Alright! Final Chapter to the General Course Arc! Hope you have enjoyed this part of my story so far, as there is going to be more in the future. Don't be scare, I will get rid of this wonderful story so easily.

I have more to say after this chapter, but I will just give you a few words. No the story will ot be discontinued, just a short Hiatus after this chapter is over. Please bare with a few months of no chapters. I have to work 50 hours a week now, give a man a break.

Anyway lets get into the story!

*Warning: Contains a moment of shounen-ai. Don't like, then skip or just not read the story.

*I do not own Boku No Hero Academia or any of its Characters. Any OCs are my ideas, so please no stealing or I will reap your soul.*

Chapter 23: Unagi

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Izuku made his way out of the school with so many thoughts running through his head.

With the sun setting on such a crazy and important day, there was still so many things he had yet to answer. Did he do good enough? Will he be able to go into the Hero Course? Did his actions today put him on the right path? He knew that his dream was far fetched, but he was still hopeful that he would move up like Principal Nezu said.

As he made his way out of the school, he found more praise than he ever expected, dozens of students congratulating him on his hard work and his skills during the Festival. He got more than enough encouragement from a lot of them, but could tell that some people were bitter about his placement in the tournament, obviously jealous, but he didn't say anything about it to any of them. It wasn't his business to make them strong, just to hopefully inspire them to get strong as well.

Passing through the UA gates, he sighed in relief at the lack of media. They were all probably tired from earlier today, and would try to get some statements out of students on Monday or over the weekend.

"Izuku." The curly haired boy peered to his side and saw a familiar purple haired boy leaning against the wall.

"Hitoshi? I thought you went home already." Izuku said as he tilted his head in confusion.

Hitoshi shrugged his shoulder as he pushed off the wall. "Well, I was going to head out, but I didn't want to leave you behind in such a poor state." Hitoshi smirked as he gestured to Izuku's still bandaged and tired body.

Izuku sighed. "Hitoshi, you don't need to protect me, I can take care of myself. You should head home before it gets dark." Izuku said he crutched his way over to the other boy.

"I know that, but you can't fault me for wanting to make sure you get home alright. After all, there are people who were none too pleased with your actions today." Hitoshi said as he got alongside the smaller boy.

"If they don't like that I want to be a hero then I'll ignore them. Just like everyone else who tried to spit on my dreams." Izuku said stubbornly.

Hitoshi raised his hands in mock defense. "Okay, I get it, but I still want to make sure you're okay...and besides, we still need to talk."

Izuku stiffened in his spot, remembering the promise he made to his friend. He really didn't want to talk about that, not at this moment of weakness, but sadly he owed it to Hitoshi. "Okay...just not in public, lets go to my house, where nobody can hear us, okay?" Hitoshi nodded and smiled to the smaller boy.

"Lead the way, Izuku."

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The bus ride and walk that followed to Izuku's home was somewhat uneventful, not very many people being out with the sun setting on the day.

Izuku lead his friend to his apartment and brought him up the stairs, where he fumbled with his keys before entering the little place he called home. Opening the door, Izuku crutched his way in, trying not to make too much noise. He wasn't sure if his Kaa-san was asleep.

"Izuku, is that you?" Never mind.

"H-Hai Kaa-san, it's me." He said down the small hallway.

Hitoshi could only stare as a plump little woman rounded the corner and began to congratulate Izuku, jumping up and down as she retold everything she saw, and how amazing he was during the first two rounds and then in the ring.

"I'm so proud of you Izuku. After you're all healed up, we are going to spend all of tomorrow celebrating! We can- oh, I'm sorry, but who's this?" She asked as she finally took notice of Hitoshi, who smiled to the little lady.

"Hello Midoriya-san, my name is Shinso Hitoshi. I'm a friend of Izuku's from school." He bowed to her.

"Oh you're Shinso-san! So you're the one that used that brainwashing on those other students, right?" Hitoshi nodded. "Well congratulations to you as well. Both of you got really far in the Festival, so I hope both you and my son get into the Hero Course." Hitoshi smiled.

"That's the plan, though I thank you for the encouragement." He said respectfully.

Izuku's Kaa-san nodded. "I must say, you're much different from what Izuku described you as." Hitoshi found his attention turned to Izuku who used his good arm to try to cut off his mother.

"Oh, what did Izuku describe me as?"

"Well, that you're mysterious, very tall, but that's not far off, kind of blunt, and also that you're cold at times, but that you have a good heart." Inko said with a soft smile. "He also said you liked cats a lot. I don't know if you know this, but Izuku's first encounter with a cat was really cute, he-"

"Okay Kaa-san, I think that's enough." Izuku said as he got in between her and Hitoshi, who he could tell was about to pry into his personal life. Izuku then herded Hitoshi into his room and slammed the door, sighing with relief.

"Izuku, I'll have dinner ready soon. There's plenty here, so ask your friend if he would like any." His Kaa-san said through the door.

"Hai, Kaa-san." Izuku said as he put down the crutch and sat on his bed, laying back with a groan.

"Your Kaa-san seems really nice, I can see where you get it from." Izuku shot up from his back, his face become a few shades of red at the small, but surprisingly meaningful compliment.

*WARNING, soft fluff ahead*

"Listen, Izuku...about what happened in the waiting room." Izuku looked at the ground. His power and confidence where nowhere to be found, only his shy and uncertain characteristics poking through the years of suppression. "It's just...well." Hitoshi trailed off.

"I...I understand, Hitoshi." Izuku said softly. "I just hope that it doesn't affect our friendship."

"It won't Izuku." Izuku sighed in slight relief as he stood up slowly. While he was happy that his friend would remain close, he also felt disappointment. He knew it was a very low possibility that Hitoshi would feel the same way, but he was hopeful. At least he could still have the other boy as a friend, even if it didn't evolve from that.

"I'm sorry about that, Hitoshi." Izuku said timidly. "I'll make sure to not try anything like that again... I was just being-" Izuku found his chin being pulled up by thin fingers, his emerald eyes meeting those of purple, which were swimming with emotion.

Before Izuku could say anything else, he found a pair of warm lips on his own, the soft pressure being one of the greatest feeling he had ever experienced. He felt his body shiver at the sensation on his lips, even if it was something so simple and chaste.

He felt a pair of arms wrap their way around his waist and back, pulling him closer into the warmth of the contact. Izuku closed his eyes and wrapped his own arms around Hitoshi. He felt like his body was on fire from the heat the flowed through his body, but he didn't feel at all overwhelmed by the very welcome feeling.

Izuku soon found the energy to hold himself up fail and he fell back, pulling the skinny boy with him and landing back on his bed. Hitoshi pulled away as soon as they made contact with the comforter, but the two stayed in the embrace, staring into each other's eyes with affection.

"I...Is this okay, Izuku?" Hitoshi asked breathlessly, to which Izuku smiled and softly pecked Hitoshi on the nose.

"Hai." That was all that needed to be said, but both boys found the word to mean everything at that moment.

The two held each other in the awkward embrace, Izuku not having the energy or heart to tell Hitoshi that he was a bit too heavy on his chest. Hitoshi's legs dangled off the edge of the bed, but he didn't want to ruin the sappy moment either. The two just cuddled closer, Izuku burrowing into the other boy as he held firm with all the energy he could muster.

"So..." Izuku said softly as he pulled his eyes up to meet Hitoshi's. "Would you like to stay for dinner?" Izuku asked cutely. Hitoshi smiled.

"Dinner sounds wonderful."

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The next two days were...different for Midoriya Izuku.

First off, his relationship with his close friend, Shinso, had evolved into something new, despite the lack of time the two of them had been together.

He didn't know why he felt the attraction for the other boy, but he did, and he couldn't find it in his heart to complain, especially with the fact that Shinso felt the same. It was something out of a fairy tale, or a book.

Next was another matter... the media.

UA's Sport's Festival had a major turn when a General Student by the name of Midoriya Izuku took the final round by storm, securing second place and defeating the son of the number two hero, Endeavor. What surprised the whole stadium was the boy's declaration of his lack of quirk, meaning that a quirkless student had defeated dozens of hero course student and some of UA's greatest... all without a quirk.

Click*

Should Midoriya Izuku be allow to attend UA at all, let alone be pushed into the Hero Course like he wanted? While the boy has impressive skills, what kind of message would this send to the world if a quirkless boy not only attended one of the most prestigious schools of Japan, but also as a hero in training?

Click*

Should Midoriya Izuku be allowed to wield a blade at all? The boy showed impressive talent with the traditional katana, but should such a dangerous item be wielded by a quirkless individual?

Click*

Celebrations and Protests have broken out all over Japan, many people either cheering or condemning the idea of Midoriya Izuku become a hero at the school of UA. Fights have also broken out when these two parties have met in the streets, the quirkless community of Japan pushing full support behind a boy like Midoriya Izuku. We go live to a few people who wanted to express their opinions about Midoriya Izuku.

"If that brat becomes a hero, then everything will collapse. How will current heroes fell knowing that someone without a true power is their technical equal? There will be chaos!"

"I'm glad that someone like Midoriya is doing what he believes. I wish I had his courage and determination, that way I could have tried to be a hero as well, even with such a useless quirk."

"I put full support behind Midoriya. My kid wants to be a hero just like him. If that boy manages to do it, then he'll prove to my son that just because he doesn't have a quirk doesn't mean he should give up."

Click*

Midoriya Izuku-

Click*

UA Fesitval uproar of a quirkless-

Click*

quirkless swordsman

Click*

Chances of being a hero are slim.

Click off*

Yeah, he wasn't prepared for how much media was focused on him, trying to get interviews or talk to him about his blade or his fighting style. Some were even trying to poke into his home life and find out personal details. He understood it was their job but they were incredibly overbearing.

While the media was a problem, he also wasn't prepared for common people.

Izuku was always swamped by people now, trying to ask questions on where he learned to fight and how he was so strong. Some even came at him with their groping hands and tried to either pull his hair or snip it with scissors. He was nice to many degrees, but he was still uncomfortable by so much unwanted touching, forcing him to run away from the masses or people that followed with their phones out to get pictures.

But if there was one thing about all of it that he did like, it was meeting other kids...kids without a quirk.

A father brought his son to meet him while his Kaa-san and himself were eating a celebration dinner at a nice restaurant. The restaurant owners were going to throw them out, but Izuku asked them not to.

He looked at the six year old child, who held a handmade doll of...him! It even had a painted curved stick as his katana!. Turns out that the boy begged for a toy of him after seeing him on TV, and his mother had a needle based quirk she used for sewing. He was only on TV for one day and people were making toys of him. It made him a bit dizzy, but he felt firm and gave good words to the hopeful child.

The same words that Bushido Blade told him, that all he needed was a good heart and a good mind, then a body to carry it to where it needed to go. Izuku also whispered to the father about his own training and if he wanted his son to be a hero, then he would have to train very hard in a fighting style.

The father thanked him, telling him how his son gave up after learning he was quirkless, that Izuku was an inspiration to him. Izuku wished the two well and they left, a child meeting his hero and getting encouragement to move forward. Izuku was happy that he could do what others failed to do.

Move others to follow in his footsteps, and that child was not the only one that he inspired that weekend.

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Izuku walked out of his apartment with a small yawn. He had been up a bit late last night, trying to catch up his strength after being forced to relax by his Kaa-san. He didn't want to get soft, but she told him that he had to wait two days or two weeks. It was obvious what he went with.

Izuku opened his eyes to see the rising sun, but was met with several screens pointed in his face.

"Midoriya, what do you say about the quirkless protests regarding your activities at the Festival?"

"Midoriya Izuku, is your weapon registered?"

"What do you plan to do after trying to get into the hero course?"

"Midoriya-san, do you have any love interests?"

Izuku backed away from the crowd of people. He could easily jump off the ledge of the walkway and get to the main floor, but there were plenty more cars and people waiting for him there too.

Izuku sighed. He would have to negotiate.

"Listen." He stated powerfully. The camera all focused on his face and everyone grew silent, wanting to record his next sentence. "If you wish to speak to me, please do not disturb the other people who live in the apartment complex. Should we schedule, I would be willing to do an interview with one of you, not some or all, one. I still have class to worry about and my daily training, so I cannot talk with each and every one of you as you ask the same questions. Do you understand?" Izuku saw some of them nod, but it quickly turned into a fight on who would get the interview.

"Wait, I know who I can talk to for the interview, you." He gestured to the lady near the front, the same woman who was trying to get in everyone's face on the first week of school.

The woman's eyes sparkled, obviously happy with his choice. "Don't worry, Midoriya-san, I'll make sure to ask the right question that everyone wants to know about. Thank you for the opportunity." The woman turned and childishly pulled her eyelid down at the rest of the media crews, who were complaining not only about the choice, but by the fact that they forced to follow the requests of a child.

"Hey, where did Midoriya-san go?" One of them pointed out, to which everyone looked to the spot he once was at, only air filling the space.

They stared around in wonder and disbelief, not seeing the curly haired boy slip onto the roof and jump away.

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Izuku pushed open the door to his class, immediately noticing everyone's eyes go right to him. Izuku looked to his teacher with a sheepish expression. "I apologize for being late, Tetsuki-sensei. There were some people at my home that had more than enough questions about myself." He stated.

Tetsuki-sensei nodded. "I understand Midoriya. The media has increased their efforts with many students these past couple of days. However." She turned to him with a cool expression in her eyes. "I have been asked to send you to the Principal's office as soon as you arrive to class. I trust you understand the situation." Izuku controlled his features, but internally, his mind was jogging around itself at the possibilities that await him.

"I understand Tetsuki-sensei, thank you." Izuku turned to make his way out.

"Midoriya, before you go, I have one thing to tell you. Don't give up. No matter what happens, I trust that your resolve to push forward remains with you." Izuku nodded.

As he left out the door, he cast a look over everyone in the class. Most seemed to have dulled expressions of uncaring or jealousy, but a several had looks of wonder and respect.

Izuku caught the sight of his friends, all of which had positive expressions on their faces. Izuku lingered of Hitoshi a bit longer before giving the boy a smile and leaving out the door.

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"Midoriya-san, please come in!" The small scarred principal said happily. "I saw that you weren't in your class when the bell rang, so I asked Tetsuki to have you come in if and when you arrived." Izuku nodded to the diminutive but brilliant head of UA.

"I tried to get here sooner, but people kept stopping me on the way over here. Had I known that I would get the amount of attention I did then I would have left thirty minutes earlier instead of the twenty I planned." Izuku bowed his head.

"You are quite humble and respectful, Midoriya-san, both are great traits of a respectable hero...which is why I brought you in today. Tea?" The principal offered, to which he poured into two cups before Izuku could accept or deny.

Izuku remained silent as he was offered the chair across the mammal man, his body tense from the small but unbearable wait of the principal drinking a long sip of the bitter drink.

The man set the cup down and stared right at Izuku. "I told you before the year started that many opportunities would come for you to join the Hero Course, but I never expected you to use the very first one to get everyone's attention Midoriya-san." The principal laughed. "Not only have you shown amazing skill, but you have brought a whole wave of new ideas not only here, but all over Japan. The media is still spinning in circles about your achievements during the Festival!"

Izuku felt a bit sheepish from the high amount of praise, especially coming from someone like Principal Nezu of UA.

*Sip* "The reason I brought you in here, Midoriya-san, is that you've shown me what I knew over a month ago, that you deserve to be in the Hero Course." Izuku's eyes widened, his heart racing at the words that flowed out of the small man's maw. The screen popped up on Nezu's desk, showing Izuku in several scenes like the cliffs, the mine field, the second round, and his fights with the three hero course students he beat.

"Courage, strength, resolve, passion, intelligence, creativity, and most of all, discipline. While I don't push for that last one too often, you showed that you can regulate yourself in a way that most of the people at UA can't. Despite wielding a weapon as deadly as many quirks, you only used it when completely necessary, and never used it to harm someone in any way or form, other than holding Shiozaki or cutting Bakugou's hand, which was a smart and decisive move."

"You are powerful in your own right, and have proven not only to me, but to almost every other teacher here at UA that you belong in the Hero Course, Midoriya-san. With a spot opened up, Aizawa Shouto has requested that you be in his class. I hope that this is alright with you." Izuku couldn't trust his words, so he only nodded.

He felt like tearing up, but he withheld.

He did it, he managed to prove that he was good enough, and now he could take the next step towards being the hero he's wanted to be. "Thank you, Principal Nezu. I promise that I won't fail you or any of the teachers who believe in me." The small man chuckled as he poured himself some more tea.

"I wouldn't expect anything less from you, and neither will your teachers."

"I just have one question. What about Shinso, Shinso Hitoshi of Class 1-C?" Izuku stated. "He also did very well in the exams, and scored top eight for the tournament." Nezu nodded.

"Yes, I've seen your relationship with Shinso-san, Midoriya-san." Izuku eyes widened, wondering how he knew. "I know that you two are friends, and that you hope that he also got into the hero course." Izuku mentally sighed. It looks like the Principal didn't know.

"I cannot say why Shinso-san didn't get into the Hero Course, but because of his strong placement in the Festival, I will be sending a him a document about his performance, as well as ways to improve himself and what his weaknesses are so he can learn to combat them." Nezu said happily as he poured more tea. "I personally have high hopes that he will take those notes to heart and jump into a hero class alongside yourself."

Izuku nodded to the Principal. "Thank you Principal Nezu. I want to make sure that he also gets into the Hero Course, along with all my other friends. It's just that he did very well for himself and I was concerned."

"I understand Midoriya-san. Now, how about I introduce you to your new classmates?"

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(End Chapter)

Arc Complete

Hey everyone! I finished this part of Will of the Mind, Way of the Sword. I am really happy with how things have been and I hope that those who have enjoyed it thus far are excited about what I can possibly bring to the table.

For one, there will be a short Hiatus. A few months to catch up on work from school and my job. I know, sad, but this story is not over. Not after all the work I have put into it.

The next arc I have planned will include Izuku's transition into the Hero Course, as well as some changes he will face in regards to his fighting style, his relationships with characters, and possibly development of other characters.

Some of you have made statements about the other general course students. I will say it plainly that they will be used in some instances and will be friends with Izuku still, but they are not main focuses to the story. I needed characters to have in the general course with Izuku. I hope you understand. And to those who are crurious, I will have some moments of development for Tachiiri. She has a very unique quirk, so it will be fun to expand on her a bit.

Anyway, that's all I have to say. Please continue to support my stories, as I will be posting a new one in the coming future. I just need a break from WMWS so I can expand on other story ideas I have had for a while.

Until Next Time, SEE YA!