training ground that I made with different types of accidents and disasters,” Thirteen pointed out. “It’s called the Unforeseen Simulation Joint, or USJ for short!”The entire class seemed stunned except for Izuku.“Thirteen, where’s All Might?” Aizawa asked, walking towards the new teacher. “He’s supposed to meet us here.”Thirteen looked worried. “About that… it looks like he did too much hero work on his way here and ran out of time.” She raised her hands up showing no concern, “He’s resting in the lounge room, so I think he’ll be here soon.”Aizawa sighed, “That’s a new height for being irrational.” He gazed across to the side reassured. “Well, we took precautions just in case,” he said to himself.At the news of hearing All Might’s condition, Izuku had to barely hold in his excitement. In his mind, Izuku could hear his uncontrolled laughter begin to fester, unable to understand the emotion. “It still lacks the final product,” he reckoned. “Wait a little bit more you idiot. Control yourself!”“Let’s see,” Thirteen pondered, still holding her arms out, extended to the sides. “Before we begin, let me say a few things.”Without a moment’s hesitation, Izuku activated the transceiver before Thirteen could finish her explanation. Immediately a large electromagnetic wave spread across the entire facility, turning off all of the lights and electrical systems.Izuku knew he had to drag in All Might. He wished it had been later rather than sooner. “So much for the appetizers,” he put in. “Toga, you’re up.”The class huddled together in shock, unaware of what was going on. Something felt different. There was a chill to this darkness that stood right before them. Several were ready to call it a prank until they heard several glass panes break across the entire dome.Taking the opportunity, Izuku slipped past and appeared behind Thirteen. A giant humanoid creature jumped down to his side. Handing over Izuku a mask and hood.“With this, they should not be able to figure out my identity,” Izuku asserted himself. “Besides, I’ve got all the alibis I need!”He quickly moved in on Thirteen, not letting her escape. Izuku pressed the button once more, releasing the electromagnetic field. All the students of Class 1-A immediately saw the hooded figure behind their teacher, with his finger carefully placed over Thirteen’s mouth. A knife in the other, firmly held against her throat.“Ah… ah… ah,” Izuku said with graceful simplicity. “Not a single movement, or sound. Or she dies.” He stared down at his classmates, grinning maniacally, before pondering and shifting his head to one side.Izuku shrugged. “Oh, what the hell… not my responsibility.”Taking the blade firmly without any hesitation, Izuku slashed Thirteen’s throat, causing her to gush out blood uncontrollably. At the horror of the UA students, the pro hero fell down trying to clasp onto her throat, gurgling indiscernible sounds.“Be a hero, they said, protect humanity. Well where are you now?” Izuku questioned under the mask. He looked down at the corpse beneath him with disgust as the hood shadowed his mask, “You look like you belong there.”Several of the students fell down to their knees screaming, with Uraraka throwing up at the sight.“Ahhhhhh,” Izuku exclaimed with hysteria. “How long have I waited for this, I just… couldn’t contain it any longer!”The lights grew back stronger. The reek and stench of blood whisked through the air. Izuku was grateful for the release.“Such juveniles! Can’t even stand the sight of blood? How come you’re all just standing there?” He asked with perplexity. “Come on, do something! Follow the training you so meticulously learned. The pro hero might still be alive.” He paused for a moment, staring off into the distance, reflecting caution. “Nomu,” Izuku said dryly. “Take care of the other one.”Above at the ceiling, Aizawa lay perched waiting for his moment to strike before any of the students could get hurt. His eyes stayed fixated at the masked figure who had just attacked his colleague, glowing bright red.To his dismay, the mask looked up straight at him, seemingly laughing. “Don’t think I can’t see!” The voice chimed impatiently, snapping its fingers. “Oh, and uhm, look behind you.”Aizawa’s thoughts abandoned him as a large incoming punch landed straight into his face, causing him to fly towards the other side of the dome structure.“Mr. Aizawa!”  Yaoyorozu cried out, only to be stopped by one of her classmates.“Shoto…” she whimpered. “What do we do?”Shoto did not move. He looked up towards the thing that killed Thirteen. “Don’t be deceived, the Space Hero is already dead. Aizawa can handle himself.”Several of the students’ voices abandoned them. They groped for words that did not come out. It was not possible, their eyes swept back and forth over the bloodied blade, dripping down on the body.Izuku was impressed, maybe there was some hope to his plan after all.“Guys,” Shoto whispered urgently, with sweat coming down his forehead. “Chances of us defeating him are low. Our best bet is to escape.”The others gave no answer apart from the nod of approval.Izuku stood motionless, seemingly inviting them to try. “Well, go on then,” he said amusingly. “You can try if you wish to, the chase always gets me excited.”“But you know, what really starts to irk me is that you would run away after witnessing me attack a human,” Izuku said. “A human being!”His mind deserted him. “You are just going to let me off! How shameless can you be?” Izuku continued to berate them. “I slit your teacher’s throat, and I loved the way her blood painted my knife!”Izuku began to smother his mask with the blood-stained knife, afterwards grabbing onto his chest. Starting to laugh maniacally, he stabbed his legs multiple times.The students looked at the masked monstrosity, fear filled their guts like a meal they could not digest.“Look,” Izuku motioned with his arms, “It’ll be easier for you to fight me now-““Unfortunately, this all ends for you,” Aizawa interrupted him. “Don’t think you can get away with harming anyone else.” He held the beast’s crow-like head, throwing it towards Izuku’s feet.Izuku laughed, grasping his mask. “I suppose that is debatable Eraser Head. Your appearance says otherwise.”Izuku could tell that Aizawa was on his last ounce of strength, but he still needed to wait for the main show to begin.“I am personally amazed that you made it out alive,” Izuku continued slowly. Glaring through the mask, he lifted two fingers, “But did you ever stop to consider, that there was more than one of them?”In a flash, a second Nomu appeared, raising its fist to land a finishing blow at Aizawa. However, it halted. As the Nomu saw the eyes, blue, deeper, and bluer than any others.Instantly a punch landed in its stomach, causing the creature to fly back several meters away from Aizawa.“He finally emerged,” Izuku muttered. “He’s finally here…” 
A/N: Hi! Is there actually a new chapter? Do my eyes deceive me?! No, they don't :)

I feel like this story cannot end yet, and I owe it to you guys to finish it.

Look forward to more coming out, whenever I can make it.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The force of wind that followed was almost suffocating. A golden blur burst through the entrance of USJ, colliding with the monstrous Nomu mid-charge. The shockwave from the impact sent dust and debris flying in all directions. When the dust settled, All Might stood tall, his face shadowed by fury. The Nomu, now embedded into the far wall, twitched but remained standing."All of you, STAY BACK!" All Might's voice boomed. He barely had enough time to see what happened behind him.The force was enough to send Aizawa crashing across the battlefield, his body rolling like a ragdoll until it stopped several meters away. He didn't move. His goggles, now shattered, lay beside him, and blood pooled from the gash on his forehead.Silence fell over the students as they looked at their homeroom teacher—one of the few remaining figures of authority—motionless on the cold concrete floor.Izuku, concealed beneath his hood and mask, grinned behind the voice modulator. The students still hadn't realized he wasn't among them. Perfect."Oh, how grand!" Izuku's distorted voice rang out. He stepped forward, dragging something behind him. The students felt their stomachs churn as he lifted it into the dim light—Thirteen's limp body, blood still dripping from her open throat."So, this is what it means to be a hero?" Izuku mocked, his voice taking on an exaggeratedly dramatic tone. "Such noble protectors of society! Tell me, does this not inspire you?" He shook Thirteen's corpse for emphasis before tossing it to the side like discarded trash. The wet slap of flesh against concrete made some of them flinch. Uraraka nearly vomited."You bastard!" Iida stepped forward, fists clenched, legs trembling with a mixture of fury and fear. "You talk about heroes, but you're nothing but a—""Ah, ah," Izuku wagged his finger. "Not another word from you… unless you think you can back up that talk right now?"The students were frozen, too stunned to act. Even Todoroki, who had remained calm up until now, felt his breath hitch in his throat."Oh, come on now," Izuku's voice, distorted by the modulator, rang through the silence. "Are you all really going to just stand there? I mean, really? What kind of heroes are you supposed to be?"His voice dripped with mockery, his tone both taunting and delighted. The way his shoulders shook with amusement made it all the more terrifying. He lifted the bloodied knife and ran a gloved finger along its edge before flicking the excess blood onto the ground."Or perhaps… you'd like to avenge your fallen teacher? Isn't that what heroes do?" His masked gaze flicked toward Uraraka, whose eyes were still fixed on the body, horror written across her pale features. "Oh? No takers? Tsk tsk. This is almost too easy."The darkness of the USJ remained ever-present, the broken lighting system flickering weakly as All Might's golden glow entered the battlefield."Enough," All Might's voice was laced with restrained rage. "You've gone too far," his hands clenched into fists, shaking slightly as he took a step forward. "You'll answer for what you've done.""Oh?" Izuku hummed, his voice slightly distorted by the mask covering his face. He tilted his head. "And what exactly have I done, All Might?" He motioned downward with an exaggerated gesture toward the lifeless body of Thirteen. Blood still pooled beneath her. A symbol of heroism, reduced to nothing.All Might's eyes flickered to the fallen pro hero for only a split second before snapping back to the masked figure before him. He inhaled sharply. "You took an innocent life.""Did I?" Izuku chuckled. "Or did I simply show the truth of this world? The weak die, and the strong watch."A shudder ran through the students. Even those too terrified to speak before now stared, their minds struggling to comprehend the words coming from the masked villain's lips.Ochaco, still trembling, whispered, "That voice…"Izuku noticed. He needed to wrap things up before any of them could put the pieces together. His laughter filled the dome. "Oh, but I haven't even started!" He tilted his head towards the Nomu, now recovering from All Might's earlier blow. "It seems our dear friend is up. Why don't you show them what real power looks like?"The Nomu lunged, and the fight erupted.All Might met the creature's charge head-on. The battlefield quaked as the two titans clashed. Nomu's fists moved at impossible speeds, but All Might countered, his punches sending shockwaves through the air.From his perch, Izuku observed, his fingers twitching. He was studying them—All Might's movements, his tendencies, his limits. He needed to see how far the Number One Hero could go.The battle escalated. Blow after blow, the two figures moved across the battlefield like living hurricanes. The Nomu regenerated from every wound, but All Might's relentless assault didn't waver. Then, with a final burst of power, All Might launched the Nomu into the air and delivered a devastating strike."Detroit... Smash!"The Nomu was sent careening out of USJ, its monstrous form vanishing into the sky.All Might exhaled, his shoulders rising and falling. He turned back towards Izuku."Now, villain," he spoke between breaths, "your turn."Izuku tilted his head. Then he began to laugh. It was unsettling, a mixture of amusement and genuine pleasure. "Oh, my turn? But I've already done my part. I simply wanted to witness a god bleed."All Might narrowed his eyes. "You think this is a game?""A game? No, no, All Might, this is a revelation," Izuku whispered. "USJ—Unforeseen Simulation Joint. How fitting! A place designed to simulate disasters, yet today, we bring them to life." He gestured to the students, to the unconscious Aizawa, to the lifeless body of Thirteen. "And you call yourselves heroes.""Enough," All Might growled. "You're coming with me.""Oh?" Izuku chuckled, stepping forward. "Are you finally going to show me how a real hero fights?"All Might didn't hesitate. He lunged, his fist aiming straight for Izuku's torso. The moment of impact twisted Izuku's body from the sheer force, the crack of breaking ribs echoed through the battlefield. He slammed into the ground, coughing up blood.But then, just as quickly, All Might's own abdomen spasmed with searing pain. His breath hitched. His vision blurred.This wasn't just a reflection of damage—it was identical pain, transferred instantly.Izuku stumbled back, clutching his stomach as blood dripped from his mouth. His breathing was ragged, his limbs shaky."Ah… ha… wow, that one was really something," he wheezed. "I knew you packed a punch, but damn!"But even as he swayed, even as the world spun around him, Izuku was grinning.All Might, however, was stunned.This quirk… it was unlike anything he had ever seen. All Might's eyes narrowed. He had faced countless villains in his time, some with abilities that defied logic. But this was different, it reminded All Might of him. He had to be smart about this.Izuku's movements were deliberate, unpredictable. He feinted to the left before twisting to the right, closing the distance between them in an instant. He aimed a sharp kick toward All Might's side, forcing the hero to block. But even as All Might caught his leg, he felt the same force of the attack reverberate through his own muscles."I can't keep fighting him like this", he realized. "If I keep attacking, I'll be taking the same damage."Izuku wiped his mouth under his mask, his body barely standing. He was strong—but he wasn't invincible. He was pushing himself too far too quickly. Izuku slowly rose, holding his side. His voice was weaker now, but his laughter remained. "Oh, how fascinating," he wheezed. "You feel it, don't you?"All Might's gaze darkened. He didn't know what trickery this was, but he wasn't about to let it continue. He charged again, this time with more caution.Izuku dodged, barely, but he wasn't fast enough to completely avoid the next strike. All Might's fist connected with his shoulder, sending him flying once more.And then All Might recoiled, his own shoulder seizing in pain.The students didn't notice—at least, not entirely. From their perspective, it just looked like All Might was tiring. Only All Might understood what was happening. This villain's quirk… it was unnatural.Izuku groaned, collapsing onto his knees. He was done. One more hit, and he would be completely useless.That was fine. He had already accomplished what he wanted. Izuku clicked his tongue. "Tch. So aggressive.""Why are you doing this?" All Might demanded, his voice laced with frustration. "You're powerful… you could do so much good. Why throw it all away for senseless violence?"Izuku tilted his head slightly, as if considering the question. "Good?" he echoed. "That word means nothing coming from you."He took a step forward, his breath ragged. "Do you know what it feels like, All Might? To be powerless? To be trampled on by society, deemed worthless? No, of course not. You've never had to live a day where you weren't admired, worshipped even. But me? I've seen this world for what it truly is."His voice darkened. "And now, I get to show them."The second Nomu stepped forward once more. "Take it from here," Izuku whispered.The monstrous creature obeyed.As the battle between Nomu and All Might restarted, Izuku crawled backward, disappearing into the shadows. His hand gripped the voice modulator beneath his mask.Now came the final part of the plan.Minutes later, as the battle raged on, the students suddenly heard a commotion from behind."Deku!" Uraraka screamed.The entire class turned, and there he was—Midoriya Izuku, dressed in his UA gym uniform, staggering into the light. His face was cut, his breathing ragged. "Help… me," he croaked.The students rushed towards him, their concern overriding their fear."Where were you?!" Iida asked frantically."I—" Izuku gasped, eyes wide with fake panic. "They took me… I don't know where… but they're still—"A sudden blur moved past them. Before anyone could react, a hand grabbed Izuku by the collar and yanked him back into the darkness.Muscular stood there, grinning. "Sorry, kids," he sneered. "I'm taking this one back.""No!" Ochaco screamed, reaching for Izuku's hand.Their fingers barely brushed before Muscular leapt away, vanishing into the chaos."DEKU!"The students were frozen in horror. He was gone.Izuku, now in Muscular's grip, smirked beneath the chaos. His plan had worked. Now, he just had to make it out alive.It was the perfect illusion. The perfect lie. And they all believed it.
A/N: Oh? What is this? A new chapter? Good question... It's been too long my friends, enjoy! I can't promise writing more but I really can't let this story go unfinished.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

All Might stood amidst the wreckage, his breath ragged, his body trembling beneath his heroic facade. The Nomu was gone, its body reduced to a crumpled husk outside the dome. Aizawa lay unconscious, his body battered beyond recognition, his breathing dangerously shallow. Thirteen was dead. Blood stained the ground where her body had once been, her life stolen in an instant.And the students…They huddled together, their expressions frozen in a mixture of horror, grief, and shock. Uraraka was still sobbing, gripping her arms as if she were trying to physically hold herself together. Iida's hands clenched into fists. Yaoyorozu stared at the place where Midoriya had been taken, her mind racing with possible ways she could have stopped it. Todoroki remained silent, his usual stoicism failing to mask the unease in his eyes."Deku…" Uraraka whispered, voice broken.All Might took a deep breath, forcing his trembling body to remain upright. He had no time to rest, no time to show weakness. He turned to his students."Everyone…" His voice was firm despite the exhaustion. "We're leaving."Pro heroes flooded the USJ moments later. Cementoss, Present Mic, Midnight, and even the police force arrived on the scene, their faces grim as they assessed the damage. The moment Detective Tsukauchi stepped inside, he knew this would be one of the worst reports he'd ever have to file."Status?" he asked, glancing at All Might.All Might shook his head. "Aizawa is critical. Thirteen is… gone. Midoriya has been taken."A heavy silence fell over them.Tsukauchi sighed. "We'll need to inform his mother… again.""We need to move fast," All Might said, pushing the thought aside. "If we waste time, we might never get him back."Tsukauchi nodded. "We're setting up roadblocks and surveillance. If the villains are transporting Midoriya, they won't get far."Meanwhile, the pro heroes began escorting the students to safety. Many of them were too shaken to speak.Cementoss created barriers around the crime scene. Present Mic, usually loud and boisterous, spoke in an uncharacteristically quiet tone, guiding the students outside with an arm around Aoyama, who had been shaking so hard he could barely walk. Midnight helped support an injured Iida while Sero tried to comfort Kaminari, who had gone pale at the sight of Thirteen's body."Just breathe," Sero muttered, gripping Kaminari's shoulder. "We're safe now."But Kaminari shook his head, his voice barely a whisper."No, we're not."The chaos outside U.A. High School was unlike anything seen before.The media frenzy had begun within hours of the USJ attack, but by morning, it had become an unstoppable tidal wave. News vans crowded the streets, reporters with flashing cameras and booming microphones jostling for position, all desperate for the latest scoop.Every major news network had set up in front of the school's gates. Bold headlines dominated every channel:"U.A. Under Attack! Security Failure?""Pro Hero Thirteen Killed in Battle! Was It Preventable?""Student Kidnapped by Villains! How Did U.A. Let This Happen?"The public demanded answers.Inside U.A., the atmosphere was suffocating. Teachers walked through the halls with grim expressions, their usual composure barely holding together. Students whispered in hushed voices, fear and uncertainty clinging to them like a plague. The school, once a beacon of hope and strength, now felt like a prison—one under siege by the entire world.And at the eye of the storm, standing behind a long podium in front of the hungry press, was Principal Nezu, along with All Might and Detective Tsukauchi. Their expressions severe.Nezu, for the first time in any public appearance, had abandoned his usual playful demeanor. His beady black eyes held no mirth, no hidden amusement—just cold calculation. His tiny paws rested firmly on the podium, his tone eerily flat when he finally spoke."This was an organized attack against the students of U.A.," he stated, his voice carrying over the clamoring crowd of reporters. "We are doing everything in our power to ensure the safe return of Midoriya Izuku and to bring these criminals to justice."The words barely left his mouth before the reporters pounced."Principal Nezu!" A woman from JNN News shouted. "How could U.A. allow such an attack to happen? The public trusts this school to protect its students!"Nezu did not flinch. "Security measures were already in place, but the villains' tactics were sophisticated. They exploited blind spots in our systems, and while our teachers acted immediately, the attack had already begun." His small, clawed hands gripped the podium tighter. "We are currently reassessing all of our protocols, and immediate changes will be made."Another reporter, a sharp-eyed man from Daily Hero, stepped forward."All Might," he addressed, voice cutting through the sea of murmurs, "you were present at USJ. Can you confirm whether these villains are part of a larger group? And more importantly—" his voice grew sharper, "why didn't you prevent this?"All Might's fists clenched at his sides.The question hung in the air, a blade hovering over him.His normally bright, booming voice felt thinner, strained under the weight of the failure still coiling in his chest."…Yes," he finally admitted, his voice heavy. "This was not the work of just a few criminals. There is an organized force working in the shadows." His fingers dug into his palms. "As to why I couldn't…"He hesitated.The words felt like ash in his throat."I—"Before he could finish, another voice cut him off."Who was behind the attack?"A different reporter spoke up. "Was it the League of Villains?""Is there a connection to the criminal underworld?""Will Midoriya Izuku be rescued?""Is U.A. still safe?"The questions came harder, faster, layering over one another until the voices blurred into a demanding storm.All Might could barely breathe.Because the truth was—he didn't know. They had theories. Suspicions. But the masked villain responsible for Midoriya's kidnapping was still a ghost. His identity was unknown. His motives unclear, and that terrified him.Detective Tsukauchi stepped forward, clearing his throat before the situation could spiral further."The investigation is ongoing," he said firmly, cutting through the noise. "We have every available resource working on tracking down Midoriya Izuku and those responsible for this heinous act."His sharp gaze swept over the crowd, unwavering. "We will find them."The cameras flashed faster, voices growing louder. Nezu raised his paw, signaling for silence."U.A. will not be deterred by this attack," he declared. "We will continue to train the next generation of heroes. Security will be reinforced, and our students will not live in fear." Despite his assurances, despite the stern resolution in his voice, the unease among the press and public was palpable. They had been promised safety before. And now? A pro hero was dead. A teacher was crippled. A student had been kidnapped. U.A. had been breached, and that trust was beginning to crumble.The League of Villains' hideout was dimly lit, the single flickering bulb above casting eerie shadows across the crumbling walls. The scent of blood lingered in the air, mixing with the musty stench of the decrepit warehouse and bar. It was the kind of place that felt like it was holding its breath, as if the walls themselves knew something monstrous had just entered.In the middle of the bar room, slouched against a ragged, torn couch, Izuku Midoriya sat trembling— not from fear, not from pain, but from something far more dangerous.Laughter.Uncontrollable, unhinged laughter.It started softly, bubbling from his throat in quiet, gasping spurts. His shoulders twitched, his hands weakly clutching his bruised and battered ribs as his chest heaved. The pain didn't matter. The gash along his lip, the blood trickling down his face—none of it mattered.He had won.The thought alone sent another wave of hysteria rolling through him. His body shook, his fingers gripping the couch as he threw his head back and cackled, a wild, breathless sound that echoed through the hideout. He could still see it—the horror painted across their faces. The disbelief in Iida's eyes, the shaking hands of Yaoyorozu, the raw grief in Uraraka's voice as she screamed his name. "Deku!"They had bought it. Every single one of them had fallen for it. And he had never felt so alive.Tomura scowled from across the room, his fingers twitching dangerously. "For fuck's sake, someone shut him up before I do it myself."Dabi smirked, leaning against the counter, cigarette dangling lazily between his fingers. "Let the kid enjoy his victory. He pulled off one hell of a show." He paused. "Wait until Giran hears about this, likely already have from all the news coverage."Toga, perched on the arm of the couch, grinned wildly, kicking her legs as she leaned forward. "Izuku~! I think I like you even more now~! The way you lied to them, the way you made them all think you were some helpless little hostage! Oooh, it was beautiful!~"Izuku tried to calm himself, tried to stifle the laughter threatening to consume him, but the more he thought about it, the more he lost control.He had stood before them, a masked nightmare, a phantom of everything they feared—and then he had vanished, slipping right back into their arms as their beloved classmate, their precious Deku.It was too good. It was too perfect.Another laugh ripped from his throat, this one broken and breathless. His head slumped forward, his messy green hair falling over his eyes as he shook violently, trying to force himself to breathe.Tomura's fingers itched. He hated the sound of that laughter. "You enjoying yourself, huh?" His voice was sharp, irritated. "You think this is funny?"Izuku snapped his head up, his emerald eyes gleaming madly beneath the blood streaking his face. His grin stretched wider. "Do you even realize what we just did?" He exhaled, his breath still uneven from laughter. "We shattered them. Every single one of them. They don't even know what to believe anymore."He leaned forward, his body still barely holding together, but his eyes were alive—hungry."U.A. is crumbling, Tomura." His voice dropped into something low, almost reverent. "We ripped the foundation right out from under them."Dabi exhaled, the smoke curling lazily from his lips. "Can't argue with that."Tomura narrowed his eyes. "Tch. You say that like it's over."Izuku smirked, licking the blood from his lip. "Oh, no. This was just the beginning."The room was buzzing. The aftermath of the USJ attack had left shockwaves, and every villain in the hideout could feel it.The media was losing its mind. The hero society was scrambling. U.A. was bleeding.And then, the air changed.A deep, unsettling stillness settled over the room, like the very atmosphere had been swallowed whole. The shadows at the edge of the hideout shifted, expanding outward, tendrils of darkness creeping across the floor like something alive.A voice, smooth and unnervingly calm, sliced through the tension like a blade."Well, well… what a magnificent performance."The pressure in the room doubled. The weight of his presence was enough to make even the most ruthless criminals hesitate. All For One's masked face tilted slightly as he regarded the scene before him, his gaze falling on Izuku's bloodied, grinning form. "Midoriya Izuku." His voice was silk and steel, cold yet smooth. "You certainly exceeded my expectations."Izuku let out a ragged breath, still struggling to contain the tremors in his chest. He grinned. "I aim to impress."All For One chuckled. "And impress, you did." His head turned slightly toward Tomura, who had gone completely rigid at his master's presence. "Wouldn't you agree, Tomura?"Tomura scowled, his fingers twitching, but he swallowed whatever frustration was boiling inside him. "He… played his part well."Izuku barely suppressed the glee bubbling in his chest.All For One's masked gaze returned to him. "Tell me, child… what drives you?"This question slammed into him harder than any of All Might's punches. For a split second, Izuku's mind went blank."What drives me?"The images flashed behind his eyes. U.A., a lie built on broken promises. The world, spinning on an illusion of safety. Heroes, blindly propping up a system built to fail. The truth, buried beneath a sea of corruption, ignorance, and complacency.He wanted to burn it all down. Not to destroy it—no, not entirely. But to force them to see. To tear the blindfold off their eyes and show them what hero society truly was. To see if there were any real heroes left. But…He couldn't say that. Not here. Not in front of him.Izuku lifted his chin, his expression empty. And then, in a voice as steady as stone, he spoke. "I want to see everything fall."A beat of silence. Then, All For One laughed. It was a slow, crawling sound—a quiet, knowing amusement.Izuku didn't move. He didn't let himself react. Because he knew. He knew that All For One didn't entirely believe him.That laugh—it wasn't an agreement. It was an acknowledgment. Recognition. All For One saw him. And that was far more dangerous than anything else."How delightfully simple," the masked man murmured. "A boy who only wishes to watch the world crumble."Izuku's lips curled into a hollow smile. "Something like that." The room remained tense.Tomura's eyes narrowed. Toga tilted her head, watching him closely. Dabi flicked his cigarette, his expression unreadable.And yet—none of them questioned it.The silence in Class 1-A was suffocating.It had been nearly two days since the USJ attack, since Thirteen was murdered, since Aizawa had nearly died, and since Izuku had been taken. No one had spoken since homeroom began. The weight of what had happened at USJ pressed down on them, lingering in every breath, every glance, every movement. Midoriya's desk sat empty, a glaring reminder of what they had lost.Uraraka's fingers dug into her arms, her knuckles white as she kept her gaze locked onto the polished surface of her desk. She could still hear the screams—the taunting, distorted laughter of the masked villain—the sickening sound of Thirteen's body hitting the ground. Every time she closed her eyes, it played in her mind like a cursed lullaby.Deku is gone. They took him. And she had done nothing."This is bullshit."The words shattered the silence like a sledgehammer. Kirishima, his voice raw with frustration, slammed his hands against his desk. His normally bright and confident demeanor was nowhere to be found. His teeth clenched, his red eyes burning."They just—just walked in here like it was nothing! We trained for this. We prepared for fights, for villains! And yet—" He stopped, his voice cracking. "They tore us apart like we were nothing."Nobody had a response. It was true.They were future heroes, the best of the best, the ones who had worked harder than anyone to be here. And yet, they had been powerless."Thirteen is dead." Kaminari's voice was quiet, barely more than a whisper. He ran a trembling hand through his hair, his usual carefree energy nowhere to be found. "Aizawa might not wake up. And Deku…" His voice faltered. "He's gone."Sero swallowed, his usual easy-going grin long gone. "They took him," he muttered. "Right in front of us."Yaoyorozu clenched her fists, her jaw tight. "We should have done something," she said, frustration edging into her voice. "We—we should have stopped them.""What could we have done?" Jirou snapped, her voice raw with anger. She wasn't just angry at the villains—she was angry at herself. "We were barely able to move! That villain—whoever he was—he was playing with us."Todoroki, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. "The villains planned this." His voice was calm, but underneath it, there was a cold rage simmering. "They wanted Midoriya. They wouldn't have left without him.""But why?" Shoji asked, his voice low. "Why take him specifically?"Silence. Nobody had an answer. The question hung over them like a guillotine. Why Izuku? Why him?
A/N: Surprise Chapter! Let me know what you guys think, how do you think this story will go? Who's your favourite character? What do you not like? What do you want to see more? Time will tell.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor was the only sound in the sterile hospital room. The dim overhead light cast faint shadows over the figure lying motionless on the hospital bed. Aizawa Shouta's face was barely visible beneath the thick layers of bandages, the bruises and deep cuts hidden beneath gauze. His eyes, heavy-lidded and clouded with exhaustion, slowly flickered open.A dull, throbbing pain coursed through his body, anchoring him to the reality of what had happened.USJ. The attack. The masked villain, and then, darkness.His breathing was shallow, his throat dry as he tried to move, only for a sharp jolt of pain to remind him of the battle's aftermath. His body wasn't ready—his quirk had been overused, his muscles torn and frayed. The hospital's painkillers did little to dull the deeper ache settling into his bones.Aizawa barely had time to register the sterile environment before a deep voice spoke beside him."You're awake."Aizawa turned his head slightly, meeting the weary but firm gaze of All Might. The Number One Hero sat beside the bed, his usual towering figure slouched slightly in his chair. His uniform was wrinkled, and there were deep lines beneath his eyes.Aizawa swallowed, wincing at the raw pain in his throat. "How… long?" His voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper.All Might exhaled. "Four days. You were in and out for a while."Aizawa's gaze remained unfocused for a moment. Four days. It felt like both an eternity and the blink of an eye.A heavy silence stretched between them before Aizawa spoke again. "What's the damage?" he rasped.All Might's jaw clenched. He looked like he had aged years in mere minutes. "Worse than expected," he admitted, rubbing a hand over his face. "The students are shaken. Some of them—Uraraka, Kaminari, and Yaoyorozu—haven't stopped blaming themselves. Kirishima and Todoroki are keeping everyone together, but… the fear is there. They all saw what happened." He hesitated before continuing. "The media has torn into U.A. The government is demanding immediate changes to security. There are talks of parents pulling their children out."Aizawa closed his eyes, his fingers curling into the hospital sheets.Of course.He had known this would happen. An attack on U.A. meant an attack on the entire foundation of hero society. The school was supposed to be the safest place in Japan, a fortress for the next generation of heroes. And yet, the villains had walked through the front door and torn it apart."They played us," Aizawa murmured, his voice bitter. "It wasn't just about causing damage. They wanted to show us that they could walk right in and take whatever they wanted."All Might nodded grimly. "And they did." His voice was heavier now. "They took Midoriya."Silence stretched between them. Aizawa's gaze darkened. "What do we know about them?"All Might inhaled sharply, leaning forward. "The masked villain. The one who killed Thirteen." He hesitated, and for the first time, Aizawa saw uncertainty flicker across the man's face. "He… was different."Aizawa's brow furrowed. "Explain."All Might took a moment, as if choosing his words carefully. "His quirk," he finally said. "When I fought him, I landed a clean blow. It was enough to break ribs, enough to incapacitate anyone else… and yet…"Aizawa noticed the slight twitch in All Might's fingers. The way his left side tensed. The faint stiffness in his movements."…I felt the same injury."Aizawa's breath hitched slightly. His mind immediately pieced together what that meant. "You're saying that the damage you dealt to him… you felt it too?"All Might nodded slowly. "It wasn't just a delayed impact. It was instantaneous. The exact same pain. It was like punching a mirror."Aizawa's blood ran cold. That shouldn't be possible. Unless…His fingers twitched. A deep frown pulled at his lips as his thoughts spiraled toward something impossible."That's Izuku's quirk," he thought to himself. "The ability to reflect an attack onto his opponent. A one-for-one exchange."Aizawa swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry. He had personally overseen Izuku's quirk evaluation when they fought, but he always kept it to himself. There was no mistaking it. That masked villain—who had fought All Might, who had murdered Thirteen in front of the students—had the same ability as Izuku Midoriya.His stomach twisted.All Might noticed the sudden shift in Aizawa's expression. "What is it?"Aizawa was silent for a long moment before he finally spoke. His voice was low, measured. "You can't tell anyone about this."All Might frowned. "Aizawa, if we—""No." Aizawa's voice was sharp, cutting through the heavy air. He forced himself to sit up despite the pain, his narrowed eyes locking onto All Might's. "This doesn't leave this room."All Might hesitated. "Why?"Aizawa exhaled through his nose, gathering his thoughts. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest. He didn't want to say it—not even to himself. "The quirk you just explained, it's exactly what Izuku Midoriya's power was when I fought him in a mock battle on the first school day."All Might was silent, he could not believe the words coming out of Aizawa's mouth. He began to speak, "But—""You never saw it before," Aizawa cut him off immediately. "I kept quiet about his quirk to you and the rest of the teachers…" He paused, "Of course you wouldn't have known, you were telling me how he won the villain vs hero mock battle without even using his quirk…"Aizawa looked back at All Might. "Something always felt off. His fighting style, his demeanor... everything.""Enough Aizawa," All Might retorted. "This is a kid we are talking about, a boy! Thirteen died and you're telling me Izuku Midoriya was the culprit?!" he slammed."But if Izuku was taken by the villains, then there were only two possibilities," Aizawa continued. "One: He was forced to fight against you, and they used his quirk for their own means. Or Two: He wasn't forced at all."Aizawa clenched his jaw. "Either way, the truth could destroy U.A. if word gets out about this," he muttered, "The students will spiral, and if anyone even suspects that this masked villain's quirk is the same as Midoriya's, the media will eat it up. We'll lose control over the narrative. The school will be accused of hiding the truth about our students." He took a sharp breath. "And worse… the public will lose faith in heroes completely."All Might's fingers dug into the arms of his chair. He understood what Aizawa meant. If Midoriya's quirk and the masked villain's quirk were the same… then what did that mean about Midoriya himself? They couldn't afford for that question to be asked.Aizawa looked away, staring at the dim hospital ceiling. "For now, we keep it quiet. We go to Principal Nezu. We tell him only what we need to."All Might exhaled heavily. His mind warred against itself. He had always believed in transparency, in bringing the truth to light. But this—this was different.He had fought that villain. The way he spoke, the way he moved, the way he smiled despite the about him had felt too familiar. And now, he knew why. He met Aizawa's tired but unwavering gaze. And then, slowly, he nodded. "…Alright."For now, they would keep the truth hidden. But neither of them could shake the feeling that they were already too late. Because if their suspicions were correct…Then Izuku Midoriya had already fallen.
A/N: The teachers know? What will happen next? Drum roll please!

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The League of Villains' hideout was steeped in darkness.Izuku sat alone in his room, if one could even call it that. The walls slanted, the scent of stale blood and mildew hung in the air, and the mattress beneath him was thin, barely more than a sheet of foam resting on the cracked concrete floor. A small sink dripped in the corner, the only sound breaking the suffocating silence.As he shifted, the bandages around his ribs pulled tightly against his wounds. The pain barely registered. His mind was somewhere else entirely. His body still ached from the battle with All Might. He could still feel it, the phantom weight of the impact, the way his bones had rattled beneath the force of the punch.He sat on the edge of the mattress, hunched forward, his fingers absently curling and uncurling. His hands still shook. His first real kill, not an accident or injury.He was still covered in blood.Dried, flaking, clinging to the crevices of his skin like a second layer. His uniform was long discarded, leaving him in a simple undershirt, but the dark stains remained. Thirteen's blood had been red. Vivid. Alive. And now it had turned brown, dried against his hands, under his fingernails.He could still smell it. Thick, iron-laced, suffocating. His breathing was uneven.For the first time since he had embraced this path, the laughter had faded. The euphoria that had consumed him after USJ had bled dry, leaving something else in its place. Something heavier.Izuku clenched his fingers into his palms, his nails digging deeper into the skin.Why did it feel like something was missing?A knock came at the door. He didn't answer. He heard Toga giggling outside, followed by Dabi's lazy voice."Leave him," Dabi muttered. "He's probably jerking off to his own crimes."A sharp snicker from Toga. "Izuku~! You can tell me if you need help with that~!" The door remained closed, silence answering her question.They left. And then, the room went silent again. Izuku exhaled shakily, running a hand through his tangled hair. His fingers trembled. He hated that. His grip tightened once more as he pressed his knuckles against his temples.It wasn't supposed to be like this. He had done everything right. The plan had been perfect. The execution, flawless. He had played everyone, and had seen the horror on their faces as they watched him get taken away.He had won. So why…? Why did he feel like this? His body curled inward as a deep, unnerving chill crawled up his spine. And then he felt it, that presence once more.A slow, sharp breath escaped his lips as his body went rigid.The darkness beneath him stretched, bleeding outward, writhing across the concrete floor. A flicker of motion, a shifting distortion in the dim light. A shape. A figure. His own silhouette, but wrong.Twisted. Distorted.Its head tilted at an unnatural angle, its limbs shifting in ways that defied logic. And then, with a slow, sickening smile, the shadow opened its eyes.And they were his. Green. Hollow.Dead.A whisper slithered into the air, curling around him like a noose. The shadow tilted its head, its grin widening too far, as though the skin was being pulled apart at the seams.
"You're not laughing anymore, Izuku."
The voice sent chills skittering down his spine. It was his own—but layered, distorted, almost like it was being spoken through a broken radio."What's wrong?" The shadow stepped closer, its feet not making a sound against the ground. "You were having so much fun before."The voice was his. But not his. Izuku's fingers curled into fists. "Not now," he muttered.The shadow took a step forward."Oh, no, no, no." Its voice was almost sing-song, mockingly amused. "You don't get to ignore me. Not after what you did." The shadow giggled.Izuku's breath hitched. His fingers twitched. It had been months since it last spoke to him. Since it last looked at him. "Did you forget about me?" the shadow murmured, voice dripping with mocking amusement.Izuku swallowed thickly. "Go away.""Go away?" The shadow laughed, the sound sharp, brittle, wrong. "I don't think you really mean that."Izuku squeezed his eyes shut, his teeth grinding together. "You're not real.""Not real?" The voice scoffed, closer now. Right next to his ear. "That's funny, because I remember being very, very real when we watched Thirteen bleed out at our feet."His stomach turned. His eyes snapped open.The shadow was still there, crouched in front of him, its grin widening into something inhuman. Its jagged fingers twitched, like it was itching to reach for him.Izuku inhaled sharply. "She was—""A hero?" The shadow cut him off, voice mocking. "A good person?" It leaned closer. "She wasn't like the others, was she? She actually saved people."Izuku's jaw locked. His hands shook.The shadow giggled, a fractured, splintering sound. "And yet…" Its voice turned sweet, honeyed and venomous all at once. "We killed her anyway.""You killed her." The shadow mocked.Izuku's breath hitched."And now you're scared, aren't you?" The shadow's voice dipped, dark amusement laced in every syllable. "Because deep down, you know—"The shadows in the room stretched further, twisting unnaturally, making the walls feel smaller, suffocating. "—you're still the same weak, pathetic little Deku you always were. A quirkless child, unbefitting of receiving the Master's gift."Izuku's chest tightened. His hand twitched."What did you think would happen?" The shadow laughed, the sound a mixture of mockery. "You think you've changed? You think you've become something bigger?"The air grew heavy. The walls around him bent.
"You're still that worthless, quirkless little boy who let Bakugo die. And you loved every second of it, his lifeless corpse on the school grounds… The screams, it was beauti—"
Izuku snapped. With a shout, he lunged forward, swinging his fist.CRACK.His knuckles slammed into the wall past the shadow as if it was not there. Pain exploded through his hand. Bones fractured. But he didn't stop. He hit the wall again. And again. And again.The skin on his fingers split open. Blood smeared across the cracked concrete. His breath came in ragged, violent gasps. The impact rattled his skin, flesh, and bones. His knuckles splitting open on the jagged concrete. He barely felt it. He swung once more, this time harder, again, again, again, desperate to drown it out, to make it stop talking, stop existing—But the shadow only watched, amusement turned to disappointment. "Oh? A temper tantrum? Look at you. Punching walls like a child. You think this makes you strong? This is not who we are, grow up."Izuku whirled around, fury blazing in his eyes. "Shut the fuck up!"The shadow tilted its head. "Make me."Izuku's vision blurred. His body shook. He wanted to rip it apart. Tear it limb from limb. But he couldn't, because it was him.Izuku flinched. His hands broken as he curled them into his hair, his nails pressing against his scalp as if he could dig the thoughts out of his skull.

Stop thinking about it. Stop thinking about it. Stop thinking about it.

"Tell me, Izuku." The shadow tilted its head, green eyes piercing into him. "Do you regret it?"Izuku didn't answer."Ohhh…" The shadow sighed. "You do, don't you?"Izuku snapped. "I don't!" he hissed, his voice shaking. "I don't regret anything! Not Bakugo, not Thirteen or anyone else!"
"Liar."
Izuku's body locked.The shadow's grin stretched. "If you didn't regret it, why are you trying so hard to convince yourself?"Izuku's breathing was shallow. His fingers trembled against his knees. The shadow leaned forward, its forehead nearly pressing against his."You killed her." It whispered. "You killed her. You killed her.""Shut up.""And for what?" The shadow continued, ignoring him. "She wasn't corrupt. She wasn't a hypocrite. She was just… in the wrong place, at the wrong time. And you slit her throat anyway. She wasn't supposed to be there, why even do it?"Izuku's chest heaved, his breaths ragged. He could still feel it. The warmth of her blood. The way her body twitched. The way her hands had instinctively tried to claw at her throat, as if trying to hold onto life for just a few more seconds.She hadn't begged. She hadn't pleaded. She had just died."Why did we do it, Izuku?" The shadow mocked. "Did it really change anything? Did it make you feel better? Why now do you feel this way? You didn't cry when you slit her throat then and there."Izuku's vision blurred. His fingers dug into his arms, nails tearing into bruised skin. He had to hold on. He had to stay together.The shadow stilled.Izuku's breathing evened out, his grip on reality steadying. He lifted his head, slowly, and stared at his own reflection in the shadow's eyes. His past. His pain. His resentment wasn't going anywhere. Izuku exhaled, his breath shaky, broken. His hands dripped blood, his shoulders quaking.He felt hollow. So, so fucking hollow.Slowly, his fingers uncurled, and he lifted them in front of his face. The blood, it was his, it was Thirteen's.His stomach churned, but this was it. This was his path. So, slowly—painfully—he relaxed. The rage died, the hysteria burned out.And then, there was only silence.No screaming.No laughter.Just the sound of dripping blood, the shadow's grin never faltered.But Izuku did not react, he did not flinch. He just… stared. Expression blank, and eyes empty.Finally, in a flat, emotionless voice, he whispered— "…I have no choice."Izuku slowly turned his gaze to it, his face devoid of anything human.The shadow's grin twitched. And then, with one last whisper, it faded into the darkness. Izuku stared at the wall, his fingers dripping red, his knuckles ruined. The pain did not matter, because this was it, there was no turning back.The office of Principal Nezu was silent.It wasn't often that silence filled this room. Usually, there was the faint rustling of papers, the whir of a machine, the occasional clicking of Nezu's claws against his desk as he sipped his tea. There was often a sense of movement—of progress now felt suffocating.All Might stood near the door, his arms crossed, his jaw tightly set—he couldn't sit, not now. His arms were crossed, his jaw tight, and his expression unreadable as he stared at the floor, processing everything. Aizawa sat stiffly across from Nezu, his bandages had been replaced, but the pain throbbed beneath them from the damage he had sustained during the USJ attack.And then, there was Nezu himself—seated at his desk, tiny paws clasped together, his beady eyes fixed on nothing in particular. His usual cheerful, mischievous energy was absent. In its place, there was only sharp calculation.It had taken a week of chaos. A week of damage control, media hysteria, investigations, and long sleepless nights filled with more questions than answers. But now, they finally had a lead. And the truth was far worse than they had ever imagined.Aizawa was the first to speak. His voice was hoarse, tired, but unwavering. "You've been working with the police all week. Tell us what you've found."Nezu's gaze flicked up, landing on Aizawa. He tilted his head slightly before exhaling, his fur bristling as he leaned forward. "As expected," Nezu began, "the League of Villains was responsible for the attack on USJ."Neither Aizawa nor All Might reacted—this, they had already assumed.Nezu continued. "With assistance from the police and pro hero intelligence, we've been tracking their movements over the past week. It was difficult—almost as if they were one step ahead of us the entire time—but we finally located a potential base of operations."All Might straightened at that. "Where?"Nezu's ears twitched. "A warehouse in Kamino Ward. It's not a guarantee, but all intelligence points to them being stationed there—at least temporarily."Aizawa leaned forward. "How sure are we?"Nezu's sharp gaze flickered between them. "Eighty-five percent."A beat of silence. All Might's fingers dug into his sleeves. That was high enough to act, high enough to move. But it wasn't what they were most concerned about.Aizawa shifted, his voice turning low, cautious. "And Midoriya?"Nezu's expression darkened just slightly. "That… is still uncertain. However, that is not the only issue at hand." He turned his gaze toward All Might. "You mentioned that Midoriya Izuku may have played a direct role in the attack."All Might stiffened and Aizawa remained stone-faced, neither of them denied it. Nezu's small fingers tapped against his desk, a slow, methodical sound. "I have considered this possibility as well," he admitted. "And given the evidence, I believe we are at a very dangerous crossroads."All Might's fists clenched at his sides. "Principal Nezu—"Nezu held up a paw, stopping him. "This is not about what we want to believe," Nezu said. "This is about what the facts are telling us." His sharp black eyes glinted in the dim office light. "And the facts tell us that Midoriya's quirk—the one only Aizawa and I knew about, and then yourself after USJ—perfectly matches the masked villain who fought you."A tense silence stretched across the room. "The students may figure this out, but as long as both of you keep quiet about what transpired… then we may have some more time."All Might closed his eyes briefly, his expression pained. "We… don't know if he was forced into it."Aizawa, however, spoke with cold finality. "And we don't know that he wasn't." Nezu's ears twitched.Aizawa continued. "If he was kidnapped, then we need to extract him immediately. But if he chose this…" His eyes sharpened. "Then we need to prepare for the worst."All Might gritted his teeth. The idea of Izuku—a student of U.A… it was unbearable.Nezu studied them both for a long moment before speaking again. "The public has no idea of this possibility," he said. "And for now, it must remain that way. The moment they catch even the smallest hint that Midoriya Izuku—the boy they believe to be a helpless kidnapped victim—may be a traitor, the hero society will crack. I do not know the effects nor how bad this will be, however I do know it would be just like last time when you know who showed up."Aizawa nodded once. "Agreed."All Might said nothing.Nezu continued. "If we confirm that Midoriya has indeed been manipulated or coerced into working with the League, then we must rescue him at all costs. Not just for his sake—but for the symbolism of it. U.A. must be seen as a force of strength, as a beacon of resilience. If we bring him back and expose the League's actions, it will solidify faith in the hero system."Aizawa leaned forward, his eyes hard. "And if he isn't being coerced?"Nezu's expression did not change."Then we must deal with him accordingly."All Might looked up sharply. "You're saying we have to fight him."Nezu's voice was calm, steady, but unyielding. "I am saying that if Midoriya has become an enemy to society—if he has embraced this path, taken lives, and aligned himself with those who seek to dismantle everything—then we will have no choice but to treat him as a villain."The words felt like lead in the air. All Might inhaled shakily. "There has to be another way."Aizawa exhaled slowly, his hands tightening into fists. "There isn't. If we let this go unchecked, it will become a bigger problem than we can contain."Nezu nodded. "Which is why we must act soon." He reached into his desk and pulled out a folder, sliding it toward them."The warehouse is located in the industrial sector right here—recently abandoned, but with heavy surveillance in the surrounding area. There have been unconfirmed reports of movement there."All Might and Aizawa both stared at the file. "Are you suggesting a raid?" Aizawa asked.Nezu folded his paws together. "Not yet. Not until we confirm that Midoriya is actually there. We need evidence first."All Might's stomach twisted. His mind raced. They were running out of time."What about the students?" Aizawa asked, changing the subject slightly. "They still have to continue classes. We can't keep them in the dark forever."Nezu nodded, his expression unreadable. "We will continue as normal. For now, they must believe that Midoriya is simply a kidnapped hostage. If we reveal even the slightest suspicion that he may be involved with the villains, it will break them."All Might closed his eyes. It was true. The weight of this reality was already crushing him. He couldn't even begin to imagine what it would do to the students—to Uraraka, who had cried for him, to Iida, who had sworn to find him, to Todoroki, who had already begun questioning why the villains had targeted Midoriya specifically.They could not know. Not yet.Aizawa ran a hand through his messy hair, exhaling. "Then we move forward. The police will keep looking into the League's locations. We will continue to train the students. We will make sure U.A. stands strong."Nezu nodded. "That is our best course of action."Aizawa closed the folder.All Might finally spoke, voice softer now. "If… if we find him, and he's… he's still himself." His throat felt dry. "Can we save him?"Nezu's gaze lingered on All Might for a long moment before he finally answered."If he is still himself, then we must."All Might's heart ached. Aizawa's expression remained unreadable.Nezu folded his paws together again. "Prepare yourselves. No matter what we find—there is no going back." Nezu then leaned forward, his tone calculated, final. "There is one last matter."Aizawa already knew what was coming. "Inko Midoriya," he murmured.Nezu nodded. "She must be informed. And it must be handled carefully.""She will demand answers," Aizawa said quietly.Nezu folded his hands. "Then we must give her what we can. Toshinori, you and Detective Tsukauchi will handle this personally."The thought of facing the child's mother made All Might feel like he was going to be sick. His hands trembled just slightly. "Understood."Nezu nodded. "Then we have our course."
A/N: Starting to get into further discourse and complicated trauma, isolation, and corruption deepening in Izuku. This chapter also now sets up the stage for the next major conflict... Consequences of failure, and the looming horror of what is to come of Japan in this world. Stay tuned!

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

All Might stood at the entrance, his hands curled into fists at his sides. The weight in his chest was unbearable, but the world didn't care. This was something he had to do.Beside him, Detective Naomasa Tsukauchi adjusted his coat, his usual calm demeanor hardened with the grim task ahead. They had spoken to countless families before—victims, grieving loved ones, broken parents—but this one felt different.Tsukauchi raised a fist and knocked twice. For a long moment, nothing.Then, soft footsteps, hesitant, slow. The lock clicked, the door cracked open just slightly—just enough for a single green eye to peek through. A tired, puffy-eyed, fragile gaze."…Yes?""Mrs. Midoriya," Tsukauchi's voice was careful, measured. "I'm Detective Tsukauchi from the Public Safety Commission. This is—""I know who you are," Inko's voice was barely a whisper. "We've talked before… Tsukauchi." All Might flinched.She opened the door wider, revealing her small frame wrapped in an oversized sweater. She looked like she hadn't slept and eaten in days. Dark circles clung beneath her swollen eyes, her cheeks pale. A mother drowning in grief."Please," she said, voice shaking, "come in."They stepped air in the Midoriya household was thick with unease.All Might had never been here before, but something about the space felt almost suffocating. The walls were lined with pictures—old photographs of a smiling young boy with messy green hair, his eyes brimming with hope. A small All Might figurine stood proudly on a shelf, its colors slightly faded from years of wear.Toshinori Yagi shifted uncomfortably in his seat, hands resting on his lap, trying to steady himself. Beside him, Tsukauchi sat with a much more composed expression, though his shoulders were stiff, and his eyes betrayed the weight of what they were about to do.Across from them sat Inko Midoriya.She was smaller than he had imagined. Frail, almost. She clutched the hem of her sweater with shaking hands, her hands white. Her eyes—red-rimmed, hollow, desperate—hadn't left them since they arrived."Do you have any information about my son?" she asked, her voice trembling. "Tell me. Tell me everything."All Might swallowed hard. This was already going south.Tsukauchi exhaled, setting his hands on the table between them. His voice was calm but firm, practiced in handling situations like this. "Mrs. Midoriya," he began carefully, "before we continue, I need to emphasize that what we discuss here today must remain confidential. We are still in the midst of an ongoing investigation, and any leaks could put lives in danger—including Izuku's."Inko stiffened at the name. Her lips parted slightly, her breath uneven. She gripped her sweater tighter, nodding. "I understand. Please… just tell me where my baby is."A silence settled over the room, heavier than the walls could bear.All Might hesitated. Every word felt like a blade against his throat. How could he say this? How could he tell her that her son—was now suspected of being a villain?Tsukauchi took over. "We have reason to believe that Izuku is currently with the League of Villains, and that he might be aligned with them."Inko flinched like she had been physically struck. For a long moment, she didn't speak. Her breath hitched. Her fingers trembled. And then—she laughed. A hollow, broken sound."You're mistaken," she said, shaking her head, her voice laced with a strange disbelief. "That's impossible. Izuku—my Izuku—he wouldn't… he wouldn't…"All Might felt his throat tighten.Tsukauchi remained steady. "I understand this is difficult to hear, but all evidence points to him being taken by them after the attack on U.A. We are doing everything we can to find him."Inko shook her head harder. "No. No, you don't understand." Her voice rose in pitch, her breathing unsteady. "Izuku wants to be a hero! He's always wanted to be a hero! He—he worshipped you, All Might!"All Might clenched his jaw, this was difficult to hear."Mrs. Midoriya," Tsukauchi pressed gently, but she didn't hear him."You think my son is with villains?" Her voice cracked, her hands trembling violently. "My son, who was bullied his entire life for being quirkless? Who cried himself to sleep because the world told him he couldn't be a hero?" She let out a breathless, bitter laugh. "You expect me to believe that the same Izuku who never hurt anyone is now in league with murderers?"All Might flinched at her words. She was right. It didn't make sense. And yet, the evidence…Tsukauchi carefully chose his next words. "We don't know under what circumstances Izuku is with them. That is why we are working to find him as soon as possible.""Then bring him back," she pleaded, her voice breaking. "Please, just bring him back home."A long silence stretched between them. Tsukauchi glanced at All Might. The unspoken weight of what they were about to say next hung in the air like a guillotine.All Might inhaled sharply. "Mrs. Midoriya," he began, his voice unsteady, "we need to let you know that your son may have killed a pro-hero."For a second, everything in the room stopped. The walls felt too tight, the air too thin. Then a sharp gasp, Inko paled. "No…"Tears welled up in her eyes. She understood what they were implying."No, no, no. That's not true." She shook her head violently, her breath coming out in rapid, panicked gasps. "Izuku is not a villain! Nor is he a murderer!""Mrs. Midoriya—""I SAID HE'S NOT A VILLAIN!" she screamed, slamming her hands against the table, her entire body shaking.Tsukauchi immediately held up his hands in an attempt to de-escalate the situation. "Please, calm down. We are not saying he is beyond saving—""You're lying." Her voice cracked, her entire frame trembling. "You're lying. You're trying to turn my son into some kind of monster, just like everyone else did! I read one of his journals, just before he finished Junior high… Izuku met you once.""That's not—""Ever since he was a child, everyone treated him like garbage!" she spat, her chest heaving. "They called him useless. They told him he would never be a hero, it happened everywhere... students, teachers, family, friends... And you—" she turned to All Might, eyes blazing with a grief-stricken fury—"YOU TOLD HIM THE SAME DAMN THING!"The words slammed into him harder than any punch he had ever taken. All Might stiffened, his breath hitching."I—I…"The memory flashed before him, he did remember now—Izuku, teary-eyed, looking up at him with hope.
"Even without a quirk… can I still be a hero?"

"It's not bad to dream, but you also have to be realistic."
He had crushed that boy's dream. Inko was sobbing, her hands covering her face. "You—" she choked, "You were his hero. You were everything to him. And you—you told him he couldn't…"All Might felt sick. He had told Izuku to give up. And maybe, just maybe, Izuku had finally listened.Tsukauchi sighed, rubbing his temple. "Mrs. Midoriya, please understand—if Izuku is innocent, we will do everything in our power to bring him home safely."She sniffled, wiping at her tears. "And if he's not?""We're not saying anything for certain," Tsukauchi interjected. "But we need to ask you a few things. We need to understand."Inko swallowed, her breath coming in short, panicked bursts. Her hands shook. "…What do you want to know?"A long silence weathered over them. Then, finally Tsukauchi spoke. "Did Izuku ever talk to you about his quirk?"A sharp, unnatural silence fell over the room.Inko's face froze. "…What?" Her voice was barely a whisper.All Might and Tsukauchi exchanged glances."Izuku's quirk," All Might said slowly. "Did he ever tell you about it?""Izuku doesn't—" Inko inhaled sharply. Her hands flew to her mouth as she stumbled backward, her back hitting the counter. "He—he never had one—"Her voice broke apart, her eyes flicking between them, searching—begging—for this to be a misunderstanding.Tsukauchi's gaze softened. "Mrs. Midoriya, Izuku has a quirk."Inko shook her head rapidly, tears spilling over her cheeks. "No, no, no—he was tested many times! The doctor said—""Isn't it a bit odd that he passed the hero exam?" Tsukauchi pressed gently. "Did Izuku ever explain it to you himself?"Her fingers clutched at the fabric of her sweater, and her lips parted slightly in horror.Izuku had never—not once—spoken about it after he disappeared for the first time.Because she had been so wrapped in her own grief, in the despair of knowing her son would never be like the others—she had never stopped to ask if he had lied to protect her.She thought of all the nights Izuku came home late. The first night he ever dissapeared, gone for months. The same boy who had spent his entire life dreaming of being a hero.She sank into the chair behind her, her hands trembling as the truth came crashing down around her."Izuku," she whispered, "he… he was hurting… and I didn't see it." Tears spilled onto her lap. "Izuku is a good boy," she choked, her body trembling. "He wouldn't do this—he wouldn't—he wouldn't—"All Might closed his eyes. Because she wasn't wrong. He had been. But something had changed. Something had broken inside him, and they had failed to see it in time.Tsukauchi leaned forward, voice gentle but firm. "Mrs. Midoriya."She looked up, her face streaked with tears, her hands still trembling."We will find him," Tsukauchi promised. "And we will bring him home."Her lip trembled. "Even if it means dragging him back as a criminal?" she whispered, voice barely audible.Neither of them answered. Inko stared at them. For a moment, there was nothing. No words. No sound. Just the suffocating weight of grief. Then, finally, her lips parted, her voice barely a whisper. "You swear to me."All Might met her gaze. And despite everything, despite the weight in his chest, the doubt in his mind, the pain in his heart—He did. "I swear."Izuku sat in his dimly lit room, the wounds from his earlier outburst still fresh beneath the wrappings. Dried blood crusted against the gauze, but he didn't care.He didn't feel it. He didn't feel much of anything anymore.Then came a knock. Not a frantic, impatient one. A deliberate, careful tap. As if whoever was on the other side already knew he was awake. Already knew he was waiting.Izuku didn't move at first.Then, after a beat, he stood. His body moved as if on autopilot, as if he was no longer in control.He opened the door. Tomura stood there, his crimson eyes sharp, unreadable. His usual sneer was absent, replaced with something closer to wariness. Behind him, Kurogiri loomed, his mist swirling lazily, waiting."The Master wants to see you," Tomura said, his voice oddly careful.Izuku tilted his head slightly, observing him. The way he spoke, the way he stood. There was a hesitation. A slight flinch in his movements.Fear. Not of the meeting. Not of All For One. No.Fear of him.Izuku's gaze flicked to the side.The rest of the League stood further down the hall, lingering near the lounge room, pretending not to watch—but their eyes were locked on him.Toga's grin had faltered. Her golden eyes traced him carefully, as if seeing him for the first time. Dabi, usually amused by everything, was silent, his cigarette burning between his fingers, forgotten. Even Spinner, who normally paid Izuku little mind and rearely spoke to, stood tense, his grip tightening on the hilt of his blade.It was as if they had seen a ghost. Or rather—something that had crawled out of its grave, empty and hungry.Izuku didn't react. He merely stepped forward into Kurogiri's mist portal.When the fog cleared, Izuku stood in a room he had seen once before.The air was cold, yet the lighting was warm, dimly flickering across the deep mahogany walls and black marble flooring. A fireplace crackled gently, casting jagged shadows along the walls. The furniture was pristine, almost royal—a throne disguised as a lounge.And there, seated comfortably in an armchair, was him. All For One.The man exuded something more than just power. He was presence itself. A force, a construct of inevitability. He did not move, yet he controlled the entire room.Izuku stepped forward."Midoriya Izuku," All For One said, his voice smooth, unfaltering. "Sit."Izuku obeyed. The chair across from All For One was cold. He sat straight, hands folded over his lap. His face was unreadable, his posture perfect.All For One studied him. And then, he smiled through the mask."You are different now." A statement, not a question. Izuku could feel the way those hollow, unseen eyes traced his form. Analyzing. Weighing. Measuring."You did well at USJ," All For One continued. "Exceeding my expectations, as I said before." His voice was calm, thoughtful. "Yet, you lied to me."A pause. Izuku did not react.All For One's smile did not falter. "When I asked you what you desired—what you truly wanted—you told me something quite simple."Izuku tilted his head slightly. "To watch everything fall.""Yes." All For One nodded. "A very poetic response." A sharp silence stretched between them."Tell me, child," All For One murmured, "was that a lie?"Izuku blinked slowly. His fingers twitched, just slightly, before stilling. All For One was testing him, but not just his loyalty. All For One already knew. He always knew.This wasn't about whether Izuku had been honest. This was about how much of himself he still had left.Izuku exhaled slowly. His emerald eyes met the darkness behind All For One's mask."Yes it was." His voice was soft, absolute.All For One was silent. Then—he laughed. A rich, slow chuckle, deep and knowing. He leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping against the armrest. "Ah, Izuku," he mused. "You truly are fascinating."All For One regarded him for a long moment before leaning forward. "Tell me," he said, voice smooth, "do you regret it?"Izuku's fingers curled slightly over his lap. The blood. The screams. Thirteen's throat spilling red onto the concrete. His hands twitched.Regret? The shadow of his past self whispered in the back of his mind. You do. You know you do.Izuku lifted his gaze, and smiled. "No."A slow silence filled the room. Then, All For One chuckled again, standing up smoothly. "Good," he said simply. He walked toward the fireplace, hands clasped behind his back. "There is something you must understand, my boy," he continued. "Loyalty is earned, but power is what maintains it."All For One turned his head slightly. "I see potential in you, Midoriya Izuku.""You are not like Tomura," All For One said. "He is… unfinished. Impatient. A child jumping around in a world he barely understands." He exhaled lightly, almost disappointed. "But you? You have the heart of something greater.""Or at least," All For One mused, "you did." Izuku's fingers twitched. All For One turned to him fully. "I have been watching you.""You are shifting, my boy," All For One said, his voice like silk, his head tilting ever so slightly. "Something inside you is unraveling.""You killed without regret," All For One mused. "You stood before the greatest heroes and spat in their faces. But I wonder…"His mask tilted ever so slightly, and Izuku felt something slither beneath the words. "Do you truly belong here?"For the first time, Izuku moved.Izuku's expression did not change. All For One smiled. "I want to see what you will become." The air in the room thickened. "Tell me, Izuku," All For One murmured, stepping closer. "Your heart is cold. And yet… you do not burn like Shigaraki does. You do not seek to destroy for the sake of destruction."All For One's head tilted slightly. "You seek to break. To tear away the illusions, to drag them into the light—to show them the truth of this world."The air tightened. All For One's voice curled around him, whispering. "Do you wish to become my successor?" The words felt like an execution."You have already proven yourself beyond expectations," All For One murmured. "Your mind, your deception, your ability to see the cracks in the world—you are meant for more than this.""More than Tomura. More than any of them."A quiet, deadly promise."You can become everything." All For One said as he stood towering above Izuku, one hand moved closer for acceptance.The room felt smaller. Tighter.All For One waited.And waited.Izuku stared at his own hands. His lips parted—slowly, deliberately. In a voice that was not a boy's, but a monster's, he whispered "What do you need me to do?"All For One did not move immediately. Izuku had given his answer. He had chosen his path. And yet, there was no reaction. No triumphant proclamation, no grand declaration of loyalty.Then, slowly, All For One's hand lifted. "Do not move."Izuku's body locked in place. All For One's fingers stretched outward, the air around them thickening with a force beyond sight, beyond sound. It was something else entirely—something unnatural."Before we proceed," All For One mused, voice smooth, almost thoughtful, "you must understand that a choice is never made freely. It always demands something in return."Izuku's pulse remained steady. "What do you want?"All For One chuckled softly. "Not what you expect."Then, suddenly his fingers clamped around Izuku's face, the leather of his gloves pressing into his skin, the sheer weight of his grip forcing him still. It was not painful. It was suffocating. Izuku's breath hitched as something tore through him.The world around him collapsed.Weightless. Silent. Infinite. Izuku couldn't breathe. Or maybe he could, it didn't matter.The sensation was immediate. One moment, he was in the hideout, his body solid, real and then he wasn't. He was falling not through air, not through space—through something deeper. It was primordial and unknowable.The world around him wasn't just dark—it was absent. No light, no sound, no sensation beyond the feeling of being pulled downward. He couldn't move.He reached for something, anything, but there was nothing to grasp.No walls.No sky.No ground.Just an endless void, stretching infinitely in every direction. Then, something changed as the blackness shifted. A ripple, like a drop in an ocean without end.And suddenly, memories.Drifting. Flickering. Slipping through his fingers.A schoolyard, Bakugo's sneer burned into his mind—"You think you can be a hero?" Gone.His mother's arms wrapped around him, soft, warm—"You're my little hero, Izuku." Gone.His first notebook, filled with pages upon pages of notes, drawings, observations. Gone.The moment he met All Might, the rain soaking his clothes, his heart pounding with hope. Gone.Everything—gone, gone, gone.Faster now.Scenes flashing before his eyes, one after another, unraveling like torn pages in a book. Then, the shift.The moment he entered the League of Villains. Gone.The training. The battles. The nights spent planning with Tomura, Giran, Dabi. Gone.The faces of his comrades, the ones who saw him as something more. Gone.All For One's words, his presence, his promises. Gone.Izuku gasped, trying to hold onto something, trying to force his mind to remember.But the blackness tightened. Squeezing, pulling, suffocating."Wait." Izuku reached out. There was nothing to grasp. The blackness tightened, like a cold grip wrapping around his skull.And then… Laughter. It slithered through the void, curling around him, into him, burrowing deep into his mind like a parasite.All For One's voice, yet he did not recognise it anymore."Ah… there it is." It rasped. Izuku's breath came in ragged bursts, his limbs weightless, useless. "You feel it, don't you?" The words coiled around him like smoke, seeping into every crevice of his mind."That little hole inside of you. That gaping emptiness where something should be." Izuku clenched his jaw. "Do you know what that is, my dear boy?" The voice slithered closer, right behind his ear. "That is the cost."Something shifted around him, the void was no longer still.It was moving, twisting and breathing. And then Izuku saw it, the water. It was everywhere. An endless black ocean, stretching beyond comprehension. It was still. Too still. Not a single ripple, not a single wave. A mirror, reflecting nothing but the void itself.Yet, Izuku felt it pulling him down. His body jerked as something wrapped around his ankles.Hands.Black, withered hands—*hundreds of them, thousands, endless—*rising from the depths, their fingers clawing at his skin, their grip tightening.They were familiar, too familiar. He had seen them before. He had killed them.Thirteen's fingers wrapped around his wrist, dragging him down.A strangled, gasping voice whispered against his ear—"Why?"Izuku kicked, the water rippled. More hands. More faces. Aizawa, his body broken, reaching, pulling."Why?"Ochako, her eyes hollow, her hands outstretched."Why?"Bakugo, his corpse laying on the school ground, broken, his fingers twitching, grasping."Why?"Izuku screamed, the water collapsed. The hands tightened as he began to sink, drowning as he was swallowed whole.And through it all—laughter. All For One was laughing. Izuku's chest burned, his lungs screamed. And in the final, desperate moment…He closed his eyes.Pain.It was always pain.The first thing he registered was the aching weight pressing into his ribs, a dull, insistent agony that pulsed with every breath. His skin burned, his body stiff and sore. His wrists were raw, metal biting into them that refused to let go. His throat felt scraped, hoarse—like he'd been screaming for days.His mind was slow, fogged, fractured.His fingers twitched, dragging against the surface beneath him—a cold, hard cot. Concrete walls loomed around him, damp and suffocating. The air smelled wrong—stale metal, dried blood, the faint scent of something rotting.Where—His breath hitched. His eyes snapped open. The room lurched, his head pounded as his vision swam, colors bleeding into one another before settling into harsh, sterile gray.A room… a prison.Shackles wrapped tightly around his wrists and ankles, bolted to the wall, restricting movement.He was trapped. He had been kidnapped.The memories crashed into him all at once—sharp, disjointed fragments splintering into his skull like shattered glass. USJ. The villain attack.The panic, the fear. His classmates were scared for their lives as shadowy figures emerged from the mist. A monstrous Nomu, the sickening crunch of bone beneath All Might's fists, the way the ground shook with the force of their battle.A figure lunging from the shadows, too fast to react. Hands grabbing him, the sharp crack of his skull hitting concrete. The world spinning sideways with suffocating silence.Izuku's breath quickened. Days. It had been days. Who knows how many?He had screamed for help until his voice broke. He had fought until his body collapsed. He had begged. No one had come. No one was coming.The walls felt smaller now, the air pressing against his ribs like an iron cage.Izuku clenched his fists, the sting of pain was sharp, grounding. Focus. He needed to focus.Something wasn't right. The chains rattled as he shifted. His arms felt weaker than they should have been, his muscles sluggish and unresponsive. Had they drugged him?His breathing slowed. He forced himself to focus. What did he still have? His quirk maybe it could help him somehow.He reached for it. And—Nothing.His stomach plummeted. Izuku's quirk wasn't there. No spark, no familiar pull of power beneath his skin. Izuku's breath hitched. No. No, that couldn't be right. He was just disoriented. He just had to try again but against whom?He grit his teeth, focused.Something answered.But it wasn't his quirk. It felt wrong, different. Power coiled beneath his skin, humming, crackling, stronger than before—but alien. It wasn't the same. It wasn't his."What the hell had they done to me?" He exhaled, steadying his shaking hands. His mind raced, clawing through the memories, desperate for an answer. Had the villains taken it from him? Had they done something to him?The door shifted, forcing Izuku to go still.A lock clicked. The handle turned and the door creaked open as the figure stepped inside. Tall. Refined. Cloaked in darkness.A mask obscured his face, smooth and featureless. Yet his presence alone was suffocating, filling the room with something cold, oppressive, unnatural. Izuku's body tensed on instinct.A slow exhale. "You're awake." The voice was deep, calm, slithering through the air like oil.Izuku didn't respond. His shoulders were tight, his muscles burning with the effort to stay still.The figure stepped forward, his movements slow, deliberate. "You have been through quite an ordeal," he continued, his tone deceptively gentle. "Taken from your school. Beaten. Left alone."Izuku clenched his jaw, every nerve screaming. "We did not want this for you," the masked man murmured. "We would have preferred an… easier path."A pause."But you fought us."Izuku's breath hitched as more memories flashed. The screams, the darkness, the pain. Hands gripping his arms, voices murmuring in the dark, offering things he couldn't understand—promises he couldn't grasp.He had refused. He had fought and they had punished him for it. Izuku swallowed against the bile rising in his throat.The man crouched in front of him now, his mask mere inches away. "You are strong, Midoriya Izuku," he said. "You survived where others would have broken.""Tell me…" The man tilted his head. "Do you wish to be saved?"Izuku flinched. The words hit something deep inside him, something raw and bleeding. Because of course he did, he wanted to go home. To see his mother. To return to U.A. To sit in class with his friends and pretend—pretend that things could ever be normal again.But… something was missing and felt wrong. The pieces didn't fit. And for the first time, he found the words, "What did you do to me?"The man did not move, did not react. Until finally a smirk formed with a small clap of the hands, almost seemingly in awe."You'll understand in time."The words slithered into his skull like a parasite, wrapping around his thoughts, embedding themselves in the cracks of his broken mind. The man straightened, adjusting the cuffs of his sleeves. "We will speak again soon."He turned toward the door. "You will be released soon, Midoriya."A final pause."But for now…" The masked man tilted his head, his voice a quiet, twisting thing. "Rest."
A/N: Can you guess where the story is going next? What will happen? I can't wait to find out. Let me know what you think so far.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The war room inside the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Headquarters was tense, the weight of what was about to happen pressing heavily on every individual present. The long rectangular table at the center of the room was covered in detailed maps, surveillance photos, and tactical blueprints, illuminated by the harsh glow of overhead lights. The air carried the sterile scent of coffee and ink, mingled with the lingering scent of exhaustion.Seated near the table, Principal Nezu, the genius behind U.A. High School and one of the most brilliant tacticians in the nation, rested his hands atop a thick stack of documents. His eyes flickered from hero to hero, gauging their expressions, reading the silent tension in their postures. This was it. The moment they had been preparing for.To Nezu's left, Detective Tsukauchi stood stiffly, his usual easy going demeanor replaced with something harder, sharper. His fingers were wrapped tightly around a folder, the official case report on the USJ incident, the pages holding everything they had learned so far about the League of Villains. But it wasn't enough. There were still too many unknowns, too many gaps in their intelligence, and time was slipping through their fingers like sand.To Nezu's right, Toshinori Yagi, better known to the world as All Might, remained seated, his hands clenched into fists atop the table. His face, though composed, was lined with fatigue and worry, his shoulders squared with the unbearable weight of responsibility. His students had been attacked. A child had been taken. A student he had personally promised to protect.A student whose innocence was no longer guaranteed.All Might exhaled slowly, controlling his breathing. No, that wasn't a thought he was ready to accept. Izuku was innocent. He had to be.Across from them, a lineup of Japan's top pro-heroes sat in tense silence. Some leaned forward, elbows resting against the table, brows furrowed in thought. Others crossed their arms, their gazes sharp, unyielding. Each of them was here because they had been handpicked for this operation. This was not a simple villain takedown—this was an act of war.Present Mic sat beside Eraserhead, his sunglasses pushed up onto his head as he rubbed a hand down his face. Next to him, Endeavor loomed like a furnace barely holding back its heat, his flames dormant but pulsing, the steady rise and fall of his shoulders betraying his barely-contained fury.Mirko cracked her knuckles, restless. Edge Shot, standing behind her, remained unreadable, his sharp eyes flicking between the gathered individuals, taking in every single word, every single movement. Gang Orca, Best Jeanist, Mt. Lady, Kamui Woods, Fat Gum, and Gran Torino rounded out the force, each hero wearing an expression that screamed focus, determination, and preparation for battle.The police commissioner cleared his throat, drawing all attention to the front of the room. He was an older man, gray-haired, battle-worn, a veteran of the force, and one who had seen too many heroes fall, too many villains rise. He adjusted his glasses and set down a thick file, the weight of it echoing through the room."This is the largest coordinated strike against an underground villain network we have conducted in over a decade," he began, voice firm, unwavering."Our target: The League of Villains. The location: An abandoned industrial warehouse in Kamino Ward. Intelligence suggests this facility is one of their primary operational hubs—a place where they have been organizing, recruiting, and plotting further attacks against hero society."He gestured toward a large digital display screen, which flickered to life with a satellite image of the warehouse compound. The grainy, overhead view showed multiple entry points, structural weaknesses, and the possible locations of enemy forces."The mission objective is twofold," the commissioner continued. "First, eliminate the League of Villains—subdue, capture, and neutralize all hostiles present. Second..." His gaze flicked toward All Might, toward Nezu, toward Aizawa, before settling on Detective Tsukauchi. "...recover Midoriya Izuku."A silence heavier than steel settled over the room.Aizawa's eyes darkened, his fingers curling into his sleeves. Present Mic cast him a glance, his expression tight. The very mention of Midoriya's name made the air grow sharper, colder."We have reason to believe Midoriya is being held somewhere inside the facility," Nezu added, his voice measured. "However, our intelligence remains uncertain as to his condition or his... willingness."That single word sent a ripple through the heroes. Willingness.The implication twisted in the air like a blade waiting to drop.All Might stiffened, his hands gripping the table, his jaw clenched tight enough to crack.Endeavor scoffed, folding his arms. "If the kid's been turned, we deal with him like we would any other villain.""He's not a villain!" All Might's voice boomed, shaking the room. His blue eyes were fierce, a storm of barely restrained emotion. "Midoriya Izuku is not one of them!"Endeavor didn't flinch. "Then you'd better pray you're right, because if he stands in our way, we won't have time to debate it."All Might rose suddenly, his towering presence casting a long shadow over the room. His breath was steady, but his eyes—his eyes burned."We will bring him home," he said, voice like thunder before the storm. "And I won't let anyone treat him as a villain until we have the truth."Silence followed, thick and suffocating.Nezu's ears twitched as he observed the standoff. He exhaled through his nose, the sound barely audible. "Our priority is his rescue. If Midoriya is innocent, he must be extracted safely. If he has been… compromised… we must contain the situation before the media learns the truth."Tsukauchi, who had been silent up until this moment, finally spoke."We don't have all the facts," he said, his voice calm but unyielding. "And we won't until we go in. But one thing is clear—this operation must be swift, precise, and absolute. We cannot afford to let them escape again."He turned toward the assembled heroes, his gaze sharp, authoritative."We hit them fast. We hit them hard."The display screen shifted again, showing strategic entry points, routes mapped out in meticulous detail."Team One, led by Endeavor, will spearhead the assault through the south entrance. They will serve as the primary combat unit, engaging and neutralizing high-threat targets and any remaining Nomu."A new set of red-marked pathways appeared."Team Two, led by Eraserhead, Best Jeanist, and Gang Orca, will take the east wing, sweeping for resistance and securing captured personnel."More marks. More routes."Team Three, led by Edge Shot, Mirko, and Kamui Woods, will secure all potential escape routes."A final set of coordinates."And Team Four… tasked with locating and recovering Midoriya Izuku."Tsukauchi's gaze locked onto All Might. "You're leading this one."The words settled over the room like stone. All Might nodded once, his eyes unwavering. Tsukauchi inhaled deeply. "We move at 0500 hours. Be ready."The low hum of the engine vibrated through the armored van as it rolled down the deserted road. The assembled pro-heroes sat in the back, their expressions grim, their bodies tense with anticipation. The air inside was thick with quiet tension, and the steel-edged certainty that tonight, one way or another, things were going to change.All Might sat near the back, his massive frame hunched slightly to fit within the confined space. His hands were clasped together, his breathing was even, steady, and calculated. But deep inside, the storm raged.Beside him, Endeavor sat with his arms crossed, his fiery presence subdued but no less intense. The number two hero exhaled through his nose, eyes flickering towards All Might before narrowing slightly. The flickering light of the overhead van lamps danced against the embers of his beard, making him look even more menacing in the half-darkness."This is a waste of resources," Endeavor muttered, voice low, yet cutting.All Might turned slightly, his eyes shadowed. "What?""You heard me," Endeavor growled, his tone sharp with irritation. "We're moving in on an entire criminal organization, a group of well-trained villains, powerful quirks, dangerous variables. And all of this, all of it—" he gestured with a sharp movement of his hand, his gauntlet gleaming under the dim light, "—is for one child. A student who may not even be innocent."The van rocked slightly as they hit a small bump in the road, but neither hero moved, their gazes locked, heat simmering beneath their words."He is innocent," All Might said firmly, his voice barely above a whisper, but there was no mistaking the weight behind it."You don't know that," Endeavor shot back. "No one does. The kid's quirk is the exact same as the one that fought you. You explained all of this to us in the briefing room. His disappearance was too convenient, his survival too perfect. What if he's turned?""Izuku Midoriya is not a villain," All Might snapped, his patience finally breaking. The weight of the words echoed in the confined space, and for a brief moment, the other heroes—Best Jeanist, Edgeshot, Kamui Woods, Gang Orca, and even Hawks—glanced their way.Endeavor narrowed his eyes. "And if he is?"All Might's fingers curled against his knees. "Then we bring him home anyway."A snort of derision. "And if he doesn't want to come home?" Endeavour asked."Then we fight for him."The van was silent.It was Gran Torino who finally cut through the tension, his voice rough with age yet steady, commanding. "That's enough," he said, eyes sharp beneath his cowl. "Arguing about this now won't change anything. We're minutes away from the site. Save your energy for the real battle."Endeavor grunted but said nothing else, his gaze shifting toward the reinforced doors of the van, his fingers twitching, eager to unleash his flames.All Might exhaled slowly, forcing himself to focus. Stay centered. Keep your emotions in check. The mission had been planned down to the last detail.Four teams. And then, there was Strike Team D.All Might, who was earlier approached by Gran Torino and Hawks to help. The infiltration unit. Their task was simple—get inside, locate Midoriya, and extract him before it was too late.The van came to a slow, rolling stop. The radio in Gran Torino's hand crackled."We're in position," Tsukauchi's voice murmured.All Might flexed his fingers, his breathing calm despite the storm in his chest.The doors opened. The mission had begun.The League of Villains' hideout sat in the skeletal remains of an abandoned warehouse district, the buildings crumbling under years of neglect. The air was thick with the scent of damp concrete, rusted steel, and something foul lurking beneath the surface.The first explosion shook the ground.Endeavor's hellfire roared to life, a violent, blinding eruption of orange and blue flames consuming the main entrance in the South. The force sent metal doors flying inward, slamming into the nearest wall with a deafening crash.Inside, chaos erupted. The League had no warning.Dabi barely had time to react before a thick, steel wire wrapped around his wrist—Best Jeanist. The Number Three hero pulled hard, dragging Dabi forward before whipping his other hand, sending threads toward Toga, who barely dodged, flipping backward with a delighted cackle."Heroes are here~!" she sang, spinning on her heels.Spinner cursed, reaching for his blade, but before he could move, Edgeshot was already there, his body flattening into a razor-thin needle, piercing through the air faster than the eye could follow.The hideout trembled as Gang Orca's sonic roar tore through the lower floors, the sheer force sending villains crashing into walls, their ears bleeding from the intensity of the frequency. Kamui Woods followed through, his branches surging outward, entangling stragglers before they could retreat.And in the midst of it all, All Might moved.A wave of Nomus emerged from the shadows, their twisted, grotesque forms barely human. The closest one lunged, its clawed hands reaching—DELAWARE SMASH.The impact sent it flying, crashing through three walls before slamming into the far side of the warehouse. Another came from behind, its jaw unhinging, rows of razor-sharp teeth gleaming in the dim light.All Might ducked, pivoted, and drove his fist upward into its gut. The force rippled through the air—*shockwaves splitting the floor beneath them—*before the Nomu was launched skyward, crashing through the ceiling, disappearing into the night.There was no time to rest. All Might pushed forward, weaving through the battlefield as chaos exploded around him. He had only one goal, find Izuku.His boots slammed against the floor as he tore through the lower levels, throwing aside anyone in his way. The corridors were narrow, dark, reeking of damp decay. The deeper he went, the quieter it became, the muffled sounds of battle fading behind him.It was at this point he noticed a light coming through one of the door's slightly cracked open.He knew this place. It had been identified in the initial scouting reports, marked as a central meeting area. If anyone had information on Izuku's whereabouts—it would be here.All Might kicked the door in. The hinges snapped, the wood splintering apart.Inside, Giran, the information broker sat at the counter, legs crossed, a cigarette dangling from his lips, a glass of whiskey in his hand. The faint scent of alcohol filled the room, mixing with the lingering scent of smoke.He didn't look surprised. Giran exhaled, rolling the whiskey in his glass before taking a slow, deliberate sip.Then, he set it down. "Well," he said, his voice smooth, casual, as if this was nothing more than a business transaction. "This is a surprise."All Might's fists clenched. "Where is Midoriya?"All Might's shoulders heaved as he stood in the doorway, his frame nearly swallowing the dimly lit room whole. His blue eyes were like embers beneath the shadows of his brows, blazing with barely restrained fury.Giran, however, remained unbothered. He leaned lazily against the bar, cigarette pinched between his fingers, exhaling a plume of smoke as he studied the situation like it was nothing more than a game."Y'know," Giran mused, swirling the whiskey in his glass, watching the liquid slosh against the sides, "you could've knocked first. Kicking down doors is a bit dramatic, even for you, All Might.""Where is Midoriya?" His voice was low, sharp, edged with an urgency that left no room for negotiations.Giran only chuckled. "Ah, yes. The lost little lamb," he exhaled, tapping ash onto the counter. "I take it this whole raid is for him, huh? Risking all of U.A's reputation, sending out every pro-hero you could gather, just for one kid? Feels like an awful lot of effort."All Might's hands curled into fists. The air seemed to ripple around him. "Tell me where he is. Now."Giran grinned. His teeth were slightly yellowed from years of smoking, his eyes sharp despite the nonchalant way he sat, shoulders loose, posture relaxed. "You think threats will work on me, Symbol of Peace?" He spread his arms. "C'mon, you know how this works. You think I got this far without learning how to keep my mouth shut?"All Might took one step forward and in an instant, the entire bar trembled.The floorboards cracked beneath the sheer force of his presence. The bottle of whiskey next to Giran shattered from the residual shockwave alone. Giran winced, but only slightly."Where. Is. He?"A low, gravelly started small, barely a chuckle, but soon Giran was outright laughing, his shoulders shaking as if this was the funniest thing he had seen all night."Oh, man..." he wheezed, rubbing at his temple, "you're serious, huh?" He let out another snicker. "That's the best part about you, All Might. You still think that shouting at people is gonna get you what you want. Like intimidation will suddenly make me spill my guts."All Might moved and in a flash, he lunged—his arm gripping Giran by the collar, hoisting him clean off the ground, slamming him against the back wall with enough force to shake the foundation. The barstools clattered to the floor. The cigarette in Giran's hand fell, its embers smoldering against the wood.For the first time, Giran let out a strangled cough, his smirk faltering as All Might's grip tightened."Where is Midoriya?""Easy there, big guy," Giran wheezed, his hands coming up, feigning innocence. "I just got this suit pressed."Immediately a rush of wind zoomed in. Gran Torino was suddenly there, his small frame barreling into the scene with a gust of speed, landing beside them. His old, wrinkled hands reached out, gripping All Might's wrist firmly, forcing him back before the pressure around Giran's throat could break his windpipe."Enough, Toshinori!" Gran Torino barked.All Might's breathing was ragged, his fingers trembling as his fist hovered just inches from caving in Giran's skull. The moment stretched too long, the sheer weight of his fury making the air feel suffocating.As All Might let go, Giran slumped, coughing, rubbing at his throat with a grin that never quite vanished."Guess you still got some restraint after all," he rasped.All Might didn't hear was already moving—pushing past the wreckage of the bar, shoving through the next corridor, running, running, running.Izuku was here. He knew it.The deeper All Might ran, the more the sounds of battle behind him faded, swallowed by the thick concrete walls of the hideout. The narrow corridors twisted, endless, winding into the shadows like a maze designed to trap and disorient.Somewhere, beneath the scent of damp stone and metal, beneath the acrid bite of blood, beneath the distant echoes of fighting… Izuku had to be here.He turned a corner to find a steel door. Bolted shut. Heavy locks lined the sides, reinforced hinges designed to withstand brute force.But none of that mattered, All Might's fingers tightened, the muscles in his arms bulging as he stepped forward and swung.The door exploded inward, metal crumpling under the sheer weight of his punch. Dust and debris flew outward, smoke curling around his silhouette as he stepped inside.There, against the back wall, a small crumpled figure sat hunched over.Izuku.He was chained, shackled at the wrists and ankles, his arms pulled tight behind him in an unnatural angle. His clothes were torn, blood staining the once-pristine fabric, the bruises littering his skin telling a story far more violent than words ever could.His head was slumped forward, unruly green hair matted with sweat and grime, his breathing shallow, slow.For a second, a terrible, agonizing second, All Might thought he might be too late. Until slowly, weakly… Izuku lifted his head.His eyes, dazed, unfocused, but still bright green locked onto him. All Might felt something inexplicable shatter in his chest. "Izuku…"The boy blinked slowly, his gaze struggling to focus. A small, breathless sound. A whisper. "…A…All Might…?"It was so soft, so disbelieving, like the voice of a child seeing his hero for the first time. And for a moment, All Might wasn't the Symbol of Peace. He wasn't the Number One Hero. He was just Toshinori Yagi, standing in front of a broken boy who still looked at him like he was everything.His throat tightened, his chest ached, but he didn't let it show. He took a step forward, voice steady. "I'm here, young Midoriya."Izuku's lips parted, something raw and frantic flickering in his gaze, like he was struggling to believe this was real. He tried to move, his shackles rattling, his arms straining, but his body was too weak.All Might was there in an instant. One knee hit the ground as his hands gently gripped Izuku's shoulders, steadying him. His warmth was overwhelming against the cold."We're going to get you out of here," All Might said, voice thick with something unreadable. "I promise."Izuku swallowed hard. And for the first time in what felt like forever, the boy let out a breath as he collapsed into All Might's arms.All Might could hear the faintest hitch of breath as Izuku, his small, battered frame falling into his arms. His body was feverish, burning beneath his fingertips, the sweat and grime clinging to his skin making it clear—he had been here for too long. Too many days.A slow breath shuddered through All Might's chest, his arms tightening instinctively, protectively, cradling the boy as gently as he could.But there was no time to process. Izuku's wrists were still bound, the metal shackles biting deep into flesh that had already bruised and scabbed over, his ankles twisted at an angle that made All Might's stomach churn.He adjusted his hold, shifting one arm to brace against Izuku's back while the other reached for the chains.All Might exhaled, gritted his teeth, and pulled. The chains snapped like wet paper, the metal clattering uselessly against the stone floor. Izuku flinched at the noise but did not wake, his body completely limp in All Might's grasp.The weight of him—it was wrong. Too light, too frail, like something had been taken from him, piece by piece, day by day, until all that remained was this hollowed-out shell of the boy All Might once knew.All Might looked at him with soft eyes.. "What did they do to you?"He pressed the radio at his collar, his voice steady despite the sheer rage coursing through his veins."I've found Midoriya," All Might announced, his tone like iron, unshakable despite the storm raging within him. "He was imprisoned, shackled in a locked room. Condition is critical—he needs immediate medical attention."A beat of silence. Then, the radio erupted."Shackled?" It was Tsukauchi, his voice sharp, rattled. "All Might, confirm—are you saying he was restrained? Held captive?""Yes," All Might said simply.Another pause, and then— "Damn it," Aizawa's voice filtered through, rough and weary. "That changes things. I thought for sure—" He cut himself off.All Might didn't comment. He knew what Aizawa had suspected. What everyone had suspected. That Midoriya had turned, that he had chosen to be a villain… now they had some proof to contradict that. Izuku wasn't the enemy, he had been a prisoner.The weight of that realization settled into All Might's chest, but he refused to acknowledge it—not yet. He couldn't let his relief show, couldn't let himself feel the sheer overwhelming flood of relief knowing that his boy hadn't betrayed them, hadn't walked willingly into the dark."Where's the medical truck?" All Might asked through the radio, adjusting Izuku's weight against his chest, cradling his head gently against his shoulder."Front of the building," came the swift response from the medical team. "We have a full unit waiting."All Might nodded, though no one could see him, and turned sharply on his heel. As he carried Izuku through the crumbling corridors, radio chatter filled the silence around him."All villains are subdued or fleeing," Tsukauchi reported, his voice clipped, focused. "Dabi and Toga managed to escape. Tomura Shigaraki is still unaccounted for—last seen in the lower halls, but he's slipping through our grasp. Giran has been restrained by Gran Torino. The hideout is under control.""Copy that," came Endeavor's voice, low and irritated. "Should I pursue?""Negative," Tsukauchi replied. "Contain the scene, secure any remaining hostiles, and focus on extraction. We can't afford to waste time chasing rats in the dark."All Might ignored the rest of the conversation.The outside air hit him like a wall, the scent of smoke, dust, and battle lingering in the night. The flashing red-and-blue lights of the police blockade illuminated the area, casting long, stretched-out shadows against the cold pavement.The medical unit was already moving, professionals in white-and-blue uniforms rushing forward, gurney at the ready. All Might slowed, carefully lowering Izuku onto the stretcher, watching as the paramedics immediately began assessing his vitals, checking for internal damage, broken bones, signs of trauma."He's severely dehydrated," one of them muttered, flashing a light into Izuku's barely responsive eyes. "Pulse is weak, but stable. Multiple bruises, possible fractured ribs—how long was he down there?"All Might's jaw clenched. "Too long," was all he said.He took a step back as they secured an oxygen mask over Izuku's face, his chest rising and falling in slow, uneven movements.It was at this moment that Aizawa arrived. He was tense. His shoulders set, his expression unreadable beneath the still-present bandages wrapped around his head. Fatigue clung to him like a shadow, but his eyes remained sharp, unwavering.All Might turned, ready to greet him, when he noticed the squad of officers standing behind him. Aizawa's gaze didn't waver."Toshinori," he started, voice firm. "Midoriya needs to be restrained." The words were like ice.All Might stared. "You can't be serious," he murmured, barely above a whisper.Aizawa exhaled slowly, his own exhaustion seeping into his posture, but his voice remained steady. "We don't know everything yet. We don't know what they did to him. We don't know if they forced him or if—" He cut himself off, shaking his head. "Until we can confirm without a shadow of a doubt that he is innocent, we have to follow protocol."All Might felt a sharp spike of anger in his chest, something he hadn't felt in years."I saw him," he argued, his voice dangerously low. "He was chained to a wall, Aizawa. He's barely conscious. Does that look like the actions of a willing traitor to you?"Aizawa's fingers twitched, and for a fraction of a second, something in his eyes flickered—hesitation. But he pushed past it. "It's not my call," he said, though the weight in his voice suggested he wasn't happy about it either.The officers stepped forward. All Might stepped aside with all of his resolve, his hands curling into fists at his sides as he watched them produce quirk-dampening cuffs."This is a mistake," he murmured.
A/N: After a long hiatus... which over the years I did write here and there for several chapters. I have finally released what I have written. I have always loved My Hero Academia and thought to myself that making an Alternative Universe where Izuku Midoriya never turned out to be a hero was quite fascinating. I love stories that are dark, that have double meanings, morally grey characters and plots. All of which culminate in a reading experience that I could share to all of you. Sometimes if you can't find it yourself, just make one!

I do truly hope that you are enjoying this story so far and see parallels of the actual Manga/Anime. I always love reading your reviews, comments, things you like, or things you do not like. Feel free to share your thoughts and what you would like to see more! What you think might happen, love to see the discussions. Have a great day guys! My upload schedule will now slow down as I have to write the next chapters from a blank piece of paper, my backlog has ended... oh no. I cannot guarantee the upload schedule, but I will do my best to upload at least once every 1-2 weeks if possible! Have a great day guys!

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

A sharp, sterile light burned against Izuku's closed eyelids, its brightness seeping into the darkness of his unconscious mind and dragging him back to reality. His body felt heavy, unnatural, like lead had been poured into his veins, pressing him down into the cold, unfamiliar bed beneath him. He tried to move his arms and legs, but something resisted.Restraints. His breath hitched as his eyes snapped open.For a moment, everything blurred together—a haze of white walls, a ceiling so stark it felt unreal, and the overwhelming clinical sterility of the air that filled his lungs. But it was wrong. This wasn't a hospital. Not truly.Because hospitals didn't lock patients inside. Hospitals didn't shackle their patients to the bed.His pulse quickened. Where was he?Panic surged, his breathing quickening as his mind raced to make sense of where he was, of what happened…"USJ…" His classmates, the teachers, the attack. The League of Villains, the masked man in the room. He remembered screaming, he remembered pain, and then… nothing.Izuku's breathing hitched, his fingers twitching against the restraints. Something was missing. There were gaps, like someone had plucked pieces of film from a movie reel of his life, leaving behind a jagged, incomplete story. It didn't make sense.His memories felt real—his childhood, his training at U.A., everything leading up to that day... but something was missing. His stomach curled in on itself, nausea creeping in, thick and cloying.Suddenly a crackle of static reverberated. A speaker overhead buzzed to life, filling the silence with a deep, distorted voice, metallic, words stretched just enough to make it clear that whoever was speaking had no intention of being identified."Midoriya Izuku," it said.The distortion in the audio made the speaker unrecognizable. The words were calm, methodical, deliberate. Izuku flinched. His mouth felt dry, his throat raw, as if he hadn't spoken in days.The voice continued. "You are currently in a secure facility. Do not panic."Izuku flinched, his eyes darting around the room, searching for the source, only to land on the mirror in front of him. A long, narrow pane of reflective glass that stretched across the far wall, its surface empty and still, but Izuku knew—someone was behind it. Watching."You seem alert now," the voice remarked, as if making a casual observation. "So let's begin."Izuku swallowed hard. "Begin… what?" His voice came out hoarse, barely above a whisper.The voice did not hesitate. "Tell us what happened at the Unforeseen Simulation Joint."The words sent a violent shudder down Izuku's spine. USJ. He had been with his classmates, arriving for a rescue training exercise. Everything had been normal. Familiar.Izuku squeezed his eyes shut as he tried to force himself to remember more. There had been so much noise—screaming, the sound of combat, the acrid stench of smoke in the air, him screaming out to his classmates for help, and then… Darkness.He did remember leaving U.A. The teachers. The sound of Uraraka laughing. Kaminari complaining about a test. Todoroki staring out of the bus window.Everything after that moment felt hazy, fragmented, wrong. His body trembled as he forced himself to speak. "I—I don't know. I just remember… we were at USJ. The villains came. Then…"He faltered. "I… I was taken."Silence filled the room, thick and unbearable. The voice remained impassive. "That's all you remember?"Izuku's breathing quickened. "I—I was captured. They—" His voice shook. "They hurt me.""How long were you held captive?""I—" Izuku's mind reeled. Days? Weeks? How long had it been?"I don't—I don't know…"The voice pressed on. "What happened while you were in their custody if that was even the case?"Izuku's head spun. He racked his brain, clawed through the murky, fragmented void in his memories for something—anything—but there was nothing solid, nothing real. Only pain."I don't know!" His voice cracked. "I don't… please just… what's happening to me?"The voice didn't pause. "Why were you in the League of Villains' hideout?"Izuku's breath hitched. "I wasn't—I didn't… " He shook his head violently. "They took me!"Another moment of silence. Then the pressure shifted as the voice grew harsher. "Midoriya, did you join the League of Villains?"Izuku froze. His entire body went rigid, his heart slamming against his ribs. "W-What?""Did you join them?""No!" His voice cracked, raw and desperate. "I—why would I—I wouldn't do that!"The voice continued, unrelenting. "We need the truth, Midoriya."Izuku's hands clenched into fists against the restraints. "I am telling the truth!"A long pause grew."Tell me, Midoriya… do you remember what happened to Thirteen?"His lungs stopped working, mind blank. There was nothing on his mind… except this deep nagging feeling as his stomach collapsed, his body lurching forward as a deep, raw heave ripped through him.He vomited as the bile burned up his throat, hot and acidic, spilling onto the pristine white sheets of the hospital—no, the containment room.He gasped, his chest tight, heaving, his pulse roaring in his ears. What just happened?The voice did not stop. "Thirteen died at USJ."Izuku trembled, tears pricking at his vision."Throat slit. Bled out before the students' eyes." The voice rang out. "Do you remember now?"His mouth opened, but no words came out. Nothing came out."Do you remember killing the pro hero?"A choked gasp tore from his lips, his vision swimming with tears, his breath shuddering in uneven, broken gasps. "No," he whispered. "No, I.. I didn't… I don't."Somewhere, in a room just beyond the mirror, All Might stood. He was silent, but the rage in his eyes was a storm, barely contained, pressing down on the room like a force of nature.Aizawa sat beside him, his hands clenched, watching, waiting to see what Midoriya would say. Waiting to see if the boy they thought they knew was still in there.All Might moved.The other heroes reacted instantly, hands snapping out, grabbing his arms, holding him back—"Move," he said, his voice too low, too dangerous."Wait," Aizawa ordered, but even he looked unsettled now. But it wasn't possible to restrain All Might anymore, if not through, then definitely not through brute strength.The door slammed open."Enough!" All Might's voice roared through the room like thunder, furious, seething, uncontained.Izuku flinched violently. Through the haze of tears and sickness, his eyes darted toward the door just in time to see the unmistakable, massive frame of All Might himself, his expression dark with unrestrained fury."Get away from him!" But before he could take another step, hands grabbed him, holding him back."All Might—stand down!" Aizawa's voice. Firm. Unwavering.All Might struggled against the hold on him and other heroes, his teeth gritted, his breathing ragged. "This is a child, not some criminal to be interrogated like this!""Then let us do our job!" The voice from the speaker shot back. "If he's innocent, the truth will come out!"All Might's eyes burned. "He already told you," he growled, low and dangerous. "He doesn't remember. He doesn't even know what happened. And you're treating him like some suspect instead of a victim!"Aizawa's grip on his shoulder tightened. "We don't know that for sure." His voice was carefully controlled, but even he couldn't hide the conflict beneath the words.All Might turned to him, glared. "Look at him, Aizawa," he snapped. "Look at the boy. Does that look like someone who killed a pro-hero?"Real, visceral tears spilled down Izuku's face before he could even process them, cascading down his cheeks in silent agony. This wasn't fake. It wasn't some fabricated sob meant to deceive, to trick those watching behind the mirror. It wasn't some strategy to gain their sympathy.It was real to him. A guttural, heartbreaking sob tore from his throat, and for the first time since he woke up in this supposed nightmare, he allowed himself to feel it—the terror, the helplessness, the unbearable weight of what was happening to him."I don't know what's happening to me… please help me" Izuku rang out.All Might had never felt his heart break quite like this before. "Izuku…" The name left him softly, his usual booming presence reduced to a whisper, his throat tight, his voice betraying the grief clawing at his chest.Izuku couldn't answer through the sobs. His body shook, his shoulders curling in, his arms pulling at the restraints, not in defiance but in desperation as if he just wanted to feel something, anything that could prove to him that he was still real.Aizawa exhaled sharply from where he stood near the mirror, his gaze hard, calculating, but even he couldn't mask the weight of what they were witnessing."This doesn't seem like an act," he muttered under his breath, his usual tone cold and unreadable, but there was something else in it now. Something uncertain.All Might didn't respond to Aizawa's words, his focus was wholly on the boy in front of him.Aizawa finally took a step forward, shaking his head, forcing himself to swallow the growing emotion clawing at his throat. He glanced over at the clock on the wall, then turned his gaze back to All Might."We don't have much time." His voice was low, only meant for All Might's ears. "Nezu and the police are set to make the announcement in a few hours. If we're wrong about this… if we let this go too far, it won't just be his life that's over." Aizawa hesitated before stepping even closer, keeping his tone hushed, firm, ensuring that no one else in the room could hear what he was about to say."If we're really going to prove he's innocent…" He paused, meeting All Might's gaze with an expression that was far too grim for comfort. "Then we're going to need to call in someone."All Might's heart beated faster, he knew what Aizawa meant before he even finished the sentence. A name he hadn't thought about in years resurfaced in his mind, a presence from a past he had buried long ago.A villain. One he had apprehended personally years ago and sent to Tartarus, the only person in the world who could force the truth out of anyone, regardless of their will.All Might's throat went dry. "You don't mean…"Aizawa gave him a knowing look. "This is the only way we can get undeniable proof," Aizawa murmured. "No bias. No speculation. Just the truth."All Might knew Aizawa was right. If Izuku was truly innocent, if he had been nothing but a victim in this twisted game the villains had played. Then this would prove it.But the cost… The risk.Aizawa could see the hesitation in his expression, but his own gaze hardened. "If he's lying, his heart will stop." Aizawa said it plainly, without any sugarcoating, without any hesitation. "If he's telling the truth, we'll know. And the world will know."All Might's gaze flickered back to Izuku, who was still crying, shaking, a child trapped in the middle of a storm he didn't understand.Izuku, who had been found shackled in a dark room, bruised, beaten, barely conscious. Who now sat restrained to a hospital bed, facing accusations that made him vomit from sheer horror. He hated this. He hated every single second of this. But if it meant proving Izuku's innocence once and for all. If it meant that they could stop doubting… then he had no choice.He exhaled sharply, his eyes hardening with newfound resolve. "…Make the call."Aizawa gave him a single nod. Then, without another word, he left the room.The air in the police station was thick, suffocating with tension that coiled around every officer, every pro-hero standing guard. Boots shuffled, murmurs whispered between officers who dared not speak too loud. Even here, surrounded by some of the strongest heroes Japan had to offer, there was fear.A chill ran through the air. The sound of heavy shackles clanking against the linoleum floor echoed down the hallway, every step slow, deliberate. The man walking through the corridor was flanked by six officers, each one gripping his restraints like their lives depended on it.Because, in truth, they did.The villain was old, his skin paper-thin, stretched over bones like a decaying corpse left out to rot. His long, graying hair was disheveled, his eyes sunken, black pits swallowing what should have been humanity. And yet, despite his frail appearance, despite the chains wrapped around his wrists and ankles like a prisoner awaiting judgment, the thing that unsettled everyone the most… was his eyes.A twisted, knowing smirk, his lips curled with amusement as though he had just been let out for an evening stroll rather than escorted out of Tartarus, the inescapable prison meant for the worst of the worst. A murderer, a monster, a man whose name had been erased from history in an effort to forget the atrocities he committed.The man's eyes flickered upward, landing on the one person waiting at the top of the stairs. The one familiar figure standing in the dim glow of the police station's upper level.All Might.Their gazes locked. And for the first time since his release, the old villain's grin stretched wider. Like an old friend reuniting after years apart."Toshinori Yagi."All Might did not smile back. He had personally put this man away after finding the corpses of over a hundred people, all killed in a twisted, merciless game of "honest answers."His hands clenched into fists at his sides, his shoulders tense, every muscle in his body screaming at him to lunge forward and finish what should have been finished years ago. His expression was stone, unreadable.The officers around them stiffened, clearly uneasy about letting the two men be within breathing distance of each other. All Might exhaled slowly, controlled, before turning to the officers. "Take him inside," he ordered, his voice unwavering, commanding.They obeyed. The villain was pushed forward, his laughter a low vibration in his throat as they led him through the final set of doors.Even as the thick steel doors opened, even as he was forced into the chair across from Midoriya, even as his wrists were bolted down to the table, he radiated gleeful anticipation.Izuku's body froze, every nerve on edge as he stared at the man in front of him. There was something so deeply wrong about him. The air felt colder, the very space around them sharper, like a blade pressed against the skin.He was old… withered with time, his hair white, his skin like cracked parchment—but his eyes.Hungry."Midoriya," All Might's voice broke through the thick silence, steady but strained.Izuku's head snapped up, his throat still raw from screaming. His face was tear-streaked, his hands clenched into white-knuckled fists, his entire body shaking."This man…" All Might hesitated, his fingers flexing as if trying to contain the rage simmering beneath his skin. "This man is a murderer. A killer who has taken hundreds of lives for nothing more than his own twisted pleasure.""His quirk is absolute," All Might continued, his voice grave, final. "If you lie… even once… your heart will stop."Izuku shook his head violently, tears spilling anew. "No!" he choked, his voice barely a whisper, his body recoiling as if trying to physically escape what was happening. "Why?!" His voice cracked, raw, desperate. "Why are you doing this to me?! I was kidnapped! I didn't—!""Then tell the truth." All Might's voice cut through his panic, firm but almost pleading. "This is the only way we can prove your innocence, Izuku."The boy shook his head again, violently, his breath coming out in shuddering gasps, panic rising like a flood. "I-I didn't do anything!"All Might's expression twisted, pain and grief flashing across his face, but he didn't move. "I know," he whispered. "That's why we're doing this. Because you didn't do anything. And this will prove it."Izuku let out a choked sob, eyes wild, his gaze darting between All Might, Aizawa, and the villain in front of him, who was still smiling. A sick, satisfied grin. Like he was enjoying every second of this.All Might's shoulders tensed as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a paper… a list. A long, detailed list of questions.Izuku's lungs burned as he struggled to breathe, his body screaming at him to run, to escape, to do anything to get out of this room.With a sharp, shaking breath, All Might finally reached forward and gripped the edge of the villain's tape-covered mouth.Then, with one swift motion… he ripped it off.Then, the villain sighed. His lips curled, his voice low, smooth, disturbingly calm. "Ah," he exhaled, tilting his head slightly, eyes locked onto Izuku like a predator assessing prey. "It's been so long… since I've seen this up close."Izuku's heartbeat pounded against his ribs, his breathing coming in rapid bursts, but his voice was gone.The villain merely smiled wider, as if savoring the moment, before reaching down, lifting the list of questions All Might had given him. "Let's begin, shall we?"The walls felt closer, and for the first time since waking up in this nightmare, he felt real, absolute terror. There was no running from this.. he had to speak… and if he lied, he would die.The villain's yellowed fingers trembled in delight as he lifted the paper, his lips stretching into a grotesque smile, an expression that carried no warmth, no mirth, only the kind of sick pleasure one would expect from a man whose crimes were beyond count. His voice, rasping with age yet slick with sadistic amusement, slithered into the air like oil coating the walls of the interrogation room."They say time is a punishment," he mused, his eyes locking onto Izuku, drinking in every shudder, every minuscule tremble. "I suppose I should thank you, boy. This little visit of ours has earned me a gracious reduction from my sentence of one thousand, three hundred, and twenty-seven years." His fingers tapped against the paper in his grip, the rustling sound like a dry leaf caught in the wind. "Fifty years off, just for playing a game with you. How generous."Izuku could feel his pulse hammering in his throat, his entire body tensed as if every nerve inside of him was coiling too tightly, about to snap. The cold metal of the restraints dug into his wrists, the pressure grounding him just enough to keep from outright screaming. This wasn't right. None of this was right.The villain inhaled deeply, almost as if savoring the thick, suffocating air. Then, without warning, his expression twisted into something far worse—his grin stretched impossibly wide, his pupils shrinking to mere pinpricks of black."But, you see," he continued, voice dropping to a near whisper, "even if you die here, it wouldn't matter. Because that sound, the moment a heart stops beating, that dreadful, fragile silence, is nothing short of ecstasy."Izuku's breath caught in his throat. His body lurched forward involuntarily, panic roaring through his veins. He yanked against the restraints, an instinctual, desperate attempt to flee, but they held firm. He was trapped.The villain chuckled, low and pleased, as he straightened the papers before him."Now then," he said, licking his lips. The first question came. "Are you part of the League of Villains?"The words echoed in his mind, bouncing off the walls of his consciousness like stones skipping across water. It was ridiculous. Impossible."No!" Izuku screamed, his voice cracking, desperate, pleading. The silence that followed was deafening. And then… his heart beat. Still there, still alive.Izuku gasped, his chest rising and falling in rapid, uneven breaths. He wasn't dead. He wasn't lying. He wasn't—But the next question followed swiftly. "Were you truly kidnapped and forced to do this?"The boy froze, his mind spinning, frantically searching for an answer. "Yes!" he gasped, but as soon as the word left his lips, something twisted inside of him, something wrong. He believed what he was saying, every part of him screamed that it was the truth, but there was a part of him, deep in his gut, that churned with unease, like a shadow flickering just out of reach.The villain's sharp eyes narrowed slightly, intrigued. Izuku swallowed, his mouth drier than before. Why did it feel like something was missing?"Was your quirk reciprocity? When you were injured by someone, would it make them feel the same injury?" A simple question, one he should have had no trouble answering."Yes," Izuku exhaled, the word falling from his lips before he even realized it.The room grew colder.All Might stiffened beside him, his hands curling into fists at his sides. His body, once still as stone, now trembled with a barely restrained fury. The restrained rage in his expression made the other heroes shift uncomfortably.There was no mistake. It was Izuku. The masked villain at USJ, the one who fought All Might with a quirk that reflected injuries.And yet, Izuku… Midoriya Izuku, the boy who admired heroes, who dreamt of saving people, who wanted to stand beside them, was sitting here, shaking, terrified, claiming he had no recollection of any of it.A storm raged in All Might's chest as the next question came before he could speak."Did you kill Thirteen?"Izuku felt his throat constrict. He froze. His eyes darted frantically, looking to All Might, looking to Aizawa, looking to anyone who could save him. But there was no one.There was nothing.A pit opened in his stomach, so deep and vast that he thought he might collapse into it. His mind screamed no. But his body, his body ached. It ached in a way that made no sense, like phantom pain from wounds he didn't remember having, like an echo of something he shouldn't remember at all."I... I think I did."The room dropped into a suffocating silence. All Might closed his eyes. His breath came slow, measured, but his entire body had gone rigid. He should have broken in that moment, he should have felt his world collapse. But instead—he held on.Because there was a reason. There had to be a reason.A pause, a breath, and then…"Why did you kill Thirteen?"Izuku's lips parted, trembling. His throat burned, his mind spiraled, desperate for something, anything. "I don't know."Confusion flickered in the villain's expression, his smile faltering for the first time. No answers questions like and does not die.Aizawa's brows knit together, the analytical part of his mind grasping at the unraveling thread."Were you forced to kill the hero?" The old man asked. The words landed like a hammer against stone.Izuku swallowed, his eyes wide, lost. "I… I don't know.""Did you want to kill Thirteen?""I don't know.""Were you acting of your own volition?""I don't know!" Izuku sobbed, his entire body shaking, his voice raw, broken.The villain's smile was gone. His fingers drummed against the table, slow, rhythmic, thoughtful. This was new.He had never—not once—interrogated someone and been given answers so empty. Midoriya Izuku was telling the truth. And yet, he did not know what the truth was.The villain's fingers curled tightly around the last paper, his mouth stretching into a grin once more, but something about it was different. It was uncertain."Do you regret what you did? Everything that happened? Do you swear that this wasn't you?"Izuku's entire body tensed. His chest heaved, his vision blurred with tears. "Yes!" He screamed it, desperate, pleading, his voice hoarse, his lungs aching."Yes, yes, yes, I swear! I never wanted this! I don't even know why!"And then, a beat. A silence so absolute it could have shattered the world. His heart…Stopped.A second passed, cold and final.And then…It beated again.A strangled gasp tore from Izuku's throat, his entire body collapsing, his eyes rolling back as his consciousness slipped away. Still breathing.The villain leaned back, exhaling deeply, blinking slowly as if he were trying to process what had just occurred. The villain's hands rested on the table now, his fingers tapping slowly. For the first time in decades, he looked uncertain.He turned to All Might, eyes sharp, expression unreadable."He told the truth," he murmured. "But I've never heard so many truths contradict each other before."Tsukauchi and Aizawa immediately stepped forward as Aizawa focused his quirk back on the old man to prevent him from attempting to kill anyone in this room. Officers rushed in, placing another gag on the man to prevent him from speaking as they forced him out of the room. Yet, Tsukauchi's grip on All Might's shoulder remained firm, his fingers digging slightly into the fabric of the hero's uniform as he took in the room around them.The air was thick with an unsettling weight, an oppressive force pressing down on them as they all stared at the boy lying unconscious, restrained, yet somehow—innocent."I think this was truly out of his control," Tsukauchi murmured, his voice steady but burdened with the gravity of his words. His eyes flickered between All Might's shaking fists and Aizawa's unreadable expression. "If he was manipulated, if his memories were altered, if he was forced to fight." He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "That can be the only answer. Midoriya Izuku did commit those acts, but it wasn't the real him."Aizawa's brow furrowed deeply, his dark eyes shadowed with thought, his lips pressed together in a tight line. "I don't like this," he muttered under his breath. "This isn't rational."All Might swallowed hard, his gaze drawn toward Izuku's small, frail body lying motionless on the hospital bed. His hands trembled at his sides, restrained fury bubbling just beneath his skin. He had wanted to believe, needed to believe that Izuku hadn't chosen this path. That something had taken him, twisted him into something unrecognizable. But even now, after hearing the truth from Izuku's own lips, after watching him break down and sob, beg for it to make sense.He drew in a slow, shuddering breath. "You're right," he admitted quietly, his voice raw. "That last question. It proved that he hated what happened… but he still did it. We know he killed Thirteen. That's undeniable." He shook his head, closing his eyes for a brief second, before opening them again, a deep storm lingering beneath his weary gaze. "But whatever compelled him to do it… that wasn't the real him."Aizawa's tightened as he crossed his arms over his chest. His exhaustion was palpable, the weight of responsibility pressing down on him like a vice, but his voice remained sharp, cutting through the silence like a blade. "When," he asked suddenly, his voice low and measured, "just when did the League of Villains do this to him?"Tsukauchi stiffened. The realization struck him down, and his grip on All Might's shoulder faltered slightly as he turned toward Aizawa. "Just after he finished Junior High," he muttered, his mind rapidly piecing together old case files, loose ends that had never quite fit before. His mouth parted slightly, his thoughts racing, as a sinking feeling settled in his gut. "He disappeared for several months.""You're right," Aizawa pointed out, his mind already sifting through the information, dissecting the details that had been overlooked before. "I read the reports. You were involved in that case.""I was." Tsukauchi ran a hand through his hair, his expression darkening. "It was… strange from the start. He was found at his apartment door by his mother, barely conscious, covered in injuries that didn't match any known crime scenes. He had no memory of where he had been, only vague mentions of 'fighting pits' and being forced to survive." He let out a quiet curse under his breath. "But nothing made sense. We could never verify anything."Aizawa's frown deepened, his mind racing. "So you're telling me," his voice was quiet, but there was an undercurrent of anger in it, "that this might have all been part of the villains' plan?" Aizawa was the first to break it."He was a child," he said darkly, his voice filled with quiet rage. "He didn't stand a chance."Tsukauchi's expression was grim. "That's what I'm trying to say."All Might's fingers curled into fists. "Damn it…" His voice was barely more than a whisper, but it was filled with enough grief and fury to crack stone."If the League of Villains got to him before he ever entered U.A.," Tsukauchi continued, rubbing a hand down his face, "then everything we thought we knew about him… it isn't real. His memories, his quirk, his actions at USJ—" He hesitated. "They planted him."A sickening silence filled the room as the weight of the implication settled in their chests, thick and suffocating.All Might could barely process what he was hearing. He closed his eyes briefly, taking a moment to steady himself before looking at Tsukauchi once more. "So what does this mean?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.Tsukauchi's expression was unreadable for a moment before he finally spoke. He took a breath. "It means we have a chance to bring him back."All Might's breath caught in his throat. Aizawa turned slightly, glancing at Tsukauchi with something unreadable in his expression.The detective's gaze flickered back to the unconscious boy, his voice steady, softer this time. "This was out of his control," he repeated, his tone heavier than before, "they manipulated him, they attempted to steal his entire life from him," he exhaled. He watched the way All Might's shoulders tensed. "I believe Midoriya Izuku can come back to U.A., however, if this ever comes out..."All Might swallowed hard, despite everything, despite the pain and confusion, despite the crimes committed and the irreversible damage. He believed somewhere inside of this broken, lost boy—was the same Izuku Midoriya who had once dreamed of becoming a hero.It wasn't over for Izuku, hope remained in All Might's eyes. He would personally make sure this never happened again. This time he would make things right, to pass on the sacred torch.
A/N: This was a difficult chapter to write... for a story turn to out like this without blatant story plotholes... Goodness I need water as long as I did my job right. BUT! Izuku might be innocent? Or so everyone believes just barely? What will happen next? I guess you just have to wait and find out.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The city had been waiting. Every corner, every district, every home with a television set or a radio tuned in, every street where massive digital billboards broadcast breaking news, each one had the same headline.BREAKING NEWS: PRO HERO RAID AGAINST THE LEAGUE OF VILLAINS—MIDORIYA IZUKU SAVED.In an office building overlooking downtown Tokyo, a team of salarymen gathered around a large television mounted on the wall. The long wooden table, previously occupied by spreadsheets, reports, and neglected coffee cups, had been abandoned in favor of the screen, which displayed the unmistakable logo of Daily Hero, Japan's leading news channel. The red banner flashing the words Breaking News pulsed against their tense expressions.One man in a navy-blue suit reached for the remote, turning the volume higher as the sound of shuffling papers filled the broadcast."Are they finally going to tell us?" one of the women at the table asked, shifting anxiously in her chair.Across the city, pedestrians gathered at the intersection. The colossal screen overlooking the street, usually displaying advertisements for hero merchandise, now displayed a live newsroom feed. The usual chatter of the crowd dwindled as more and more people tilted their heads, some whispering amongst themselves, others standing in silence.A mother, holding her son's hand tightly, felt the boy tug at her sleeve. "Mom, it's about the U.A. kid," he said, wide-eyed. "The one who got taken."She looked down at her son, then back at the screen. The weight of the past week settled in her chest like a stone. She squeezed his hand and whispered, "Let's listen."At a small family-owned ramen shop near Musutafu, the elderly shop owner turned the volume up on the old radio perched beside the register. The other patrons, mostly locals, quieted as the familiar voice of the Daily Hero anchor resonated through the shop.Then, finally, the broadcast began, the backdrop adorned with the insignia of U.A. High School and the official seal of the Japanese Hero Public Safety Commission.At the podium stood Principal Nezu, his small frame composed but unwavering, his sharp, intelligent eyes scanning the gathered press. To his right, the Police Commissioner.Nezu spoke directly into the microphone."As of 3:27 AM this morning, a high-risk operation was successfully executed against the League of Villains. This mission, a coordinated effort between the Hero Public Safety Commission, the Pro Hero community, and law enforcement, resulted in the dismantling of a major criminal organization that has plagued our society for too long."The murmurs from the press corps were immediate, but Nezu continued before any could interrupt."The operation was not without peril," Nezu continued, voice steady. "Many brave heroes and officers risked their lives to ensure the safety of the people of this country, and I am proud to report that due to their efforts, one of our most vulnerable has been recovered."He let the words sink in before finally delivering what the world had been waiting for. "Midoriya Izuku, a U.A. student who was kidnapped during the USJ attack, has been safely rescued and is currently recovering in an undisclosed location under medical care. He is alive. He is safe. And he is receiving the treatment he needs after enduring captivity."A mixture of shocked gasps, scribbling pens, a cacophony of voices rising at once, demanding to know more."Principal Nezu! What condition is he in?""Is it true he was used by the League?""What do we know about his involvement?"The Chief Commissioner raised a hand, commanding silence before speaking."At this time, we are treating Midoriya Izuku as a victim of abduction. Our investigation is ongoing, but there is no reason to believe he was a willing participant in the League of Villains' activities."Nezu nodded, his eyes sharp despite the neutral expression on his face. "Given the sensitive nature of this situation, we ask the media to respect the privacy of both Midoriya and his loved ones as we conduct further inquiries."Another voice cut through the noise."What about the League of Villains? What's their current status?"Nezu paused for a moment, allowing the weight of his words to settle. "Several high-profile villains were taken into custody. However, many of their key members, including their leader, Shigaraki Tomura remain at large."The murmurs grew louder as people had been waiting for a clean victory, but reality was never that simple. The League had suffered a major loss, yet it was not over. Not yet.The Police Commissioner stepped forward. "While the capture of all League members was not possible, the mission's success should not be understated. The priority was to ensure the safety of Midoriya Izuku, a victim of abduction and cruel mistreatment at the hands of the League." His voice was firm, authoritative, each word deliberate. "I want to make one thing clear… Midoriya Izuku was a hostage, not an ally to these criminals."A collective exhale seemed to sweep through the room, both in the conference hall and in the living rooms, cafes, and shops across the country. The speculation had been rampant, the fear that a U.A. student had fallen to villainy lingering like a shadow over society.Nezu's expression remained unreadable. "The trauma he endured is unimaginable," he continued. "And while there is much that must still be understood about the events that transpired, one thing remains certain, Midoriya Izuku was a target. A pawn in the League's attempt to strike at the foundation of hero society."The lights overhead buzzed slightly as reporters scrambled to raise their hands, questions already forming in their minds. Nezu, ever the tactician, did not falter."There will be further investigations," he stated, his tone measured. "But for now, our priority is the recovery of Midoriya Izuku and ensuring that such an event never happens again."The Police Commissioner leaned into the microphone. "Effective immediately, U.A. will be reinforcing its security measures. Pro-heroes will be stationed at the school around the clock. The safety of our students is not up for debate."Yet the media did not relent, they would scoop up anything they could find.In the crowd, a reporter stood, his voice cutting through the noise. "Can you confirm the extent of Midoriya's involvement? There were rumors—"Nezu's small ears twitched. "I understand the concern," he interjected smoothly. "But I will not entertain rumors. The facts remain as stated—Midoriya was held against his will and was ultimately rescued."A carefully chosen statement. Not a direct lie. Not the full truth.Because the real truth—the pieces that didn't fit, the contradictions, the horrific revelations… Those were matters that could never see the light of day."For now," Nezu finished calmly, "I suggest you all take solace in the fact that this city… this country, is safer today than it was yesterday." The broadcast continued, but for many, the most important part had already been heard.Across Japan, a mother hugged her son tightly, relief flooding through her as she whispered, "They saved him."In the streets, the murmurs turned into conversations, a sense of something shifting, of the first step toward resolution. In the office building, the salarymen exchanged glances before one finally exhaled, shaking his head. "That kid," he muttered. "I hope he makes it through this."And inside the walls of U.A., the students of 1-A had been waiting for days. The silence that followed the broadcast was deafening."He's… really safe?" Uraraka's voice broke the stillness. She was seated at the front of the room, her hands curled tightly on her lap.Iida adjusted his glasses. "Principal Nezu was clear… Midoriya has been rescued." His voice was firm, but there was an edge of uncertainty to it, something even he couldn't completely mask.Kirishima leaned forward, his fingers tapping restlessly against the table. "But why did it take this long? Why couldn't we know sooner?" His sharp eyes flicked toward Aizawa, who stood near the whiteboard, his expression unreadable.The teacher had been silent since the broadcast started, arms crossed over his chest, his usual exhausted demeanor hiding something deeper. Relief. Fear. Exhaustion. A tangled mess of emotions he wasn't sure how to navigate.He sighed. "Because this isn't something that can be explained in a single sentence." His gaze swept over the class, lingering on each of them. "You wanted to know if he was safe. Now you do."Aizawa continued after a long pause. "I know you have questions and that you all have things you want to say." He exhaled through his nose, scanning the classroom as he slowly leaned against his desk. "So say them now."A moment of hesitation. Then, the dam broke."Why weren't we told anything sooner?" Yaoyorozu asked first, her hands trembled. "We spent days not knowing if he was even alive.""I get why they didn't want to worry us," Kaminari added, scratching at his scalp, "but c'mon, we're his classmates. His friends."Jirou nodded. "We should've been told something. We were all thinking about him anyway."Aizawa listened, allowing their frustrations to be voiced. He hadn't expected them to accept this easily. "We kept quiet because we didn't want to raise false hope," Aizawa explained. "There was a real chance Midoriya wouldn't be found, or worse. We couldn't risk spreading rumors or misinformation, not with how much was already at stake."That answer did little to soothe them."Is he okay?" Uraraka finally asked, her voice breaking slightly. "Like, really okay?""He's recovering." Aizawa responded. The words were clipped, but there was an odd gentleness in his tone. "Physically, at least. He'll need time." The weight of those words was not lost on them. Physically, at least. What did that mean for the rest of him?Shouji, who had been eerily quiet until now, finally raised his head. "And his family?" His voice was softer than usual. "Did they say anything? His mom must be worried sick. They barely even mentioned her."At that, Aizawa's jaw tensed. "Inko Midoriya was notified as soon as we had confirmation of his survival," he said carefully. "She knows he's safe. But… as you can imagine, this has been hard on her."Momo's hands gripped the edge of her desk tightly. "No parent should have to go through this," she murmured, shaking her stretched, the weight of those words pressing against them."When is he coming back?" Kirishima finally spoke up, sitting forward, his red eyes searching for something more hopeful in Aizawa's words. "Is he coming back?"Aizawa closed his eyes briefly before answering. "In two or three days. Not long. But you're all going to need to take it easy on him when he does."Iida nodded, standing from his chair in one swift motion. "We would never overwhelm him if he is still recovering."Aizawa met his gaze, his expression sharp. "That's not what I mean." He let his words settle before continuing. "When Midoriya comes back, things are going to feel different. For him, for you, for this class." He scanned the room, making sure each and every one of them was listening. "You can't treat him like some untouchable victim, but you also can't act like nothing has changed. Because things have changed."The gravity of his words settled into them. They all felt it. The truth that no one wanted to say out loud. Midoriya might be coming back, but the Midoriya that left them that day at USJ may not be the one walking through that door."Whatever happened to him… however much he remembers or doesn't remember… he has been through something that none of us can fully understand yet," Aizawa continued, his voice steady but carrying an edge of something almost wary. "So I need all of you to go easy on him"That was when it truly sank in. The murmurs grew louder, shifting into something uncertain, something almost nervous. Midoriya was returning. He would be in the classroom again. He would sit beside them again. But would he still be the same?Denki let out a breath, running a hand through his hair. "So that means…" He trailed off, not entirely sure what he was even trying to say."You're all worried. I get that. So am I." Aizawa's voice softened ever so slightly. "But he's been through something that's going to take time to recover from. And you all need to be patient.""So we wait?" Mina asked quietly. "We wait and act like everything's normal?""No," Aizawa answered. "You wait, and when he returns, you act like his friends. Because that's what he's going to need the most." He straightened, moving away from the whiteboard. The room was still, a silence hanging in the air like an unspoken agreement. No one spoke, no one moved. The students sat with that for a long moment."Then we'll do what we can," Kirishima finally said, nodding. "When he gets back… we'll be there for him." He gave a small grin, though it didn't quite reach his eyes.Uraraka swallowed, gripping the fabric of her uniform tightly. "Of course."Iida adjusted his glasses, nodding firmly. "Naturally. We are his classmates. More than that, we are his friends.""Yeah," Mina agreed, wiping her eyes. "That's all we can do, right?"Todoroki remained quiet, but his gaze lingered on Aizawa for a moment longer, searching for something. And then, finally, he nodded.Aizawa exhaled, rubbing his temples. "Good." His tone softened just a little. "Because I don't know what kind of state he'll be in when he gets here." He paused one last time as he looked at his students, the room's atmosphere wasn't as dark anymore."Class is dismissed for today," Aizawa said at last. "Go get some air."The soft hum of the heart monitor was the only sound in the hospital room. The steady beep, beep, beep provided a rhythm that Izuku found himself focusing on more than anything else. It was grounding, in a way. After the whirlwind of the past few days, after the rescue, the interrogation, the judgment. It was finally quiet.His body still ached, though the worst of the pain had been numbed by Recovery Girl's treatment. She had visited him the day after the broadcast, her small, wrinkled face lined with exhaustion as she inspected the lingering damage on his body. Despite her age, she had worked tirelessly to mend what she could. But there were things even she could not fix. Wounds that went deeper than flesh.In the two days following the announcement, Nezu, alongside the police, had formally briefed him. He was innocent and that he would be allowed to return to U.A.Izuku had smiled. He had bowed his head and expressed nothing but pure gratitude. He was thankful. He was relieved. But there was something else, something hollow that gnawed at his chest. The pain, the torture he had endured, it lived inside him now, a shadow that refused to fade.The first night, he had woken up gasping, hands clawing at the sheets as the walls of his hospital room blurred with phantom images of the cold, unyielding stone of his cell. A shadow, a trembling voice, anger… It had taken two nurses to calm him down, whispering reassurances while gently untangling his trembling fingers from his blanket.By the second day, he was able to mask it better. He smiled when spoken to, thanked the doctors and nurses for their help. But he remained in a limbo state, his emotions tangled between joy and an unshakable unease.It was on the third day that he was finally allowed a visitor.The door burst open with a force that startled him, and before he could fully register what was happening, he was enveloped in warmth."Izuku!"His mother's voice was thick with emotion, her arms wrapping tightly around him, as if she were afraid he would disappear if she let go. She sobbed openly against his shoulder, her body trembling, and Izuku could only blink in shock before realization set in. His lips parted, and his hands shakily rose, hesitating before he returned her embrace."Mom…" His voice cracked, raw and quiet, as his fingers gripped the back of her sweater."You're here," she wept, pulling back just enough to cup his face, her thumbs wiping away tears he hadn't even realized had begun to fall. "You're really here."Izuku swallowed, trying to steady his voice. "I'm okay, Mom.""You are not okay!" she countered, her voice shrill, eyes red-rimmed from what must have been sleepless nights. "You were taken from me, Izuku! You were gone, and I—" She hiccupped, shaking her head as she tried to compose herself. "I thought… I thought I lost you forever."Izuku's lips trembled, and he gave her a wobbly smile. "But you didn't," he whispered. "I'm back."A new voice entered the room. "As promised."Izuku turned his head, his breath catching in his throat. Standing in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest, was All Might.For a moment, Izuku simply stared, processing the sight of his greatest idol standing there, safe and whole. He had seen him during the rescue, of course, had felt those strong arms lifting him from his prison. But now, standing in the warm light of the hospital room, with the weight of everything behind them, it felt… different."All Might." The name left him in a breath of pure reverence.The hero smiled, stepping inside. "Midoriya, it's good to see you awake."Izuku let out a small, breathy laugh, shaking his head in disbelief. "I… I don't think I'd be here if it weren't for you." He hesitated before saying, "Thank you for saving me."All Might's expression softened. "There was never a world where I wouldn't have."Inko, having mostly regained her composure, turned to the towering hero and narrowed her teary eyes. "You promised me, All Might."The sudden shift in tone caught both Izuku and All Might off guard."You promised me you'd bring my son back," she sniffled, wiping her eyes. Then, she stepped forward and jabbed her finger into his chest. "If you had broken that promise, I swear I would've found a way to make you regret it."Izuku's eyes widened in horror. "Mom!"All Might, to his credit, raised his hands in surrender, laughing sheepishly. "I had no intention of breaking it, I assure you."Inko huffed, crossing her arms before her features softened once more. "Still," she murmured, "thank you. I don't think I can ever repay you."All Might smiled. "Your son's safety is more than enough."Izuku felt warmth blossom in his chest for the first time in what felt like forever. For just a moment, in the safety of that room, surrounded by the two people who cared him most, the weight of everything seemed lighter.But then, All Might's expression shifted, his brows furrowing slightly. "Midoriya," he began carefully. "You know you'll be allowed to return to U.A. But I have to ask, can you still use your quirk?"The question sent an immediate jolt through Izuku. The warmth faded slightly as something cold coiled in his stomach. "I…" He hesitated, looking down at his hands. "I don't think so."All Might stiffened. "What?"Izuku swallowed hard. "I—I can't feel it anymore. It's just… gone." He shook his head, his fingers clenching into the sheets. "I don't know why, but when I was at the hideout… when I was trapped, restrained… I felt something different. Something inside me, but it was gone a moment later." He exhaled sharply, frustrated. "It wasn't my quirk."All Might frowned, stepping closer. "Let's test it right now." He was concerned about the last part, but everything was uncertain at this point.Izuku nodded slowly, bracing himself. All Might gently raised his hand, placing his palm against Izuku's shoulder. "If you still had your quirk, even a simple push should trigger a reaction." He applied the faintest bit of pressure.Nothing.Izuku's heart dropped. All Might tried again, firmer this time. Still, nothing. All Might's jaw clenched, his eyes dark with realization. This… wasn't normal.Inko, who had been watching with growing concern, clutched her hands to her chest. "Izuku…? He was still concerned about the fact that he even had a quirk to begin with..."Izuku looked down at his hands, his fingers trembling. His quirk was gone. His fingers trembled slightly as if trying to grasp at something that simply wasn't there. The empty feeling in his chest deepened, spreading through his limbs like a slow-moving sickness. His quirk was gone? The very thing that had given him strength, but how did he even get it in the first place? He remembered never having a quirk to begin with… he kept this to himself.All Might remained still, his expression unreadable, but the tension in his shoulders spoke volumes. Inko, on the other hand, reached for her son's hand, holding it between her own as if she could anchor him to reality. Her grip was warm, familiar, and yet, it did nothing to quiet the unease coiling inside Izuku's chest.Izuku took a shaky breath. "I don't understand," he murmured. "How… how does a quirk just disappear?"All Might exhaled through his nose, his hands balling into fists. "It doesn't. Not like this." His gaze was sharp, searching. "Midoriya, think carefully. When did you first feel that something was wrong?"Izuku's brows furrowed. He wanted to answer, but everything was hazy, fragmented pieces of memory that didn't quite fit together. And then—"There was someone."Both All Might and Inko looked at him sharply. Izuku blinked, his lips parting slightly as the realization came forth, slow and unsteady. "When I was… in the room. The chains, the restraints…" His breathing hitched slightly, remembering the cold metal cutting into his skin. "There was someone there. A man. He wore a mask."All Might's entire posture shifted. His fingers curled tighter, but his expression remained carefully neutral. "A mask?" he repeated, his voice unnervingly calm.Izuku nodded slowly. "I couldn't see his face. It was covered, but… his voice was deep. Almost… soothing." A chill ran through his spine at the memory. "He told me that I would be saved. That everything would work out."Inko inhaled sharply, her grip on Izuku's hand tightening. "Izuku, are you sure?"He nodded. "It didn't make sense. He didn't hurt me. He didn't even seem like he was there to threaten me. It was like he already knew what was going to happen. Like he knew you were coming." He looked at All Might, confusion clouding his features. "But I don't know who he was. I don't remember anything else."All Might's face tightened, because everything he had heard come from this boy's mouth sounded too similar. If he was right—if he was back… He wanted to dismiss it, to say that it wasn't possible, that they had finally rid the world of that monster. But the gnawing doubt remained.Shoving the thought aside, he forced his shoulders to relax. He couldn't let them see the sheer dread that threatened to overtake him. Instead, he turned toward Inko and Izuku, his face shifting into something softer."We'll look into it," he said, his voice steady despite the storm raging inside him. "For now, let's focus on your recovery."Izuku blinked. "But…"All Might lifted a hand, cutting him off. "You've been through more than anyone should have to endure. You're safe now. Let that be enough, at least for today."Inko exhaled shakily, brushing a hand over his hair. "You don't have to force yourself, Izuku," she murmured. "You've been through so much already. Just focus on getting better."All Might nodded, pushing his suspicions to the back of his mind for now. There was no proof, only an unsettling feeling in his gut, and until he knew more, he wouldn't let it overshadow what truly mattered in this moment.He took a breath, then straightened, shifting his attention back to Izuku and his mother. "There's something else I need to say," he began, his voice softer now, tinged with regret. "Something long overdue."Izuku tilted his head, blinking. "What is it?"All Might let his hands rest on his hips, looking down at the boy who had been through hell and back, the boy who had wanted nothing more than to be a hero since the moment he could dream. And now, that dream had been crushed, torn from him in a way that not even he fully understood yet.He sighed. "I need to apologize."The room stilled. Inko looked at him in surprise, while Izuku only stared, confused. "Apologize?" he echoed.All Might's jaw tensed before he spoke again. "For what I told you… that day when we first met." His voice was quieter now, the weight of those words pressing down on him. "When you asked me if someone without a quirk could be a hero. I told you… you couldn't."Izuku blinked, tilting his head slightly. "You… said that?"All Might's breath hitched, just for a second."He doesn't remember."Aizawa had warned All Might that even further gaps in Izuku's memory were inevitable given what he had been through, but hearing it firsthand, seeing the blankness in the boy's eyes where there should have been recognition… it sent a pang of something almost unbearable through his chest."I did," All Might confirmed after a pause. "And I was wrong."The words hung there, heavy, vulnerable, raw.Izuku frowned slightly, pressing a hand against his chest as if something there ached. "I… I don't remember that," he admitted, looking almost frustrated with himself. "I don't know why, but hearing you say that still makes my heart feel heavy."His fingers curled into the fabric of the hospital gown, and for a moment, he just sat there, breathing slowly, as if trying to chase a phantom sensation he couldn't name. "It's weird, isn't it?" he murmured. "Even though I can't remember… it still hurts."All Might swallowed past the lump in his throat, forcing himself to remain composed. "That's why I'm telling you now. Because even if your memories are hazy… you deserve to hear it."Izuku lifted his head, meeting All Might's gaze."You had every right to be a hero," All Might said firmly. "Quirk or no quirk. I see that now. And even though your powers are gone… or maybe just dormant, this isn't over yet." He took a step closer, his expression unreadable.The weight of the room had changed. Inko Midoriya sat stiffly beside her son, her fingers clenching the edge of his hospital blanket, unwilling to let go. Izuku had been through hell. He had been taken, tortured, and used—his body a vessel for something he still didn't understand.Then All Might turned to her, his eyes somber yet full of quiet determination. "Mrs. Midoriya," he said gently, his voice softer than she'd ever heard it. "I need to speak with Izuku alone for a moment."Inko stiffened, immediately on edge. "Why?" she asked, her voice uneven. "Haven't you all done enough? He's just a boy All Might, my boy… he needs rest, not more tests, not more investigations or expectations."All Might nodded, fully understanding her pain, her fear. "I know," he admitted, stepping closer. "And believe me when I say I would never put him through more suffering. But this…" He hesitated, as though carefully choosing his words. "This is about his future. About whether he can continue at U.A. and become the hero he's always dreamed of being."Inko's breath caught, her lips parting slightly as her eyes flickered to her son. Izuku had been through so much. More than any mother could have ever imagined or prepared for. She had spent nights worrying over his tears, over his crushed dreams, still clinging to the belief that one day, despite everything, he could become one of them. She had seen him shatter a hundred times, only to pick himself back up each and every time, even when the world told him he had no right to.She knew what U.A. meant to her son. She knew how much he had wept after being told he was quirkless, how the ridicule and cruelty of the world had chipped away at him. And yet, through all of it, he had never stopped watching. Never stopped believing. He would sit in front of the television, wide-eyed, staring at the screen as All Might rescued yet another innocent. As he stood tall, defiant, unwavering.Her son had wanted nothing more than to be that. To be someone who could save others, even if the world had refused to save him. "You…" she swallowed hard, trying to keep her voice steady, "you promised me you'd bring him back.""I did." All Might's voice was steady. "And now I'm asking you to trust me just a little longer."Tears welled up in her eyes. She wiped at them hastily, sniffling, before nodding. "Fine," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "But... don't hurt him anymore. Please."All Might's heart twisted at her words, at the raw plea of a mother who had already endured too much. "I won't," he promised, bowing his head slightly in gratitude.With that, Inko stood, hesitating for a moment before brushing her fingers gently over Izuku's hair. Then, with a final glance at the two of them, she stepped outside, closing the door behind her.The silence stretched between them for a moment. Izuku, still reeling from the events of the past few days, stared at his mentor warily. "All Might? What is this about?"All Might took a slow breath before stepping forward, his expression unreadable. "Midoriya," he started, voice calm but firm, "what is a hero's purpose?"Izuku blinked, confused by the sudden question. He sat up slightly, adjusting himself against the pillows. "A hero's purpose?"All Might nodded. "Yes. What is a hero's true goal? Why do they exist?"Izuku swallowed, furrowing his brows in thought. It was a simple question, yet somehow, it felt profound. Heavy. And yet, for him, the answer had always been clear."To protect everyone," Izuku answered, his voice steady despite the uncertainty clouding his mind. "No matter what. Even if it means jumping in first without thinking, even if they get hurt, it doesn't matter. A hero should always save people. Because that's what they're supposed to do. That's the kind of world I've always wanted."All Might stared at him, and then, for the first time in what felt like ages, he smiled.A real, genuine, proud smile."That's what I thought," he murmured. His shoulders slumped slightly, as if the tension he had been carrying for so long had finally lifted just a little. "You really are the right one, Midoriya."Izuku tilted his head, confusion clear in his wide, green eyes. "What do you mean?"All Might's expression softened, but there was something else there too. Something weighted, something more. His gaze dropped slightly, his posture shifting before suddenly—He coughed violently, his entire body tensing as blood splattered into his palm."All Might!" Izuku lurched forward, but All Might raised a hand, stopping him. His breath was ragged, but he straightened himself, wiping the blood away with a practiced motion. "It's alright," he muttered, though his voice was weaker now. "Just… listen."Izuku hesitated but nodded slowly, his chest tight with concern. All Might exhaled, taking another deep breath before locking eyes with him again."There's something you need to know." All Might straightened himself, his expression turning serious. "The world has called it superhuman strength. The tabloids have speculated, the public has assumed. Every time I was asked, I laughed, made a joke, dodged the question." His gaze locked onto Izuku's. "Because the Symbol of Peace… had to be a natural-born hero."Izuku listened, his heart pounding. There was something in All Might's voice, something deeper."But the truth is… my quirk was passed onto me. It wasn't mine originally."Izuku's breath caught in his throat. "What...?""I wasn't chosen by fate or born with this power," All Might said simply. "My quirk was given to me, just as it was given to my predecessor before me. The power that made me All Might, the power that shaped my legacy, is called One for All."The realization dawned on Izuku like a slow sunrise, warmth creeping through the cold doubt in his chest. His hands trembled slightly. "Then…" He looked up at All Might, his voice barely above a whisper. "Why are you telling me this?" Izuku's mind raced, his body frozen in place. A quirk that could be passed down? That defied everything he had ever been told about quirks. It wasn't possible. It shouldn't be possible. And yet, All Might stood before him, telling him it was real.All Might smiled softly. "Because I've already chosen." He took a step closer, his towering figure casting a long shadow over Izuku's bed. "Midoriya Izuku, I want you to inherit One For All."The words left Izuku breathless. His vision swam, his thoughts tangling into knots. "Me?" he whispered, his voice barely audible. "But… but I don't even have a quirk anymore. I lost it."All Might chuckled, shaking his head. "That doesn't matter, it's also why I wanted to do this in the first place since you would be coming back to U.A. empty handed," he said. "What matters is your heart. Your ideals. Your unwavering determination to save people, no matter what." He knelt down slightly, bringing himself to Izuku's eye level. "From the moment I met you properly in U.A., I knew you were different. I knew you had the spirit of a hero and now more than ever I want you to show the world that you've changed."Izuku's breath shuddered, his hands trembling. His entire life, he had dreamed of this. Of being a hero, of standing beside the greats, of saving people the way All Might did. And yet… doubt clawed at his chest. "But… what if I fail?" he whispered. "I still don't know what happened with the villains. What if they did something to me? I did irredeemable things..."All Might placed a firm hand on his shoulder, squeezing gently. "That is not your fault young man," he said simply. "You will have time to train. We'll build your body, your mind, and your spirit back up. We will prepare you, step by step, so that when the time comes, you will be ready to face those demons."Izuku felt his entire body tremble. He could barely process what was being said to him. This wasn't just about a quirk. This was something more. Something deeper."This power… this responsibility… it's yours if you'll have it" All Might's voice softened, but his words carried the weight of something ancient, something bigger than either of them. "I want you to know that you can be a real hero."The words hung in the air, heavy, final, unshakable.Izuku barely had to think. He had spent his entire life believing he would never have a chance, never have the ability to be a hero the way he dreamed. He had spent years being told he wasn't enough, that he would never be enough. That everyone was sorry for him, there were finally the words he wanted to hear the most. And here All Might was standing before him, offering him everything he had ever wanted.His voice trembled, but there was no hesitation."I'll do it."
A/N: Phew... This was something I had planned since I first came up with this story back in 2019! I knew the destination, not the journey. What does this mean for Izuku, is he good now? Too many unknowns, what did All For One do to him? Why let him go? I guess you'll have to find out next time :)

Also this site is glitching out a lot right now... there are 24 chapters as of making this one. But I see that it constantly goes back to only showing 16 Chapters, and everything in between. Not sure why, I guess it's an internal bug. Anyways, thanks for always reading and hopefully I can make your day just a little better with writing this story. No matter how bad your day is, or how the world is shifting right now, just know that there are people who care for you and want to see you do better. So don't give up and keep fighting, love you guys!

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The abandoned house was barely standing, its wooden beams sagged under years of neglect, warped by the weight of decay. The moon barely illuminated the cramped and cluttered space, but the League of Villains could see each other just fine."This is bullshit!" Tomura Shigaraki snarled, his voice raw with frustration as he crouched in the farthest corner of the room, curled up on himself like a predator licking its wounds. His fingers twitched erratically, dragging against the tattered fabric of his pants, nails scraping, itching. He was furious, more than furious… his entire body was burning with the need for destruction. "Why did he let Midoriya go?! Why were we told not to go into that room?! Why didn't we know the heroes were coming?!" His words tumbled out, each syllable sharp, biting, cutting into the air with raw anger."Where was Master when everything went to hell?!" He curled his fingers into fists, the cracked skin of his hands peeling slightly as he clenched tighter. There were too many questions, but no answers. His chest ached with frustration and uncertainty. It made him sick.The others were no better. And right now, none of them were happy."What the hell even happened!?" Twice yelled, his voice cracking, his hands gesturing wildly. "One minute we're all hanging out, next minute BOOM! Heroes are busting down the damn walls! Oh, wait—" He straightened, flipping his tone. "Maybe if SOMEONE had a better plan, we wouldn't be in this mess!" He gestured aggressively at Kurogiri, then at Spinner, then back at Kurogiri."Calm down, Jin," Mr. Compress sighed, stretching out his sore shoulder, his usual flair for dramatics subdued in the face of their situation. "Shouting isn't going to bring back what we lost."Toga kicked a broken chair across the floor, her expression stuck somewhere between anger and something more wistful. "Izuku's gone," she muttered, crossing her arms, her usual playful energy forced and bitter. "Gone! Poof! Like, I was just starting to really like him, like, really like him, y'know? I wanted to cut him up and make him mine, but now he's just GONE!" Her lips curled into a pout. "And for what?! What was the point of bringing him here if we were just gonna let them take him back?!"Dabi scoffed from where he leaned against the wall, arms crossed tightly over his chest. His blue flames flickered at his fingertips, just a whisper of power, but it was enough to cast eerie shadows across his scarred face.Twice began to pace back and forth, hands clenched into fists, his voice erratic as ever. "He betrayed us! That two-faced, lying little traitor!" He shouted, then immediately flinched. "No, wait, maybe he didn't! Maybe it wasn't his fault! Maybe it was all a trick! Who's to say he even wanted to leave? Maybe he was brainwashed!" His two personalities waged war, his head shaking violently as he struggled to settle on an answer.Spinner sat hunched over in the corner, gripping his sword like a lifeline. "This whole thing stinks," he muttered, his usual composure crumbling under the weight of uncertainty. "Nothing makes sense. We were played. But by who? The heroes? The police? Or...""Master." Kurogiri's voice cut through the chaos like a blade, smooth and unwavering, but with an edge of finality as everyone turned to look at him. Kurogiri, ever the composed one, ever the enigma, stood near the entrance, his glowing yellow eyes scanning each of them with an eerie calmness. "This was likely All For One's plan from the start."Tomura's breath hitched. He stood abruptly, knocking over a pile of broken wood and debris, his movements erratic, unstable. "You're saying Master wanted this?! That he wanted us to get wrecked?!"Kurogiri didn't flinch at Tomura's violent outburst, nor did he react to the way the air around the leader of the League crackled with barely restrained malice. "Master never acts without reason. You, of all people, should know this by now."Tomura trembled, fingers twitching against his arms, scraping at his own skin. He wanted to argue, to scream, to break something, anything, but deep down, he knew… Kurogiri was right.And then, before anyone could process it further, the door creaked open. The room fell into absolute silence as a heavy presence filled the space, thick and suffocating. The air itself felt heavier, pressing down on them with an unseen force, a weight that coiled around their bones. It was overwhelming, consuming, a darkness that did not need to be seen to be felt.His presence alone swallowed the space, made the walls feel smaller, and the air heavier. His suit was pristine, as if the raid had never touched him. As if nothing had.And then, he laughed, a quiet, deliberate thing, crawling under their skin.Tomura's fists clenched, his rage momentarily giving way to sheer, desperate confusion. "Master…! Where were you?! Why—why did you let this happen?!"All For One's masked face shifted, a slow, deliberate motion that sent chills through the room. "Because, Tomura," he said, his voice still laced with that unsettling amusement, "the game has only just begun."Toga perked up, eyes gleaming. "Ooooh, I love games!~" she sang, spinning her knife in her hands.Dabi scoffed. "Care to share what this game is, or are we just pawns waiting to be moved?"All For One let out another chuckle, stepping further into the room. "Oh, Dabi, my dear boy, we are all players in this grand design. But rest assured… USJ was a resounding success. And our little setback? Merely a performance. A show for the heroes to believe they have won."Tomura's breath hitched. "You… planned for them to find us? To raid our hideout?"All For One did not answer immediately. Instead, he took slow, measured steps toward the center of the room, his very presence commanding silence. "The heroes needed their victory. The people needed hope. And so, we let them have it. We let them believe that they have routed us, that they have dismantled our efforts. But they do not see…"He turned to face them fully, the moonlight catching just enough of his form to make his presence even more imposing. "The next chapter has only just begun," he mused, stepping forward, his voice smooth, unwavering, filled with the certainty of a man who had already won. "The seed has been planted."Tomura's expression twisted, his frustration, his confusion boiling over into something dangerously unstable. "You let them take him?!" His voice cracked, his hands shaking. "Why?! Why did we do any of this if we were just going to hand him over?! I hate his guts, but I—" Tomura paused, he couldn't even believe the words coming out of his own mouth."—he was one of us..." Tomura finished. For the first time he looked at his Master, All For One, face to face. "So why did you do nothing?"All For One tilted his head slightly, as if amused by the outburst. Yet he was intrigued with Tomura's shift in tone. "Because it was necessary.""Necessary?!" Tomura's eyes burned. "For what?!"All For One's smile widened beneath his mask."To make them believe they saved him." His voice swirled with a hint of playfulness. "Because... I want something that belongs to me."The room pulsed with tension, every member of the League holding their breath, caught in the wake of something far larger than themselves."You see," All For One continued, "this was never about simply keeping him. It was about showing the world that we could. That we did. The moment we took him, the heroes had already lost. They just didn't realize it yet."His voice darkened, laced with something sinister."And now, they think they've won him back. They think they've beaten us. They think Midoriya Izuku has been saved." He let the words linger, seeping into the air with malevolence. "But what they fail to understand… is that a seed, once planted, cannot be so easily removed."Kurogiri inclined his head slightly. "What do you mean, Master?"All For One's smile was unseen, but they could hear it in his voice. "Midoriya Izuku is free. Rescued. Brought back into their arms. Particularly innocent... such a gut wrenching story. But he will always be one of us, only time will reveal it."Tomura's fingers twitched violently. "You mean… you're not done with him?" He felt something cold coil in his gut. "What did you do to him?"All For One simply chuckled, turning away, as if the question wasn't worth answering. "Regroup," he ordered. "Rest. Prepare. You will find out soon enough."His voice was absolute.The tinted windows of the black vehicle did little to muffle the distant hum of voices that grew louder as they neared their destination. Izuku sat stiffly in the back seat, his eyes locked onto the floor of the car, his fingers gripping the fabric of his pants with a pressure just shy of painful. The atmosphere inside the vehicle was suffocatingly silent, save for the occasional crackle of the radio from the front, where the driver and an escort officer sat in tense stillness.This was it… U.A.And outside those gates, waiting like a horde of vultures scenting fresh blood, were the reporters. The media. The world.Izuku barely had time to brace himself before the vehicle slowed, the sound of camera shutters clicking in rapid succession filling the air like the beat of war drums. Through the dark glass, he caught flickers of movement, microphones being thrust forward, journalists craning their necks to get a glimpse inside. The car hadn't even come to a full stop when the muffled questions started."Midoriya Izuku! How does it feel to be free?""Did you really survive the League of Villains' torture?""Is it true that you were brainwashed? How long were you actually with them?""Do you actually regret this happening to you?!"That last question sent an immediate, visceral reaction through him. His chest tightened, his stomach clenched, and for a moment, he forgot how to breathe.As the car door opened, bright lights flashed from every angle, a suffocating wave of noise crashing into him as he stepped out. He hadn't realized how overwhelming it would be, how oppressive the sheer force of attention could feel. He gasped, taking half a step back before a firm hand on his back urged him forward."Move, Midoriya," one of the officers instructed, voice steady but urgent.Izuku forced himself to walk, his body rigid with tension. The crowd was unrelenting."Midoriya, did the villains try to recruit you?""Do you blame U.A. for what happened?"His heart pounded so loudly he almost couldn't hear them anymore. His breathing came too fast, too shallow. The walls of reporters felt like they were closing in, their voices overlapping, merging into a chaotic, disorienting storm. The flashing lights burned into his eyes.He wasn't ready for this. Not yet.A strong arm shielded him as the officers and U.A. security personnel created a barrier, forcefully pushing the reporters back. "Keep moving!" one of them barked, ushering him toward the school's gates.Izuku's pulse roared in his ears, his vision tunneling as his breath caught in his throat. He could feel himself slipping, falling back into that moment… the cold shackles, the suffocating darkness, the phantom sensation of restraints pulling against his wrists.He willed himself forward, each step heavier than the last, until finally, finally, the school gates shut behind him. The voices became muffled, distant, held at bay by the security guards stationed outside.The silence that followed was somehow worse. Izuku exhaled shakily, his fingers trembling as he dragged in slow, deliberate breaths, forcing himself to steady. Yet as he turned to walk the long path to U.A.'s main building, he felt them.The eyes.Dozens of students, some standing in small clusters, others passing by, stopping in their tracks to stare at him, whispering behind their hands. They pointed, murmured, gazed at him as if he were something foreign, something to be examined from a distance.Some looked at him with curiosity. Others with sympathy. But the worst were the ones who looked at him with suspicion.He kept his head up, kept moving, trying to focus on putting one foot in front of the other. Just get to the classroom. One step at a time.A second-year student near the main entrance turned to his friend and muttered, "That's him, isn't it? The one who was taken?""I heard he actually—"Izuku walked faster.A girl from Class 1-B, someone he had seen in passing but never spoken to, glanced at him and immediately looked away, as if avoiding eye contact would erase his presence.His stomach churned. Izuku had expected this, he knew it would be like this. But knowing didn't make it any easier.His thoughts flickered back to All Might, to their last conversation, to the weight of the secret he now carried. The quirk, One For All. Something no one else could know about, a truth heavier than he had ever imagined.It was almost ironic. For the first time, he had a power greater than anything he had dreamed of, and yet, he had never felt weaker.The doors of Class 1-A loomed ahead, tall and unmoving. He stopped just outside them. His heartbeat was uneven, his throat dry. His fingers hovered just over the handle as he swallowed. Then, steeling himself, he pushed the door open.The moment Izuku pushed open the door, the air inside the room shifted instantly. A second ago, the classroom had been filled with chatter, small conversations overlapping as students went about their morning. It had been normal, just another day at U.A. But now, that casual atmosphere had died in an instant, replaced by something far heavier.Eyes turned toward him, heads twisting as the realization hit them one by one. It was almost slow-motion—the sound of seats shifting, bags being placed down, conversations halting mid-sentence as every single person in the room registered that he was standing there.He could feel it as the weight of their gazes pressing into him, their thoughts unreadable.And for a moment, he thought he had made a mistake. Then—"Deku…?" A voice, small but hesitant. Warm.Ochako Uraraka stood near the middle of the room. Her face was unreadable at first, brows furrowed, lips parted slightly. But then her expression softened, and a hesitant smile flickered across her face. "Welcome back."That was all it took.The tension cracked, and in the next instant, voices overlapped in an overwhelming wave."Midoriya! You're back!""You idiot, you scared the hell out of us!""I'm so glad you're okay!"Kirishima grinned from his seat, leaning forward. "Took you long enough, man! You had us all worried!"Yaoyorozu nodded, her smile more reserved but warm nonetheless. "I can only imagine how difficult this must be for you… but truly, welcome back, Midoriya."Iida adjusted his glasses, his voice carrying the same conviction he always spoke with. "We have much to discuss, but first and foremost, we are simply relieved that you have returned to us."Even Todoroki, usually quiet and unreadable, met his eyes for a brief second and nodded. No words, but the gesture was enough.One by one, his classmates spoke, each of them greeting him in their own way, some more energetic, some more subdued, but all of them accepting him.Izuku had prepared himself for rejection, for judgment, for the wary stares that had followed him on his way through the halls. But instead, he was met with something entirely different.Everyone had already made up their minds, they weren't pushing him away. They were welcoming him back. A tight knot in his chest loosened, and before he could stop it, he felt something warm trail down his cheek. A single tear."Alright, that's enough." It was Aizawa.The classroom snapped to order immediately. Their homeroom teacher stood by the whiteboard, arms crossed, his gaze flat and unreadable as always. The warm welcome faded into an awkward shuffle as the students hesitantly took their seats."You're all still rookies," Aizawa said, his voice carrying the weight of reality as he scanned the room. "I understand that emotions are running high, but if you think the world is going to slow down for you, you're wrong. Villains don't care how you feel, and neither will anyone else if you can't perform when it matters."Izuku swallowed, his feet finally moving as he stepped fully into the room. As he walked toward his desk, Aizawa's eyes met his for a fraction of a second. There was no pity, no softness in them, just the usual expectation of a teacher demanding focus from his student."Midoriya, sit down."It was a command, not a request. Izuku obeyed, sliding into his chair.Aizawa turned to the class, exhaling. "Now, let's move on." Just like that, it was back to normal.The shift was almost jarring. No lingering discussions, no extra words about what had happened. It was like stepping into a different reality where the last few weeks had never happened. Aizawa didn't treat him any differently, didn't acknowledge anything out of the ordinary.It was oddly comforting.Aizawa continued, scribbling a list on the board as he spoke. "There are several things coming up that you all need to be prepared for. First, shared classes with the Support Course. This means some of you will be getting upgrades to your hero costumes. You'll need to submit any necessary adjustments by the end of the week." A murmur rippled through the class, some students already thinking about potential improvements."Second, mock battles." Aizawa's sharp gaze moved across the room. "We're increasing the intensity. These will be one-on-one matchups with no interference. I want to see your instincts under pressure."Excitement and apprehension flickered in the class, some students straightening in anticipation, others shifting uneasily."Next, upcoming written tests on hero ethics." Aizawa's expression darkened slightly, already predicting the complaints. "If you fail, you'll be dealing with remedial lessons during your free time."Several groans. Kaminari slumped in his seat. "Come on, teach, we just got back into the groove of things…""I don't care," Aizawa interrupted bluntly. "You're training to be heroes, not overconfident brats who think they can punch their way through every situation."Kaminari muttered something about "overachievers," but slumped back in defeat. Aizawa let the classroom settle for a moment before he finally moved to the last point on the board.And the moment he wrote the words, the energy in the room shifted. U.A. SPORTS FESTIVAL.Aizawa turned back to the class. "As most of you already know, the U.A. Sports Festival is one of the most important events of the year." The murmuring increased. "Students from every course, not just the Hero Course, will be competing. That means General Studies, Business, and Support. The festival is open to Pro Heroes, agencies, and sponsors, meaning the better you perform, the higher your chances of getting scouted."The weight of those words sank in. For so many of them, this was the first real chance to prove themselves—not just to U.A., but to Japan's hero society as a whole.Kirishima grinned, nudging Kaminari. "Now this is more like it!"Ashido leaned forward, eyes gleaming. "Yeah, yeah! I've been waiting for this!"Iida straightened in his seat. "A chance to display our abilities in a professional setting… this is an honor."Izuku, however, felt something else entirely. After everything… after being kidnapped, imprisoned, interrogated, now he was being told that he would be competing against not only his classmates, but every U.A. student, in front of Pro Heroes, the world, everyone.He felt a flicker of nervousness, but it was buried beneath something else.Aizawa let the excitement settle before delivering his final words. "You have two weeks. Train, prepare, and don't slack off. Because if you fail to prove your worth here…" His eyes scanned the room, lingering on Izuku for only a second before moving on. "...then you might as well give up on becoming a hero."As the rest of the students filtered out of the classroom as it ended, Izuku barely had a moment to breathe before a small group made their way toward him.Ochako, Iida, Mina, Kaminari, and Kirishima… unsurprisingly. They had been the ones closest to him since the beginning. What did surprise him, however, was Todoroki. The boy had barely interacted with him before, only ever offering the occasional glance or observation. And yet, here he was, walking toward Izuku with the others, his usual unreadable expression in place.Izuku shifted, trying not to look as nervous as he felt. He had just survived the initial classroom return, but this was something else entirely."Deku," Ochako was the first to speak, stepping closer, her usual brightness dimmed just slightly. "You're really okay, right?"Izuku forced a smile, nodding. "Yeah. I—I mean, I'm still a little sore, but I'm okay."Iida adjusted his glasses, his expression serious. "If there is anything troubling you, please, do not be afraid to tell us." He hesitated, then added, "We… we saw the broadcast. We know that you were kidnapped, that you were innocent, but… we don't know everything." His voice was careful, choosing words that wouldn't make Izuku retreat.Mina tilted her head, stepping in beside Iida. "We're not asking for the full story, just… we just want to know if you need anything."Kaminari, always the one to keep things light, grinned, though there was something in his eyes that told Izuku he was serious. "Yeah, man, you don't have to pretend like everything's fine just 'cause you're back."Kirishima folded his arms, his usual wide grin in place, but his gaze was sharp, perceptive. "I mean, we all saw the way you fought back at the hero vs villain mock battle. You were crazy strong, almost too strong. And now, well… I dunno, you feel kinda different, man."Ochako's expression softened, and she reached out, but then stopped herself before touching his arm, as if sensing that any sudden contact might startle him. "You're… quieter," she said. "And I don't mean that in a bad way. Just… different."Izuku swallowed, the warmth in their words almost too much to bear. They didn't know. They couldn't know. The real truth had to stay buried. The death of Thirteen, his memories gone, all of it.Nezu's words echoed in his mind, a reminder of what he had been told when he was still in the hospital, just after the media announcement."The truth must never be told, Midoriya. The world cannot know what really happened to Thirteen. To say it was you… even if unwillingly would destroy the very foundation of what we stand for. The people must believe she fell to villains, not to you. This is not a burden a child should bear."His throat felt tight, but he forced himself to breathe through it."I—" He scrambled for something... anything to say that wouldn't make them worry. "I guess I just… need to adjust." He gave them what he hoped was a convincing grin, scratching the back of his head. "It's been… difficult. A lot happened."Ochako's expression softened. "Yeah. That makes sense."Iida nodded, arms still stiffly at his sides. "If you ever need anything, you must let us know. You are not alone, Midoriya."Izuku tried not to let those words hit him too hard. If only you knew how alone I really am… But he smiled, because he had to."Thanks, guys."Then, before the conversation could turn too heavy, Kirishima suddenly clapped his hands together, a wide, eager grin stretching across his face."Oh yeah! That reminds me!" He turned to Izuku, practically bouncing on his feet. "I just checked the matchups for the upcoming one-on-one mock battles, and guess what?"Izuku blinked. "Uh… what?"Kirishima pointed at himself with his thumb, grinning. "You and me, buddy!"Izuku blinked again. "H-Huh?"Kirishima laughed, eyes practically sparkling. "You have no idea how pumped I am for this! I didn't get to fight you last time 'cause you fought Iida and Ochaco instead! That was some crazy stuff, by the way—seriously, also fighting our teacher Aizawa and not getting completely destroyed? Insane, dude."Izuku tensed for a split second. That was when I still had my old quirk… even now, what All Might told me about my vessel being incomplete to handle this new power.Kirishima continued, completely unaware of Izuku's internal turmoil. "Man, this is gonna be awesome! I've been training hard, so don't think I'm gonna go easy on you!"Izuku stared at him, unsure of what to say. The old him—the one before everything happened, would have likely grinned or mocked Kirishima's energy?But now… Now he had One For All. He didn't even know how to fight anymore. His combat instincts, his old strategies, all of it had been tailored to a quirk he no longer had. He wasn't the same Midoriya Izuku who had stood against Aizawa that day.And yet, despite everything, he found himself smiling, just a little. "Take it easy on me, okay?" The words left his mouth before he could stop them, and immediately, the group around him froze.Even Todoroki's eyes flickered with something unreadable.Ochako's mouth parted slightly in surprise. "H-Huh?"Kirishima's grin faltered for a second. "Wait, what?"Mina squinted at him. "Hold on. You? The same guy who tore through the hero vs villain battle? The same guy who took on Aizawa freaking Eraserhead?" She waved a hand. "Nah, no way."Kaminari snorted. "Dude, what are you talking about? You're terrifying in battle. You're like, way too good at it. I was actually kinda hoping I wouldn't have to fight you."Izuku hesitated, shifting slightly under their scrutiny. "I… I mean, I've been through a lot."Kirishima tilted his head, watching him carefully. "Yeah… I guess that makes sense. But still, I was really looking forward to this fight." Then, he grinned again. "But hey! I guess I'll just have to force the old Midoriya out of you, huh?"Izuku chuckled weakly, though the words lingered uncomfortably in his chest. The old Midoriya. Who even was that? He didn't want to know, he was terrified of it and of his past self. He forced himself to push the thoughts aside, to focus on the moment in front of him. Because despite everything, despite the uncertainty, the weight of secrets, the fear of what would come next, they were still here.They were still talking to him.Still treating him like Midoriya Izuku.And for now… that was enough.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter! I don't have much to say for this one, except that I hope you're enjoying Izuku's journey. Until next time!

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The heavy metallic doors of the support department groaned as they slid open, revealing a sprawling workshop filled with dozens of students hunched over machinery, sparks flying in bursts of orange brilliance as tools clanked against metal. The air was thick with the scent of oil and burnt circuits, the hum of whirring gears blending into the chatter of students who barely looked up from their work. Izuku took a hesitant step inside, his breath shallow.Eyes flickered toward him, brief and assessing. Some merely glanced before returning to their blueprints and welding torches, others whispered in hushed tones, their voices carrying over the constant hum of machinery.
"Is that him?"
Izuku did his best to keep his breathing steady to ignore the murmurs. He wasn't new to being stared at, whether it was for being quirkless as a child or now, and now for being the center of one of the most controversial events in recent history. The weight of judgment had never truly left him.But here, it was different. These weren't his classmates in 1-A, who had made the decision silent or not… to accept him. These were strangers, students who had no reason to believe in him, no reason to give him the benefit of the doubt. Still, he had a reason to be here. He had to push forward."Oi!"The sudden shout rang through the lab like an explosion, startling more than just Izuku. A few students winced at the sheer volume, while others sighed, clearly used to the disruption.Izuku turned toward the source of the voice. A girl was hanging upside down from a steel beam, her wild pinkish hair sprawled out in every direction, goggles strapped tightly to her forehead. She had a wrench clamped between her teeth, her arms fully extended as she adjusted a mechanical limb attached to an unfinished suit. It was only when she heard the whispers rise around her that she looked down, her sharp, perceptive eyes locking onto Izuku.She grinned."You're the guy they assigned me to, right? Midoriya Izuku?" The wrench clattered to the floor as she flipped down with an effortless motion, landing right in front of him. She leaned in uncomfortably close, peering at his face with unbridled curiosity.Izuku blinked. "Uh… yeah?"She grinned even wider, reaching out and grabbing his arm before he could react. "Great! You're mine now."He tensed. "What?""Mei Hatsume, U.A.'s number-one genius inventor!" She dramatically gestured to the sprawling room behind her, as if presenting some grand kingdom. "And you, my friend, are my newest experiment. Well, more like my assignment, but same thing, really."Izuku had read about her before, heard rumors about the eccentric support course student who single-handedly created hundreds of prototypes and had an unhealthy obsession with "babies"... which, as it turned out, referred not to living creatures, but the countless gadgets she produced at an alarming rate.Mei's grip was surprisingly strong as she pulled him deeper into the workshop, weaving effortlessly between cluttered workstations, unfinished projects, and piles of metal scraps. When she finally stopped, she spun on her heel, crossing her arms with a look of sheer delight.Mei wasted no time, grabbing his wrist and dragging him forward with strength that didn't quite match her frame. "So! Let's get straight to business, what's your quirk? And how can I make it better?"The simple, direct question was one Izuku should have been prepared for, yet it immediately sent his mind into a panicked spiral. He had no idea how to explain One for All, no way to tell her that it was a quirk passed down, that it was a secret between him and All Might, that he barely even knew how to use it himself.His silence must have lasted too long, because Mei tilted her head, narrowing her sharp golden eyes at him."Huh. That's weird," she mused, tapping her chin. "Didn't expect you to hesitate like that. Most hero students are obsessed with talking about their quirks."Izuku tried to force words out, but the best he could do was a scrambled, "It's… complicated."Mei hummed thoughtfully, then smirked. "I like complicated."Something about the way she said it made him feel strangely relieved.Mei studied him for a long moment before shrugging, completely unbothered. "Eh, doesn't matter," she said breezily. "We'll figure it out."Izuku blinked. "Wait, you don't—?""Look, dude." Mei suddenly leaned against a nearby workbench, her expression shifting to something more serious, more grounded. "People keep whispering about you, making their assumptions. I don't care. I've got a pretty good eye for this sort of thing, and I can tell you're not what they think you are."He stared at her, unsure of how to respond."I make things," she continued. "That's what I do. My job isn't to judge people, my job is to give them the tools they need to do their job better. So whatever's up with your quirk, we'll figure it out."Mei clapped her hands, her usual manic energy returning in an instant. "Now then!" She pulled out a small remote from her belt. "Let's see what you've got."Before Izuku could ask what she meant, she pressed a button. A loud mechanical whirr sounded above them as the ceiling split open. A metal hatch released, and with a clatter of gears, a humanoid dummy was lowered into the center of the room.Several of the support students groaned. "Oh, come on Hatsume…""Someone secure the loose tools before she destroys everything!"Mei ignored them entirely. Her eyes shone with unfiltered excitement as she turned back to Izuku. "Alright, mystery hero! let's see what you've got."Izuku swallowed hard. He had never used One for All before and for the first time since inheriting it, he was about to find out exactly what his body could withstand. His hands curled into fists at his sides, his mind flashing back to the conversation he had with All Might just days before."Midoriya," All Might's voice was steady, but there was weight behind every word. "This power I have given you… it is not something to be taken lightly." All Might paused for a moment. "Your body is barely holding it together." His expression was far more serious than usual."Like a glass barely containing the weight of an ocean. The moment you unleash it, even once, you'll feel it down to your bones."Izuku sat across from him in the hospital bed, gripping the sheets so tightly his knuckles turned white. "But I can handle it, right?"All Might exhaled, watching him carefully."One for All has grown stronger," he said finally. "Much stronger than when it was passed to me. Even at my prime, I struggled to contain it. And you…" He hesitated. "Your body was resilient… even more than I expected, but it is still barely enough."Izuku swallowed."I won't sugarcoat this," All Might continued. "Once you use this power, your body will break. And unless you learn to control it, it will take everything from you."Izuku had felt his stomach tighten at those words. "Then… how do I use it?"All Might's lips curled into a knowing smirk. "Clench your butt."Izuku had choked on air. "What?""Clench. Your. Butt." All Might repeated seriously. "And then internally, yell out SMASH!"Izuku had stared at him.Surely, he wasn't serious.But All Might had only laughed, clapping him on the shoulder. "You'll see what I mean soon enough."Izuku inhaled sharply, grounding himself.Mei was still watching, waiting. The support students had paused their work, their curiosity outweighing their skepticism.He braced himself, planting his feet firmly against the tiled floor. He could already feel it—the raw, untamed energy bubbling beneath his skin, coiling around his muscles like a storm ready to be unleashed.Clench your butt.Izuku grit his teeth.SMASH!A crackling surge of power ignited through his arm, electricity streaking across his veins as his muscles exploded with strength.The moment he swung—A shockwave ripped through the lab, sending gadgets, tools, and even people flying back from the sheer force of the impact. The training dummy ceased to exist, obliterated into unrecognizable fragments. The metal walls groaned under the pressure, shelves toppled, and the entire space was momentarily consumed in a gust of chaotic wind.Mei was launched backward, her feet skidding across the floor as she barely caught herself on a workbench. Support students clung onto whatever they could, eyes wide with absolute disbelief.When the dust settled, Izuku stood in the center, hunched over, gripping his arm. His breath was ragged. His limbs trembled. He had done it, but there was intolerable pain.A searing, unbearable agony shot through his right arm, so intense it almost blinded him. His body shuddered violently, his vision darkening at the edges. He barely heard the gasps, the shouts, the hurried footsteps.Mei ran forward, but her excitement had turned to concern.His arm was ruined. It hung limply at his side, mangled, the skin a sickening mix of deep bruises, raw flesh, and dark purple veins that pulsed unnaturally. The bones, though unbroken, were shattered internally. His body had barely held it together.He forced himself to smile through the excruciating pain. "H-how was that?" he rasped, looking up at Mei, his vision blurring.He collapsed onto the ground to his knees. It hurt. It hurt more than anything he had ever felt before. But through the pain, through the trembling of his broken limb, through the ringing in his ears… one thought persisted, repeating over and over in his mind.This… this is One For All?Holy crap…Mei grinned, eyes practically sparkling."Now that," she said, flipping through her notes, "is interesting."The atmosphere inside the gymnasium was electric, a charged anticipation settling over the students of Class 1-A as they stood in neat rows, eyes flickering between the towering figures of Aizawa and All Might, both present to oversee their latest challenge. The large arena-like structure, typically used for combat drills, was a marvel of reinforced steel and impact-resistant flooring, designed to withstand the raw force of quirks in action. The high ceilings loomed above them, casting long, faint shadows from the overhead lights, creating an environment that felt both expansive and suffocating at the same time.For some students, the upcoming trial was nothing more than an exhilarating challenge, a test of strength and ability. For others, it was a moment of quiet self-doubt, an inward struggle hidden behind neutral expressions. And then there were those who stood completely at ease, either confident in their own power or uninterested in the stakes at play.Izuku saw Todoroki stand motionless, his mismatched eyes scanning the room as if assessing each of his classmates in turn. There was no visible tension in his body, no sign of nerves… just quiet, unwavering focus. He had no intention of underperforming, but neither did he care about proving himself.Mina bounced lightly on her feet, hands on her hips, shifting from one foot to the other with an eager grin stretched across her face. "Man, this is gonna be fun! We finally get to test ourselves properly!" she said, nudging Kaminari, who grinned back, though there was the faintest edge of nervous energy beneath his casual demeanor."I just hope I don't fry my brain right out of the gate," Kaminari admitted with a sheepish chuckle, scratching at the back of his head. "Gotta keep it cool this time."Jiro, standing beside him, smirked. "Yeah, no promises on that one, Sparky."Further down the line, Iida stood perfectly straight, his hands locked behind his back in disciplined formality. His expression was one of deep contemplation, as though already strategizing in his mind. This was another opportunity to prove himself, and he had no intention of wasting it.Yet Izuku trembled. It wasn't noticeable at first, just a faint quiver in his fingers, a slight unsteadiness in the way his breaths came and went. He tried to keep his arms folded tightly across his chest to suppress it, but the more he thought about what was coming, the worse it became. He forced himself to breathe through his nose, focusing on the rhythmic in-and-out motion to keep himself from outright panicking.It had been two days since the incident in the Support Course. Two days since he had unleashed One for All for the first time. He had lost control of his own body, the sheer force of the power rendering him completely immobile, his limbs battered and broken despite Recovery Girl's immediate intervention.And now, here he was, standing in line, waiting for a match he knew he wasn't ready for.He hadn't even had the chance to speak with All Might yet. Izuku knew his mentor must have heard about what happened, how could he not? The entire support course had been witness to his moment of recklessness. And yet, in the hours since, there had been no time to talk, no moment to process everything.His classmates didn't know the full extent of it. They had heard there was some kind of accident, maybe even some rumors about him overexerting himself, but none of them had asked. Not yet. They were too focused on their own battles, their own preparations.But that wouldn't last forever. Eventually, someone would want to know what had happened. And sooner or later, he would have to answer.Aizawa's voice cut through the hum of murmured conversations. "Alright, listen up. Today's exercise is a one-on-one mock battle." His tired gaze swept over them, pausing briefly on certain students as he continued. "You'll be testing yourselves against a classmate in a controlled match. This is an assessment, not a tournament so don't get cocky and don't be reckless. Be rational.""However," All Might chimed in, his usual booming enthusiasm subdued but still present, "I do want to see all of you give it your best! This is a chance to apply what you've learned and push yourselves forward!"The large digital screen flickered to life, the randomized pairings appearing in bright letters.Todoroki vs. Kaminari.Izuku exhaled as the two stepped onto the designated battlefield, the space between them marked by white chalk lines. Todoroki's expression was as unreadable as ever, his mismatched eyes locked on Kaminari without an ounce of doubt. Kaminari, on the other hand, rolled his shoulders, stretching out his arms as he grinned, though there was an unmistakable flicker of nervousness beneath the bravado.The second Aizawa gave the command, the match erupted.Todoroki wasted no time, ice flooding the battlefield in a rapid, seamless wave, streaks of frost expanding outward in jagged veins across the ground. Kaminari responded immediately, electricity crackling along his fingertips as he vaulted over the frozen terrain, narrowly avoiding being locked in place. Sparks danced wildly, illuminating his figure as he charged up an attack, sending a blast of lightning streaking toward Todoroki.The battle unfolded with sharp precision as Todoroki maintained his distance, keeping the battlefield under his control with calculated movements, while Kaminari zigzagged across the ice, pushing his speed to the limit. But in the end, Todoroki was Todoroki. A wall of ice shot up just as Kaminari made his final leap, blocking his trajectory mid-air, leaving him no room to maneuver.Victory was clear.Izuku tensed, fingers tightening around the hem of his shirt. He wasn't sure why, but somethingMore names were called.Yaoyorozu vs. Ashido.The two girls stepped forward, exchanging brief nods before the match began.Yaoyorozu took a defensive approach, keeping her movements calculated, her hands shifting rapidly as she formed objects to counter Ashido's unpredictable offense. Ashido, on the other hand, danced across the battlefield with ease, her fluid movements keeping her out of reach while acidic projectiles splattered against the ground in quick succession.It was an intense match, but ultimately, Ashido's aggressive, close-range combat proved too difficult for Yaoyorozu to fully defend against.Match after match was called. Each battle was another reminder of how far everyone had come, how they had grown, refined their abilities, sharpened their instincts. They had to, U.A. was threatened, their lives at risk. And yet, Izuku remained on edge, a pit forming in his stomach as his turn drew closer and closer.Then—Midoriya vs. Kirishima.Izuku stiffened. The moment his name was called, a sharp exhale left his lips, his entire body going cold for just a second.Kirishima, standing only a few feet away, let out an enthusiastic cheer, rolling his shoulders before stepping forward. "Finally!" he grinned, clapping his fists together. "I was hoping I'd get a shot at you, man! Been itching for a real fight!" His voice was easy, excited, genuine.Izuku tried to return the energy, tried to offer something in return. But all he could manage was a stiff nod as he stepped forward.The gym felt smaller. The battlefield felt heavier. And for the first time since he arrived back at U.A., Izuku realized… He was about to fight using a power that wasn't his own. A power that wasn't meant for him. A power that could break him if he wasn't careful. His heartbeat pounded in his ears when suddenly Aizawa's voice cut through the tension."Begin."The moment Aizawa gave the signal, Kirishima charged forward like an unrelenting force of nature.There was no hesitation in his movements—only sheer determination, the kind that burned brightly in his eyes as he clenched his fists and pushed off the ground with frightening momentum. His quirk, Hardening, activated instantly, his body taking on a jagged, rock-like texture that shimmered under the fluorescent lights of the training hall. He was a human wrecking ball, and he was coming straight for Izuku.Izuku barely had time to react.His instincts screamed at him to move, to run, to do something, but his body felt sluggish, disconnected. His breath hitched as he barely managed to sidestep the first punch, Kirishima's hardened fist swinging past his ribs, missing by inches. But the momentary relief was shattered as Kirishima pivoted on his foot, bringing his other fist around in a brutal follow-up.This one hit.Izuku felt the impact ripple through his bones, his feet skidding backward as pain exploded across his side. His balance wavered, his vision momentarily blurring from the sheer force of the blow."Come on, Midoriya!" Kirishima grinned, practically radiating excitement. "You can't just take hits all day! Show me what you got!"Izuku didn't answer. He could barely breathe. Each strike carried enough force to crack stone, his hardened knuckles gleaming under the arena lights, moving in a brutal rhythm that left Izuku scrambling just to keep up."He's fast." Izuku thought to himself as he ducked. A fist soared past his temple. He pivoted. Another slammed just inches from his ribs. But he wasn't attacking back.The students watching from the sidelines murmured, shifting uneasily as they exchanged glances."What's he doing?" Kaminari whispered, his brows furrowed. "Why isn't he fighting back?""Maybe he's scared?" Sero added, watching Izuku backpedal frantically across the gym, barely keeping himself from being knocked flat. "I mean… he did just get back from being kidnapped by a bunch of villains, right?""But he fought Aizawa!" Mina interjected, eyes flicking toward Aizawa, who stood still, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. "And he almost won! He was insane back then! So why—"She trailed off, watching as Kirishima lunged forward, catching Izuku's shoulder with a glancing blow, knocking him slightly off balance. Izuku staggered back, barely keeping his footing. His breathing was ragged. His body trembled."Is he holding back?" Jirou muttered, narrowing her eyes. "Or does he not want to fight?"From the observation area above, All Might stood silent with Aizawa. His gaze locked onto the boy below. His fists clenched."He's holding back," All Might finally said to Aizawa, his voice low.Aizawa gave him a side glance, skeptical. "Holding back? He hasn't even tried to fight yet. What are you hiding, All Might?"All Might didn't respond immediately, his arms still crossed over his broad chest. "It's not that simple."Aizawa's eyes narrowed. "Midoriya was quirkless after he was rescued," he stated plainly. "You told me that yourself. So tell me, how is he supposed to fight Kirishima at all?"All Might inhaled sharply but remained silent.Aizawa's frown deepened. Whatever had happened in the support room, whatever had caused such a massive disturbance, he wasn't being told the full story. Even when he had pressed Principal Nezu for answers, he had only received a vague response, something about "monitoring the situation." It was frustrating, and Aizawa didn't like being left in the dark, especially when it involved his students.Meanwhile, back in the fight, Izuku wiped his mouth, feeling the warm trickle of blood at the corner of his lips. He winced as he straightened up, his ribs throbbing from the hit. Kirishima hadn't even gone full force yet, and Izuku was already feeling the damage."What the hell?" Kaminari breathed, staring wide-eyed at Izuku. "That should've knocked him out.""That's what I'm saying," Mina said, her fingers gripping the edge of the railing. "What's going on with him?"Kirishima pressed the attack relentlessly, fists swinging like iron sledgehammers. Izuku dodged when he could, barely keeping his footing, barely keeping himself from getting crushed under the onslaught.Another fist slammed square into Izuku's ribs. Pain erupted through his side, white-hot and searing. The force sent him skidding back, his knees buckling as he barely managed to remain standing. Blood dripped from his lips, a thin red trail running down his chin.The room fell silent as Izuku staggered. And yet he was still standing. His vision swam, but his body—his body moved."Why?" Izuku thought to himself. He had been expecting to drop immediately, to crumple under the first few blows. And yet… his body had moved. Not well, not gracefully, but something inside of him had reacted before he had even registered it. It wasn't perfect, he had taken hits, sure—but there was an efficiency to his movements that didn't belong to him.His breath was uneven as his mind raced. "What the hell is happening? Why does my body feel… like it knows what to do?"Kirishima cracked his knuckles, rolling his shoulders. "Dude, you sure you wanna keep going?" he asked, though his grin never wavered. "Not gonna lie, you're still acting kinda weird."Izuku blinked, looking up at him.
"Weird…"
That was putting it lightly. He still didn't understand One for All. He still didn't know how to control it, how to regulate its power so that it wouldn't tear him apart the moment he used it. And yet, his body and instincts were responding in ways that made no sense. Like they were functioning on muscle memory that wasn't his own. Like they had already been trained for this.His fingers twitched at his sides. For a brief moment, he considered activating the power."Just a little," Izuku thought. "Just enough to see if I can even use it properly."But the second that thought crossed his mind, fear coiled around his ribs like a vice. Because if he messed up, if he miscalculated… he knew what would happen.Kirishima took another step forward, preparing to engage again, but Izuku remained frozen. His chest rose and fell with uneven breaths as his nails dug into his palms.
"What do I do? What do I do? What do I—"
"Midoriya!" A voice cut through the noise. Izuku's head snapped up, eyes wide.It was All Might.The room fell silent as all eyes turned toward the towering figure standing near Aizawa. All Might's expression was unreadable, but there was a quiet weight in his gaze, something steady, something reassuring."Trust yourself," he said simply.Izuku's breath hitched. For a split second, the roaring in his head stopped.Kirishima tilted his head slightly, watching the exchange. Then, with a smirk, he clenched his fists again. "Alright then, Midoriya," he said, stepping back into his stance. "You ready now?"Izuku exhaled slowly. His heart pounded. But this time, it wasn't entirely from fear. This time, there was something else. Something thrumming beneath his skin. And for the first time since the fight started, he stepped forward. It wasn't a conscious decision, not entirely. It was instinct, raw, unfiltered, and primal. His heart pounded in his chest, his breath coming sharp and fast as he pushed forward, legs tensing, body coiling like a spring before he launched himself at Kirishima."To hell with it." If he was going to learn, if he was going to master this power, then he had to commit, to trust his body, to let go.Kirishima's grin widened, his teeth flashing, eyes alight with excitement as he saw Midoriya finally stepping up to the challenge. "Yeah! That's more like it!" he roared, hardening his body to its maximum, bracing for the impact.Izuku faked the punch.A blur of movement. A shift in stance as his mind slowed everything down to fractions of a second.Kirishima was already reacting, his hardened arms raising in preparation to block a strike that would never come. Izuku's gaze flicked to the slight shift in Kirishima's footing, the way his weight distributed toward his back leg, the millisecond where he adjusted his balance in preparation for the incoming blow.There.Izuku redirected.A subtle twist, a pivot of his body, an adjustment so smooth it felt like he had done it a thousand times before.His other foot shot out low, sweeping against Kirishima's ankle with precision, cutting through his stance like a knife. Kirishima's eyes widened as his entire balance collapsed. He felt himself falling, body tilting backward, the world shifting as gravity took hold.All he could see was a fist. A fist unlike anything he had ever seen before.It came down like the hammer of a vengeful god.Izuku felt it before he saw it, the raw energy coursing through his veins, igniting every muscle fiber in his body with unbearable heat. It was like liquid lightning, crackling through his arms, coiling around his bones, roaring through him with untamed ferocity. He hadn't meant to use it like this, only just a fraction of his power, but his body reacted on its own, and before he knew it, his fist was already descending toward Kirishima with everything.
"No—no, no, no—!"
His mind screamed at him, his voice tearing out of his throat as he begged Kirishima to move."DODGE IT!"Kirishima saw it… he understood it in that single moment of clarity. Even in midair, even as the world spun around him, he felt the weight of what was coming. This wasn't an ordinary punch. This wasn't something that his hardened skin could simply shrug off.This was death. And for the first time in his life, Kirishima knew he had no way to block it. The sheer weight of the attack, the deadly force behind it, the realization that this was it. He had unleashed a beast.A cataclysmic shockwave detonated through the gym, sending concrete flying in all directions. The very ground beneath them shattered, spiderweb fractures tearing through the floor as dust and debris exploded outward.Students screamed, scrambling backward, arms thrown up to shield themselves from the sheer force of the impact. Some stumbled, nearly falling over from the raw, uncontrolled force of the blast."What the hell was that?!" Oijiro's voice cracked, his eyes wide with panic."Holy shit!" Mina gasped, her hands covering her mouth, eyes darting frantically between the settling dust and the remains of the gym floor.Todoroki's expression completely changed. His gaze was usually sharp, cold, calculating, but this time he was shocked for the first time.Then, as the smoke finally began to clear, the scene came into horrific view. All Might stood right by Izuku and Kirishima. His massive form loomed over them, his signature grin completely absent, replaced instead with something dark and grave. His right hand was gripping Izuku's wrist, just inches from Kirishima's face. The very air around them felt thick, charged with the remnants of an unfathomable force.Kirishima, still on the ground, exhaled shakily. "…Damn," he muttered under his breath, his chest heaving. "Man… That was intense." His voice, though hoarse, still held that same unwavering excitement. He wasn't angry. If anything, he sounded impressed.For a moment, nobody moved. And then, the real horror set in.Because Izuku's arm… The moment they saw it, the students gasped in sheer, unfiltered horror. It was mangled. Skin torn and blood dripping. The bones shattered, twisted in unnatural angles."Oh my God—" Iida took a step forward before stopping himself, face pale with shock."No way…" Uraraka whispered, her hands clamped over her mouth.Even those who had been laughing earlier, those who had been skeptical were now frozen in place, unable to tear their eyes away from the sheer gruesomeness of it. Several students looked away, unable to stomach the sight. Some instinctively pressed their hands over their mouths, suppressing the urge to gag.All Might turned to Izuku, his face filled with barely restrained rage and concern. "You lost control," he said, his voice heavy with something deeper, something painful.Aizawa moved closer to where the fight was. His eyes were wide, his instincts already in motion, the telltale red glow of his quirk having been seconds away from activation. But what startled him more than anything was the look on All Might's face.Not in the way Aizawa had ever seen before, not in the way of a hero reprimanding a reckless student but in the way of a mentor, of someone who knew exactly what had happened and was barely restraining his emotions.Izuku barely registered it. His whole body throbbed. His mind was spinning, drowning in waves of exhaustion and pain. He looked down at his arm, at the grotesque way it hung limply at his side, and for a moment, he barely recognized it as his own.His lips trembled, his breath uneven. "I…"All Might knelt down, his hand firm but gentle as he gripped Izuku's good shoulder."You need to control this," he said, voice quiet but firm. "Because if you don't…"Izuku swallowed, throat dry."Someone is going to get hurt." All Might finished.Izuku looked at Kirishima who had barely escaped a deathblow, from the destruction he had caused in just one miscalculated hit. This wasn't a quirk that merely made him strong. This was power without limits. And if he didn't learn how to wield it, how to hold back, he knew he wouldn't be able to stay here. He wouldn't be able to fight alongside his friends.Because this power… One for All.Could kill them all.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed! Looking forward to the next one! If you have favorited and followed the story, thank you. It means a lot!

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The teacher's lounge was eerily quiet.Aizawa stood near the window, arms crossed tightly over his chest, his narrowed eyes locked onto the figure sitting across from him. Toshinori Yagi—All Might—had his elbows propped on the desk, his fingers laced together as if in deep contemplation. The room was dimly lit, the blinds partially drawn, and the distant murmuring of students and faculty outside barely registered in the background.All Might's form hunched slightly forward. The weight of the conversation ahead pressed down on his already weakened body, yet his face betrayed no cracks.Aizawa exhaled sharply, pacing once before stopping. His voice was low, but the steel behind it was unmistakable."Talk."All Might closed his eyes briefly. He had expected this. He had known this confrontation was inevitable. The moment Aizawa had locked eyes with him after the mock battle, it had been written in stone. The only question now was how much to say.Aizawa had already held his tongue longer than most would have. But today, after what happened in the gym, after watching a student... a student who was supposed to be have his damage reflection quirk... Was now able to nearly reduce another to dust with raw, unchecked power... Aizawa couldn't afford to let this go."You knew something would happen, didn't you?" His words weren't an accusation, but a statement. "That's why you didn't flinch. Why you didn't interfere when Midoriya was struggling. Because you knew."All Might's fingers twitched slightly, but otherwise, he remained still. "It's not as simple as that.""No, it is simple Toshinori," Aizawa snapped, stepping closer, his sharp gaze piercing into All Might's eyes. "You knew something like this might happen. And yet you let it play out anyway." He leaned forward slightly, voice dropping to something more dangerous. "Why?"All Might hesitated, his fingers tightening around themselves.Aizawa narrowed his eyes. "You weren't even surprised, were you? A student who was registered as quirkless since he was a child, then having a quirk that I personally witnessed as reciprocal damage. Now suddenly throwing a punch with enough force to shatter reinforced concrete, and you're just..." His voice had a bite now, cold and controlled. "How did he get that strong? And why does he have a different quirk?"A tense beat passed between them. Then, All Might sighed, running a hand through his blond hair before leaning back into the chair. His voice, when he finally spoke, was measured, careful. "I was concerned. But I had to let it play out. I needed to see it for myself."Aizawa's grip on his arms tightened. That was not an answer, but a deflection. Not the answer he needed."And what, exactly, were you looking for?" Aizawa asked, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "Because what I saw, was a student using a completely different quirk from what he had before. And that's not even mentioning the fact that he damn near shattered the entire gym in the process."All Might remained silent, but the tension in his posture gave him away.Aizawa inhaled sharply through his nose, forcing himself to remain composed. He didn't like secrets. He didn't like being kept in the dark about something so crucial to his own damn students. This wasn't a small, insignificant detail. This was something that had the potential to upend everything.When he spoke again, his voice was low, firm, a quiet demand. "I need the truth. Now."Another moment of silence passed. Then, slowly, All Might straightened in his seat, exhaling as though he had finally made a decision."He lost it."Aizawa frowned. "What?"A pause."What I can tell you," he began carefully, his gaze steady, "is that when Midoriya was found at the League of Villains' hideout… his quirk was lost and the doctors later confirmed it was permanent."Aizawa's brows furrowed, his mind instantly moving to analyze that information. "Lost…? What do you mean lost?" His arms unfolded as he straightened slightly, watching All Might closely.All Might nodded. "He told me, and his mother, that after the USJ incident... after the villains took him. The quirk he once had was no longer there. Whatever was done to him, whatever they put him through, it stripped him of his quirk."Aizawa stilled for a moment. The quirk Midoriya had used against him in their first day at U.A. A powerful, almost cruel ability... one that forced attackers to feel the pain they inflicted upon him. Was now gone? That wasn't how quirks worked. His eyes flickered with something unreadable. He didn't speak, waiting for more."And that's… not normal. There aren't many people who can do something like that." All Might continued, voice even but weary. "He's been trying to adjust. But something… something happened during his captivity. I don't know what would have caused his quirk to disappear, and I don't know how. But I do know one thing." He leaned forward, lowering his voice. "What I can tell you, Aizawa, is that Midoriya's new quirk has nothing to do with the League of Villains."Aizawa studied him.He wasn't lying, but he also wasn't telling him everything. Aizawa felt a knot tighten in his gut. His mind raced, piecing together fragments of information, trying to make sense of it all. "So you're telling me Midoriya lost his quirk. Fine. I'll believe that for now," he said, his voice edged with restrained frustration. "But you're not telling me why the hell he has another one now? Where did it come from?"That question hung thick in the air.And All Might carefully, deliberately—did not answer.Aizawa's patience snapped. His hands slammed onto the desk, the loud thud reverberating through the room. "Damn it, Toshinori," he growled, voice sharp with frustration. "I need to know what's going on. You're keeping something from me, and I don't appreciate being left in the dark when one of my students is involved in something this dangerous." His fingers twitched in irritation. "Why didn't you tell me this sooner?" He shot back. "If you knew Midoriya had lost his quirk, why didn't you inform the staff? Why keep it quiet? Clearly Principal Nezu knew..."All Might hesitated. "Because it is a secret I cannot tell."Aizawa scoffed. "That's bullshit and you know it." His voice was sharp, edged with controlled anger. "He is our student. Keeping secrets like this—especially something this severe puts everyone at risk! And it nearly cost Kirishima his damn life today."All Might's gaze didn't waver. "I didn't know it would happen like this.""But you knew something would," Aizawa shot back. "You knew something was different. If you know what is going on, you need to control this!"A tense silence stretched between them.Aizawa exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. "So let me get this straight. Izuku has an ability that lets him destroy practically anything with a single punch?" He gestured toward the door, toward where the gym that was obliterated. "Does that sound normal to you?" His mind was running through the possibilities, dissecting every angle, every inconsistency. "And you're telling me this isn't connected to the villains?""It isn't," All Might said firmly. "Not his quirk."Aizawa clenched his jaw, his frustration barely restrained. "And I'm supposed to believe that? That he's not some ticking time bomb just waiting to go off?" His fingers curled into his sleeves. "Do you hear how ridiculous that sounds?"All Might closed his eyes for a moment, inhaling deeply before reopening them. "I know how it sounds." His voice was calm but unwavering. "But I need you to trust me."Aizawa let out a sharp breath through his nose, his gaze cold. "Trust isn't exactly something I give freely.""I know," All Might's expression softened slightly.Aizawa's jaw tightened. His instincts screamed at him that something wasn't right. That there was more to this than All Might was telling him. But no matter how hard he pushed, he wouldn't get the real answer. Not today."You understand that if one more thing happens—one more slip-up, one more incident where Midoriya can't control himself..." Aizawa's voice was deadly quiet, his eyes dark. "Then it won't matter what the school or the police have chosen to keep quiet. I will personally ensure that the truth about Thirteen's death is made public."All Might's eyes widened slightly.Aizawa's gaze didn't waver. "Volition or not, Midoriya killed a pro-hero. And you know damn well that this silence, this… cover-up, doesn't make it go away."All Might didn't immediately respond, his face carefully neutral."Midoriya might be innocent," Aizawa continued, voice still low. "But the trouble surrounding him isn't. He is somehow connected to the League of Villains, and I will not stop until I find out the truth."A heavy pause.Then just as Aizawa turned to leave, just as he reached for the door—All Might spoke."There's something else."Aizawa stopped in his tracks, his head turned slightly back.All Might hesitated, as if debating whether to continue, before finally exhaling sharply. "During the time Midoriya was held captive, he mentioned… seeing someone."Aizawa turned back, his brow furrowed. "Who?"All Might's hands clenched slightly against the table. His throat felt dry. "He… he met someone. A man in a mask. Someone who… reassured him. Who told him he would be saved. I don't know for certain, but it reminds me of someone... someone I defeated of a long time ago."Aizawa's blood ran cold.All Might hesitated again, before forcing the words out. "I don't know if it's real or not. I don't want it to be real. But if what Midoriya says is true… then there's only one person who could have done what happened to him."The weight of the realization pressed down on them both. Aizawa's fingers twitched at his sides, his breathing slow and measured. Because if that were true, if there was even the slightest possibility—Then that meant…Aizawa didn't speak. For the first time in a long time, true unease settled deep in his bones. If that was true… if there was even a shred of truth to what Midoriya saw… Then this only made his suspicions grow, that the worst was far from over. He was going to find this out himself.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Look forward to more coming soon and I hope you have an amazing day. Let me know what you think of the story so far? How do you think this will progress? Excited to see your reactions as always!

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The evening air was cool, the sky painted in deep hues of violet and navy as the last remnants of daylight faded over the U.A. campus. The campus was quiet now, most of the students already settled into their dorms for the night. The once bustling energy of the school had dulled into a calm stillness, the kind that should have been comforting. But for Izuku Midoriya, it was anything but.Each step he took toward the dormitory doors felt heavier than the last, like iron weights shackled around his ankles, dragging him down into the depths of an ocean he couldn't escape. His body ached, not from the battle with Kirishima, nor from the countless bruises and cuts he had received since the day he was saved—but from something deeper, something he couldn't name.Everything was wrong.His breath came out in short, shaky gasps as he reached the entrance of Heights Alliance, his designated dorm. His fingers twitched at his sides, Izuku didn't know why he felt this way… this overwhelming, suffocating wrongness. But it had been creeping up on him ever since the fight. No, ever since he used One for All. Ever since that power coursed through his veins, something had begun to shift.And now, standing in front of the door, he could no longer ignore it.The feeling of wrong spread through his chest like wildfire, a terrible, gnawing sensation that made his skin crawl. His fingers clenched tightly into the fabric of his pants, his legs trembling as he tried to steady himself. His breath hitched. He needed to breathe. He needed to calm down.Why… why does my body feel like this?His thoughts were racing, spiraling into a tangled mess of fear and confusion. He felt detached—like his body wasn't his own, like something foreign had taken root inside of him.He gasped, his knees buckling as he collapsed onto the pavement, hands clutching at his chest.His heartbeat was erratic, wild, hammering against his ribs with an intensity that sent waves of nausea up his throat. His lungs burned, his fingers curling into the cold ground beneath him, nails scraping against the concrete as he struggled to hold on to something… anything… that felt real.Flashes of the past few weeks flickered through his mind in disjointed fragments.USJ. Chains. Pain. Laughter.Blood.A voice—faint, distorted, whispering to him in the darkness.
"You will be saved."
Izuku squeezed his eyes shut, his breathing growing more frantic, more uneven. He felt like he was losing himself, like his body was rejecting him, rejecting who he was.His vision swam.The pain was unbearable.He wanted it to stop.And then footsteps, as the door swung open."Deku?"A soft voice, hesitant and filled with concern. Through his blurred vision, he saw Ochaco Uraraka standing at the doorway, eyes wide in alarm."Deku… what's wrong?!" She was already moving, dropping down beside him in an instant, her hands hovering uncertainly, unsure of what to do. "You're—you're shaking, oh my god—can you breathe?!"Her voice was distant, muffled, like he was hearing it through a tunnel. He could barely process her words, barely focus on anything except the sheer wrongness coursing through his veins.He tried to speak, to tell her he was fine, that he just needed a second, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, a strangled gasp escaped his lips as another wave of pain shot through his chest.Ochaco didn't hesitate. Without another word, she hooked her arms under his shoulders and hoisted him up. He barely registered the movement, his body feeling weak, unresponsive, almost like it wasn't his own."I'm getting you inside," she said, determination lacing her voice as she half-carried him through the entrance.The warmth of the common area hit him instantly, contrasting the cold night air outside. The light was too bright, too harsh against his senses. He flinched, his breath still uneven as he struggled to keep himself upright."Guys!" Ochaco called out, her voice urgent.There was a shuffling sound, followed by the familiar murmurs of his classmates. He could barely register the voices around him, Izuku could hear them speaking but the words felt distant, muddled."Midoriya?!""Izuku, are you okay?!""What the hell happened?!"He felt himself being lowered onto the couch, the pressure on his legs easing as he sank into the cushions. The voices around him were growing clearer now, their concern evident.Mina Ashido knelt beside him, her face etched with worry. "Dude, you're pale as hell—what happened to you?!"Iida was standing nearby, his posture tense, eyes filled with equal parts worry and confusion. "Uraraka, what happened? Did something occur outside?""I don't know!" Ochaco responded, her voice frantic. "I just—I heard something outside and when I opened the door, he was—he was on the ground! He could barely breathe!"Izuku felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. He turned slightly, his gaze meeting Tsuyu Asui's calm, yet worried expression."Midoriya," she said softly, her tone steady, "try to breathe. You're safe here."He let out a shuddering breath, his fingers gripping the fabric of his pants tightly. Safe. Was he?They were all watching him, waiting for an answer, for some kind of explanation as to why he had collapsed at the front door like his body was falling apart.But Izuku didn't have an answer. Because he didn't even know what was happening to him.He swallowed, forcing himself to speak, his voice barely above a whisper. "I… I'm sorry. I don't know what happened."There was a pause.Then, a voice spoke up—hesitant, unsure."Izuku."He looked up.Momo Yaoyorozu was watching him, her brows furrowed with concern. "Has this… happened before?"His lips parted slightly, but no sound came out.Had it? Had he felt this wrong before?Maybe.Maybe it had been there ever since the raid. Ever since he had been saved.He had ignored it, pushed it away, chalked it up to exhaustion, to stress, to everything that had happened to him. But now, now that his body had collapsed under the weight of it… he couldn't ignore it anymore.Ochaco was still by his side, her hand gripping his wrist gently. "Deku," she murmured, "you don't have to say anything right now. Just… just breathe, okay?"He nodded weakly, trying to steady himself.The weight in his chest hadn't disappeared. The wrongness was still there, lingering beneath the surface, waiting.But for now, surrounded by his classmates, he forced himself to hold it together. Even as his body continued to feel like it was not his own.The common room continued to be a blur of motion, voices overlapping, footsteps rushing in and out as the rest of Class 1-A poured down from their dorm rooms. Someone had sent a message through their group chat—Midoriya collapsed—and that was all it took for the entire class to drop whatever they were doing and rush to his side.He was dizzy, the panic attack having drained nearly every ounce of energy from him. But even in his haze, he felt the warmth of hands pressing ice packs to his forehead, bottles of water being placed in his lap, and voices calling for someone to grab a first-aid kit just in case."Should we call Recovery Girl?" Mina asked, hovering near him, her face pinched with concern. "Or—or an ambulance? He looks like he's gonna pass out again!""I don't think he needs an ambulance," Tsuyu interjected calmly, pressing a cold pack against his wrist. "But we should be ready if he does.""Midoriya," Kaminari said hesitantly, standing nearby, his usual carefree attitude replaced with something more serious. "What happened? You looked like you were… dying out there."Izuku took slow, measured breaths, his mind still swimming from the episode. The feeling of wrongness hadn't disappeared, but it had dulled to a numb hum in the back of his mind. He glanced around, taking in the expressions of his classmates… worried, confused, tense, but they were here. He wasn't alone.He exhaled shakily and forced a weak, tired smile. "I… I'm okay now," he muttered, though even as he said it, he knew it wasn't completely true. "Sorry for scaring everyone."The room didn't relax.Yaoyorozu was kneeling beside him, carefully examining his face for any signs that he was hiding something. "Midoriya," she said, her voice gentle but firm, "we understand that a lot has happened to you, but—" her gaze flickered toward his casted arm, her brows furrowing, "—what happened back in the gym, your return and injuries..."At the mention of his injury, more students turned their attention to the cast wrapped tightly around his arm, the brutal reminder of the mock battle against Kirishima. The realization of just how broken he was began to settle over the group. The swelling. The bruising. The toll."That fight took a lot out of you, huh?" Kirishima finally spoke up, rubbing the back of his neck. He had been watching quietly, guilt flickering across his face. "I—I didn't realize how bad it got. I mean, I figured you were holding back, but…" His voice trailed off as he looked at the damage. "Damn, dude."Silence.Too much had happened. It wasn't just the battle. It was everything.The USJ attack. The kidnapping. The media frenzy. His quirk—One for All, which was only known to him and All Might."You have to tell us what happened," Todoroki said suddenly. His voice cut through the murmurs like a blade, his mismatched eyes locking onto Izuku's with an intensity that made his stomach twist. "We can't keep pretending like nothing's wrong."The room tensed."Todoroki, maybe this isn't the right time—" Ochaco began, stepping forward protectively, but Izuku raised a hand to stop her."It's okay," Izuku said quietly.She looked at him, hesitant, before stepping back.Todoroki took a step closer. His expression wasn't angry… but it was something close. Suspicion, maybe. Concern, definitely. His sharp gaze flickered between Izuku's cast, his pale face, and the fading scars that trailed along his skin. "Midoriya, I don't think you're a bad person. But I can't trust you until I understand what's going on." His tone was level, but there was an unmistakable edge to it. "There are too many gaps, too many things being covered up." His fingers clenched at his sides. "What the hell happened to you?"The weight of Todoroki's words sent an uncomfortable ripple through the group."He's right," Yaoyorozu admitted, standing to her full height, her eyes filled with the same quiet unease. "We've been left in the dark. The USJ attack, the raid on the League's hideout, the fact that your quirk has changed—" her voice softened slightly, "—we're your classmates, Midoriya. We deserve to know the truth."The tension in the air grew unbearable.Izuku swallowed. His mouth felt dry, his throat tight. He wanted to say something, to explain… to give them the answers they were looking for, but he didn't have them.The truth?What truth? That he had woken up in chains? That he had been tortured, manipulated, forced to fight? That he had killed someone and didn't even remember doing it? That he had lost his old quirk and now wielded something far more dangerous, something that he still didn't understand?How could he tell them any of that? How could he look them in the eyes and say, I don't even know who I am anymore?He clenched his fists."I…"He hesitated."Guys," Iida spoke up, his voice uncharacteristically soft. He adjusted his glasses, looking at Izuku with a rare vulnerability. "Midoriya doesn't have to explain everything to us right now."Todoroki didn't move. "He does, and I need to understand exactly who he is now.""He will," Iida reassured him. "But right now, he's been through enough." He turned back to Izuku, his voice steady. "We just need you to know, Midoriya, that you don't have to go through this alone. Whatever happened… whatever is still happening—we want to help you."Kirishima nodded, stepping beside Iida. "He's right, dude. You don't have to say anything right now. Just let us be here for you."The words hit something deep inside of Izuku—something raw, something fragile.His fingers trembled at his sides.They wanted to help him. Even after everything, even after all the rumors, the uncertainty, the fear—they were still here.He exhaled shakily, lowering his head, unable to meet their eyes."Thank you," he whispered.A silence settled over Class 1-A, thick with an unspoken understanding. Izuku's whispered gratitude had been small, fragile—yet, despite the cracks forming in his voice, it was genuine.For a brief moment, the weight pressing down on the room seemed to ease.The students, though still on edge, exchanged glances, searching for reassurance in each other's expressions. Even Todoroki and Yaoyorozu, who had been pressing for answers just moments before, hesitated. There was something off about Midoriya. He had changed.And they weren't just imagining it.When he had first arrived at U.A., he had commanded attention, whether he had intended to or not. His movements were calculated, tactical, his words always direct. There had been confidence in his stance, a sharp determination that felt unshakable.But now…That presence was gone.The boy standing in front of them looked lost, adrift, a shell of someone who once existed.His smile—the one that should have reassured them—only made the unease worse. Because it wasn't fake, it wasn't forced, but there was something deeply unsettling about how genuine it was, despite the dreadful emptiness behind his eyes. His fingers curled tightly against his knees, his head hanging low, strands of green hair falling over his face as he exhaled sharply, shaking his head.Izuku wanted to say something, anything… to reassure them, to break the unbearable silence but no words came."Midoriya," Yaoyorozu finally spoke, her voice quieter than usual, the rigid confidence she often carried laced with hesitation. "We didn't mean to push you this far… I hope you know that."Izuku blinked slowly, glancing up at her. There was genuine concern in her gaze, but it was Todoroki that caught his attention. The boy hadn't moved from where he stood, still watching him carefully, analyzing him like an equation he couldn't solve.For a moment, Todoroki didn't speak but he couldn't back down like the others. Slowly, his eyes trailed over Izuku's battered arm, the remnants of the cast that encased it, before he finally let out a slow breath. "You're different," he stated plainly, his mismatched gaze unreadable. "You know that, don't you?"Izuku stiffened."You're not the same person from before USJ," Todoroki continued, his tone even, but there was something underneath it, something uncertain. "Even in our first classes together, you were decisive. Even when you challenged Aizawa, you had a plan. You knew what you were doing. But now?" He narrowed his eyes slightly, tilting his head as if trying to understand. "You're like a completely different person."A slow, dry laugh escaped Izuku's lips before he could stop it. He wasn't even sure why he laughed—it wasn't funny. "Yeah," he muttered, voice barely above a whisper, staring down at the tiled floor beneath him. "I guess I am."That only seemed to unsettle the class even more.Todoroki finally spoke again, this time slower, more controlled, still analyzing him carefully. "Midoriya…" His voice was measured, as if still trying to make sense of the boy standing before him. "What happened after the raid?""…After the raid?" Izuku exhaled, rubbing his bandaged arm absentmindedly. His throat felt dry, but he forced himself to continue. "I… I don't remember everything. But…" He swallowed hard. "I do remember…"Izuku paused, seemingly lost and broken. "I… I remember being tortured," he muttered.The room went deathly still. The words shattered the atmosphere in an instant..No one spoke. No one breathed.His voice had been quiet when he said it, but it felt like it had echoed, the weight of the admission sinking into the very air around them. He hadn't even realized what he had said until he noticed the looks on their faces… the horror, the sheer disbelief, the way Yaoyorozu's hands trembled at her sides, how Kaminari's eyes widened, how Ochaco's breath hitched.He swallowed hard."I don't remember everything," he admitted, forcing himself to continue. "But I remember the pain. I remember... screaming." His fingers dug into his pants, nails pressing against the fabric as he tried to force himself to keep speaking, to get it out before he lost his nerve. "There were voices. I think—I think they hurt me, but I don't know why. I don't even know how long it lasted." His throat felt tight. "I was chained up when All Might found me. I couldn't move, I couldn't—"His hands trembled as his chest tightened. And then, without thinking, he moved.His fingers slipped underneath the fabric of his shirt, gripping the hem. A part of him screamed not to do this, to stop, to keep it hidden… but another part, the part that had been carrying this weight alone for so long, the part that was suffocating beneath the weight of everything he didn't understand, needed them to see.He pulled his shirt up as gasps filled the room. A few students cursed under their breath. It was worse than any of them had imagined.His torso was littered with scars. Deep, jagged lines criss crossed his skin like reminders of a war he had no memory of fighting. Some were thin and faded, others fresh, harsh, a grotesque canvas of suffering and unanswered questions. There were burns that hadn't healed properly, cuts that looked like they had been deliberately placed—some in patterns that no one could decipher. It was the body of someone who had suffered for months, not days.But Izuku didn't know that. To him, this was all from the raid.And as he looked down at himself, at the horrified expressions of his classmates, at the way Yaoyorozu's hand covered her mouth, at the way Todoroki's fists clenched at his sides, at the way Ochaco's eyes began to glisten with unshed tears, a horrifying thought crept into his mind.What if they were right? What if he really wasn't the same person anymore? What if something had happened to him—something he couldn't remember—and now he was just an echo of whoever he used to be?The room was too quiet. The silence too deafening.And then, suddenly, a warmth.Ochaco had moved before she even realized what she was doing. Her arms wrapped around him tightly, pulling him against her, her grip firm, secure, unwavering. It wasn't hesitant, it wasn't out of pity, it was real. A simple, undeniable act of comfort.Izuku froze as his breath hitched. For a moment, he didn't know how to react. But then, his body broke.His fingers curled against her back, his shoulders shaking as his vision blurred. He hadn't realized he was crying until he felt the wetness streak down his face. Ugly, broken sobs wracked his chest as his entire body trembled under the sheer weight of everything… the fear, the confusion, the guilt, the unanswered questions, the fact that he felt like a stranger in his own skin.Ochaco didn't say anything. She just held him.And for the first time in what felt like an eternity, he let himself fall apart.The rest of the class watched, silent, their previous interrogations now feeling cruel, their own concerns suddenly insignificant in the face of the reality before them.After a moment, Ochaco pulled back slightly, wiping her eyes. "Maybe…" she hesitated, looking around at the rest of the class before turning back to Izuku. "Maybe we should give him some space for now. We can talk later. But right now, he just… needs to rest."The others hesitated. Then, one by one, they nodded.Todoroki sighed, glancing at Izuku one last time before stepping back. "I still need to know more," he muttered, but his voice lacked the sharpness it had before. "But I get it."Yaoyorozu swallowed thickly. "We'll talk later, Midoriya," she said, her voice softer now. "For now, just… take care of yourself."The group slowly dispersed, leaving behind a handful of people—Ochaco, Tsuyu, Iida, and Kirishima.The four of them stayed, because they weren't leaving him alone. Not tonight. Not anymore.The warmth of his friends around him should have been comforting. The room was filled with a gentle hum of conversation, Kirishima was still muttering about how he'd have to get Izuku some protein shakes, Tsuyu was quietly reminding him to rest properly, Iida was already mapping out a schedule to ensure Izuku wouldn't overexert himself, and Ochaco hadn't moved an inch from his side, her presence grounding him.It should have been safe. But it wasn't.A sudden lump formed in his chest, heavy and unrelenting, as if his ribs were caving inward under an unseen weight. His breath hitched, his lungs tightening, and just as he was about to excuse himself to get some fresh air…Something inside of him stirred.A primal, horrific, inhuman force, a presence so overwhelming and suffocating that it threatened to consume everything he was. And then—
"This is fucking pathetic… get out of my body."
Izuku's entire world froze, blood turned to ice.His body seized up, his muscles locking so tightly that even breathing felt like a monumental effort. The voice had not been external. It had not come from the room, nor from outside.It had come from inside him.It was deep, low, and twisted, seeping into his mind like poison bleeding into water. It carried with it a weight beyond understanding, something vast and unfathomable, something that should not exist within him.His vision swam. His heartbeat pounded violently in his ears. His fingers dug into the fabric of his pants as the air in the room became unbearable."Izuku? What's wrong?" Ochaco's voice. Distant. Muffled. Like she was speaking to him from the other end of a long, dark tunnel.Izuku tried to move, to look at her, but his body refused.The voice laughed—a sickening, amused chuckle that crawled up his spine like a thousand writhing insects.
"You may not remember anything… and it's preventing me from saying more."
Izuku felt a sharp, piercing pain behind his eyes, a sensation like something was trying to force its way into his thoughts. He gasped, his breath ragged, and his friends noticed."Deku?" Kirishima's voice, uncertain."Midoriya, are you alright?" Iida, always so observant, now growing increasingly alarmed.But Izuku wasn't listening, because the voice spoke again.
"That damn A̷̝͆̌͝l̴̡̯̍̿l̸̞͖͐̆̾ ̶̹̺̾͑̍͘F̶̰̠̾͌̚o̵̝̠̎̀̎r̶̰̜̐͗ ̸̡̡̖͗͑̃Ō̴͇̥̐̇̾N̷̹̩̒̀̌͝Ë̶̞͚͑͋…"
The word… a name… that should have been clear, should have been something he understood, something he recognized was twisted unnaturally, warping itself beyond comprehension, like something not meant to be spoken aloud.He could hear it.But he couldn't comprehend it, as if whatever the voice said was purposefully blocked off from saying it. It was just out of reach, like a memory buried under layers of fog, something he should know but wasn't allowed to.Izuku's stomach twisted into a tight knot of pure, unnatural dread.
"I will make sure you do remember…"
The voice was closer now. Right behind him. No—inside him.
"Painfully."
His pulse skyrocketed.
"Slowly."
A sharp, unbearable pressure crushed his skull."And then, you will finally accept reality… who the real me is." It paused, as almost it's voice was smiled. "And what a wonderful gift you have presented to me."And then silence… The presence vanished as if it had never been there. The crushing weight, the suffocating terror, the unnatural pressure, all gone.Izuku inhaled sharply, his body lurching forward as he gasped for air, his lungs burning as if he had been drowning seconds ago. The room spun violently, but the warmth of hands grasping his shoulders brought him back."Deku!"Ochaco's face was inches from his, her brown eyes wide with pure, unfiltered concern.Kirishima was crouched beside him, gripping his forearm like an anchor. Iida had his hand on his shoulder, brows furrowed in worry. Tsuyu, though quiet, was watching him with an expression that bordered on fear."You just—" Ochaco swallowed thickly, "You froze up. You weren't blinking. We were calling your name but you didn't respond."Izuku's lips parted slightly, trying to find an answer, an excuse, something that would make sense.But there was nothing. Nothing that would explain what just happened. Nothing that would make them stop looking at him like that.So he forced himself to smile. It felt wrong, like his face was being stretched unnaturally, but he had to try."S-Sorry," he said, his voice weaker than he intended. "I—uh, just zoned out for a second. Probably still a little out of it from earlier." He let out a shaky chuckle, scratching his arm in a way he hoped was convincing enough.His friends didn't look convinced. But after a long, tense pause Ochaco exhaled and smiled, though her worry hadn't faded. "Jeez, you scared us for a second, Deku.""Yeah, man, don't do that!" Kirishima grinned, but there was something strained behind it. "I was about to call Recovery Girl."Iida nodded, adjusting his glasses. "Perhaps it would be best for you to rest. Your body has already undergone an immense amount of stress today."Izuku forced himself to laugh softly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah… you're probably right."The tension in the room eased slightly, but the unease in his chest didn't fade. Because deep down, he knew the truth. That voice hadn't been a hallucination.
A/N: This was a super fun chapter to write! It looks like something or someone has awakened? For better or for worse... Hope you enjoyed! Leave a favourite, follow, and a review! I always love seeing how you guys break down the story.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The air was thick with the scent of sweat and steel. A sharp, metallic tang that mingled with the rhythmic echoes of heavy breathing and the deep, resounding impacts of fists slamming against reinforced dummies. The artificial lighting overhead was harsh, casting elongated shadows against the walls, stretching Izuku's already exhausted figure across the gym floor.His arms trembled violently as he forced himself into another stance, his entire body a tapestry of bruises, raw patches of torn skin, and aching muscles that screamed in protest with every minuscule movement. Yet, even as pain threatened to pull him into the depths of exhaustion, he refused to stop.This was his training, his burden to carry. One for All was a beast that refused to be tamed.All Might stood a few meters ahead, watching carefully, his sharp blue eyes analyzing every movement, every misstep, every minor shift in Izuku's posture. He was no longer smiling, no longer the charismatic hero that the world adored. Instead, he was focused, intense, commanding."Again!" All Might's voice rang through the gym like a whip, snapping Izuku's hazy mind back to reality. Izuku gritted his teeth and planted his feet into the ground, his breath sharp as he focused everything into his core.Five percent. No more. No less.Electricity crackled through his muscles, surging up his limbs like wildfire. The force of One for All coiled within him, restrained yet potent, filling every fiber of his being with the promise of destruction if he lost control.A flash of power snapped through his limbs, veins igniting with pure force as he launched himself forward. The reinforced training dummy stood firm, unmoving, awaiting his strike. He pivoted as his feet skidding against the polished floor, the kinetic energy building too quickly with a violent shift in momentum—and then—CRACK!Izuku's fist connected.The shockwave rattled the metal supports holding the dummy in place. The impact vibrated up his entire arm, rattling him to his core. For a moment, his heart swelled with satisfaction until the familiar searing pain tore through his tendons like wildfire.His knuckles split open, the flesh peeling away in jagged cuts, rivulets of blood dripped onto the floor beneath him. The pain, sharp and unforgiving, nearly sent him collapsing. But he gritted his teeth and stayed on his feet, arms shaking uncontrollably as he gasped for air."Again." All Might's voice rang out stern and commanding.Izuku barely managed to lift his head, sweat-drenched hair clinging to his forehead. His breath was ragged, his vision swimming in and out of focus."A-All Might—""Again!"All Might was relentless, the sheer authority in his mentor's voice sent a chill down his spine. All Might wasn't giving him room to hesitate. He wasn't going to let Izuku take this slowly. Not anymore.Izuku clenched his fists, ignoring the sting in his fingers, the rawness of his aching muscles, and forced himself forward again. He wiped the sweat from his brow, his lungs burning as he squared his shoulders. He couldn't afford to stop.He shifted his weight, inhaled deeply, and this time—Ten percent.His muscles screamed in protest, but he ignored the pain. He darted forward again, faster, pushing past his previous limit. The power exploded through him, lightning-like currents crackling through his bloodstream, sending violent tremors through his frame. He felt lighter, faster… unstoppable.His leg swung around in a vicious arc, striking the dummy's core with brutal force. The metal frame groaned under the impact, denting slightly before rebounding the shock back into his leg.Izuku's body rejected the force.He barely had time to react before his knee gave out, buckling under the sheer recoil of his own strength. He hit the floor with a harsh, bone-rattling thud, his vision flickering as pain rocketed through his limbs.A split-second later, All Might's hand was on his shoulder, gripping tightly, not in reprimand but in concern."That's enough." His voice, still rough, carried a softer edge now.Izuku couldn't reply… his chest heaved, lungs struggling to draw in oxygen. His arms, riddled with deep bruises and torn skin, hung limply at his sides. His body was battered, but his mind... his mind was somewhere else.It wasn't just exhaustion that made his hands tremble. It wasn't just pain that made him feel so utterly detached from his own skin.It was that voice from last night. The one that had spoken to him in the dorms, that had whispered to him in that dark, hollow, suffocating moment."Get out of my body."Even now, those words clawed at his consciousness, rattling around in his skull like an unsolvable equation. It didn't make sense. Who was that? What did it mean? Why did it sound so much like—"Midoriya."All Might was crouched in front of him now, concern deep in his gaze. "You need to take a break," he said, his voice no longer the commanding, booming presence it had been moments ago. It was softer now, controlled. "You've pushed yourself too hard.""I can still—""No, Midoriya." All Might's tone hardened slightly. "This isn't about how much pain you can take. You won't get stronger if you keep breaking yourself before you even reach your peak."Izuku looked away, shame burning at the edges of his exhausted mind."Besides," All Might exhaled, standing to his full height, his shadow looming over Izuku, "we both know you have more to train than just your body."Izuku swallowed hard, unsure of what that meant, but unwilling to ask.The heavy echo of approaching footsteps broke the silence."Honestly, Toshinori, I should make you do laps for waking me up this early," Recovery Girl huffed, arms crossed, her gaze sharp and disapproving. "I know I agreed to help the boy, but he's one step away from collapsing. Have you no shame?"Recovery Girl wasted no time. Before Izuku could protest, she leaned in, pressing a kiss to his forehead, and immediately, a warm rush of energy flooded through him. His injuries began mending, muscle fibers weaving back together, bones strengthening, bruises fading.But even as his body healed, his mind didn't. The exhaustion remained, the dread still clung to his ribs, and that voice still whispered at the back of his head, lingering like a specter waiting to strike."Alright," Recovery Girl sighed, stepping back as Izuku's wounds finished closing up. "You're not fully recovered, but at least you won't collapse on your way back. I gather you can push yourself just a little more, but only one more time!"Izuku nodded, voice still shaky. "Thank you."She rolled her eyes. "Just don't make a habit of getting yourself killed every morning. I'll be back soon." Recovery girl then left, making it a habit to stare at All Might one last time, warning him silently.All Might chuckled, but there was still a lingering unease in his expression. Then, his gaze locked onto Izuku's, sharp, evaluating, unreadable."Midoriya."Izuku froze."Get ready. You and I are sparring."Izuku stared. "…Huh?"All Might cracked his neck, rolling his shoulders as if preparing for battle. "You need control. You need precision. And the best way to do that," he said, grinning, though there was an unmistakable seriousness behind his eyes, "is to train with me since I am one of the few heroes who can manage anything you throw."The weight of the challenge settled over Izuku like an unmovable force. He had just barely begun to control One for All, and now he was being asked to fight the man who had mastered it.For a brief moment, that same fear crept in. Was he ready for this?…Was he even worthy of this power?All Might's grin widened. "Get ready, Midoriya."Izuku felt his heartbeat thunder in his chest. This was it. There was no turning back now.The gymnasium hummed with tension, the silence was deafening.All Might, in his prime form, exhaled deeply, steam rolling off his body like a raging furnace about to ignite. The sheer pressure of his presence made the ground feel unsteady beneath Izuku's feet. This wasn't the warm, encouraging mentor that had guided him until now… this was the Symbol of Peace in his full, terrifying might.And Izuku was expected to fight him.His breath hitched in his throat as he instinctively clenched his fists, his entire body tensing. Sweat was already pooling at the back of his neck, his heartbeat hammering against his ribcage with a frantic, erratic rhythm.This was impossible.. he wasn't ready. How was he supposed to fight All Might?How could he even think about standing his ground when a single flick of that man's wrist could send him cratering into the wall like a fly swatted midair? His body screamed at him to run, to get away, to do anything but face the overwhelming force in front of him.But there was no escaping this.All Might cracked his knuckles, his expression unreadable but determined. "Don't hesitate, Midoriya."A chill ran down Izuku's spine."If you want to understand your power, then you need to push yourself beyond fear. Beyond doubt."All Might's muscles coiled like loaded springs, his entire stance shifting ever so slightly. His mere presence filled the gym like an approaching storm, his gaze steady and unwavering."Don't hold back. If you do, you'll never master One for All."Izuku swallowed, his throat dry as he shifted his feet into a defensive stance. He forced himself to focus, inhaling deeply, centering his mind the way All Might had drilled into for All flared inside him, an electric surge threading through his veins.Yet the moment was short-lived as All Might vanished.Izuku barely had time to register it before a punch that promised annihilation barreled toward him. He activated 5 percent of One for All in his legs, instinct kicking in just in time for him to pivot to the side. The sheer force of the missed punch sent a gust of wind tearing through the air, ripping across his uniform.His breath caught in his throat. If that had hit…If he hadn't dodged just now…All Might let out a booming laugh, not out of mockery but sheer exhilaration. "Good! That's the instinct you need to sharpen!"Izuku barely had time to register what was happening before All Might moved again."But dodging alone won't save you!" A shadow loomed over him, and before he could react, All Might's fist crashed into his stomach.Pain. Searing, mind-numbing pain as it exploded through Izuku's torso as his body was lifted off the ground. Everything blurred as he was sent flying across the gym.The impact came an eternity later, his back crashing against the reinforced walls with bone-rattling force. Dust and debris exploded outward, filling the air with thick clouds as he crumpled to the floor, gasping.His lungs burned. His vision swam. He coughed, tasting iron on his tongue. Blood.Somewhere, through the fog of his mind, he heard All Might curse under his breath."Damn it."All Might was moving toward him now, concern replacing the excitement in his eyes. He must've realized he had overdone it. Izuku knew that punch wasn't even close to All Might's true strength, but for someone still adapting to One for All, it may as well have been a death blow.His arms shook as he pressed his palms into the floor, trying to push himself up. His body felt like it was made of lead, his ribs aching with every shallow breath.But he couldn't stay down.He wouldn't.Izuku forced himself to his knees, then staggered to his feet, legs trembling, battered, barely holding his weight.All Might paused, eyes widening slightly. "You're still standing?"Izuku let out a weak, breathless chuckle, his vision hazy. "Barely…" The moment of respect was fleeting.Izuku's legs buckled, and before he knew it, he collapsed onto the mat once more.All Might sighed, running a hand down his face. "This isn't enough, Midoriya. You need to be stronger than this."Izuku heard him, but the words barely registered. Something else was clawing at his mind, something dark.
"Pathetic."
The voice slithered through his skull, wrapping around his thoughts like a vice.Izuku froze. It was back.
"You call this fighting?"
His breath hitched, his fingers twitching.
"You can barely stand after a single hit. You're worthless like this."
No, no, no! His mind screamed at him to block it out, to push it away—
"Let me show you how to fight."
A sharp pain lanced through his skull, and suddenly the gym faded around him. The world shifted, twisted. His vision darkened, his muscles locking up, his heartbeat erratic. For a moment, he wasn't in the gym anymore. He wasn't at U.A… just darkness. A void.
"Let me take control, and I'll show you what real strength looks like."
His pulse hammered. He wanted to resist. He had to resist. But…
"JUST FUCKING DO IT."
Suddenly Izuku gasped as his senses crashed into him. The world came back violently, the gym snapping into focus. He was on his hands and knees, sweat dripping from his face, his breath ragged.All Might was watching him with a deep frown, his posture stiff."Midoriya…?" His voice was cautious now, wary. "I think we should call it for the rest of the day."The sound of heavy, ragged breathing filled the gym, intermingling with the faint crackle of settling dust. The floor was cracked in multiple places, fine splinters of concrete marking the trail where Izuku had been sent flying. Blood dripped from his lips, crimson staining his already battered form. He could barely move, his limbs unresponsive, each breath feeling like fire scorching his lungs.And yet…A sound started from deep within his chest, bubbling up in broken gasps. It was quiet at first, barely more than a whisper carried by the trembling in his body. But it grew. Soft chuckles twisted into strained laughter. Then deeper. Louder, and finally hysterical.Izuku's head lolled forward, his green curls matted with blood, his shoulders shaking as the laughter spilled from his lips like something deranged, something wrong.All Might took a cautious step forward, his brows furrowing. "Midoriya?"The laughter only escalated. The boy's entire frame convulsed with mirth, as if he had just heard the greatest joke of his life. His lungs heaved, broken giggles twisting into breathless wheezes, as if something inside him had finally snapped.Izuku's shoulders shook as he bent forward, blood spilling from his split lip, dribbling down his chin onto the ruined floor. His entire body trembled, but not in pain.And then, suddenly—Izuku stopped.His head snapped up so fast that All Might felt something coil in his stomach, something instinctual and dangerous. His eyes wide, unfocused, and gleaming with something feral locked onto the towering hero before him. His mouth was curled into a grin, but it wasn't the hopeful, nervous smile that All Might had grown familiar with.This one was twisted. Hungry.His entire face was smeared with blood, his lips split open, his nose slightly crooked from the repeated impacts. And yet, despite the state of his body, he looked exhilarated. And then he finally exhaled, a shuddering sigh of pleasure.For a moment, All Might hesitated. This wasn't fear-induced adrenaline. This wasn't reckless determination from the boy he knew.Izuku's gaze flicked down to his trembling hands, fingers twitching erratically as if experiencing something foreign, something he hadn't felt in a long, long time. He flexed them experimentally, curling and uncurling his fingers, marveling at the sensation."It feels so good…" Izuku whispered, the words slithering from his throat with an almost reverent awe. His voice was raw, ragged, each syllable like the scrape of jagged glass. "So good to feel pain again…"All Might's stomach clenched. "Midoriya, that's enough," All Might warned, his voice firm but not unkind. He took a step forward, cautious but ready to intervene at any moment. "You've pushed yourself too far today. Recovery Girl will treat you again, and—"Izuku swayed slightly on his feet, his movements erratic. His knees buckled for a brief second before he caught himself, his entire body trembling, as if something inside of him was breaking apart and barely holding itself together.Then, suddenly—he lunged.Faster than All Might expected.Izuku rushed forward, his body barely functioning but moving with a terrifying animalistic speed. His breath came in short bursts, his chest heaving as if his very existence depended on this moment. His feet barely found purchase on the ground, but that didn't stop him.All Might had no time to react.A wild fist shot toward him, coated in 100% of One for All.It was reckless. Desperate. Suicidal. All Might barely managed to brace himself before the impact connected.The entire gym shook as the punch landed against his forearm with enough force to send tremors through his bones, his boots sliding back across the broken floor. The sheer power behind it was monstrous.All Might's face tightened with alarm. Izuku had never used this level of force before."Midoriya!" he barked, but Izuku wasn't listening.The voice inside his head was laughing. "Yes… that's it. That's it. Keep going. More. MORE."Izuku staggered back, his right arm now a ruined mess of flesh and shattered bone, hanging limply at his side. Blood poured from the broken limb, but instead of stopping, instead of even reacting to the pain, he merely let out a wheezing, bloodied laugh."FIGHT ME, OLD MAN!" The words tore from his throat like a war cry.All Might's heart stopped for just a moment. This wasn't right.Izuku's eyes gleamed with something detached from reality, his body trembling but still itching for battle. His posture was erratic, like a puppet whose strings had been cut but still moving purely out of instinct."That's enough, Midoriya!" All Might shouted, his deep voice booming through the wrecked gym. His patience had run dry—whatever was happening to Izuku, he had to stop it now before the boy tore himself apart.But Izuku only giggled, the sound giddy and deranged, before slowly lifting his head to meet All Might's gaze. His eyes—those eyes— sent a chill down the Symbol of Peace's spine. Wide, unblinking, pupils shrunk to pinpricks, his irises gleaming with something dark, something primal.Before Izuku could charge again, All Might rushed forward with a speed that blurred the world around them.His massive arm locked around Izuku's left limb, his grip firm but not crushing, intending to subdue him before things got even worse. But before he could tighten his hold, Izuku merely tilted his head back, his grin widening."Make me."With no hesitation, Izuku twisted violently, contorting his own body in a way that sent a sickening crack reverberating through the gym. His left arm snapped like brittle glass, the bones shattering under the sheer torque of his own movement.All Might's grip faltered for just a fraction of a second, but it was enough.Izuku broke free. The moment of hesitation was all he needed. With a crazed snarl, he drove his right fist forward—100 percent power. All Might barely had time to brace.The impact was devastating.The punch connected with All Might's jaw, sending him rocketing backward. He crashed through the farthest wall, smashing through concrete like paper, his body embedding into the debris. A deafening explosion followed, dust and rubble scattering in all directions.For the first time in years—Toshinori Yagi tasted blood from being hit.From the wreckage, he coughed, crimson splattering onto the ruined ground. That hit… His vision swam for a moment before he forced himself to focus. Even holding back, he hadn't expected such an overwhelming strike. That wasn't just brute force… it was fighting instinct. The kind of ferocity honed through real battle.He couldn't afford to hold back anymore. Not against this.Izuku stood amidst the destruction, his body swaying as if barely able to hold itself upright. But his expression… he was smiling.The weight in the air shifted. It was suffocating, heavy like gravity itself had tripled.The gym felt smaller. Darker.All Might had fought many enemies, monsters, villains, people with the power to level cities… but never had he felt this. A creeping, oppressive dread settled over him as he stared at the boy before him, his student, his successor… or so he thought.Izuku lifted a trembling, bloodied hand, curling his fingers in a beckoning motion. Challenging him."You said I need to become stronger and control it," Izuku rasped, his voice hoarse from the battle. He took a slow step forward, then another, his breath shuddering, but his grin never wavered. "I'm doing what you asked!""Not like this!" All Might roared, slamming his foot into the ground. He wouldn't let this continue. He had to put an end to it now.Izuku's body was completely wrecked… his right arm hung limply, broken beyond recognition, his left arm a mangled mess of flesh and shattered bone. But he kept moving.Kept laughing.All Might charged.Izuku did too.The sound of their blows echoed like thunder, shaking the very foundation of the gym. All Might's punches came hard and fast, each one controlled, but with enough force to knock a lesser opponent unconscious. But Izuku—he dodged. Slipping between the strikes with an almost unnatural precision, twisting his broken body in ways that shouldn't have been possible.All Might gritted his teeth. "How? How was he moving like this?"The precision. The fluidity. The madness. It reminded him of… no. He couldn't think about that now.He threw a right hook, yet Izuku ducked. Then knee to the gut that Izuku redirected. A backhand strike and to his surprise Izuku twisted at the last second, letting it slide past his cheek, laughing all the while.Their movements became faster.More violent. More chaotic.Blow after blow, block after block, strike after strike. Their battle escalated into something that no longer resembled a training match. It was a brawl, brutal and devastating.And then—All Might saw an opening.With both of Izuku's arms beyond use, he lunged. "Grapple him. Subdue him. Stop this madness."But before he could close the distance, Izuku spoke. "You couldn't even save one person at USJ. Not even Thirteen."All Might stopped. His heart skipped a beat.Izuku's eyes glowed with something dark, something unnatural. His voice dripped with venom.He kicked the concrete in front of him at 100 percent power, causing his right leg to completely break apart. The force shattered the ground, sending thousands of sharp shards flying at mach speed toward All Might.He barely managed to shield himself, crossing his arms in front of his face as the debris struck him like bullets. Rubble. Dust. Chaos.And then Izuku moved through it. Using the screen of debris, he lunged, now his left leg at 100 percent.All Might barely saw him in time. But he saw his face, and he felt fear. Eyes that were once filled with kindness, hope were gone. All that was left was emptiness, a smile that belonged to a demon.The last thing All Might saw before impact was Izuku Midoriya flying at him, headfirst, broken, flailing, grinning like a monster.And then suddenly… Izuku's body locked up.His muscles froze mid-motion. His expression twisted in panic, his pupils dilating as if something had just been ripped out of him."No—!"The manic grin vanished, replaced by wide-eyed horror.The voice screamed. "NO! YOU COWARD! YOU FAKE!"And then silence as the madness faded. The dark presence, the voice, the overwhelming hunger for destruction was gone.All Might coughed violently, blood pooling in his mouth as Izuku's shattered body hit the floor. The gym was in complete ruin, craters gouged into the floor, walls shattered like brittle glass, debris scattered across every inch of the battlefield. The very air felt thick, charged with something primal, something unnatural.And in the center of it all, Izuku Midoriya lay motionless.His body was utterly wrecked. Arms, legs, everything twisted at grotesque angles, his limbs shattered beyond recognition. His uniform was drenched in blood, his chest barely rising and falling, and his breath came out in shallow, pained gasps. The eerie stillness around him made it seem like he wasn't even alive.All Might, barely standing himself, was hunched over, one knee crashing onto the floor as he coughed violently, his breath ragged, his body shaking. What had he just witnessed?That wasn't… that couldn't have been Izuku. A monster? A remnant of his trauma? Some psychological break from everything he had endured? Or had the villains done something to him? His mind spun with possibilities, but none of them made sense. That level of aggression. That level of madness.There was no hatred in the boy's eyes. Just emptiness. Like he didn't care about the pain, the destruction, the way he fought, the way he laughed, the way his body moved even when it was broken beyond reason… it was inhuman.The heavy sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the ruined gym as Recovery Girl finally burst in, gasping in horror."WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HIM?!" she shrieked, rushing over to the boy's broken form. Her hands trembled as she pressed her fingers against his neck, searching—praying—for a pulse.All Might barely managed to turn his head toward her, his lips slightly parted, his mind still caught in the spiraling storm of what had just occurred. His voice wouldn't come out."He's alive," Recovery Girl breathed in relief, but her eyes were still filled with fury. "But just barely! His bones… his muscles… What the hell happened here?!"All Might swallowed thickly, the taste of iron still fresh in his mouth. He tried to force himself to speak, to explain, but what could he even say? That his own student, his successor, had turned into something unrecognizable before his eyes? That the very core of who Izuku Midoriya was had unraveled in real-time? That he had fought like a monster that didn't care whether it lived or died?No. He couldn't say that, he wouldn't say that."I—I was training him," All Might finally rasped, his voice weak, almost distant. "It got out of hand.""OUT OF HAND?!" Recovery Girl's voice trembled with anger as she whipped her head toward him, eyes blazing with disbelief. "You shattered every bone in that boy's body, Toshinori! Do you have any idea what state he's in?! How could you push him this far?! What in the world were you thinking?!"All Might winced. He had seen Recovery Girl angry before, but never like this.She motioned down at Izuku's mangled, bloodied body."His bones are shattered beyond simple repair! His muscles are torn! His body is so beaten that if I don't act fast, his limbs will never recover properly!" She took a shaky breath, looking down at him, her heart breaking at the sight of his broken form. "This is the worst condition I've ever seen him in… How did you let it get to this?"All Might gritted his teeth, trying to steady himself."I thought… I thought I was helping him get stronger…""STRONGER?!" Recovery Girl's voice was full of anger. "This boy has been through hell, Toshinori! His mind, his body—he's been through enough! And yet, you still forced him into this fight?! You let him break himself apart like this?!""You don't understand," he murmured, running a shaking hand through his disheveled hair. "Something… something was wrong. This wasn't just—" He hesitated. How could he even put it into words?Recovery Girl furrowed her brows, her expression tight with frustration. "What the hell are you talking about? The boy has been through hell since he came to U.A.! First he gets taken by the League, then we find out he's been tortured, and now he has inherited your quirk with you pushing him to the extreme!"All Might clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. He knew. He knew she was right. But she didn't see what he saw. The way Izuku had moved or the way he had enjoyed it.That wasn't just a desperate boy struggling to prove himself. That was something else entirely.And the worst part? It was familiar.All Might exhaled shakily, forcing himself to rise back onto his feet, though his legs still trembled from the force of the fight. "Chiyo," he said softly, using Recovery Girl's real name in a rare moment of vulnerability. "I didn't do this to him. He did this to himself."Recovery Girl's lips parted, but before she could respond—The doors slammed open as Aizawa, Present Mic, Cementoss, and several other teachers rushed in. The noise, the destruction, the sheer chaos of the battle had drawn them.And now they stood at the entrance, completely stunned. Their eyes flickered between the wreckage, the shattered gym, the two figures at the center of it all.All Might—bloodied, panting, visibly shaken.Izuku—unconscious, broken, mangled.Darkness. At first, that was all Izuku could comprehend... a deep, heavy void that wrapped around him like thick chains, dragging him further and further into oblivion. It was suffocating, relentless, cold. His body felt like lead, weighed down by an unseen force pressing against his very existence. His limbs refused to move, his breath shallow and weak, every inhale like swallowing shards of glass.Then, the pain returned.A slow, agonizing crawl of sensation worked its way through his body. His nerves screamed, his muscles ached, his bones throbbed with a deep, pulsing agony. Every inch of him felt like it had been torn apart and haphazardly stitched back together. His chest rose and fell in labored breaths, sweat pooling at his temples.And then, the light as his eyelids fluttered open, the harsh glow of sterile white blinding his vision. It took a moment for the blurry edges to sharpen, for the hazy fog in his mind to lift just enough to recognize the stark ceiling of a hospital room.The rhythmic beeping of a heart monitor droned softly beside him. The crisp, sterile scent of antiseptic filled his lungs, grounding him back to reality. The smooth, cool touch of the sheets tangled around his battered form provided the only comfort in a body that felt completely foreign to him.His vision refocused slowly, adjusting to the brightness of the room, until finally, he saw him.Sitting in a chair beside his bed, hunched forward with his elbows resting on his knees, was All Might.The No.1 Hero looked utterly exhausted. His usual unbreakable presence was dimmed, the weight of his thoughts pressing visibly on his shoulders. His brows were drawn together, deep lines of concern etched into his features. His lips were pressed into a tight line, his jaw tense.But the moment All Might saw those tired, green eyes finally open, his expression softened. For a fleeting second, the worry that had settled so heavily on his face melted away, relief flooding his features."You're awake," All Might murmured, his voice low, almost cautious.Izuku's throat was dry, the simple act of breathing painful. He tried to speak, but only a weak croak escaped his lips. He swallowed, forcing himself to push through the discomfort."I'm…" His voice was barely above a whisper. "…sorry.""You have nothing to apologize for, young man."But they both knew that wasn't true.Silence lingered between them, heavy and unyielding. Izuku could feel it… the tension, the unspoken fear behind All Might's eyes. He had seen All Might angry before, frustrated, disappointed even. But this… this was different.He wasn't just concerned. He was afraid.All Might blinked. His expression shifted again, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his features before he exhaled slowly.Then, Izuku swallowed, his throat dry and raw. He tried to lift his arm, but pain flared violently up his nerves, making him hiss through his teeth. "What… exactly happened?" Izuku asked, voice shaking, barely managing to push the words past his lips.All Might's hands clenched into fists on his lap. He hesitated, as if debating whether to tell him the truth. But there was no point in sugarcoating it. Not this time."You lost control," All Might finally said, his voice quieter than usual, almost… careful. "You weren't yourself, Midoriya. You—" He hesitated for the briefest moment, as if struggling to find the right words. "You were laughing. Enjoying the pain. You broke your body over and over again, and yet you kept fighting, kept smiling through it all."Izuku stiffened as his blood turned to ice.Fragments of the battle surfaced in his mind, disjointed and scattered. Flashes of movement, the taste of blood in his mouth, the feeling of something raw and primal clawing its way through him. The voice.That voice… it had taken control.His breath quickened, his chest tightening as a suffocating weight pressed against his lungs. His mind reeled, panic sinking its claws into him as his body remembered before his mind could. "All Might—!" he gasped between ragged coughs, body trembling as he emptied the contents of his stomach.All Might's eyes widened slightly before immediately springing into action. Without hesitation, he grabbed the nearby trash bin and held it out for Izuku, using his free hand to gently rub circles into the boy's back, as if comforting a sick child."It's okay," he murmured, voice softer now. "Breathe, Midoriya. Just breathe."Izuku coughed again, gagging slightly before finally slumping back against the pillows, completely drained. His face was pale, eyes wide and glassy with absolute horror.He had done that…. He had laughed while breaking his own body. He fought All Might like a feral animal and terrified the man he admired most. Tears burned at the corners of his eyes. He clenched his teeth, curling in on himself."...It won't happen again," he whispered, desperate.All Might exhaled sharply, pulling away to meet Izuku's broken gaze. "Easy," All Might murmured, rubbing slow, grounding circles against his back. "Just breathe, my boy. Breathe."Izuku squeezed his eyes shut, his mind screaming at him, what did I do, what did I do?!After what felt like forever, the sickness finally subsided, leaving him trembling and weak. All Might handed him a damp towel, watching as Izuku feebly wiped at his mouth, his movements slow, almost absentminded."You really don't remember, do you?"Izuku barely managed to shake his head. His hands clenched the sheets beneath him, knuckles white. "I… I don't," he choked out. "Only bits and pieces. It's like… it's like something else was there. Something inside me—"He swallowed hard. "And I let it take control."All Might's jaw tightened. His eyes were shadowed with something Izuku couldn't quite place."Midoriya," All Might said, his voice more serious than Izuku had ever heard before.Izuku looked up."You must never let that happen again." The weight of his words hit like a hammer.Izuku nodded frantically, his breath unsteady, his body trembling. "I won't. I promise, I won't," he whispered. "I don't want to hurt anyone—I don't want to be a monster."All Might studied him for a long moment. The boy before him was fragile, terrified… a stark contrast to the relentless, merciless force he had fought just hours ago.Finally, All Might exhaled. "I believe you," he said. "But I also cannot ignore what happened."Izuku's breath hitched as All Might stood up, his towering frame casting a shadow over him."I took the blame for pushing you this far," All Might admitted. "None of the teachers know what really happened in that fight. I told them it was my fault, that I pushed you past your limits. That's the official story."Izuku's eyes widened."But hear me well, Midoriya," All Might continued, his voice low, firm, and unwavering. "If this happens again. If you lose yourself to that madness once more..."A heavy silence stretched between them."I will make sure you never become a hero."Izuku's heart stopped. Not out of anger. Not out of disappointment. But because he meant it.All Might turned away, his back rigid, his stance unwavering. "I don't say this to threaten you," he said. "I say this because I care. Because if you truly wish to be a hero, you must control this power. You must control yourself. Until we figure out what's happening to you."He looked over his shoulder, his piercing gaze locking onto Izuku's. "Also… In regard to the U.A. Sports Festival, you are banned from using your Quirk."Izuku felt like the air had been sucked from the room."If you want to participate," All Might added, "you will do so without One for All. That is my condition. Otherwise, you can sit this one out."The words hit like a punch to the gut. His head snapped up, eyes wide. "Wait—what?"All Might finally turned to look at him."You heard me, Midoriya," he said firmly. "You are not allowed to use One for All. Not in the tournament. Not in training. Not until we find a way to control whatever is happening to you."Izuku's stomach dropped. "But—!""You also have the option to sit out," All Might reiterated, ignoring his protests. "I won't force you to participate. If you don't feel like you're ready—you don't have to do this."Izuku gritted his teeth, his mind spinning.No quirk.No One for All.Not even a chance to prove himself. Not a chance to prove that he was still in control. He felt his entire world tilt beneath him. But then… A quiet determination burned inside his chest. He clenched his fists, inhaling deeply before meeting All Might's gaze with newfound resolve."No," he said, voice steady.All Might blinked. "No?""I'll compete," Izuku said, his throat raw. "Even without my quirk."A pause.Then slowly, All Might smiled. "Good." And with that, he turned and walked toward the door, pausing only briefly to glance over his shoulder."I know this is hard," he said. "But if you really want to be a hero, Midoriya… you'll find a way." Then, without another word, he left.
A/N: Oh lord... what a chapter! How you all enjoyed it! Keep looking out for more, having too much fun writing this story.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

In the past week, the League of Villains had done absolutely nothing. Not a single raid, a single attack, or conjure up a single plan. The air inside was stagnant, filled only with the occasional creak of the old wooden floorboards and the distant rustling of trees outside. And sitting in the center of it all, stewing in his endless frustration, was Tomura Shigaraki."I can't take this shit anymore," he muttered, his fingers twitching aggressively against his sleeve, scratching at the raw skin beneath. "This is complete and utter bullshit!"Across from him, Dabi was leaning back in a rickety old chair, feet propped up on the table, flicking a small blue flame between his fingers in boredom. "I told you to stop whining about it like a week ago.""I am not whining!" Tomura's voice cracked, his eye twitching violently.Twice gasped dramatically. "You are whining! Like a kicked puppy! No, you're raging like an infernal beast who lost his favorite bone!""We lost!" Tomura seethed, fingers clawing at his throat in frustration, ignoring Twice. "Master let him go! The heroes attacked, our hideout got destroyed, and we haven't done a single thing since then! Why aren't we doing anything?!""We could be doing something," Toga piped up from her upside-down position on the couch, legs dangling over the backrest. "But someone keeps getting stuck on the past~."Shigaraki's fingers twitched dangerously. "You—"Dabi yawned, his fire flickering out as he leaned his head back lazily. "We should be out there burning something."Twice threw his hands up. "Yeah! Terrorizing! Rampaging! Creating utter mayhem! Or sitting in complete and total silence like good little puppies!"Shigaraki groaned, dragging his hands down his face. "I swear to god, if one more person calls me a puppy, I am disintegrating this whole goddamn cabin.""Ohhhh, scary~," Toga giggled, twirling a knife in her fingers. "Maybe that's why Izuku left. You're just a big grumpy grump who doesn't know how to have fun~."Shigaraki froze mid-scratch. A slow, twitching motion overtook his entire body.Dabi smirked. "Oh no. You shouldn't have said that."Twice nodded aggressively. "Yep, he's gonna lose it. He's gonna snap harder than my will to live!"Toga's grin widened. "Ooooh, I hope he does~."Tomura suddenly slammed his hands on the table, standing up so aggressively that Dabi's chair nearly tipped over from the sheer force of his rage."STOP. SAYING. HIS. NAME."Silence fell over the room for exactly three seconds. Then Dabi spoke. "Whose name?""You know who!"Twice gasped dramatically. "Voldemort?! We're not supposed to say his name!"Tomura let out a strangled, inhuman noise.Dabi just smirked. "Damn, you're really stuck on him, huh?""Shut up Dabi." Tomura grumbled back, too tired to complain.Twice put his hands on his hips. "So what, are we gonna go kidnap Midoriya? Or are we going to build a shrine in his honor and write sad poetry about his life?"Toga gasped, eyes sparkling. "Oooooh, can I help with the shrine? We can put candles around it and everything~."Dabi snorted. "Yeah, Tomura's already been mourning him like a widow."Shigaraki slammed his head into the table. "I hate all of you."Kurogiri, who had been standing in the corner listening to this absolute disaster of a conversation, finally let out a heavy sigh, the mist around his form shifting. "Enough. We have wasted enough time already."Tomura slowly lifted his head, shooting him a glare. "Then why the hell haven't we done anything?"Kurogiri's golden eyes flickered. "Because we are waiting.""Waiting for what?! Waiting until Master shows up again?"Kurogiri's voice was steady. "For Japan to burn."The room went silent.Shigaraki blinked. His breathing slowed, fingers twitching against the wood.Izuku was gone. Fine.But the League's goal had not changed. They were still meant to crush this society. To rip it apart from the inside. Slowly, Tomura exhaled.Kurogiri continued. "Midoriya started the shift. But now, it is our time to finish it."Shigaraki swallowed hard. He still hated not knowing what Master's plan was. But if Kurogiri was saying it like this… Maybe he still had a part to play.And then, Kurogiri turned on the TV as a faint, static-ridden voice echoed through the cabin."WELCOME, ONE AND ALL, TO THE U.A. SPORTS FESTIVAL!"All heads turned toward the dusty old TV in the corner. The screen flickered weakly, the image barely clear enough to see, but it was enough. The loud, booming voice of Present Mic carried through the speakers as the camera panned over the massive arena. Thousands of spectators filled the stands, banners waving, the whole place a spectacle of excitement.Shigaraki barely processed it at first, just another heroic event to make people feel safe. But then, the camera zoomed in… and his breath caught as his whole body went rigid, hands stilling mid-scratch.The screen showed the first-year students standing in their designated areas, dressed in their gym uniforms, awaiting their introduction.And standing among them, at the very front of Class 1-A—Was Izuku Midoriya."…What?" Shigaraki's voice came out hollow.Toga gasped dramatically. "Izuku~!"Twice slapped the table. "WHAT A TWIST! HE'S ALIVE! I mean we knew that… but oh my god he's alive!"Dabi's brow twitched. "Huh. Didn't see that coming…. what made them decide to bring him back?"Shigaraki didn't hear any of them. His vision was locked onto the screen.Midoriya was there… At U.A. Back in his old uniform, back with the heroes. His face looked different. Pale, exhausted, like he hadn't slept in weeks. His expression was unreadable, his body language wrong. He wasn't the same, but he was there."…Master," Shigaraki whispered, the gears in his head spinning. "Master planned this."A slow realization started to bloom.And then—A buzzing noise. Tomura's phone vibrated in his pocket. Slowly, he reached for it, hands trembling as he lifted it to his ear.And then, the deep, slow, calm voice of All For One came through."Enjoy the show, Tomura."Shigaraki's lips curled into a wicked grin. "So this was it, huh?" He looked over to Kurogiri, his smile only getting wider. "It's time to head out."The sheer size of the arena was unlike anything Izuku had ever seen before, an overwhelming coliseum packed with tens of thousands of spectators. The sound of the audience was a thunderous roar, the kind that vibrated deep in the chest, rolling over the students in a suffocating wave of noise and excitement. The massive screen at the center of the stadium flickered to life, displaying multiple camera angles capturing the U.A. Sports Festival in all its grandeur.Journalists crowded the media box, cameras flashing as they aimed their lenses toward the emerging students, some whispering while others outright debated about the potential rising stars they would see today. The event wasn't just for fun—this was a gateway. A proving ground. Pro-heroes, talent scouts, agencies, everyone who mattered in the industry had their eyes locked on the competitors.For some, this was an opportunity. For others, an undeniable pressure. For Izuku Midoriya, it was a ticking bomb."ALRIGHT, EVERYONE!" Present Mic's booming voice echoed across the stadium, amplified by the speakers overhead. "WELCOME TO THE ANNUAL U.A. SPORTS FESTIVAL! The event that showcases the future top heroes of our generation!"The crowd erupted into cheers.From his spot among the assembled students, Izuku felt his stomach churn. He tried to shake the feeling off, adjusting his uniform collar and pretending he didn't feel like a thousand eyes were burning through him.All Might had explicitly forbidden him from using One for All. Even though the battle against him had shaken Izuku to his core, it was that thing inside him—the one that took control, the one that made him fight like a feral beast that terrified him the most.And now, he had to compete without any of it."AND NOW, LET'S WELCOME OUR CONTESTANTS!" Present Mic continued, his energy relentless. "OUR FIRST YEARS, FROM THE HERO COURSE CLASS 1-A!"A portion of the crowd went wild, many already familiar with their class due to the recent media attention on the USJ attack. Izuku swallowed, forcing himself to keep walking as his classmates marched forward in formation.Then, the voices from the audience changed."Hey, isn't that the kid from the raid?" "Midoriya, right? That's him!" "Is he really competing? After everything?"Izuku's steps faltered for a brief moment before he corrected himself. He wasn't going to let this get to him.Not here. Not now."AND NEXT UP, THE REST OF OUR FIRST-YEARS! CLASS 1-B, THE HERO COURSE! CLASS 1-C, GENERAL STUDIES! CLASS 1-D, BUSINESS COURSE! CLASS 1-E, SUPPORT COURSE!"The other students walked into the stadium, some more confident than others. Class 1-B had an air of determination, many of them eyeing 1-A as if preparing for war. General Studies students, while not given the same level of attention, carried themselves with a silent grit—this was their chance to stand out and potentially move into the hero course. The support class, meanwhile, looked more interested in showcasing their gear, while the business students whispered among themselves, no doubt analyzing everything like a calculated investment.It was strange standing among them all. Izuku had spent so much time thinking about his battles, his own struggles, that he had forgotten just how many other students at U.A. had their own ambitions, their own dreams.Then, just as he thought he could focus on something else… he felt it. A flicker.A sensation deep inside his core. A crawling, twisting feeling slithering through his muscles, something unnatural curling beneath his skin. It wasn't the same as before…. not like that voice from before, nor the overwhelming rage in his battle with All Might.No, this was something else. It was subtle, but it was there, something small and quiet yet entirely undeniable. A deep, humming pulse that spread through his veins, a warmth and sensation that made his stomach drop because he knew, he knew, that this wasn't One for All.A shiver crept up his spine."No." He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to keep his breathing steady. "No, not now. Just focus. Focus on the event.""AND NOW!" Present Mic shouted, his voice cutting through the fog of Izuku's thoughts. "LET'S WELCOME OUR MASTER OF CEREMONIES! THE NUMBER FIVE HERO—MIDNIGHT!"The camera panned to the pro hero as she sauntered onto the main stage, her confident smirk evident even from a distance. She raised a microphone to her lips."Welcome, my lovely students!" Midnight purred. "Now, let's get straight to business. I won't waste your time with long speeches, because we all know why we're here. It's time to compete!"The crowd erupted once again. Midnight continued, "Before we begin, we need to decide the first event of our festival! As always, we leave it to chance—our wheel of fate will determine the first round of trials!"A large holographic screen flickered to life above the stadium, revealing a spinning digital wheel with multiple challenges labeled on its surface. Obstacle Race. Cavalry Battle. Quirk Testing Gauntlet. Endurance Trial.Izuku clenched his fists at his sides. "It doesn't matter which event gets picked. If I can't use One for All, how the hell am I supposed to do anything?"A moment later, the wheel slowed… and finally, it stopped.Midnight turned to the audience, stretching out her arms dramatically."Looks like we'll be starting things off with…" She paused, allowing the tension to build. "The Obstacle Race!"Cheers and applause filled the stadium, students murmuring amongst themselves in excitement and strategy.Midnight gestured toward the large gates at the far end of the arena. "The first-years will begin by racing through the stadium, past various unexpected obstacles, to see who can reach the finish line first! It's a test of endurance, adaptability, and pure heroic instinct!"Some students grinned, already thinking of ways to maneuver around the expected dangers.Yet Izuku, was stuck on a singular thought. "How the hell am I supposed to do this without my quirk?"He felt a cold sweat forming at the back of his neck. Then, suddenly, Todoroki turned toward him, his mismatched eyes unreadable."Midoriya," he said, voice even. "I don't know what's going on with you. But whatever it is… especially with what you shared. You're still going to fight, aren't you?"Izuku hesitated. His first instinct was to avoid the question, to shove everything down and pretend none of it mattered. But something in Todoroki's stare… calculated, cautious, yet curious made him pause.He took a deep breath."...Yeah," Izuku said, forcing a weak smile. "I'll fight."Todoroki didn't react immediately, only nodding slightly before turning back toward the entrance gates.Izuku exhaled. "Even if I don't know what's happening to me…" he thought, trying to steel himself. "Even if I can't use One for All… I have to do this."As the students began making their way toward the starting line, Izuku's unease did not fade. That warmth inside of him, that strange sensation…It hadn't gone away. It was still there, still watching, still waiting.And as the countdown for the first event began, Izuku could feel it lurking just beneath his skin.The countdown echoed through the massive stadium. The students stood poised at the starting line, anticipation rippling through the air like static electricity. Izuku's heart pounded wildly in his chest, his muscles tensed, sweat gathering on his brow despite the crisp morning air."Three… Two… One—!"The starting cannon exploded, signaling the beginning of the first round of the U.A. Sports Festival.Immediately, the ground shook as dozens of students surged forward, kicking up dirt and dust in a mad dash toward the first obstacle. The roar of the crowd was deafening, a cacophony of cheers and shouts that filled every corner of the stadium.Izuku barely got two steps forward before he was slammed into from both sides, students rushing past him without hesitation. The sheer force sent him stumbling to the ground, his knees scraping against the pavement."Damn it—!" He barely had time to react before a student vaulted over him, not even acknowledging his existence as they sprinted toward the first hazard.Up ahead, Todoroki had already frozen the entire path solid, using his ice to completely immobilize a massive portion of the competition. Students skidded helplessly across the frozen surface, some crashing into each other, while others desperately tried to regain balance.Iida, on the other hand, was a blur. The moment the race began, he had rocketed forward with his Engine Quirk, his legs carrying him far past most of the other students, efficiently weaving between obstacles like a finely tuned machine.Others found their own ways to shine. Yaoyorozu was creating tactical equipment, Kaminari tried to use electric bursts to jolt himself forward, and even Aoyama attempted to propel himself with his laser—only to crash into a wall and groan dramatically.Meanwhile, Izuku was failing. Miserably.He barely managed to get to his feet before another student slammed into him again, sending him staggering backward. No quirk. No One for All. Just him and his completely average human body."I can't do this," he thought as he gasped for air, legs shaking. "I—there's no way—!"The first major obstacle loomed ahead—the pit of combat robots. Giant replicas of the zero-point villains from the entrance exam stomped forward, their massive, mechanical bodies towering over the students as they swung their colossal arms down, aiming to crush anything in their path.Todoroki barely gave them a glance before freezing them solid, his ice spreading in an instant, leaving a trail of frozen metal in his wake.Iida dashed through openings, his speed letting him avoid the robotic strikes with pinpoint precision.Izuku, however? He ran directly into a dead-end.A robot lunged at him, its mechanical arm swinging down in a wide arc."MOVE!" his mind screamed, but his legs were too slow. His chest clenched. "This is it. I'm done."Suddenly, a sensation ripped through his consciousness. A pulse of something cold and familiar. A heavy, oppressive weight that felt like iron chains snapping into place around his mind."How many times do I have to tell you to get out of my body?," the voice snarled inside him, seething with rage. "Fine. I'll do it myself."Izuku tried to scream, but his voice wouldn't come out. His body moved on its own. His muscles tightened, his posture changed… suddenly he wasn't faltering, wasn't hesitating. His form shifted from one of uncertainty to something methodical, calculated—cruel.He watched in horror from the depths of his own mind as his hands snapped upward with a level of confidence and sharpness that wasn't his own.His breathing slowed. Measured. Precise.And then he moved.A student nearby was about to dodge an incoming strike from a robot until Izuku grabbed their shoulder and shoved them directly into the machine's path. The student shrieked as they barely managed to scramble away at the last second, but it bought Izuku time.He leapt over their falling body, using their panicked reaction to his advantage. His foot slammed into another student's back, using them as a literal stepping stone to vault into the air.He twisted mid-air, his movements fluid, seemingly inhuman… as he reached out, grabbed onto the back of another competitor's shirt, and threw them into the path of a robot's swinging limb.More screams. More confusion.The crowd gasped. Present Mic's voice cracked with genuine surprise."WELL, WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT?! MIDORIYA JUST WENT FROM DEAD LAST TO BACK IN THE GAME! AND WITHOUT A QUIRK?!"The students watching from the side had wide eyes, their expressions ranging from disbelief to outright concern."He—he's moving like a completely different person," Yaoyorozu muttered under her breath.Todoroki, running up ahead, glanced back briefly. His eyes narrowed slightly."What the hell was that?"Back in the stadium Aizawa watched the big screen, standing alongside the other teachers as he deepened his brows. "Something's off," he muttered, voice low. "He's off again.""All Might remained silent, his jaw tightening slightly. "That's not Midoriya," he thought. "Is that…"Meanwhile, Izuku was screaming inside his own mind.
"STOP! STOP IT! I DIDN'T MEAN TO—!"
But the voice—the other him—only laughed darkly.
"You don't get a choice, you're just an imitation."
He kept moving, his body maneuvering through the obstacles with terrifying efficiency. His steps were precise, his dodges exact—he used other people's failures as his advantages. He shoved students into the path of attacks, forced them into dangerous situations just so he could slip through unnoticed.And it worked, and what was most surprising is that he didn't use All for One. Before Izuku even realized what had happened, he was crossing the finish line. Dead last… but he had made it.The audience erupted into cheers, amazed by the sudden comeback. But the students standing near him? They weren't cheering. They were staring. Panting, bruised, and shaken, many of them looked at him with pure confusion."What… was that?" Kaminari muttered, catching his breath."Midoriya, you—" Uraraka stepped forward hesitantly, eyes full of uncertainty. "...You didn't use your quirk?"Izuku collapsed to his knees, gasping, his mind finally regaining control. His body burned. His head throbbed. The voice inside him? Gone.But something else lingered… A realization. A horror.
"I… I did this…?"
The camera zoomed in on him. His face was pale. His eyes hollow.He felt sick.And across the stadium, Tomura Shigaraki stared at the arena from the top of the hideout, eyes wide. He had to thank Kurogiri for getting him inside in the first place. "That… isn't how Midoriya used to fight," he whispered, gripping his arms."But it sure does feel like him."Seated among the thousands of spectators in the massive U.A. Sports Festival stadium, he blended into the crowd for the first time in years. No grotesque hands covered his face. No ominous, decayed hoodie draped over his body. Instead, he wore simple civilian clothes, an old black jacket thrown over a plain white shirt. His hair, though still an unruly mess, didn't stand out nearly as much in the sea of enthusiastic festival-goers.But for the first time, his scars were on full display.The jagged, uneven lines marred his skin like remnants of old, festering wounds, stretching across his neck and creeping down to his collarbones. They burned under the stadium lights, raw reminders of a past that refused to stay buried.And right now, he was watching something infinitely more interesting than the festival itself."So, Midoriya… that's what you're doing now, huh?"His bloodshot eyes followed the panting, beaten form of Izuku Midoriya, kneeling on the dirt track, having barely managed to finish dead last.It was pathetic. It was fascinating.His fingers twitched on the armrest of his seat, nails scratching at the peeling paint of the old stadium bench. "What the hell is Master planning?" he thought, eyes narrowing. "Why set this up? Why bring him back to U.A.? Why give him back to the heroes if he was meant to be ours?"Izuku looked different.Weaker. Lost.There was no sign of the Midoriya who had once torn through USJ, and challenged him in every single aspect of leadership. So why was Izuku holding back?Tomura slumped forward, resting his chin on one hand as his other fingers tapped irritably against his knee."Is he pretending?" The thought sent a thrill of curiosity down his spine. His grin widened slightly. Oh, this was going to be fun.A loud buzzing vibration in his pocket pulled him out of his thoughts. He didn't even have to look at the caller ID. He already knew. With a sigh, he stood, slipping through the crowd like a shadow, weaving through the oblivious festival-goers before stepping into an empty, dark hallway beneath the bleachers.He pulled out his phone, pressed it to his ear. "Yes, Master?"Meanwhile, back at the League of Villains' hideout, absolute chaos had erupted.The tiny cabin deep in the woods shook with the sheer volume of laughter, groans, and sheer disbelief."PFFFFT—!" Twice collapsed onto the floor, wheezing with laughter, rolling back and forth as he slapped the ground repeatedly."Did you—Did you see that?! Midoriya looked like a baby trying to walk for the first time!"Toga, sitting cross-legged on the couch, tilted her head with a pout, twirling a knife between her fingers. "Awww, poor Izu-kun! He looked so adorably miserable! His little legs almost gave out like—" She mimicked a wobble with her hands before giggling. "So cute!"Dabi, lounging lazily against the wall, let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head. "Man. And here I thought he'd be at least a little impressive. But nah. Dead freaking last of the passing group.""More like a disaster!" Twice snorted, his laughter still not subsiding. "He fell. Three times! Three! Like—What was that?!"Spinner, who had been watching quietly, tilted his head slightly, his tail flicking behind him. "You guys are acting like this is some big deal. He still passed, didn't he?""Barely." Twice wheezed again.Toga sighed dreamily, kicking her legs like a schoolgirl in love. "But he still did sooo good at the end~! That last-minute save was pretty clever! Maybe I'll reward him if we ever meet again~"Dabi shot her a glance. "You need therapy.""And you need a better skincare routine, but we don't always get what we want, do we?"Dabi exhaled through his nose. "...Touche."Kurogiri, who had been standing silently in the corner, finally let out a deep, exasperated sigh before straightening his tie. "Enough. I don't see why this requires such an excessive reaction."Twice shot up instantly, pointing at the screen. "Oh, I don't know, maybe because Midoriya looked like a complete loser and Shigaraki is still super obsessed with him?!"Dabi, arms crossed, watching with an unimpressed glare, let out a long, slow exhale."Okay, I gotta say it," he muttered. "I don't know what the hell All For One was planning, but if he thought dropping Midoriya back at U.A. was gonna crash their whole system, I think he kinda overestimated the guy. Look at him. He's getting bodied by literally everyone."The room fell silent for a brief moment.Spinner, who had been silently watching, finally chimed in, gripping his knees with his claws."But that's what's weird," he muttered. "We all saw what he was like before, right? That guy… he wasn't normal. He was scary… always had a plan and got what he wanted through sheer will. Now? Now he's just—flailing around like an idiot."Even Twice, who had been cackling, paused for a moment."...Huh. That is weird."Dabi tilted his head slightly."...So what, you think he's holding back?"Kurogiri, who had been observing silently from behind the bar, finally spoke up, his voice smooth and deliberate. "It is not impossible," he mused. "Perhaps the seed our master planted has yet begun to work. Or perhaps… Midoriya himself does not remember what he is capable of."Another silence followed. Then—"Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!"Twice exploded back into laughter. "That's even better!" he howled. "What if he really thinks he's a normal student?! He's literally gaslighting himself!"Toga kicked her feet excitedly."Ooooh, that would make sense! That'd be so tragic!" she giggled, hugging herself. "Like, imagine forgetting you were actually a total beast and having to start over from zero! That's kinda hot."Dabi rubbed his temple. "I'm ignoring that last part," he muttered.Spinner crossed his arms, eyes still locked onto the screen, watching as Izuku collapsed to the floor at the finish line, his face pale and shaken."...Something's not right," he said under his breath. "I don't think even he knows what's going on."Kurogiri nodded. "And that," he said, his voice carrying a slight edge of amusement, "is exactly what makes this so interesting."The static of the television crackled.The scene continued and far away, beneath the bleachers of U.A.'s grand stadium, Tomura Shigaraki grinned into his phone as his Master's voice ended hummed in his ear.Tomura snapped his phone shut, interested in what his master had implied. He tucked it into his pocket as he leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. His eyes never strayed from the stadium. He wasn't about to miss this."Go on, Midoriya," he thought, a slow smirk creeping onto his scarred lips. "Show me who you really are."The moment Midnight's sultry voice rang through the stadium, declaring the start of the cavalry battle, a heavy weight settled in Izuku's chest. He barely registered the cheers of the audience, the commentary of Present Mic, or the scattered murmurs of students frantically picking their teams. His mind had already begun to slip, unraveling into the void he feared most.The cacophony of excitement and strategy filled the stadium, the air thick with the heat of competition. But amidst all of that, amidst the fervor and eager voices discussing tactics, one figure stood still.Izuku…Frozen, watching as everyone moved away from him. No one approached him. No one even spared him a glance.Whether it was his past, the uncertainty of his abilities, or the lingering specter of fear that clung to him after the events of his fight with Kirishima and his quirk, it didn't matter. The result was the same... A complete and total rejection.His breathing hitched. His chest tightened. This wasn't just nerves anymore. This wasn't the usual fear. It was something primal, something suffocating, something that felt tightening around his ribs, squeezing until it felt like his heart might burst.Then, it came again.That voice. That sensation wrapping around him like a vice.
"The chains are getting weaker…"
The words slithered into his mind, wrapping around his thoughts like a serpent constricting its prey. It wasn't supposed to be on a timer. "That damn quirk must've changed something. One for All… what a funny development."His breath shuddered. This time, he wasn't just hearing the voice. He was feeling it. A tangible weight in his skull, his own body resisting itself. It wasn't just speaking to him anymore—it was sinking into his flesh, bleeding through his skin, whispering through his very bones.
"Everything you know is a lie."
His body locked up. His vision blurred.
"You're not some innocent, helpless child."
His legs buckled, but he remained standing.
"You've always been ME."
The stadium faded away, the sounds of the Sports Festival dissolving into nothingness. All around him was darkness, an abyss that had been waiting for him to return.And then—he saw it.Him… Not a reflection or a hallucination. Standing just a few feet away was himself—no, not himself. Something worse. Something real.Ragged clothes barely clinging to a frame twisted with scars and fresh. Skin pallid and sickly, yet stretched taut over wiry muscle. Hair matted with dried blood, tangled and unkempt. But it was the grin that made Izuku's breath falter. The wide, jagged grin that cut across the other's face, lips cracked and peeling, as though the act of smiling itself had long since become a punishment.Behind him lay a mountain of corpses. Dozens. No, hundreds of faceless corpses stacked in grotesque formations, limbs twisted unnaturally, blood pooling at his feet. The air stank of rust, the ground beneath them soaked in something thick and crimson.And the eyes.God, the eyes… Empty pits of emerald-green that carried only one thing—gleeful malice."Well, well, well." The voice was dry, gravelly, as if he had been waiting far too long to finally speak. "Look who's finally seeing the real you."Izuku trembled. He tried to move, to take a step back, but his body refused to obey.The other one tilted his head, mockingly curious. "What's wrong, little fraud?" he crooned, his voice hoarse, broken, like it hadn't been used in years. "You look like you've seen a ghost."Izuku swallowed. His voice was barely above a whisper. "You're not real."The other Izuku blinked before laughing.It wasn't a human laugh. It was something twisted, something fractured, like the sound of glass shattering against concrete. "Oh, that's rich," he sneered, stepping forward. "You still think this is some kind of nightmare? That I'm some illusion? That you—" he jabbed a broken, bloody finger at him "—are real?"Izuku clenched his fists. "I am real."The laughter stopped. For a moment, there was nothing but silence. Then, in a single, fluid movement, the twisted reflection lunged as it's fingers closed around his throat, squeezing. Izuku choked, gasping, clawing at the grip tightening around his windpipe, but the other him only grinned wider."You," the voice whispered, dangerously soft, "are a fucking joke."Izuku gasped, vision tunneling, but the voice didn't stop.The other him—no, the real him—sighed, shaking his head. "This is quite frankly ridiculous. Really, I had my own voice before too, you know. I didn't have to whisper like some ominous villain lurking in your subconscious… But All For One just had to go and mess with things." He flexed his fingers, tilting his head. "And now, thanks to that shiny new quirk of yours, I can finally act again."He finally let go of his throat as Izuku's breath shuddered. "I'm… I'm not…"The real him laughed. "Not what? Not a killer? Not a villain? Not ME?"The other him took a step forward with a click of the tongue even closer now. A mockingly disappointed shake of the head as the green eyes were right beside his, judging him.Izuku's feet refused to move.
"Oh, come on, don't look so confused. Look at me! Don't deny me! You already know the truth. It's been clawing at the edges of your mind since you came back, hasn't it? The memories? The gaps? The feeling that something was missing? That nothing made sense? That you, the little innocent kid that dreamed to be a hero, is real?"
He leaned in to his ear, voice dropping to a whisper. "Everything you think you know? Everything that disgusting, fake version of you clung to? It's all a lie."Izuku's stomach churned."You," the voice continued, almost soothingly, "met the villains in junior high. You swore allegiance to All For One. You trained. You joined U.A. as a plant. You orchestrated the USJ attack. You killed Thirteen. You put All Might on his knees in a pool of his own blood. You were taken back by those fools who thought they were saving you."He chuckled. "And now, thanks to their own stupidity, you are finally free."Izuku's breath caught. He wanted to scream, to deny it, to fight back. "No—""No?" The grin widened. "Oh please… Don't worry." His voice dripped with mockery. "I'll play the part. I'll be the pathetic, broken hero they so desperately want to believe in. I'll let them cling to their delusions a little longer."The next words were cold. "And then, when they least expect it—I'll burn it all to the ground."He stepped even closer now, grasping Izuku's chin between his fingers, forcing their gazes to meet.
"All For One thought he could contain me. Thought he could erase me for whatever purpose. He didn't realize that there was a quirk that would be the key to setting me free… it's just too strong."
Izuku trembled, feeling the weight of his own sins press down on him, the reality of everything he had done crushing him like an avalanche. He had forgotten. Somehow, he had truly believed the lie.The other him—his true self—laughed. "Oh, this is rich. You actually convinced yourself you were someone else. That is sad." He leaned in, voice dripping with mock sympathy. "But don't worry. I'm not cruel."A pause. Then, his voice turned darker, more insidious.
"I'm going to let you watch."
Izuku's eyes widened in horror."I'll let you see reality unfold. I'll let you watch as I fool them all. Deceive them. Manipulate them. Kill them." The smile widened, eyes glistening with something purely deranged. "And when it's all over, when they're all gone, when I build my perfect world—then, and only then, will I let you feel through my body what I've done."And as those final words reverberated. Izuku gasped, lungs constricting as the void shattered around him as the world snapped back into place.The stadium came back, the students and the roaring crowd ever louder. The air filled with renewed excitement as teams finalized, students scrambling to secure allies for the cavalry battle.And Izuku…Izuku was smiling.Not wide. Not exaggerated. Just a small, innocent smile, like nothing had happened at all. His movements were casual, natural, as his gaze swept the crowd, his attention was caught by something else.A presence. Across the stadium, hidden amongst the thousands of spectators, a figure sat still.Eyes met.And Tomura flinched.A fleeting moment. A passing exchange. Barely even a second, but it was enough. Because for the briefest of moments, Tomura felt it. That faintest whisper of bloodlust.A ghost of something he had thought was long gone, and yet, just as quickly as it had come, it was gone. The expression shifted, the air changed, and suddenly Izuku was nothing but an awkward, desperate boy running through the crowd, scrambling to find a team.But Tomura knew better.His skin prickled, heart hammering against his ribs. He stared, wide-eyed, unblinking, feeling something he had never associated with Izuku Midoriya before.Fear.
A/N: Man, this is what I signed up for when I first wanted to start writing a Villain Deku fanfic! I hope you're all enjoying it just as much as I am! Let me know what you think? What will happen next? I guess we'll have to find out in the next chapter. As always, thank you for reading and for your support. Seeing your comments and reactions is the best part for me. Have an awesome day/night!