Hey guys. Recently, I've been reading manwa, and I realized that my story has become somewhat similar to unordinary. Though, if you haven't read it, read it. Damn, Unordinary is a near masterpiece. Though, on a more important note, should I start writing in Third person? Or should I continue with first person? By the time this chapter goes live, I should have a poll, at least on FF. Anyways, here's the 18th chapter, where we are, and let's continue on to a less dark chapter, chapter 18, where Izuku Midoriya is taking the POV temporarily.

Izuku POV

I walked with my memories burying me.

Remembering my past nativity, thinking going into UA would solve my problems.

I could safely let my guard down.

I could meet people like me.

I… could love someone.

'Like hell it would.'

I sighed on my past thoughts, as I was checked for a fourth time.

I dropped my papers on the floor, which the butler "accidentally" knocked over while checking me, and stepped on a few papers.

I… was angry.

That… wasn't something I could afford to feel.

'I'll send it to them for grading through email, and I'll give them physical copies, just so they can't "lose" it. They are probably going to find ways to lose it, though.'

So, after finding the printer on my own, I scanned my papers, sent it to all my teachers, and packed dozens of papers into my bag.

I slammed against the wall, tired.

'Damn it. Why?'

A single tear left my eyes.

I stopped it from going any further.

'This is not the time… or the place.'

I walked out of the printer room, and walked around the mansion.

I was checked a total of ten times, as I walked around the mansion.

They said it was protocol.

I didn't care anymore.

I had gotten used to it.

That's what I told myself, anyways.

'Maybe… I can meet up with… Master Bang.'

I decided to change into my uniform, with the belt modifications Melissa had made, including the gauntlets.

'Maybe I can talk to him.'

Melissa POV

A notification ping came.

'Izuku's wearing the gauntlets? Why?'

Then, I heard knocking, outside Momo's room.

I opened, and saw Izuku, again, wearing his… uniform?

'Huh?'

"Hey guys, just want to say that I'm going to my Martial Arts school."

"Huh? You're a Martial Artist?!"

He seemed… confused.

"Didn't you modify my belt? You saw that I was a black belt."

'...touche.'

"No, it's not that. It's just… most black belts I know are just rich people, who bought their way into the rank, or they-"

He groaned.

"Seriously? I have to fix the perception of them too?"

He muttered that under his breath as he stood outside.

"Huh? What do you mean, Izuku?"

He looked up, at both Momo and I.

"Well, I can't say anything about them… but Martial Arts… it's not something you should... buy your way into."

I remembered one guy taking off his black belt and swinging it around, like his crowning achievement, in front of everyone.

But he… didn't look like a black belt.

"Well, yeah, but I've also seen people who are not athletic at all, and can barely do a split, and they get a black be-"

"What do you think a black belt is? Not what they should be, what they actually are."

"Well…"

My mind temporarily blanked out.

Then, I imagined it.

"Well, I think it is about being… I guess… being rich and not having enough… accomplishments…"

He looked pissed.

"That's… what black belts in other countries are like?"

I waved my hands in front of me.

"Uh, no, it's just-"

"Martial Artists haven't been taken seriously as an accomplishment for the past 40 years."

Momo suddenly came in.

"They… haven't?"

His anger was replaced with confusion.

She shook her head.

"Martial Arts only needs for you to fulfill a certain amount of requirements to pass, correct?"

"Um…"

He rubbed his neck.

"Not exactly."

"What do you mean?"

"Yeah, Izuku, what do you mean?"

He sighed.

"Fine."

Momo sat on the bed, as Izuku sat down, legs crossed.

She looked intrigued, as she did while listening to him talk about Xenophobia in Japan.

Even I was confused.

"Well, while it is true that… Martial arts does require testing… to graduate to the next belt, similar to how schooling works… in Martial Arts, it's more than just knowing the material."

Momo looked like she wanted to interject, but she stayed quiet.

"It's about… being a good person. I don't know how other schools work, since they might operate under different principals, but my academy emphasizes… I guess, 3 broad ideals."

'I guess?'

"First, you should be respectful of people... but be willing to talk back to them when necessary. Sometimes… even adults can lose their way."

He muttered something under his breath.

I thought I heard him say,

"Especially adults."

"Second… you should be kind to people… by listening, caring, taking in… but to be willing to act on injustice and evil actions. So… if someone does something wrong… I have to be willing to act."

"And the third?"

I spoke too soon.

His features darkened.

"Lastly… to be willing to forgive people… even if… there is nothing that you can forgive them for. Because… I don't… or can't… know how they have lived, or… the things they have gone through… and I have to be willing to listen to and forgive them."

He looked down while saying that.

"That… is something I can't do. I… don't know if I'll ever... forgive some people."

He muttered that under his breath.

My mind went back to the police officer that Izuku and I saw.

'Does he mean… that person?'

Meanwhile, Momo sported a new expression.

One of… curiosity.

"Though… is that it?"

He asked as he stood up.

I decided to speak up.

"Why do you seem to not want to be around us?"

He raised his eyebrow.

"What do you mean?"

"You seem to want to go somewhere else."

"What do you mean? I already-"

"I don't think that is what she meant, Izuku."

My eyes went to Momo once again.

His expression steadied, as if he expected it.

"I think she means… why is it you seem to be… on edge, as people say, ever since you have gotten here-"

His fists tightened, to the point of becoming white.

"Well, when you have had a target on your back for the past 100 years, you learn to never keep your guard down, and to stop associating yourself with other people, even people who are like you, in fear of being killed for… being like them. Being… quirkless."

'Huh?'

He turned around, and walked to the door.

His hand… was shaking.

He… was scared.

"I'm just too weak right now to hide that right now."

He looked down… and I swore I saw tears on his face.

"To hide it from you all, or…"

I heard him sniffle, and saw his right hand go to his eyes.

"To hide it from me."

He slammed the door, leaving us… speechless.

I ran to open the door… and he was gone.

A little bit short for a chapter, I know. But this is going to be more of a character driven story for the next few chapters. Though, it's been nearly 20 chapters, and I haven't even gone past episode 8 of season 1. This is going to be a very long story. If you guys are going to read this, you guys are going to probably read 50 chapters before even the end of season 1. So… yeah. This is going to be a very long story.