Hey! I did not expect the response I got from the last chapter and it made me quite chuffed. I hope I continue to impress. Feel free to ask questions in the reviews and I'll answer them (as long as it doesn't spoil the story). Don't forget to favourite, follow and review. :)

*~/0\~*=Time skip/Break

Italics mean thoughts or emphasise of a word in a normal sentence.

Bold means flashbacks/memories or authors note

*~/0\~*

Deku POV

I pulled myself away from the edge of building. No, that wasn't the answer. I began to walk towards the steps before an explosion sent tremors through the ground. The hell...? Scurrying over to the edge I spotted the mushroom cloud of smoke from downtown.

"A villain!" I started to run back to the roof door. "I wonder what hero will be there-!" Coming to a stop All Might's words taunted me again. 'I cannot simply say, you can become a hero even without power.' Head dropping low I trudged off the roof.

*~/0\~*

I could hear the commotion from a few blocks away. I was sitting up against a tree in the park- which was now quiet from everyone rushing to see what had happened. My thirteenth notebook lay open on my lap on the 'Kamui Woods' page and I began to flick through the pages of heroes.

'He still can't face reality, even though he's already a third year in junior high.', 'It's time for you to think seriously about your future.', 'You have to consider what's realistic.' The page came to All Might's signature. I stared at it for a long while. All Might... In the past this page would have made me wet myself with excitement. Why is all I feel now...resentment? With a sigh I shut the book and tears began to form. Don't cry! You knew, didn't you? The reality. You knew. That's why you were trying so desperately. You were averting your eyes, not looking at reality. Damn it... I really am a fool.

"Young man, why are you crying?" A rough voice asked.

I quickly sniffed the tears away and wiped the evidence from my face before looking up and up until I finally found a face.

"What's your name boy?" He got down on his knees to my level. "My names Chizome Akaguro," Chizome smiled and held out a rough, scarred hand.

"I-I'm Izuku Midoriya." I looked the man up and down. He wore large, knee high boots with metal plates on the knees. Bandages wound around his arms to his elbows and around his forehead- which flowed behind him with his red scarf. He wore a sort of metal chest piece with multiple dagger strapped to it and katana on his back. The most prominent feature, or more so the lack of, was the absence of his nose. Such an intimidating appearance yet the skinny face smiled warmly when his blood red eyes met mine. I took his hand and shook it hesitantly.

"So why are you crying Izuku?"

"I..Everyone mocks me, I'm Quirkless and weak. No one supports me and the one person who I thought did threw it back in my face," I don't know why I told him everything, but it just came spilling out. "I thought heroes were meant to protect people, be idols, yet they're just frauds! They're in it for the money and fame. They don't care about the people."

A twisted smile spread across Chizomes face. "Dear boy, would you like to be stronger?"

"Stronger..?"

"Join me Izuku. I will make you strong and people will fear you, no one will stand in our way as we right the wrongs of this world!"

"Fear me.." The thought of terror strewn through Kacchan's face sated something dark deep down. I shook the image away. "I, I have to go," Shoving everything hurriedly into my backpack I clambered to my feet. "Good day, sir."

"Should you want to find me you'll see the address in your notebook," He had seen enough in my reaction.

Bowing deeply I rushed back home.

*~/0\~*

I didn't say a word as I barged through the front door, even as my mother greeted me I just slammed my bedroom door in response. The backpack was tossed against the wall and I started to rip down poster after poster. Get off! Get out! Frauds! Posters, magazines, figurines, they all ended up in a heap on the floor. I was left a heaving mess. How could I let myself be fooled for this long?

My thoughts were interrupted by my phone buzzing. I pulled the cool metal object from my pocket and looked. The screen displayed 'Breaking News' while showing a scene of destruction. Must have been from earlier... The camera panned to multiple heroes fighting- the Sludge villain! Didn't All Might capture him? Of course, he's just useless. The picture zoomed in and I could make out the villain had a boy in his grasp. "The villain seems to be holding a junior high student hostage by the name of Katsuki Bakugo," What?! "The pro heroes are doing all they can but it doesn't seem to be enough." Good! Kill him! A sadistic giggle escaped my lips before I could catch it. Wait, what? What am I saying... I gripped the phone harder whilst watching the scene unfurl. Why is my body buzzing from excitement and adrenaline and the sight of all this? I want to be a hero. Right?

The phone was tossed onto the bed as if it was red hot. What's happening to me..? I found my way to the bathroom, locked the door and began to break down in front of the mirror. These thoughts in my mind, when did they all become so..so sadistic and evil. Were they always like this?

I looked into the mirror and what stared back was a stranger. My eyes were red with fresh tears, green hair a mess and clothes crumpled yet it seemed so foreign. I was a reck. I'm so tired of everyone looking down on me. I'm tired of being weak. I'm tired of fearing others. Chizome..

I ran back to my room and upturned my bag to find my notebook. There! I pulled it from the pile and flicked through the pages. Address.. Where's the address? Aha! There in the corner of a page in scrawled handwriting was an address to the outskirts of town. He said he could make me stronger. Perhaps he can help with these feelings as well.

I packed some spare clothes into a bag and left with another firmly shut door.

*~/0\~*

It certainly was a dodgy neighbourhood, but the phone map didn't lie. I inputed the address into it and this is where the pinpoint lay. The building was an abandoned one, it was two stories with brick walls and boarded up windows. The door was heavy iron and as I pounded on it, it sent a hoarse rattle though the quiet night air. After a bit of waiting Chizome creaked the door open.

He grinned. "So you came then."

I nodded, suddenly shy. He stepped aside and I walked around his towering figure into the dilapidated building. "So this is where you live?"

"Temporarily," He answered. "I never get too comfy anywhere."

"W..What exactly is your job?" It was clear to me he wasn't a law abiding citizen.

"I rid the world of fake heroes," He boldly claimed. "It is my duty."

So we have similar feelings.

"You said you could...make me stronger. Make people fear me. I-I I'm tired of being weak. I'm tired of being mocked and underestimated. I want people to fear me!" I cried in anguish, clenching my hands and eyes. "I want to be strong, I want to show them I will not be beaten by their words and actions... I want the fear to be in their eyes, not mine."

I faced the floor as I let those words fill the emptiness. I stayed that way until a cackle drew my attention back to his face. His expression was a mixture of joy and excitement. "And I can do just that young Midoriya."

*~/0\~*

I had stayed there that night with Chizome, he told me I needed the rest for the next day. The next morning he woke me.

"Hey kid, I made breakfast," He shook me awake.

Rubbing the sleep from eyes I ate what he had made, after that we started to train.

"So, you're Quirkless boy?" He asked simply.

"Yes I am."

Chizome nodded in response. He thought for a moment before his face spread into a grin. "This is perfect! What better way to go against the frauds and show them how terrifying the human being is in its natural form. This is your calling card Midoriya."

I was baffled. He saw my Quirklessness as positive thing? Not once had I thought that way. The human being in its natural form... Me, terrifying?

"You're the one who can show the world that people don't need Quirks to make people's fear you- it's what you want."

He was right. I'd found someone who had finally accepted me and it's time I accepted myself. "I'm ready." My voice was filled with determination.

"Excellent."

*~/0\~*

"First we'll start with strength training. The very core of fighting lies within our strengths."

We were at a place called 'Dagoba Municipal Beach Park'. It was a filthy place, mounds of rubbish disguising the once beautiful beach. I called it a dumping ground yet Chizome called the dump a goldmine of exercise equipment- I was seriously starting to question his sanity.

"These tires here, carry them one by one to the other end of the beach," He had stated simply.

"Huhhhh?"

It had gone from there, day after day he would have me carrying various discarded heavy objects after school. I would return home late at night filthy and sweating buckets to face the worried face of my mother. As the carrying begun to get easier he would give me something heavier to carry. Through the weeks I started to notice the changes in my body, my muscles had become more defined and prominent and I held myself prouder than before. Even Kacchan had been surprised when I stopped reacting to his cruel remarks and got on with my life and left him in the dirt.

Three weeks into the training I finally asked: "So when are you going to teach me to fight?"

"In due time Izuku, although I think you're almost ready."

My face lit up in a smile. Finally, I can show him how determined I am.

"Now," He hopped atop a double door fridge. "Pull me along."

The smile disappeared. "You can't seriously think I can pull you both?!"

"You believe you're ready so pull." He wasn't taking no for an answer.

I picked up the ropes left to the side and secured myself to the fridge before digging my heels into the sand.

"And pull!"

With all my might I tugged on the ropes with my new-found strength and threw my body forward. I could feel the fridge creak in response to the force. My face displayed my efforts and it turned red with exertion.

Chizome who sat comfortably on top nodded with a hand on his pointy chin, the determination dripping from my face being evidence enough. "You're ready." Was all he said.

I stopped dead in my tracks. "I am?"

"I can see the passion inside of you young man, you're ready to take this path. Are you still willing to take this route in life, there is no way out-"

"-I'm ready as I'll ever be," Joy ran through every fibre of my being. Finally.

Chizome extended his hand and I shook it strongly. "Pleasure to be working with you."

I bowed deeply to him. "The pleasure is all mine, thank you for accepting to teach me."

He lay his hands on my shoulders and pushed me upright. "I have question..."

"Of course, anything," I nodded along.

"How do you feel about joining U.A?"