Summary: AU. OC-Centric. 'It wasn't my lifelong dream to become a hero; it was merely a promise I made a long time ago, a promise I found I couldn't break. Entering U.A. high school, I figured, would just be another easy stepping stone in fulfilling that promise. I was completely and utterly wrong.'

I do not own the characters or story-line. Please do not copyright me ;)

Prologue

First person POV

I haven't always wanted to be a hero.

Younger me wanted to be a princess, maybe an actress―older me is aware that the first possibility is just a fantasy, thank you―but never a hero.

The job seemed too glorifying―not that saving people was anything horrendous.

The fact that a person would only save someone else to receive glory is what caused me to stray from the hero life.

I'd like to think that someone who would take action, try to save the common public against all odds, would be someone who had pure intentions; a desire to help and protect.

I know first hand that that's not always the case.

Maybe that's a little too cynical, but I'm not wrong; beating up the bad guys was in all in a day's work for someone who thrived off of the media attention it received, the adoring fans it gathered.

I knew what the hero life could do to a person if all that glory went to their head. I knew what the hero life could morph someone into against their will.

I wanted nothing to do with it.

However, fate doesn't always like to be told what to do once it has its sights set on something.

On the day I turned six, I experienced that divine irritation personally.

The summer air had seemed consuming―thick heat that latched on to your skin, warm breezes that swirled dangerously in your lungs. It was inescapable, the sun and its warmth taking no prisoners.

I was sprawled out underneath a large oak tree, hair sticking to my face, eyes sticking to the words lined neatly on the book I held in my hands. I remember getting distracted by the occasional chatter and shouts from the kids at the playground, remember the way I scowled and furrowed my eyebrows in annoyance at the disturbance.

Ironically, I couldn't even remember what book I was trying to read.

Curling into myself a bit more under the bark of the tree, I submerged myself in the torn chapter book I got from the school library, not noticing the noise around me dimming.

I must've gotten through ten pages before I realized how silent my surroundings had gotten―no laughter, no chattering. Just, silence.

My observation skills at that age were absolutely none.

My eyes shifted up from the page suspiciously, scanning the area to only find it completely empty. I remember thinking how odd it was, since the playground was brimming with people only a few minutes before.

Gnawing on my bottom lip, I set the book down at my side, getting up warily to my knees; I didn't like the eerie feeling I was getting, the feeling that something was very, very off.

Tensing my shoulders as I got to my feet, standing slowly as I aimlessly gazed around the park, I had noticed something odd.

There was movement in the forest line behind the slide, branches shaking and leaves falling rhythmically. Any normal person would just pass it off as the result of animals, most likely a bird or squirrel―my over-imaginative six year old brain screamed at me to investigate anyway.

And so I did―I marched my stubby legs across the wood chips, a determined set in my brow even though I was scared out of my wits. I wanted answers, I was sure as hell going to get them.

I had the passing thought of If I get kidnapped, my parents are gonna kill me before trudging through the woods anyway.

Ducking and weaving through the thick foliage, I came to a stop when the voices resumed, the distinct sound of someone getting hit, repeatedly, attacked my senses.

I crouched low to the ground then, long grass brushing the tops of my knees playfully. My arms hovered before me, reaching shakily to uncover the bushes that blocked my sight.

I pushed them aside and froze completely.

A small boy laid on the ground, unruly locks of green swaying as the feet of stocky boys kicked their way into his sides. His arms were clutched around his head, his eyes squeezed shut tightly.

A blonde boy stood before the group of cronies, yelling and shouting something to the boy lying on the ground, though never making a move to hit him.

I blanked―the awful things they were shouting fading as my mind zeroed in on the fact that they were hurting him.

I hated bullies. With a passion.

The next thing that happened would be something I would refer to as the beginning of the end―the starting factor for my life of chaos. I never regretted the moment, actually, more or so regarded it as the life changing experience everyone faces at some point or another.

I found it was the first of many.

The air around me had cracked―it was similar to the sound of a thunderstorm, lightning flashing erratically and thunder booming, distinct electricity so intense and sharp that it could echo across miles of land.

A mantra of 'run,' swirled in my mind, blaring and bright and pleading with me to take action.

I saw that boy on the ground, saw the way he flinched and cringed and hurt, and I wanted it to be over.

That's what a real hero was―not the washed out imitations my parents tried to be.

Adrenaline coursed in my veins, burning my limbs as electricity ran through them. In an odd twist of fate, the boys eyes opened, somehow connecting directly with mine.

Deep green pools burned a hole into my blue ones, and something within myself clicked.

I saw pain in them, strain―but I also saw the sheer willpower, the passion.

He wasn't giving up, and neither would I.

"Hey!" I shouted, my voice sounding all kinds of angry as it garnered the attention of the boys it was directed at, "Knock it off!"

The air crackled, my surroundings suddenly getting a lot hotter. I was vaulting forward, faster than I ever thought possible. One moment, everything in me screamed and cried to launch towards the boy, protect the kid getting unfairly pummeled on the dirt ground―and the next, my body was doing just that, times ten.

I had known that I was moving fast; faster than normal, taking into account the fact that everyone around me seemed to slow. I never pondered why everyone moved in slow motion, or questioned it―it felt too natural to debunk.

My eyes never strayed from the boy on the ground, nor did my thoughts.

If they had focused on the fact that I was literally moving at the speed of light, I'm sure I would've passed out from shock.

Hand outstretched and lips set into a firm line, I grasped the upper half of his shielding arm as I reached him, plucking him up and off the ground on my unyielding journey forward.

I had felt instant relief in that moment―relief that he wouldn't get beaten again, or hurt. It was the relief that still motivated me, the small sense of pride I had gotten from that moment that scared me.

My moment didn't last long; the downside to moving at the speed of light and not really paying attention is that you seem to miss your intended destination. By a lot.

There was also the fact that I didn't exactly know how to use the brakes.

I skidded off with the boy in my hand into the treeline, blurring past multiple shrubs and foliage with panic alighting my features.

With a jolt, I dug both of my heels into the ground, praying for my careening body to slow down.

Instead of skidding to a stop, I was sent into a skidding roll, the poor green haired boy pulled along into my little adventure as well.

Tumbling and somersaulting through the dirt floor of the forest, I was left in a heap under a large willow tree, my body aching and my head throbbing.

I barely noticed that I was hardly out of breath, considering the rate I was running at.

Groaning into my arm, I lifted my head up slowly, blinking blearily as my eyes tried to regain focus on my surroundings.

My first clear sight was that of wide, dark green eyes staring back at me.

Shifting to sit up, I took in the battered appearance of the person sitting before me, noticing the present confusion and the dawning amazement.

It was then that I realized I didn't truly know what to say.

Should I ask if he's ok? Apologize for bulldozing him through the forest floor?

Luckily, I found that I didn't have to make conversation first.

"H-how did you do that?" spilled from his lips, the upper corner split, lightly bleeding, "one second I was there―a-and the next we're here. Is it because of your quirk?"

I paused, furrowing my eyebrows as I noticed the barest hints of smoke rising from my shoulders, licking my chapped lips as I thought of a response.

"I'm not exactly sure―I-I've never―I didn't think I had a quirk." I stated lamely, now truly understanding what had just happened.

I had gotten my quirk. Late, of course, but I had still gotten it.

I remember the feeling of dread curling in my gut when I realized I had to tell my parents that their little girl wasn't quirkless, just a late bloomer.

The green haired boy seemed stumped, a small glimmer of hope oddly forming in his eyes.

"You didn't know you had a quirk until now? How old are you?"

I shook my head no, a pinched look on my face. "I'm six―I didn't get mine when all the other kids did; but I saw you lying there, and all those boys kicking you and I―well, I wanted t help you."

There were a lot of freckles on the boys face, dusted across his features like they were dancing; I noticed the glint in his eye dancing the same way his freckles were.

"Those boys are all friends with Kacchan, b-but they don't like me much because I don't have a quirk." he confessed, not meeting my eyes as he fumbled with his thumbs. "Kacchan always picks on me because I'm quirkless, but he's still my friend."

My mind had flashed back instantly to the sight of the blonde haired boy, and I frowned.

"B-but!" he exclaimed, teeth shining as his wide eyes gleamed into mine, "you didn't get your quirk until today! And you're six too! So maybe mine is just late like yours!"

I scrunched my nose, my overall opinion on having a quirk biased completely as I stared back at him.

Quirks meant working as a hero all the time. It meant obsessing over what the public has to say about you, what the public deems you worthy of.

I may have just discovered my quirk, but I wanted nothing to do with it. Not as much as this kid seemed to have wanted.

"It's ok to be quirkless," I mumbled to him, finding I couldn't really look him in the eyes, "having a powerful quirk means becoming a hero, and that's stupid."

I found myself completely taken aback by the sheer denial thrown back into my face.

"No, you're wrong!" The boy shouted fervently, causing me to glance up swiftly into depths of shining and passionate green. "Being a hero means the world! One day, I'm going to become a hero, and I'm going to protect everyone that I can! Whether I have a quirk or not, I'm going to fight evil guys and save everyone!"

Sitting on my knees, I scrunched my brow, eyes boring into him intently as curiosity consumed my thoughts.

"You want to protect everyone―even if they don't like you?"

It was the question that really seem to strike him, more than any he may have encountered in his past. I watched in silence as he mulled it over, expression still as he gazed peacefully at the sky.

"Everyone liking me for saving the day is nice―but I want to save people whether they praise me or not." he stated, hand clenched into a determined fist at his side, "after all, that's what it means to be a true hero."

There wasn't a trace of ill intent in his goals―no want of publicity and adoring fans. He was sincere, truthful.

It completely blew me away.

"I-I believe you." I spoke, words soft but meaning resolute, "I'll be rooting for you, then."

His eyes shimmered for a moment, before he lurched forwards and grasped my hands, a bright look in his eyes.

"Why root for me when you can be one too!" He stated, grin wide and pure.

I blinked. And then blinked again.

"...What?"

His smile never left him, his passion too consuming for me to breathe properly. "You saved me back there, just like a hero would! And you didn't even know if you could or not! You should become a hero too!"

Flabbergasted was what I was. Utterly flabbergasted.

I was young and already on a warpath against anyone wanting to become a hero, and here I was, being asked to become one myself.

The fates were an evil, evil thing.

His smile was so radiant though, so excited and genuinely happy―it was impossible to say no.

It was physically impossible to say no; oh, but I tried anyway.

"Uhm, I'm not―I'm not sure I can." I uttered lamely, bewildered and floundering for a way out of this conversation.

His head tilted to the side, very confused about why I was so adamant that I should not become one.

"You hate bullies right?" he asked, continuing when he saw my nod, "and you hate people who do things for the wrong reasons. Become a hero and protect everyone from those people!"

He made it sound so simple, like it was as easy as breathing air. It made me second guess myself completely, as though I was the outlier who viewed things the wrong way.

"I-I guess." I spoke, squeezing his hands thoughtfully and with a new outlook, "I'll become a hero with you, then―to protect everyone from those types of people."

Getting to his feet, his eye swollen and grin bright, he glanced down at me like a ray of sunshine.

"You promise?"

I had gotten to my feet as well, figuring I had nothing to lose.

Grinning back at him, though not as radiantly, I nodded, arms crossed defiantly. "I promise."

As I glanced at him, determination shining brightly in both our eyes, I peaked over his mass of green curls, noticing the sky illuminating a soft pink color.

It was sunset, and I was going to miss curfew―which translated into me being grounded for the rest of my life.

Making a panicked look, I had wiped the dirt from my shorts, straightening up as I made a beeline for the trees. "Gotta go! My parents are gonna be so mad if I get home late!"

"Wait!" He called, causing me to only pause for a second to glance over my shoulder, eyes curious. "You never told me your name!"

Smiling as I pushed the sleek, red hair behind my ears, I parted my lips to speak.

"Kasumi. Kasumi Hayakawa. It's nice to meet you."

He grinned as well, turning to leave as well, hands stuffed in his pockets as he uttered the name that changed my life forever.

"I'm Izuku Midoriya. You better keep your promise, because I'm going to keep mine!"

And as I stood, present day, in front of the gates of UA high school, I found I never really could break my promise all those years prior.

A small part of me never wanted to in the first place.

…

I've decided to re-write some things, I guess. I blame it on never being satisfied with my work, haha.

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Thanks for reading friends :)