Chapter One

Video games are the drug of youth.

You invest your time and resources into a fictional life. Overcome its challenges. Enjoy your rewards. Then you find yourself watching the ending credits roll.

You return to that drug to relive "success" when reality becomes too much to bear.

Eventually, you associate your fictional world with comfort. Secluding yourself in that world, you emerge only to maintain your skeletal livelihood in the real world, with every second spent away in aching need to return to that existence in your head.

Video games are the perfect drug, a seducer and destroyer.

They rot your brain, your eyes, your heart, and your will. Unsurprising, then, that my life―that of Hikigaya Hachiman―is a video game.

Which means that my Quirk is the best.

Whereas you'd see men and women in the streets with animal heads or with health problems thanks to their inconvenient physiologies, I'd gotten away with just a rotten-looking face. It's made me a problem no amount of Charisma can solve, but still I managed to become the envy of all. Envy me as much as you want! My very rottenness is a weapon that grants me strength! A genius that is great at sports, with an awesome personality, and is absolutely not boring―I'm so amazing no one can approach me!

"You know, Hikigaya," the woman sitting the desk began, "if you didn't laugh in that creepy way, or have that dead-fish gaze, you'd be close to an ideal student."

I snapped out of my monologue. Right, I'm being reprimanded by my Japanese literature teacher slash counselor.

"It wouldn't be fair to other students if I was a perfect person," I answered.

"I said 'ideal student', not 'ideal person'. You're a billion years too early to consider yourself the latter." Ugh. Damn her. The woman known as Hiratsuka Shizuka crossed her arms beneath her chest with a victorious smirk. Despite her professional attire, she was no doubt as nosy a person as I was rotten. She continued. "The fact is your intelligence doesn't extend to normal, social interactions. That's not accounting for your terrible attitude, either. Do you have any friends, Hikigaya?"

"Define 'friends'."

"Nevermind. Only a person without friends would say that."

Tch. "Well, I suppose a woman of your age can―"

A fist landed in my gut, and a small shockwave blew away the papers on Hiratsuka-sensei's desk. My health bar decreased by about a quarter, even with my Vitality stat and passives. Dealing with someone that possessed an enhanced strength Quirk was no joke. Scary!

"Hmph. You know you should never talk about a woman's age," my teacher said.

And you should know better than to hit your students!

"Sorry."

"Hmph. Even with your talents, you can't give a proper apology. My feelings were hurt, you know."

Is she going to hit me again?

"… A thousand grand apologies, your Ma―"

"H-hey! Don't suddenly dogeza like that! Get up!" Hiratsuka-sensei yanked me back to my feet while casting a self-conscious look about her. Seeing that none of the other teachers had noticed, she relaxed. Then she pouted. Sorry sensei, but you're about twenty years too― "Look, you're distracting me again."

"It's not my fault."

"The point is you can't hide behind your Quirk your whole life, Hikigaya."

"Am I not allowed to play into my natural strengths?"

The gorilla teacher glared. "Your Quirk is useful, but, if you rely on it too much, your character will rot too. Think of it as muscle atrophy for the soul. Yours is like a dried raisin. And you just thought of something rude just now, didn't you?"

"No."

"Hmph. Well, since we both know you'll only work for the right incentive, I've got a deal you'll be interested in."

Since becoming my counselor during my second semester in Soubu High School, Hiratsuka Shizuka is one of the few people who know how my Quirk works. How did my examiner describe it? "The manifestation of a pseudo-medium that allows the Quirk holder to interact with the world through a reinterpretation of reality, ignoring physical laws, including and not limited to the self."

Basically, I am using a computer called God.

Of course, Hiratsuka-sensei is no fool. In fact, she's a normie I can respect. She embodies one of the lessons I've learned while growing up: it is easier to reward than to convince.

Knowing this, I knew her deal was worth hearing.

"You told me about quests," she said.

I did. She knew about the Quest System, a part of my Quirk that rewarded me through various means by completing specified tasks. A quest, as the term is used in video games, is a task that promises a reward upon completion. While reward for each quest vary, they all share the feature of granting me EXP, which, after accumulation, makes me more awesome. Personally, I think to work is to lose; however, minimizing effort for maximum gain too is wisdom. If I spend some of my poor youth to build a wealthy future, then the effort spent is worth it.

Of course, it would be nice if I could find someone to mooch off of…

"I found something that might help you find these quests that you're looking for." Ah, the carrot-and-stick approach. Truly, a cunning teacher. "If you want, I can get you involved―as long as you promise you'll stick to it until you graduate."

"That sounds very shady, sensei. Like what a villain would say."

"… I will hit you."

I scratched my head. "If the quests are good, then I'll agree."

Hiratsuka-sensei stood, her lab coat swishing behind her. "Then let's get going."

"Sensei. You never mentioned what it was you wanted me to do."

Hiratsuka-sensei waved my question away. How carefree. Unfortunately, you're using my time too, so please tell me so I can prepare an appropriate reaction. "You'll know when we get there."

We reached Sobu High School's Special Building, where the bigger classrooms and clubrooms are.

… I have a bad feeling about this.

Sensei had rebuked me on the continual use of my Quirk. Since the modern social contract dictates the moderation of Quirks to maintain a fair, orderly society, I can see why sensei wants me to restrict myself. This goes doubly so in Japanese society, where the nail that sticks out gets hammered down. However, I too think that, since my Quirk is part of myself, I should be able to use it as freely as I wish since it doesn't inconvenience anyone. If a person is a genius, should he avoid using his intelligence in his everyday life? Should an athlete limit his physical activity?

Quirks are the same, in that sense.

"We're here," sensei remarked as we reached a set of doors beneath a blank plate. Without warning, she threw open those doors.

Inside was mostly empty. The desks and chairs had been stacked and placed on one side of the room. The sunlight coming in through the windows on the far wall bathed my sight in red and orange.

Sitting in the middle of that room was a girl.

Raven-haired, beautiful, and seemingly frail, this girl occupied the sole chair in the center of the room as she read from the book on her lap.

I felt as if this room existed in another time, and that we were intruding upon its peace.

"Hiratsuka-sensei," the girl said coldly as she shifted her gaze upwards from her book. "I thought I asked you to knock before entering."

The irresponsible teacher in question entered. "You wouldn't answer even if I did."

"That is because you would enter before I can answer." With an imperceptible sigh, she closed her novel. "So? Did you need something? Who is that rotten-looking creep standing like a buffoon at the door?"

It seems like my defining characteristic is well-pronounced.

Hiratsuka-sensei smiled when she saw I was still at the door. "Come on in. She won't bite."

Rather than wait for my answer to her question, the girl spoke with the sting of a barbed whip. "Hikigaya Hachiman, Class 2-F. Top scorer on math, social studies, Japanese, science, and English. The so-called 'smartest' student in Soubu High School… and the most unsocial. I suppose rumors of your intelligence are misleading if you cannot even identify yourself."

"… Says the girl who fails to introduce herself at a first meeting before demanding a name. But I suppose that's what makes you number two at life."

The girl pursed her lips. Of course, I didn't need her introduction. I could see her name on the label floating above her head in my eyes. Even though I met her just now, I knew of her from the exam score postings in these past two terms, as well as from whispers in the hall.

Yukinoshita Yukino, Class 2-J.

Class J was already far superior academically to the other classes, and Yukinoshita stood at the top of that class.

Unlike myself, whose only social value lay in his grades, Yukinoshita did well in exams and in looks. Thus, she held a status far greater than mine.

Though, from what I hear, she was as unsocial as myself.

It was ironic that her nickname among Soubu students would turn out to be, "Ice Queen."

Hearing her nickname, Yukinoshita turned her frown into an actual scowl.

"Fish Eyes."

… Honestly, I didn't like my nickname, either.

Hiratsuka-sensei clapped her hands twice. "Now, now. Drop the antagonism, you two. Geez, and here I was hoping the smartest students in their year would get along."

"There is little reason why I would 'get along' with him, Hiratsuka-sensei," Yukinoshita remarked.

I grunted. "Same for her."

Rather than being individuals who would bond from shared abilities, the cold Queen and the rotten me were more likely to stand on opposite sides just to spite each other.

Hiratsuka-sensei gestured towards me as I stepped inside the room. "I brought him here to reform him.

"As you can see, he's rotten to the core, like a super Demon Lord." 'Demon Lord'? What are you talking about? Only an idiot would fashion themselves after a creature with such an abysmal track record. I'm more like a Metal Slime! "His social ability is nonexistent. At this rate, he might end up a crime boss after leaving high school, and overthrow the world from the shadows. So, I thought you could turn him into someone remarkable, Yukinoshita."

"I refuse," Yukinoshita answered. "If you think he will become a molester, then have him arrested."

What?! 'Molester'? Who exactly were you projecting would molest you?

"W-well, I can't deny he looks like that. I was thinking he could actually join the club."

"I didn't agree to join a club," I said, and got a death glare in return.

"Actually," Yukinoshita said, "did you forget, sensei? Asking me to reform this human fish corpse is one thing. Having him join the Service Club is another."

"That's right. But I thought this was a good way to hit two birds with one stone."

"Reforming him by having him join?"

"It worked for you, didn't it?"

"I never needed reforming."

I looked between the two. "Hey, I'm completely lost here. Can someone fill me in?"

"Hikigaya, what do you think about heroes?" Hiratsuka-sensei asked.

Heroes.

Alongside the emergence of Quirks, there have been individuals that defy the social contract and utilize their Quirks against other people. In modern times, there are villains, whom utilize their Quirks against the law; then there are heroes, whom utilize their Quirks under one of many private, registered policing agencies scattered across the country. At the very least, professional heroes are (mostly) realistic enough to know that saving civilians in the name of justice won't pay the bills.

As for my opinion of them, "I don't care much for heroes."

Hiratsuka-sensei looked surprised. "Why not? Knowing you, I expected you to at least have a dark chuunibyou past involving hero work."

Urgh…! Too accurate!

Luckily, almong Hachiman's 108 Skills is the poker face. "I'm sure that's normal for most people such as yourself, sensei. However, something like declaring 'I am the next All Might' in front of a mirror in my youth is a little too much for me."

Technically not a lie. I never imagined myself as a muscle-headed brawling brute.

I couldn't say the same for Hiratsuka-sensei―who had buried her face in both her hands while shaking (lol). Oops. I'll avoid mentioning that in the future (lol).

"While I can't say I disagree," Yukinoshita began. "I would like to hear your reason as to why."

I snorted. "Well, it's nice that heroes keep the streets clean of criminals. I don't deny that. It's also nice that they're being role models for children. However, putting that much attention into heroic images only makes people foolish. They'll forget that their heroes aren't perfect."

Yukinoshita stared at me for a long moment. Then she nodded. "Though I cannot agree with your perspective completely, I can acknowledge what you are saying."

I raised a brow.

At my implied challenge, she glanced at the traumatized teacher (lol) before looking towards the afternoon sun. "Just because heroes aren't perfect does not mean they are not worth investing everything in. Whether the hero in question is perfect or not has no bearing on the heroes' true role: inspiration. As you implied, a professional hero's impact on the world exists in both crime-fighting and in social impact. The hero's job is to become a symbol to the common folk as well. 'So long as I am here, I will bear your hope'… or something like that. In a way, they are the pillars that keep society from crumbling into chaos."

In other words, heroes glue together the trust that allows society to continue functioning, even when there are people in the shadows that can literally end the world if they wanted to.

"That's nice and all," I retorted, "but that kind of message relies on the belief that, if push comes to shove, the hero in question will carry through. Naturally, this is impossible to guarantee."

"… I agree. Which is why it is also the duty of the hero to pursue perfection, no matter what."

"Hmph. 'Perfection' is only cheap as a word, y'know. Given time, even All Might will lose someday."

"Hikigaya." I stopped talking as Hiratsuka-sensei recovered. No, not just recovered―awakened. The true Demon Lord revealed herself as she squeezed my shoulder! "Shut up or I will punch you."

… Uwaa. We had a hardcore fan here, huh?

"I think you can see now, Yukinoshita." Sighing, Hiratsuka-sensei fixed her hair and pulled out a cigarette from her breast pocket. "Do you think he'll be any good in the club?"

"I will admit his rotten brain isn't irreparable."

Exhaling a lungful of smoke, Hiratsuka-sensei grinned. That cigarette is no good for your health, you know? Judging from the crinkle of her eyebrows, Yukinoshita agreed. "Then he's in!"

"I still don't know what you two are talking about," I said. "How does this Service Club have anything to do with heroes? Soubu High doesn't have a hero internship program."

"No, it doesn't." Looking proud of herself, Hiratsuka-sensei grabbed a chair from a stack and sat.

I frowned. "I don't think we have many alumni that are pro-heroes now."

"We have a few, but they don't contact us much."

"Then what?"

"Guess."

Annoying. Okay, what happened so far? I got lectured on how much I used my Quirk, was told how rotten my character was, and was offered a source for Quests. Hiratsuka-sensei then brought me here, where I got insulted by one of Soubu's top students.

No, there was another important fact: we talked about our ideals regarding hero work, right?

Hmm.

"I'm inclined to believe this Service Club is directly involved with hero work."

"Continue."

"I take it your persuading Yukinoshita-san into 'reforming' me has direct involvement with this hero work." Wait. Oh, no. "Since I'm not aware of this school having any affliation with a pro-hero agency, I'm sure the hero work involved is… private."

"Getting warm."

"This Service Club is a façade for a vigilante group."

Hiratsuka-sensei's grin was fierce.

Vigilantes.

When you think about them, they're people who defy the hero/villain social dynamic. Like heroes, vigilantes risk their lives to protect society from its scumbags. Look up a name on G*ogle, and eventually you will find no shortage of praise. Vigilantes on the whole are loved by the people.

However. Vigilantes are no doubt illegal.

Under the law, there exists a strictly-defined code that forms the notion of "justice." To be a professional hero, one must commit to this notion of justice, regardless of personal feelings. Moreover, no matter one's personal feelings, this defined notion of justice must be followed to the very letter.

Respect. Restraint. Responsibility.

But like everything, there will be disagreements.

Those who disbelieve. Those who distrust. Those who will take matters into their own hands. Or simply, those who wish to prove themselves…

They are vigilantes.

In technical terms, they're not much different from villains.

"So." My mouth felt slightly dry. That would be because the moisture in the air was being condensed from the rapidly-changing temperature. If I looked back, I would see frost coating the only safe way out of the classroom. Hiratsuka-sensei pretended not to notice. Or maybe this was what she wanted. "I guess I got it? You and Yukinoshita, the both of you vigilantes."

"You got it."

"… So, why are you telling me? Rather, aren't you endangering yourselves?"

"My thoughts exactly," Yukinoshita said.

"Mah, calm down, Yukinoshita. See, Hikigaya here has his own secrets he wants to keep. And I think that, if he really wanted what he wanted, he could join us, and we'd help each other out."

It took me a second to remember why I was here: quests.

If my Quirk turned me into a video game character in the real world, then, in true game fashion, there would be quests for me to complete.

With the strength of my Quirk determined by an accumulation of EXP, then naturally I would be drawn to what grants me the most EXP over time. Knowing this, Hiratsuka-sensei determined a reasonable course of action. Since quests formed from having activities to complete, and rewards grew from facing challenges, involving me in an activity like crime-fighting was a good idea. Because I wanted EXP, I would want to help her with her vigilantism.

However―

"I refuse."

Hiratsuka-sensei stiffened. "Eh?"

"I refuse," I repeated. "I have no interest in becoming a vigilante."

"B-but, quests!"

"The EXP isn't worth putting myself in danger like that."

Yukinoshita sighed. "As I suspected."

"I'm sorry, but please don't involve me in this." I bowed as I back away towards the door.

"W-wait a minute." Hiratsuka-sensei caught my arm, looking uneasy. Disappointed as well. How could she communicate everything with just a look? "I'm sorry about dragging you here like this. Really. And I won't force you to join or mess with your grades or anything. But, please do me a favor and―"

"I won't tell anyone what you're doing. Just don't mention my name or anything if you get arrested."

I freed myself from her grip and reached for the door. The frost coating it was thick, but a solid tug broke the sheet of ice holding it closed. I bowed again and left.

As I made my way through the halls out of the special building, a voice resounded in my head.

"H-how about we just be friends?" it said.

It had been years since my illusions died alongside my first romance. No matter how high Hikigaya Hachiman climbed, he was still the rotten Hachiman. The more I thought about it, the more I recognized the misconceptions that I had entangled myself in which engineered that moment.

The belief that success could overcome stigma.

The belief that being a hero meant something more than strength and fame.

The belief that I could do anything I set myself to do.

Humans are not born equal. That is simply a lie told by society to prevent us from hating one another. The inconvenient truth came into light following the emergence of Quirks, when there existed those who could not even have a power to their name. Even the most talented individuals can lack in the simple things that everyone else takes for granted.

Thus, I could not step into that world.

I could not become an arbiter of justice when I couldn't even trust my own idea of justice. I could barely stand up to say, "This is the person I am."

I could not bring myself to admire heroes, who paraded about with their deceit.

I could not be a vigilante, who stood steadfast in their convictions.

Hiratsuka-sensei was right.

Maybe Hikigaya Hachiman could only be a villain.