Boku no Hero - A Different Deku Chapter 5 | Prelude

Deku arrives at Momo's house and is surprised to see that it's a mansion. He comments,

—It's almost the size of U.A.

Momo laughs at this and replies,

—Don't be silly, U.A. is much bigger, I think...

They enter the mansion, greeted by servants. Momo hands her backpack to one of them and says,

—This is Izuku Midoriya, my classmate. You'll see him here often. Today we're using the training field, so I'd like some privacy.

One servant tries to take Izuku's backpack, but he prefers to keep it. Momo leads Izuku to the training room, a huge empty hall. Izuku comments,

—It's impressive, there's so much space.

Momo smiles and responds,

—I know. It's usually empty, but my dad made it for me. Since my quirk is creation, I can make whatever I want or need. This is the first time I'm using this room. So, what's your idea?

Izuku, a bit nervous, responds,

—Well, I have to admit this was a bit sudden. I only have two ideas, but first, I'd like to ask you something. What's the weakness of your quirk? Every quirk has a weakness. For example, mine causes a lot of damage to my body if I use more strength than it can handle, even risking my life.

Momo looks at Deku and says,

—Don't you think you reveal too much information? You should keep some things to maintain the element of surprise in future tests.

Deku smiles and responds,

—I trust you. Besides, if you use my limits against me, I'll just have to surpass them.

Momo smiles and continues,

—That's a good point. My quirk can create any inert material from my body by manipulating my fat cells' molecules. I need to know how something is made to create it. It takes more time and exposed skin for larger objects. Also, the more I eat, the more material I have to work with, so I need a considerable intake of food. But there's a risk of losing weight if I use too much. Plus, I can get exhausted from creating large objects.

After saying this, Momo laughs slightly and adds,

—Now that I say it out loud, my quirk has many weaknesses.

Deku thinks, "With a quirk like that, maybe she'd benefit from being invisible." He analyzes the information while looking at Momo. Before she can question his gaze, Izuku intervenes,

—I think I have an idea. It's very likely that you're using your quirk inefficiently.

Momo, confused, asks,

—What do you mean? How can I use a creation quirk inefficiently?

Deku activates One For All, but this time the glow and red lines don't disappear. This state seems to weigh on him as he comments with difficulty,

—When I started using my quirk, I didn't know how to control my strength. Each hit could have been lethal to me and others. Then I realized I wasn't understanding the nature of my quirk. I used to see it as uncontrollable force, and that's how it acted. Once I understood my mistake, I began to visualize how it worked in my body and thus understood it.

Deku closes his eyes, and the One For All glow and red lines sink into his body, showing greenish rays fluctuating through him. When he opens his eyes, a strange greenish glow appears in his pupils before disappearing.

—If I couldn't use all my power, I just had to control each part of it.

Deku deactivates One For All, and Momo comments,

—Now I understand. You're saying that like you, I might not be seeing the full picture and wasting my quirk's potential.

Looking at her hand, Momo adds,

—Though I don't think I can do what you do, I think my quirk has already reached its peak. I'm the one holding it back.

Deku places his hand under Momo's and says,

—It's not like that. You and your quirk are one. If you grow, it will grow with you.

Momo smiles, looks into Deku's eyes, and says,

—You're very different from what I imagined. Do you have any ideas to improve the limit of my quirk?

Deku withdraws his hand and responds,

—I have an idea, but I think it will depend on the nature of your quirk. Only you will fully understand it. How about, to start, you consume large amounts of food to increase your quirk's efficiency and create as many objects as you can?

Momo, somewhat disappointed, comments,

—Is that your best idea? If I do that, I'll probably get exhausted in a few minutes.

Deku laughs and says,

—Well, yes, but I don't mean creating different objects. My idea is to create multiple copies of the same object. I was thinking of something small and easy to create. You could start by creating one and then expand it to a multiple creation to get used to making several objects at once. I believe this would reduce the creation time. Also, this is just the first stage of my plan, so don't be too disappointed.

Momo is surprised and says,

—Wow, that's a good idea. So far, I can only create one object at a time, so creating multiple objects could be very useful. Okay, I'll go with that idea. But how did you come up with it?

Deku places his hand behind his head and explains,

—Well, to control my quirk, I have to measure the strength I use in each of my muscles. Like you, I also have to concentrate to do it, which limits my speed. So I aim for my body to learn to do it independently. I firmly believe it's the best option. It's like when you learn to drive a car. At first, you have to concentrate on doing multiple tasks, but then your brain and body get used to doing it without needing to analyze everything.

Momo is surprised by this side of Deku. At first glance, she thought he wasn't particularly bright, but he seems to have a great understanding of quirks. She asks,

—Tell me, Deku, how do you know so much about quirks? Or rather, how do you come up with these ideas?

Deku responds without hesitation,

—Well, I've been studying quirks since I was a kid. I analyzed the quirks of almost every hero I know. But most of it I learned by having my own quirk. I got it a little before taking the U.A. entrance exam. I knew I'd be competing against people who had honed their quirks for years, so I had to work a thousand times harder. With that in mind, I started studying every aspect of my quirk. In the end, I realized that quirks have their own nature, but we can also shape, adapt, or grow them. With that in mind, even a quirk that might seem weak or useless at first glance can become very powerful.

Momo remains silent for a few seconds, thinking,

"It's very strange, but when I hear him talk like that, it's very inspiring. I didn't imagine he was that kind of guy. At first, I thought he was just someone with a strong quirk who acted carelessly. But behind his strength is a great effort and enormous conviction." As she thinks this, Momo realizes she didn't know exactly what Deku wanted from her. Looking at him, she says,

—Now that I think about it, what will you do? I've been thinking about it since you asked me, but I couldn't reach a conclusion. Our quirks are incompatible. Yours is based on strength, while mine is based on creation. An ideal partner for you would be someone who could match your strength and help you fight. At first, I thought you just wanted to flirt with me, but I don't see those thoughts in you. During your test with Uraraka and me, I realized you have a very strong will and a spirit that inspires others. That's why I agreed to help you because I see a hero in you. But still, I don't understand what you expect to get from me.

Deku responds firmly,

—It's true that we're very different, and that's one of the reasons I chose you. You're someone who analyzes everything around you and uses the scenario to your advantage. That's one of the things I like most about you. You have quick thinking that helps you make the best choice. That's one of the things I want to learn from you. But I also want to use your creation quirk for my training. My goal is to strengthen my body and improve my reflexes, then enhance my quirk. So I wanted to ask you to create some things for me.

Momo looks at Deku and smiles, saying,

—Stop looking at me like you're doing something wrong. We're helping each other, so tell me what you need.

Deku asks her to create three pitching machines and a weighted vest. Momo says,

—We can easily solve the pitching machines. There are several in the storage; my dad bought them and never used them, so we can use them. As for the weighted vest, I can make it without any problem.

Momo opens her blouse and starts creating the vest right then. The blushing young man turns around, saying,

—Next time, warn me. You can't just do that out of nowhere.

Momo finishes creating the vest, saying,

—Oh, sorry. I guess I feel comfortable with you and didn't realize it. Though it's not a big deal.

The young man quickly says,

—It is for me...

Momo laughs at his discomfort. After handing him the vest, Momo asks her workers for help bringing the pitching machines and the food she needed for her training. Both prepare to start. The young man removes his top to put on the vest Momo had made. She can't help but look at Deku's body and thinks,

"He's built like a professional athlete. I didn't think he had this body... he seems very different from what I thought. Well, time to start." The food Momo asked for arrives, and she says to Deku,

—I'm ready.

Deku nods and heads to the middle of the room. The pitching machines are ready, with Momo controlling them. Before starting, Momo asks Deku,

—Are you sure about this? Those machines will shoot with high speed and force.

Deku answers with a smile,

—Yes, I need to increase my reflexes and strength. Besides, I'll be fine. Ready? Let's start.

Momo starts the machines, and the room fills with the sound of fast projectiles. The young man starts dodging and deflecting them, his movements becoming more fluid and precise. Meanwhile, Momo begins her training, creating objects as Deku suggested. She starts with simple items, gradually increasing the number she creates simultaneously. The first hour passes quickly. Both are focused on their respective training, occasionally looking at each other to check their progress. The young man's movements become faster, while Momo's creation time decreases. Finally, they stop to rest and evaluate their progress.

Momo and Uraraka approach him to greet him. Deku wishes them a good day, and they do the same. Then, Momo looks at him and says,

—Thank you for helping me. I didn't realize I had reached my limit. I hope I didn't cause you too much trouble.

Deku smiles and replies,

—Don't thank me. It's my fault you got exhausted. Besides, I accidentally destroyed your ball launchers...

Momo looks at Deku and comments,

—Ah, so that's what happened. I couldn't find them anywhere this morning. I guess they were thrown away, but don't worry about it. I'll make new ones next time.

Uraraka, confused, asks,

—What are you talking about?

Momo explains the situation to Uraraka, mentioning that from now on, she would be training with Deku. To this, Uraraka smiles and says,

—Oh, really? That's great...

Uraraka starts laughing strangely, and Deku is about to ask her what's wrong when the media approaches them. The three young people are overwhelmed by questions they don't know how to answer. Deku remembers his previous experience with the media, and a part of him just wants to tell them to get lost, but he also remembers that All Might often talks to them because it seems to inspire others. So, putting aside his resentment, he smiles and says,

—Excuse me, if you'd like, I can answer your questions, but I have one condition. If you accept, I'll answer as many questions as I can.

The journalist agrees and says,

—Alright, that sounds a bit arrogant, but tell us what you want.

The young man responds,

—First, I would like them to be able to go to class. As you can see, it's a bit uncomfortable for them to be bombarded with questions. Second, I know you're doing your job, but we should all show some respect. You're doing your job, and the U.A. teachers are doing theirs. And you're hindering their work. Also, as students, this whole scenario is very uncomfortable. Please understand that, even though we're aspiring heroes, we're still just a group of inexperienced kids.

The woman is silent for a few seconds before saying,

—I see, you're a sensible person and seem good with words. Alright, if you give us good material, we'll leave. We've been here for two days and barely gotten anything. So, I doubt we'll get much more. After all, most of the students don't even talk to us.

Deku agrees. Momo and Uraraka leave, leaving the young man with the journalists. He prepares himself while thinking, "I can do this. I practiced many times in front of the mirror, even though I was just a kid back then. I think I can do it. But now that I think about it, if All Might didn't talk to them, there must be a reason. Should I avoid revealing information about the classes? Anyway, I have to do my best to get them to leave."

Meanwhile, Momo, Uraraka, and Tenya walk to their classroom. Tenya approaches Uraraka, saying,

—You're very close to Deku, and I need to discuss this with someone. You know, there's something very strange about Deku. Every time we change clothes, he avoids turning around, and whenever someone approaches, he quickly puts on his shirt or anything he has at hand.

Tenya looks at Uraraka with total seriousness and says,

—Uraraka, I suspect Deku is actually a girl.

Uraraka is speechless for a few seconds and then says,

—You're crazy, that's impossible.

—Then why else would he hide like that?

Uraraka doesn't know what to say. Momo, knowing they're talking about Deku, prefers to ignore them. Meanwhile, the interviewer starts the interview and approaches Deku with the cameraman, saying,

—We were lucky to get one of the students from the Hero Class, who has agreed to answer our questions. First of all, we thank you for your kindness. Would you mind telling us your name?

The young man smiles and says,

—It's not something you need to thank me for. My name is Izuku Midoriya, but you can call me Deku.

The woman continues,

—Alright, young Deku, tell us, what is the symbol of peace like when he puts on his teacher's suit?

The young man raises his arm and clenches his fist, saying,

—It's formidable. To be honest, I've admired All Might since I was little. Being able to learn from him is like a dream come true. During the classes with All Might, we get to see a side of the hero that inspires us. Being a teacher is something new for him, just as it is for us to see him as our teacher. In a way, we both learn from each other. But that doesn't take away from the fact that he's an incredible teacher, and we're proud to learn from him.

The boy notices the journalists' interest waning, so he mimics one of All Might's poses, saying,

—Just imagine this. You've admired All Might since you can remember. You see him as someone unreachable, who inspires you day after day. Suddenly, that person appears in front of you and tells you that you can be a hero. Imagine the happiness that can bring.

The interviewer decides to steer the conversation towards the feeling of having All Might as a teacher, saying,

—We imagine that feeling must be really incredible, and both we and our audience can understand that. But surely it also puts a lot of pressure on you, doesn't it?

The young man responds without hesitation,

—I can't deny that. After all, our teacher is the number one hero and the symbol of peace. But I wouldn't say it's pressure on us. In fact, it inspires us to push our limits. We know All Might has high expectations for us, and that drives us to want to be the best heroes. That's why I know we'll strive to become great heroes. We want the world to see through us our teacher, so that when they see us arrive, they know everything will be alright.

The interviewer continues,

—Now I understand why you are here. You could say that all of you aim to be the number one hero.

Deku can see the intentions behind that comment, so to destroy any ill intent, he says,

—If our only goal was to be number one, then we wouldn't be worthy of being All Might's students. We don't care about recognition or titles. Everyone in the Hero Class aspires to one thing. The only thing that matters to us is becoming heroes who can inspire others, just as All Might inspires us.

With these words, the journalist doesn't know what else to ask. The boy had blocked any possible question, leaving a strong final message. The journalist is about to end the interview when one of the reporters recognizes the young man, saying,

—Wait a second, you're the boy who tried to fight the sludge villain!

The woman, hearing this, realizes it's true. This was the young man who tried to save his classmate. So, she turns her gaze to the young man and asks...

—Tell us something. If you're in the heroes' class, it's because you have a gift that's up to the mark. If that's the case, why didn't you use your gift to save your classmate?

Deku is stunned for a few seconds while thinking: "This isn't good; I have to think fast." The woman waits for the young man's response, who finally says:

—Because if I did, I might have hurt my classmate. My gift is based on strength, and it's not something I can control. I don't mind putting my life in danger, but I won't endanger others' lives. If I did that, how could I call myself a hero?

The woman notices the sincerity in the young man's words and, without ill intentions, asks:

—Then why did you run towards him, knowing you couldn't do anything?

The boy responds seriously:

—Because I couldn't just stand by while someone was suffering.

The woman remains silent for a few seconds. At the same time, one of the journalists recognizes Bakugo and, determined to get a scoop, goes after him. Bakugo is about to enter U.A. when the man grabs him by the arm and says:

—Wait, please. Let me ask you a few questions.

Bakugo, angry, says:

—Let go of me, you piece of trash!

Bakugo breaks free from the man, and then the security system activates. Bakugo realizes that, from their position, the man would get hurt. He stretches his hands forward and shouts:

—DEKU!

Hearing his name called, the young man turns around and sees Bakugo using an explosion to move away from the door. Deku activates One For All and intercepts both of them, stopping them just before they crashed into the group of people. The woman is astonished by the young man's speed. He had launched himself without hesitation. The woman looks at Deku and recognizes the boy next to him, the same one who had tried to save him. Bakugo, furious, grabs the man by the jacket and says:

—Are you an idiot?! I should blow you to pieces.

Deku separates them, and the man says:

—I just wanted to ask you a few questions. It's not my fault U.A.'s system is so dangerous, right, young man?

Deku looks at the man, saying:

—Actually, I agree with Bakugo. Only an idiot would do what you did. If it weren't for Bakugo, you'd be in pieces now. You should be thanking him instead of talking to him like that.

The man gets angry and leaves, while Bakugo is confused by Deku's attitude. Before any of the young men can say anything, the reporter runs towards them and says:

—As you can see, this is what All Might instills in the younger generation. We have before us two young heroes who just saved a man without hesitation. A young man with an uncontrollable gift and another with a strong but inexperienced gift have combined their strengths for a common good. I think this speaks volumes about the type of teacher All Might is. We expect a lot from this class...

The woman was about to ask Deku and Bakugo some questions, but she is surprised to see a disheveled-looking man wrapped in bandages taking them to U.A. The woman, seeing this, shouts:

—Wait a second!

Aizawa turns around, saying:

—The interview is over. These are my students, and I have a class to teach, so if you don't mind...

Aizawa falls silent as he sees the woman make a slight bow, saying:

—I know, but I wanted to thank the young man for the interview and tell him that, as promised, we'll leave now.

Aizawa continues on his way, and the woman tells all the journalists that she will share some exclusive images if they also leave. They agree, and within minutes, the entrance to U.A. is clear. Aizawa releases Izuku and Bakugo, saying:

—Can you tell me what you were trying to do?

Bakugo, annoyed, says:

—This wasn't my fault. Stupid Deku is the one who started talking to them.

Deku defends himself, saying:

—That's true, but I only did it to make them leave. I heard them saying that U.A. heroes were arrogant and thought we were untouchable. To be honest, I didn't want to talk to them either. After all, I don't have a good experience with interviews. But then I thought of All Might; he gives interviews all the time, and I think it's precisely for things like this, so people can have confidence and see that heroes are always there to save them.

Aizawa observes Deku while reflecting:

—As expected from All Might's disciple, he's just as foolish, but I can't deny that at least he managed to drive those pesky reporters away.

Aizawa sighs and comments:

—I don't care about that. If you want to be like All Might and live surrounded by those pests, go ahead. What matters to me is that you shouldn't have used your gifts outside U.A. facilities. This time, we can argue that you were within U.A. boundaries, but keep this in mind for the future. You are not heroes yet and cannot use your gifts without a hero license. That could get you into a lot of trouble.

The young men understand this and head to their class, while Aizawa observes how the U.A. entrance is completely clear. This makes him think that what Midoriya did at least served a purpose. Even so, Aizawa decides to keep the security system active to avoid any incidents. He doesn't trust that they won't come back.

Class begins, and Aizawa reviews some papers, saying:

—I took a look at the videos and results of All Might's tests. I must admit that most of you did well; however...

Aizawa looks at Bakugo and says:

—Bakugo, you have plenty of talent and great potential, but you need to focus on teamwork and honing your skills. It's time for you to mature, or you'll waste that potential.

Bakugo accepts his teacher's words, surprising Deku. Aizawa then addresses Deku:

—As for you, Midoriya, I'm glad to see you have better control over your gift, but I'm disappointed to see that you perform better as a villain than as a hero. Like Bakugo, you have great potential, but unlike him, you're afraid of your gift, and that limits you. That's why, when you played the role of a fearless villain, you were superior. Try to lose the fear of your gift, or you'll limit yourself.

Momo looks at Deku while thinking:

—Afraid of his own gift? That's hard to believe...

Deku accepts his teacher's words. After all, he's not wrong. He's happy to have One For All, but every time he uses it, he forces himself to smile or be happy because he's afraid of losing control. However, in his role as a villain, he completely forgot about that.

After saying this, Aizawa continues:

—Very well, as you know, unfortunately, one of your classmates was expelled. Normally, this wouldn't be a problem, but All Might made me realize that for most tests, we need an even number of students. Therefore, I've decided to give a new student a chance. You can come in.

The door opens, and a young man with disheveled indigo hair that flares out in large tufts around his head enters. His eyes are a dark purple with triangular pupils, with no visible eyelashes. He also has noticeable bags under his eyes that give him a disheveled yet intimidating look. Seeing him, Deku compares him to Aizawa, as they have similar features. Aizawa looks at the young man and says:

—Go ahead, introduce yourself. I won't do everything for you.

The young man stands firm and says:

—My name is Hitoshi Shinso. My gift is brainwashing, which allows me to take control of the minds of anyone who responds verbally to me, forcing them to obey my orders.

All murmur at hearing the boy’s gift, which they find quite suitable for a villain. But Deku sees in him an opportunity to talk with the beings that make up the One For All. Aizawa orders him to sit in the only empty seat and then he addresses the whole class saying:

—Well, now, I don’t know how to say this, so I’ll be straight...

Everyone is a little upset at these words, not knowing what to expect from a teacher like Aizawa. If he says something like that, it’s because it’s a complicated task. Aizawa goes on to say:

—All right, today it’s time to choose the class delegate.

Everyone sighs in relief, as it was a common school activity. Everyone starts running, including Bakugo. The only one who doesn’t seem interested is the new boy, possibly because he thinks he won’t have a chance. The commotion continues until Tenya says:

—Silence, please! A sacred vocation like this requires absolute trust. If we want a true hero to lead us, then we must choose them democratically. We need to hold a vote.

The class begins to complain, saying:

—That's rich coming from the guy whose hand nearly touched the ceiling.

Most of them are unsure if this idea will work, especially since they barely know each other. But Tenya defends his idea, saying that if someone gets enough votes, that person is undoubtedly the right one for the job. Then, he tries to gain support from his teacher by saying:

—What do you think, teacher?

Aizawa, who is finishing closing his sleeping bag and throws himself to the floor, responds:

—I don't care. Just do it quickly.

They end up choosing this idea; most of the class runs for the position, except for Uraraka and the new kid. The voting ends, and Deku wins with a total of five votes, with Momo coming in second with a total of two votes. Deku looks surprised to have received so many votes; after all, he expected to get at most two votes. Meanwhile, Bakugo is furious seeing that Deku won, starting to insult his classmates. This seems to cheer Deku up, as he sees that Bakugo is back to his usual self. As for Tenya, he looks defeated since he didn’t receive a single vote. Everyone is surprised by this, as it meant that he didn’t vote for himself like most did, but voted for someone else.

Aizawa looks at the board and then says:

—Alright then, Midoriya is the class representative and Yaoyorozu is the vice representative.

Deku and Momo stand up and walk to the front of their classmates. Seeing this, Momo comments:

—You voted for me, didn’t you?

Deku smiles slightly and says:

—Yeah, I voted for you. Among everyone, I think you’re the best for the position.

Momo looks at the board saying:

—That's what you think, but the majority chose you, so I’m counting on you, representative.

Deku sighs and says:

—Same here.

Mina, seeing them, shouts:

—YES, THAT’S MY FAVORITE PAIR!

After saying this, a book hits Mina on the head, who looks around, saying:

—Who did that?!

Uraraka is seen whistling while looking the other way, while the others look satisfied with the idea of Deku and Momo as their representatives.

It's lunchtime. Deku was putting some things in his backpack before heading out. He was about to go to lunch when Uraraka approached him. Deku turned around and noticed that she seemed very determined, which made him a bit uncomfortable. A little nervous, he said:

—Hi, Uraraka. Is something wrong?

With Tenya's comment in mind, Uraraka approached Deku and, extending her hand, touched Deku's chest, saying:

—You're a boy...

Deku blushed slightly, saying:

—You know, Uraraka, if I did the same, I'd probably get expelled from U.A.

Uraraka realized what she had done and yelled:

—I'M SORRY, THAT WASN'T MY INTENTION. I just wanted to know if you were a girl...

Deku had a big question on his face, so Uraraka told him the truth.

Deku, upon hearing this, laughed and said:

—So that's what it was. Well, I guess people will find out eventually.

Deku unbuttoned his shirt and showed his chest to Uraraka, who, blushing, covered her face with her hands but slowly opened her fingers to see. Her eyes widened even more when she saw a scar on Deku's right pectoral. She removed her hands from her eyes, saying:

—What happened to you?

—It was a long time ago. When I was defending myself from some boys who used to bully me, I hit their leader, and he, enraged, used his Quirk unconsciously and attacked me.

Uraraka unconsciously touched Deku's chest, saying:

—It's like a small explosion...

Uraraka started remembering everything Deku had told her, as well as Bakugo's attitudes towards him. Slowly, her pupils contracted, and she said:

—It was Bakugo. He did this to you, didn't he?

Deku remained silent for a few seconds and then said:

—I can't deny it. I thought it would be hard for people to figure it out, but both you and Momo guessed it right away. Not even my mom knows about this, so I wanted to ask you to keep it a secret.

Uraraka, angry, said:

—I WON'T DO IT. Everyone needs to know this. A guy like him can't be at U.A.

Uraraka was about to leave, but Deku stopped her, saying:

—Uraraka, you have to let Bakugo follow the path of a hero. Only then will he become a great hero. I know he seems like a bad guy; he made my life miserable, but...

Deku remembered the moment when Bakugo used an explosion to save the journalist and then continued:

—But I believe in him and want him to be a hero. Now this scar is part of my past, so it's better to forget it.

Uraraka sat down, saying:

—Seriously, you're too kind, it's infuriating. But fine, I won't say anything. But I don't get it. How did Bakugo not get punished? Also, there should have been a doctor who could have healed that wound. Why did you end up with such a scar?

Deku buttoned his shirt, saying:

—Probably because I never went to one. Using a Quirk without permission can be serious, and U.A. won't accept you if you have any kind of record with problems with your Quirk. That's why I kept quiet. It may look bad, but it's a superficial wound, so it healed quickly.

Uraraka clenched her fists in anger while saying:

—So you hid it and carried that pain just so Bakugo could go to U.A.? Are you crazy or what?

Deku stood up, saying:

—It may not make sense to you, but I do what I think is best. I believe in Bakugo, and unless he proves otherwise, I won't stop thinking he can be a great hero. Heroes have to get stronger; we can't distance ourselves and leave potential heroes out just because of grudges.

Deku left, leaving Uraraka with a slight internal anger she couldn't keep quiet for long. When he left, Deku found Momo at the door, who commented:

—So that was the whole story. Sorry, I didn't mean to listen, but I had no choice. I don't think it would have been good for our representative to be expelled for indecency.

Deku blushed, saying:

—Wait, Momo, it's not what you think.

Momo laughed slightly, saying:

—I know. I heard you talking this morning. I knew Uraraka would ask you sooner or later, so I waited. If you didn't want to tell her or if a teacher came, I would have to come in to save you. It's my duty as your deputy.

At this comment, Deku smiled, saying:

—I see, I owe you one, Momo.

Momo looked at him, saying:

—Actually, we're even. You helped me during our training, so now it was my turn.

They walked to the cafeteria while continuing to talk. When they arrived, Deku saw the new guy and decided to talk to him. When he sat down, the boy seemed a bit annoyed, but Deku started eating and then said:

—You're Hitoshi Shinso, right?

The boy nodded with a tone that showed he didn't like Deku's company. However, Deku remained in the same mood and said:

—You have a very peculiar Quirk...

These words made the young man think: "I see, so that's what he wanted. He'll probably say that with a Quirk like mine, I can only be a villain. Guys with strong Quirks like him always think that about me." This is what the young man thought, but Deku continued, saying:

—I think you'll be an incredible hero. You can save many lives; you can even make villains surrender without fighting or make a villain release a hostage. I think in situations like that, you would be key to ensuring everything goes well. If they see you, they'll feel relieved, similar to how we feel when we see All Might.

Hitoshi clenched his fists while thinking: "He's being sincere; what he's saying is what he's really thinking, and I thought he just came to bother me." The young man looked at Midoriya, saying:

—Do you really think that?

Deku smiled and said:

—Yes, without a doubt. You will be a great hero.

The boy thanked him for these words and also apologized for being so hostile. He explained that it was because everyone who approached him usually feared his Quirk or told him he would be a villain due to the nature of his Quirk. He was so tired of that that he eventually built a shell that led him to distance himself from others. Deku understood this and said:

—I can't fully understand how you feel, but people used to bully me because they thought I didn't have a Quirk. They constantly made fun of me. For a moment, I also thought about distancing myself from others, but I realized that doing so would make me miss out on meeting many amazing people. I'm not saying you should suddenly be friendly with everyone, but I'm sure there's more than one person who will think your Quirk is incredible, and you'll also make many friends. For now, you can start with me. My name is Izuku Midoriya, but my friends usually call me Deku.

Deku extended his hand towards the boy, who took it, saying:

—My name is Hitoshi Shinso. Nice to meet you, Deku.

They continued talking about trivial matters until Deku asked Shinso for something unusual. To which the boy responded:

—Wait a second, you want me to use my Quirk on you? This is the first time someone has asked me to do that. I have no problem doing it, but what exactly do you want?

Deku looked at Shinso, saying:

—This will sound even stranger, but I want you to say, "talk to him." If everything works as I think, I should be able to do it.

Shinso thought for a few seconds and then said:

—It does sound unusual, but fine. When you want to do it, just ask.

Meanwhile, in another part of U.A., Uraraka couldn't keep quiet about what she knew and was determined to confront Bakugo. So she waited until she managed to intercept him. She stopped Bakugo, saying:

—I don't care what Deku says. I CAN'T KEEP QUIET. HOW COULD YOU HURT SOMEONE WHO CARES SO MUCH ABOUT YOU?

Bakugo got angry, saying:

—If it's about the hit from the other day, he hit me too. I don't know what interest you have in him, but stay out of this.

Uraraka, furious, yelled:

—I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE SCAR YOU LEFT ON HIS CHEST. DON'T YOU THINK BEFORE DOING THINGS? YOU COULD HAVE KILLED HIM.

Uraraka tried to calm down, and while clenching her fists, she said:

—During school, you hurt him badly, and yet he didn't say anything so you could get into U.A. He even has a scar that won't let him forget about you. He's the only person who thinks you'll be an incredible hero and believes in you to the point where he didn't care that you hurt him. He kept believing in you, but you still treat him badly, keep belittling him, and treat him like garbage, and I'm tired of seeing that. He may think you'll be a great hero, but I can't see that...

The academy alarm rang, and Uraraka looked angrily at Bakugo. She had much more to say, but she decided to leave to see what was happening with the alarm. Meanwhile, Bakugo didn't move an inch, as he was thinking about what Uraraka had said. Bakugo started to remember that fight where he could have hurt Deku. He recalled that on that occasion, he used his Quirk without realizing it and directly attacked Deku, who was clutching his chest tightly. Bakugo looked at his hands while saying to himself:

—It was the first time Deku ran away from a fight. I thought I had scared him with my Quirk. But a scar? What is she talking about?

Bakugo remembered Deku at that time and clearly recalled that for at least a month, Deku's appearance had deteriorated. He stopped bothering him because he thought he had broken his spirit, but then he went back to being the same as always, and their relationship returned to the same.

At the same time, everyone in the cafeteria crowded at the exit. The panic made it impossible to maintain order. Deku was about to use his Quirk to escape from the people crushing him when Present Mic's voice said:

—Enough, guys. This was just a false alarm. You are students of a hero academy. How can you panic so easily? Show some academy pride and return to your classrooms in order.

Present Mic watched as all the students calmed down and left in an orderly manner. While watching this, he thought:

"This is no false alarm. Someone destroyed the main door. If the media hadn't left, this could have been a scandal."

The U.A. teachers observed the now-destroyed iron door, seeing that the culprit must have had a Quirk that accelerated the decomposition of elements or a similar Quirk.

They didn’t know who it was, but they had one thing very clear: that was a declaration of war against the heroes of the U.A.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the city, a villain threatens a group of heroes. He has a man, a woman and a girl with whom he threatens the heroes by saying that if they dare to follow them, he will kill them. Proheroes can’t do anything until a voice says,

—Don’t be afraid, family!

From heaven falls All Might, who shouts:

—Missouri Smash! Missouri Smash.

All Might uses the fall to advance rapidly as he hits his target on the head with the clank of his hand, saving that family in the process. Smiling, he says:

—Why? 'cause I’m already here, on my way to work.

All Might hears that another person is in danger, so he leaves the family and jumps off to help that person. While it’s in the air, think:

"I think I’ve gotten slower. Giving the One For All to Izuku has slowly weakened me. In fact, the effort that I put into it made the time limit on which I can use One For All shorter."

All Might remembers his successor thinking:

"I don’t care, because I know he’ll be ready when the time is right. But there’s something that worries me. I didn’t tell Izuku, but his body should be able to use 100% of the power of One For All. He’s been training since he was a kid, and I should be able to handle it. After all, my training should have been enough for me to withstand all that strength for at least an hour without a problem. That’s why I can’t understand it. Why can you only use 30 percent? Is it the One For All that limits you?"

All Might stops a car that was out of control with his hand, saving the driver.

All Might takes his hand off the vehicle while still thinking:

"I must forget about that and focus on guiding him, however mature he is, he’s only 15. That is why, as long as he lives, I must lead him on the right path."

All Might hears that more people are in danger and can’t help but go to them. Meanwhile, at the U.A., Aizawa explains to his students about what class they will take that day. This is a special class in which three teachers will participate, including All Might and another person that Aizawa prefers not to reveal. Aizawa notices that one of his students is about to ask something, so he says:

—The class will be based on...

Aizawa pulls out a card that has the word "RESCUE" written on it. Aizawa continues saying:

—Shipwrecks and all things natural disaster. This class will be a rescue or rescue training, whatever you call it...

The class is excited about this and they start commenting on this class, which seems to annoy Aizawa, who interrupts them saying:

—Let me finish. This time, whether or not to wear suits is their choice. I say this because some of their suits might not be very appropriate, but there's also the fact that they were created to use their quirks, so it's up to each one of them.

Aizawa presses a button, and several metal bars with metal boxes on them deploy from the wall. After this, Aizawa looks at the group and says:

—Class will be outside of U.A., so we'll go by bus. Get ready.

Aizawa leaves, and the students head to get their suits. Deku grabs his box with great enthusiasm, thinking:

"This is one of the things I admire most about All Might. I have to give it my all; this is my first step to becoming a great hero like him."

The group starts changing. Deku takes off his shirt and is about to finish putting on his suit when Bakugo approaches, saying:

—Hey idiot, turn around.

Deku ignores Bakugo and responds:

—You should get ready. We all know Mr. Aizawa isn't someone who likes to wait.

Bakugo gets angry at this and grabs Deku by the shoulder to force him to turn around. However, Deku activates his quirk, preventing Bakugo from moving him. Still, Tenya manages to see Deku's wound and says:

—What happened to you? It's like you got burned...

Deku says nothing, and Tenya thinks he might feel uncomfortable or insecure showing that scar. So, he comments:

—Hey, it looks a bit bad, but you shouldn't worry about it. Actually, it makes you look tough.

Tenya gives a thumbs-up and smiles. With this, Deku turns around, allowing Bakugo and the others to see the scar on his chest, showing that it doesn't affect him. While finishing dressing, Deku replies to Tenya:

—It was an incident with fire, but there's nothing to worry about. It looks a bit bad, but it doesn't hurt at all. And I admit you're right, it's a cool scar.

Bakugo looks angry and, glaring at Deku, says:

—Tell the truth! I caused that scar when you didn't have a quirk during one of our fights. I attacked you with my quirk, and you took that hit without telling anyone...

Bakugo clenches his fists and yells in rage:

—TELL THE TRUTH, DAMN IT! SAY THAT I CAUSED THAT, SAY THAT I HURT YOU WHEN I KNEW YOU COULDN'T DEFEND YOURSELF.

Hearing this, their classmates start murmuring until Deku's voice rises above them. The boy looks at Bakugo seriously and replies:

—That's what you think. I don't know how you found out, but I don't think this is something you're proud of. That shows your heart isn't as twisted as everyone thinks. I have nothing to say because I don't hold any grudge against you. Just forget it.

Bakugo looks filled with rage, but it's anger towards himself. So, looking at Deku, he says:

—I can't accept it. HIT ME WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, ONLY THEN WILL WE BE EVEN! LEAVE ME WITH A WORSE MARK THAN THAT!

Deku sees One for All, his quirk, as a power born to save and protect others. And that's why Bakugo's request makes the young man angry, and releasing the power of One For All, Deku grabs Bakugo by the top of his shirt and says:

—You want to make up for this scar? Do it by becoming a true hero, one who brings safety and peace to people. Hitting you won't change anything for me. If you truly regret it, repay me that way.

Deku lets go of Bakugo and leaves, apparently angry. Deku goes out to the courtyard where the others are. Momo notices Deku looking a bit upset and approaches him, saying:

—What's wrong? It's the first time you seem this upset.

Hearing this, Deku realizes that Bakugo's comment really made him angry, so he calms down, saying:

—It was just a clash with Bakugo. He found out that he caused this scar and then asked me to hit him as compensation, and it bothered me more than I expected.

Momo is surprised at this and says:

—But I think that would have been best. I mean, you must have some resentment towards him. Plus, it might have made Bakugo feel better.

Deku looks at his hands, saying:

—I don't care about Bakugo's feelings anymore. What matters to me is that if I had hit him, then I couldn't be at peace. This might sound stupid to you, but my quirk was born to save and protect others. That's why I'm afraid to use it to its full potential because I'm scared that if I use all my strength, I might hurt someone who doesn't deserve it...

Momo looks at Deku, thinking:

"So that fear isn't towards his quirk, but he's afraid of his own power because he fears hurting those he should protect. That explains a lot."

Momo was about to respond to Deku when Uraraka approaches, looking a bit embarrassed. She looks at Deku and makes a slight bow, saying:

—I'm sorry, it's my fault for what happened. I confronted Bakugo about what he did to you, and I'm sorry, but I couldn't keep quiet...

Deku interrupts Uraraka, saying:

—Don't apologize. Actually, you lifted a weight off my shoulders.

Deku quickly tries to change the subject, looking at the others and saying:

—Well, now that we're all here, we should head to the bus. I'm supposed to be the class rep and should guide you.

Deku tells the students to get on the bus. Tenya raises his hand, saying:

—We should all go in order, so we can properly take our assigned seats.

Everyone gets on the bus, and Tenya feels defeated seeing how the bus is entirely different from what he expected. Deku waits at the door until everyone is on. Shinso was about to get on when Deku looks at him and says:

—Would you mind if we did that during the trip?

Shinso looks at Deku and says:

—It's not a problem, but keep in mind I have no idea what will happen.

Deku nods, and Shinso gets on the bus. Bakugo waits until the last one gets on the bus, then walks towards Deku. Before getting on the bus, Bakugo stops and says:

—I will become the number one hero and then challenge you to a fight. When the time comes, you better not back down.

Deku smiles slightly and responds:

—I'll be waiting...

Bakugo gets on the bus, and then Deku follows behind him. Deku sits next to Momo and says quietly:

—I asked Shinso to use his quirk on me. Would you mind looking after me until I wake up?

Momo looks confused by Deku's request, but without hesitation, she agrees. Shinso approaches Deku and says:

—Alright, are you ready?

Deku looks at Shinso and responds:

—I am.

At that moment, Shinso activates his quirk and says:

—Alright, Deku, talk to him.

After giving this order, Deku closes his eyes and seems to be asleep. Shinso steps back, taking advantage of the fact that no one had noticed what he had done. Momo, still confused, decides to rest Deku's head on her arm, making it look like he was sleeping. This way, she ensures he won't get hurt. Uraraka, seeing this, looks a bit annoyed, while the others don't seem to care, as they were talking among themselves. Most were having fun, annoying Bakugo with his bad temper. Tsuyu wanted to talk to Deku about his quirk, but she forgets that idea seeing him asleep. The trip continues while at the same time Deku is taken to a subconscious space, where he seems to be in an infinite void. He couldn't even see the ground, but still, he felt like he could walk in that place. Deku looks around, saying:

—Where am I?

For some reason, Deku feels the presence of One For All in that place. He is about to walk when a large, muscular man with a broad build appears in front of him.

Deku sees him as someone intimidating, but this man looks at him and says in a somewhat sarcastic tone:

—Look who forced an audience with me. I didn't know I was so popular. I'm flattered that you went to so much trouble just to see me, Ninth Bearer.

Deku looks at him and says:

—Are you one of the One For All bearers?

The man is surprised by this and says:

—You can even talk here already. Well, it was to be expected. After all, you have a strong affinity with us. My name is Daigoro Banjo, I was the fifth user of One For All. I'd like to talk to you, but I don't know how long this forced chat will last, so I'll be brief and try to explain the basics.

—First, what you see through gaps from time to time is the growth of One For All. Your training and the strength you've gained in your body have given you a great affinity with One For All, but that's not all. Your heart, your will, and your desire to protect are very aligned with the feelings of the other bearers. That's why you're such a suitable bearer and, before you ask, we never limit your strength. It's you who limits the power of One For All. Your body should have been able to withstand One For All at one hundred percent, albeit for a very limited time. If I were you, I wouldn't use it unless you're a bit of a masochist. What I recommend is that you try to break the barriers little by little. Well, I think those were most of your questions. Now, about the other matter.

Deku realizes he can no longer speak, possibly as a consequence of forcing this connection. The fifth bearer seems to notice this and continues with his explanation. The man opens his hand, causing the black whip to appear in it. Looking at the young man, he says:

—This is my quirk. Its name is Black Whip. You're lucky it was the first quirk to awaken. It's a very useful quirk. It allows for greater mobility as it can adhere to surfaces. Additionally, it's very useful during a fight. As for its operation, right now you can activate it according to your emotions. For example, when you tried to save that girl, you used it to launch an attack. But you could also use it to save people. It all depends on your emotions and the control over them. Now, if you want strength, then use your anger. But be careful because since it joined One For All, Black Whip has been enhanced. I know you won't have any problems learning to use it in different ways.

Daigoro notices the connection weakening, and the young man will be pulled out of this space in a few moments. Looking at Deku, he says:

—Get angry. Anger will give you strength, but you must control it very carefully. From now on, six more quirks will manifest in you. Control your heart and learn to use us, because you will be the one to complete the power of One For All.

After hearing this, Deku wakes up seeing the bus come to a stop. The young man realizes he's on top of Momo, so he quickly moves away, saying:

—I'm sorry...

Momo stands up, stretching, and says:

—Don't worry...

Momo lets out a nervous laugh while thinking:

"I hope he doesn't realize I fell asleep when I said I would look out for him."

Deku stands up and says:

—I see we've arrived; well, it's time to give it our all in this test.

Momo smiles slightly and says:

—I see you got what you wanted. You seem to be in a good mood.

Deku laughs slightly as everyone gets off the bus. Uraraka stands next to them and says:

—I hope you rested well, Momo.

Momo blushes at this comment, while Deku just seems confused.

As everyone gets off, a woman with a space suit-inspired outfit approaches them. Upon seeing her, Deku gets excited and says:

—It's Thirteen, the space hero! She's a hero who has saved many lives in natural disasters. It's amazing to meet her.

Everyone looks excited at the presence of this hero, who, with a cheerful voice, says:

—I'm eager to show you the site!

The class says in unison:

—We’d love to!

Upon entering, the boys are extremely surprised. The place is spread out over several stages with a large space. The heroine reaches out and says:

—Shipwrecks, fires, collapses, typhoons, etc. This place was created with the intention of training them so that they can cope with all accidents and disasters. I call it "Unanticipated Events Simulation Unit," short for U.S.J. I’m very proud of this.

The heroine looks very proud after saying this, leaving the class of heroes speechless. Aizawa, ignoring the whole heroin theater, approaches her and says:

—What about All Might, Thirteen? He should be here by now.

The heroine responds to Aizawa by raising three of her fingers and then saying:

—It turns out he worked overtime and now he can't come.

While the others see this as something trivial, Deku understands from Thirteen's gesture that All Might might have reached his limit and, therefore, won't be able to use One For All for a while. This doesn't worry Deku, but Aizawa says, somewhat annoyed:

—This is the last straw. That man is the epitome of irresponsibility.

Aizawa has a bad feeling, so the fact that All Might isn't around only increases the danger. They decide to proceed with more caution. Aizawa decides to start the class, and Thirteen begins to explain the objective of the lesson. Looking at the students, Thirteen says:

—As you know, my quirk is called Black Hole. As its name indicates, this quirk is a black hole that allows me to absorb everything. I use this quirk to save lives, but the truth is that if I couldn't control it, I could even destroy a person. I'm sure more than one of you can understand this since you have quirks that could hurt others. All the tests so far have had the sole purpose of learning how your quirks work. With Aizawa, you learned the hidden potential of your quirks, and with All Might, you learned how dangerous it can be for others. So today, you will learn a new perspective. Today you will learn to use your quirks to save others. I hope this teaches you that our only goal is to learn to use our quirks to save as many lives as possible. Anyway...

Thirteen makes a slight bow like an actor at the end of a play, then says:

—That's all. Thank you for your attention.

The hero course praises Thirteen, saying it was a wonderful explanation. Aizawa, for his part, sighs and then walks towards them, saying:

—Alright, first of all...

Aizawa can't finish speaking because suddenly the lights start to flicker and a hostile presence fills the air. The first to sense it is Aizawa; the second is Deku, who slowly loses his enthusiastic smile. Aizawa looks towards a fountain several meters ahead of them, where a portal opens, and a group of hundreds of villains emerges. Finally, a figure with multiple hands around his body steps out, particularly noticeable is the hand covering his face. Alongside him comes a huge humanoid monster, black in color, with a very muscular body covered in multiple red scars along its arms. Especially notable is its exposed brain and its completely round, wide-open yellow eyes. Its mouth has the shape of a bird's beak, dull yellow with a black part in the middle, along with huge white teeth shaped like daggers, giving it a sinister humanoid crow-like appearance.

Seeing this, Deku’s instinct activates his gift. Aizawa, for his part, puts on his glasses saying:

—Don’t even think about it, Midoriya. This goes for everyone. Stay together and don’t even think about coming closer, Thirteen is counting on you to protect the boys.

These words and Aizawa’s seriousness makes them understand the gravity of the matter. The day they would learn to save people would be the day their lives were put to the test.

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