Disclaimer: I do not own My Hero Academia

Chapter 1

Izuku narrowed his eyes as his fingers flew across the keyboard. His mind was in complete focus on one single thing: Finding a place where he could learn to fight. And dear lord was it a challenge. Ever since quirks had begun to rise across Japan, the prevalence of martial arts and weapons consistently started to lower. He supposed it was inevitable, but it was frustrating nonetheless. Martial arts was dying across the world, just when he needed them most.

"Tajiman Dojo... too far away, Judo City... too expensive..." he started to mumble as he scrolled through the options he had. Finally, with a frustrated sigh, he closed the window and shut down the computer, flopping down onto his bed.

It had seriously been a long day.

It's strange... Izuku mused, it's almost like every time I tell myself I can achieve my dreams, the world throws something in my way to tell me no. First there was being quirkless, and then there was my relationship with Kachaan, and then whatever happened with All Might, and now this.

It was like the world wanted to keep him from being a hero.

Should I just give up? he asked himself, Maybe this was just a temporary burst of energy. Whatever just happened... I was being stupid, wasn't I? I made a statement with no plan, no way to do anything... Maybe this is just fate telling me that it's impossible.

He paused.

But do I care?

Flipping back onto his feet, he got back onto the computer. Yeah, things have never been easy for me. But that just means I need to push ten times harder to become a hero. Put Plus Ultra into everything I do. This time, he started to search for multiple types of fighting styles. I was going about this way too quickly. I need to take baby steps, and that starts with research.

Quickly, he took out his hero notebook and pen, flipping to a new page as he started to scribble down a list.

After a few minutes, he smiled triumphantly, pumping the notebook into the air.

This was... The Future Heroic Dream Plan.

"Oi Deku! What the hell is this?" exclaimed a voice. Izuku flinched as his longtime friend (?) Katsuki Bakugo slammed his fist onto his desk, the boy's face engulfed in anger. "You actually dropped out of the hero course? What happened to being a hero, you stupid wimp!"

As the blonde talked, the boy did a terrible imitation of Izuku's own face, trembling in mock-fear. Somehow, Izuku didn't feel quite as scared as before. He's no longer someone I have to compete against, and vice versa. So he'll leave me alone, right? All I have to do is-

"Oi, answer me dammit! Why the fuck did you drop out?" Bakugo yelled.

"Well, I thought about things yesterday, and I thought it wouldn't be logical, so I dropped out!" Izuku said said sheepishly. For a brief moment, Bakugo's face had a look of honest surprise, before it instantly reverted back to his classic face of anger. Strange... didn't he want me to drop out?

"That's it? You dropped out because I hurt your damn feelings?" Bakugo yelled. Izuku opened his mouth to interrupt, but stopped himself. I probably shouldn't mention what happened with All Might. "I thought you would have some more spine after what happened yesterday, but I guess not." he spat. "Whatever. This is better for me anyways. You would have gotten fucked in the hero course, so now you can get the fuck out of my way like the pebble you are."

Izuku stared at him, not being able to keep the confusion from reaching his expression.

So he doesn't want me to enroll in the hero course, but he's mad that I dropped out? Because that makes me a wimp...?

Izuku sighed as Bakugo walked away to leave the classroom. "Just what do you want me to do, Kachaan..." he mumbled.

Unfortunately, Katsuki Bakugo knew his habits all too well. They had spent almost their whole lives together after all.

"Get the fuck out of my way Deku, and don't ever let me see you again."

Somehow, that hurt more than any of Katsuki's old insults. Jeez, I'll never understand this guy...

Searching for a gym was relatively easy. While martial arts had died down in Japan, basic fitness certainly hadn't. After all, heroes needed to work out and keep in top shape for them to do their jobs well. But finding a gym that was willing to accept a scrawny quirkless teenager like him, and had the right facilities for him to train in both fighting and fitness?

That made things much more complicated.

The first gym Izuku had visited was filled with men in their mid thirties, and was stuffed to the brim with equipment. While that was fine and dandy, he needed an open space to practice something like Martial Arts when he wasn't being tutored. So, that was an instant out.

The next one was one for adults only. The next one didn't accept quirkless people. The next one only accepted people who were fit. There were dozens of places in Mustafu that would be perfectly fine for Izuku, but the problem then was actually being able to enter.

Izuku sighed, briefly taking a break from his jog towards his next target as he stopped at a vending machine. Putting a coin in, he pushed the button and watched as a bottle of cold water came out of the bottom of the mini-convenience store. Jeez, now that I think about it, I do feel thirsty.

Looking to the side, there was an old park that had been abandoned and closed off long ago. Izuku had gone there quite a lot in his childhood, actually. He had been rather saddened when the park had indefinitely closed for the sake of maintenance. Looking at it now, the heaps of trash that had initially caused the park to close down were still clearly visible.

So much for cleaning the place up... I wonder how often heroes do public service like this. A hero like All-Might would have cleaned a place like this in less than an hour. But with normal people, it's so much harder... even when multiple people are working together.

He sighed. That's the sheer difference between the number one hero and the normal person, huh? I guess I shouldn't be surprised. All-Might really is amazing, even compared to the other heroes out there. I'm probably being unfair by comparing him to a normal person.

The image of All-Might's scrawnier form brushed his mind. Izuku wiped the thought away. He had good reason to tell me to be realistic. After all, he's probably felt the dangers of being a hero firsthand. To him. I'm just a naive boy who doesn't know what it takes to become a hero...

Izuku stood up. But that's why I have to prove him wrong. I'll save everyone I can. I'll become a hero no matter what.

But if I think about it, just because All-Might can clean up trash faster doesn't mean he's necessarily the greatest fighter, right? I mean, cleaning trash is especially suited for him because he's so fast and strong! Someone like Endeavor is strong too, but someone like Eraserhead could beat him if they get lucky. If that's the case, the stronger quirk doesn't always win. It's always going to be about the dynamics of how people work against each other.

Somehow, that revelation in particular filled him with more hope than ever. Standing up, Izuku gazed at the trashed down park once more. I wonder if anyone's even been there in the past five years...

That was when he widened his eyes, his mouth curling into a joyful grin. That's it! I was being way too close minded earlier by limiting myself to official gyms only. If I can widen my search, I can make any place into a training zone. It's even better when there aren't any people, because I have privacy as well!

And boy, did he know just the place.

"Sorry kid, we aren't taking in any new students. Especially quirkless ones."

The dojo door slammed in his face. Izuku had only a moment to register what had just happened before he slumped down in failure. Apparently, apart from the fact that there weren't many instructors to begin with, lots of them were either filled or selective about their students as well.

Frowning, the boy took out his pen and scratched another name off of his list. Now, only 2 options were remaining, and both of them were way too far away from his home for him to seriously consider enrolling. One was run by an old man who lived in the mountains, and the other was close to the city border.

Maybe I should just go home and look out for things a bit further. I can't afford to attend the two schools listed here. But what then? All of the other places in the internet are either way too shady or broken down. Should I try going on a wild goose chase next? Ask people if they knew martial arts masters?

He was completely lost. There was an answer, a solution to his problem, he was sure of it. But what? Where do I go next? I can't just expect some miracle teacher to find me and give me secret techniques. The real world doesn't work like that.

"Hey kid." a voice called out.

Izuku turned around to see a man standing in front of him, the immediate first descriptor coming to his mind being scary. Indeed, the taller man had a long, triangular face with thin, snake-like eyes, and long black hair that seemed to be uncontrollable by anything. On first glace, he would have guessed the man was a villain or a criminal. Izuku took a single step back in retaliation.

"No need to be afraid, kid. I ain't gonna hurt you." the man said. Izuku lightened his guard ever so slightly, his hands still slightly trembling. Scary. Whoever this man is, I can already tell he's super strong. Dangerous too. The man continued. "You wanna learn martial arts? What's a quirkless kid like you tryin' to do with something like that?"

"I want to learn to fight." Izuku said truthfully. The man's expression didn't change at all. This is unnerving... I wanna leave. But the question is, if I try to escape, is this man even gonna give me a chance?

He wasn't sure if he wanted to learn the answer. Actually, he was sure he didn't. I should probably just play along for now.

"And? Why'd ya wanna learn to fight? Self defence? Quirkless kids still get picked on these days?" asked the man. Izuku nodded vaguely, and in response, the man spat, his face curling up into an expression Izuku vaguely estimated as one of disgust. "Disgusting. Absolutely deplorable, these people. Thought that this sorta shit woulda been done for by now."

For a single moment, Izuku looked at the man in confusion. Is he... saying that quirkless people getting picked on is disgusting. That's certainly a stance you don't hear too often. At least, not verbally. And he seems... passionate about all of it too. Somehow, this didn't comfort him at all. Instead, it added to the ever growing mystery of who exactly the man was.

"Anyways, we're gettin' off topic here. Why'd ya wanna learn to fight, kid? Or was that nod counting the first question as well? You wanna defend yourself from bullies?" asked the man. This time, Izuku shook his head.

"Learning to fight would probably be useful for defending myself, but that's not it." Izuku replied. "I've always wanted to become a hero, and I thought that learning how to fight like a martial artist would be the first step towards my goal." he said. "I'm quirkless, so I'm already behind everybody else. But not many people learn martial arts these days, and I thought that-"

"Why?"

Izuku paused. Why? "I... don't know." he said. I never really thought something like this through. What is my reason to be a hero? My dream always just felt so natural that I never really stopped to question why. I... I want to be a hero. I want to save people. "When I see someone that needs help, I want to help them. I never thought much beyond that." he said.

The man smirked. "So you never paused to think? Good. If you're being honest kid, then that means you're better than most. Trust me kid, your dream is as simple as it gets. A true hero... A true hero doesn't pause to think. A true hero doesn't have any reason why he wants to be a hero. A true hero just does. Do you understand kid?" asked the man. Izuku nodded feverishly.

"So take my advice on this kid. Never stop to think. Never try to root out why you wanna do what you do. If your heart is as pure as your words suggest, you're already on your way to becoming a hero. Maybe if more people were like you, society wouldn't be as doomed as it is now." said the man. Izuku looked at the man in shock. That's the first time... That's the first time someone told me I could do it.

And then, the man walked away, quickly turning left on a corner and disappearing from his sight. Once Izuku recovered from his initial paralysis, he quickly chased after the man, questions flooding his head. Who in the world is this person? He can't just tell me something like that and-

As soon as he turned the corner, Izuku widened his eyes.

In front of him was a long alleyway with a dead end, with no man in sight. Is he hiding in the trash or something? No, that's probably not true. An invisibility quirk, maybe? A speed quirk? Jumping quirk?

Either way, the important part was that the man had disappeared completely.

Why do I get the feeling that this was way overly dramatized? was his very first thought. Either way, he was somehow relieved that at least someone believed in him. Without properly knowing him in the slightest, he might add. But still, it was nice to know that he had at least a single pillar of support behind him. It was... comforting.

Now, Izuku simply had another reason to become a hero. With every single person that believed in him, a new one would be born.

Filled with determination for the next day, Izuku took out his phone to call his mother and tell her that he was coming back home. However, in his right pocket, coupled together with the familiar weight of his phone, was something else entirely. A paper? I don't remember putting something like that in my pocket.

Izuku quickly took it out. It's folded...

Opening the sheet, he read the contents.

If you really want to become a hero, meet me at this exact location when the clock hits midnight. Come alone.

Izuku sweatdropped. The note was vague and left no clue of who wrote it, but Izuku had a strong feeling in his gut anyway. I'm glad that he thinks I can be a hero, but do I really want to talk to him again? He was so scary... Almost like some kind of villain. I'm not sure if that man is the type of person I should be talking with if I want to become a hero...

But a small voice in his head began to nag him. But do I have a choice? Only just now I was holding hope that there would be more Martial Arts masters in Mustafu so that one of them would accept me. But that's probably going to be either a wild duck chase of a fluke... If that happens, my only alternative is going to be learning how to fight from videos of the internet. That's the last thing I want to do... So that means that I learn from a shady person, or a 2d video screen. Frankly, I'm not sure what's worse.

Frowning, he looked backwards towards the dojo that had recently rejected him. Then again, I can't deny that the man is strangely skilled. Unless he had a speed quirk or something, there's no way putting a paper like that in my pocket and disappearing beyond a dead end is easy. But he's mysterious too...

Instantly, a thought came to his head. The oath he had made to All-Might, to his mom, to Kachaan, to himself. His own desire to become a hero.

What am I thinking... I'm quirkless. If I'm going to do this, I need to overcome any obstacle that comes my way.

Izuku made his decision, and somehow, he didn't feel the need to look back at all.

"I thought you would show up, kid."

Izuku turned around, only to see... nothing at all. No one. An invisibility quirk, maybe? Or a speed quirk to make him disappear faster. But would it even be possible to escape someone's line of vision so quicky. It must be an impressive speed quirk if he can do that.

"Whaddya think my quirk is, kid?" asked the man. Izuku narrowed his eyes at the empty air, wracking his mind for an answer. There must be some sort of hint he left that divulges what it really is. Probably an enhancer for strength or speed, or just plain out invisibility. But how do I narrow it down from here...

"If you think it's somethin' like super speed, you're completely wrong. I ain't gonna tell you what my quirk is, but just so you know, it's somethin' that only affects others, not me." said the man. Izuku widened his eyes. If that's the case, then- "Do you see where I'm gettin' at here kid? You don't need no quirk to move like that. All you need is a good head and a good body."

That's amazing. Izuku immediately thought. "Are you a hero?" he asked. The man scoffed.

"Not by this society's terms, hell no." he said. Izuku raised an eyebrow in question. "Kid, I'll be plain with ya. hero society is fucked. It's filled with assholes who are just in the gig for the money. Fake heroes, the lot of them. They don't deserve to wear that title."

Izuku kept quiet.

"Do what you will with that information. What's important is what you're here to learn. Why'd ya come here, kid?" the man asked. Izuku clenched his fists, looking at the man straight in the eyes while trying to mask his fear with a look of determination.

"I came here to learn to be a hero. I want to become a hero." he said. Instantly, he felt a strong fist slam his face. Hard. He fell to the ground in shock, his eyes widening in pain and surprise. He hits harder than Kachaan. Much harder than Kachaan.

"Wrong answer. You don't learn how to be a hero, kid. That ain't somethin' that you can just teach someone, and that ain't what you're here for." said the man. "No, you're here to learn how to fight. To use your fists and weapons. To pave the path towards your own justice. And trust me when I say I can do that. Are you prepared for this, kid? Prepared for some of the most hellish moments you'll ever have in your life?"

Izuku solemnly nodded, only to find another fist crashing against the side of his face. Once again, his body met the cold hard concrete of the street, panting and out of breath. Quickly, he recovered and got into what he perceived was a fighting stance. He raised his arms and put them in front of his face, parting his legs as well. Instantly, a laugh rang out across the alleyway.

"I was about to say wrong answer again, but turns out that I have a question. Are you seriously calling that a fighting position? I expected better from ya, kid. Honestly, I'm disappointed at how pathetic you are." the man yelled. Izuku steeled his nerves, clenching his fists. "Did ya think it would be as easy as kneeling down and asking me to train ya, kid? The real world doesn't work that way."

Another fist came flying. Izuku barely reacted enough to move his arms, but it wasn't nearly enough. The attack blew out his breath as it struck his stomach in a vicious uppercut, sending him briefly flying above the air before he crashed onto the ground. The man laughed again.

"You can't just be a hero by wanting to save people. That's only the beginning. Hell, it's probably the hardest part, but it's only a beginning. I thought you were gonna be better than this, but apparently not." the man said. "What were you doin' for all these years, kid? Sulking around about your disability?"

Izuku gritted his teeth. I can't let him get on my nerves. And besides, he has a point here.

Another punch. "What you shoulda been doing," Another punch. "is trainin' your ass off to achieve that dream of yours!" Another punch. "Don't tell me you have it in ya kid, not after you've proven otherwise this many times." Another punch. "The world isn't gonna wait for you while you sulk around!"

Izuku panted on the ground. He punches so hard...

"I meant it when you were already on the road to becoming a hero kid. But that doesn't mean you can just slack off and do nothin' about tryin' to actually get there." said the man. "If you're naive enough to believe that nothin' but dreams can get you anywhere, then you're a lost hope already. The world's brutal, kid. Death is an occupational hazard in the job you're tryin' to reach. You either gotta learn to survive, or not survive at all."

Izuku trembled on the ground, tears threatening to leak out of his eyes. He's right. I've wasted over a dozen years of my life doing nothing but wanting to become a hero. If I don't start taking real steps, I'll never be a hero ever.

"You aren't ready for this kid. That much is obvious. You got a good heart, but I ain't gonna train a rookie in fighting." said the man as he began to turn around. Izuku widened his eyes. If what happened the last few times are any evidence, he'll be gone practically instantly. I'll miss my only chance at doing this. Should... should I just give up?

As the man turned his back towards Izuku and started to move his legs in a running pose, Izuku made a decision.

To hell with that.

His trembling suddenly gone from sheer adrenaline, Izuku's legs started to move. Move much faster than Izuku had even known he was capable of. Recapturing his thoughts moments later, he steeled his mind for what was to come. I can't let him get away no matter what. I need to convince him that I'm a worthy cause.

Just before he jumped towards the man, he tore off a steel pipe from one of the walls. In an instant, he jumped upwards, his arm raised to swing at the man's head. However, in a mere instant, the man turned around and gripped his hand, leaving him in a hold mid-air.

The difference between me and him... It's amazing. He's so fast and strong but he doesn't even have a quirk. Somehow, the thought inspired him. That means that it's possible. Possible for me to move like him one day.

The man laughed out loud, baring dangerously sharp looking teeth. "Predictable. You think you're being cool here, kid?" he said, spitting at Izuku's face. "You're only being pathetically desperate and stupid. Just give up. You're not gonna win against me in a one on one fight, and you aren't gonna gain my respect."

He's underestimating me. That's something I can use to my advantage.

Izuku only grinned.

The man had noticed far too late that an extremely long pole of metal was now on its way to falling down right on him. Izuku knew that it wouldn't be enough to beat him for sure. The man was too fast and strong. But it did take him by surprise, and Izuku found his hold getting released as the man dodged towards the side.

That's it! I need to charge him while he's distracted!

Instantly, Izuku sprinted towards the man, pole in hand. However, once again the sheer difference in skill and power came on full display as the man simply kicked to parry his swing, pushing him back towards the ground at the same time. Izuku grunted in frustration. He's just too good...

The man looked at him with curiosity. "I have to admit, that almost got me by surprise. Only because I underestimated you, but you already had that in mind, didn't ya?" said the man, not waiting for Izuku to respond as he instantly continued. "I'll give ya one thing. If what I just saw is any proof, you have potential. Or at least, potential to use your surroundings. But that doesn't change the fact that you're a pathetic fighter and a weak human being, even in quirkless standards."

Izuku looked down, suddenly feeling a wave of shame course through his mind. I guess this is it then...

"Three months."

Izuku looked at the man in surprise.

"Don't look at me like I'm your savior, kid. It makes me sick." said the man. "Three months. In exactly three months, we will meet again in this alleyway, same time. I'm giving you the time before that to prove that you can become a better fighter. That you have the willpower to back up your naivety. You're lucky that hero society is fucked up, kid. I woulda never done even this otherwise."

"What do you mean?" Izuku asked.

"I ain't someone that can change hero society and pull it from its corrupt roots, kid. I'm way too far gone in my path for that. The best thing I can bring is retribution. But a quirkless hero... even that alone is gonna shake those stupid heroes to their cores. And if it happens," said the man, grinning a savage smile, "I'll be in the front line seats, kid. So ya better start workin' hard."

Izuku nodded before the man disappeared once again, leaping across the dead end in the blink of an eye. Despite the fact that he was brutally hurt and would most likely have to explain way more to his mom than usual, he couldn't help but smile.

This would be his first step in becoming a hero. His origin.

He would make sure of it.

Author's Notes

And that's the end of chapter one. I contemplated a ton of the decisions for what would happen during this chapter, but I finally decided on this final version. I didn't want to employ a certain Hero Killer as a mentor figure tbh, but he was the one that was most logical outside of an OC, and I want to avoid using OCs as much as possible.

Just another reminder, this book is just as much of a story about the POLITICAL side of MHA as it is a story about Izuku becoming a quirkless hero. It's not just about him being a vigilante, it's about him eventually becoming a symbol. A political revolutionary. Of what exactly? I guess you'll have to read more to find out. But trust me, a "viva la revolution" is coming.

Also, Izuku is gonna be a total bro with people in this story. I've got the pairing already decided, (and trust me it'll become obvious in due time) but I plan to make some super fun interactions between him and 1-A's students and 1-B's students in the future. Monoma is one I look forward to an absolute shit ton. Dude's a complete asshole, and I love him for it.

And here's my last note: THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE AN EDGY FIC. Izuku will still be a pure cinnamon roll, because that's just who he is. It'll deal with more darker and underground aesthetics and settings too, and maybe it'll go into darker emotional territory as well, but it's ultimately a story about Heroism, with lots of the same underlying themes as the original MHA. Izuku will develop and mature, but not in a way that makes him an emo edgelord. This story is about conviction and willpower, and overcoming every single challenge faced in your way despite crushing odds. It is NOT about Izuku turning into a bootleg Batman.

Finally, thanks for reading! Please leave a review of your thoughts, all opinions are appreciated. (Even flames! :D)