Chapter 11 - Side Story: Izuku

I met Michael Steele when I was three years old, at the time I was friends with Katsuki Bakugo, since then, we became friends. While Bakugo became arrogant when he got his quirk, ignoring me and Michael completely for not having our quirks yet, Michael did the complete opposite when he got a quirk even better than Bakugo's. He stuck with me loyally, staying as my closest friend, and I his. He was the only one who really seemed to believe I could become a hero. Everyone else just laughed at my dream. I started training as hard as I could so I wouldn't let him down, my self esteem had a huge boost, although it was still pretty low.

To have just one person believe in me and my dream meant so much to me. Especially when it was my best friend, he was so much like All-Might, that I would have believed he was his illegitimate child if I hadn't met his parents. His personality was kind, humble and charismatic. He was the single most intelligent person I knew. He worked incredibly hard and was really talented in martial arts. When compared to Bakugo who grew arrogant, and started wasting his talent. Hanging out with delinquents who he treated as minions, expecting to be able to beat everyone with just his quirk and his talent.

I've been taking as many notes as I could on every hero and quirk I could. I didn't have my own quirk so I would need to learn how to counteract and make the advantages their quirks give them null. Bringing them to the same level myself. Then beating them on my own terms. This worked for some quirks but imagining myself coming up against a quirk All-Might's or Michael's, or even Bakugo's. It would be very difficult to beat or nullify a quirk that strong.

I was deep in thought, writing notes onto my notebook when Bakugo tried to snatch it away from me.

"So, What's this Deku? "Hero analysis for my future #13?" You, a quirkless Deku, trying to be a hero? Don't make me laugh."

"Give it back Bakugo, I'll be a hero, I don't care about what you think."

"Sorry but your bodyguard doesn't seem to be here today, or any day for the past two years. Face it Deku, he abandoned you, what use is a quirkless deku to him? Guess you won't be needing this anymore." Say's Bakugo before sending the notes out of the window with an explosion.

"You know, Deku, if you wanted to be more useful in your next life. Swan dive off the roof, maybe you'll have a quirk in your next life." He turns around laughing after saying this.

"You Idiot! What if I really do it, you'll be charged with bullying me into suicide! You expect U.A to expect you after that? Or even any hero school at all? You'd be lucky if you weren't put on some kind of potential villain watch list!"

Izuku, realizing that his words shocked Bakugo, for Bakugo would've completely exploded by now, is just shocked Bakugo would ever consider himself in the wrong. He packs up his things and grabs the notebook off where it landed, the fountain in front of the school. Then he takes a tunnel route home, knowing he was late.

"A medium-sized body to hide in." Says the Sludge before latching onto Izuku, who was now being choked.

"Don't worry, it'll only hurt for a little bit. I never thought 'He' would show up in this town."

'Please, anyone, help me' Think's Izuku while slowly losing consciousness.

"Fear not, Kid! I am Here!" Says a Blond Huge figure, before sending a powerful punch towards the sludge villain.

"Al- All Might?!"

"Sorry, for getting you caught up in my villain hunt. Mistakes like that aren't my style, but this town's new to me. But my success here is all thanks to you." All-Might holds out a soda bottle holding the Sludge Villain. "I've already signed your notebook, nice drawings by the way. But I must report this guy to the authorities. Stay safe kid."

"Wait!" Say's Izuku before latching onto All-Might's leg.

"Hey-y let go of me!"

"true enough"

All-Might Lands on top of a roof, "Sorry for leaving you here kid, knock on the door, the staff team should get you down."

"Wait! Can I be a hero like you, even without a quirk!"

"Sorry but a quirk is-" All Might loses his buff form, turning back into his true injured form.

"WHAT! A FAKE?!"

"I am All-Might, you know how people hold in their gut at the pool? It's like that. You've seen the real me kid, don't write about it on the internet, okay?" Say's All-Might, pulling up his shirt and showing Izuku his injury.

"Five years ago, an enemy did this to me, my respiratory system was nearly destroyed and my stomach was removed, I can only do hero work for three hours a day because of these injuries."

"Five years ago? The fight with toxic chainsaw?"

"Sorry, but that lowlife couldn't leave a scratch on me, this was never made public, I asked for it not to be made public. The symbol of peace must never be defeated by evil. A Pro Hero should always be ready and willing to risk his life, without power, can one become a hero? No, I should think not."

"You're different."

"huh?"

"You're different from him, Michael, he's always believed in me, even if he was far stronger than I am. He acts so much like you, but you're different from him. He's a true hero. I used to compare him to you, but now I should be comparing you to him. You used to be the one I always looked up to, but he's acted a lot more like a hero." Says Izuku.

All-Might, slightly ashamed at his own inadequacy, but he just couldn't have the kid risk his life without a quirk to give him an edge, as well as shocked at his mention of Michael, a rare name in Japan, walks away.

Izuku, leaving the building, hears a commotion, he rushes into the crowd to check what's happened when he hears explosions. 'Bakugo!' Think's Izuku, remembering the blonde's quirk. When he arrived, he sees Bakugo being choked by the same sludge villain, he remembered the pain he felt when he was in the same situation. He realized none of the heroes were doing anything, their quirks weren't good for these situations and they couldn't do much. He then saw Bakugo's eye's and his legs started moving before he could think. He grabbed his backpack, rushing past the crowd, threw the backpack at the sludge villain and grabbed Bakugo, pulling him out of the sludge villains grip, yet the sludge villain quickly latched back onto them both.

"The lesson I left you with ... I should practice what I preach. A PRO HERO SHOULD ALWAYS BE WILLING TO RISK HIS LIFE!" says All-Might sending a beyond powerful punch towards the sludge villain. Changing the very weather itself, causing it to rain.

The heroes were mad at Izuku for putting himself in danger, but we're praising Bakugo for his quirk and how he was able to resist the slime villain for so long. While walking back to their homes after the event. Bakugo called out to Izuku from behind.

"Hey Deku! I never asked you to save me, how dare you look down on me, pitying me! You didn't need to put your life at risk for me, I had it all under control, you changed nothing and I owe you nothing." before walking back in another direction.

'He's right though, I never managed to change anything, it might really be better to focus on a more realistic future, sorry Michael, but I guess I never really had it in me to be a hero.'

"Why are you here All-Might."

"I came to give you a proposal, if you hadn't acted, i'd have been nothing but fake muscles and insincerity."

"It was my fault in the first place, even though i'm quirkless, I dared to try to help and even asked you if..."

"Exactly! Of all the people there, it was you, timid and quirkless, who acted. You spurred me into action. Most of the top heroes have showed signs of greatness even as kids, many of them even claim that their bodies simply moved before they could think! That's what happened to you, isn't it?"

"yes..."

"You can become a hero, Izuku Midoriya, I would like you to inherit my power!"

"Inherit your power, what do you mean?"

"My quirk, is called One for All, it's a stockpile quirk, merged with a transfer ability. It stockpiles more and more power from wielder to wielder. I myself am the eighth wielder of "One for All" and I would like you to be the Ninth."

"Wait, if you quirk can be transferred, wouldn't someone like Michael Steele, be a better option. His quirk is perfect for heroism, he's a hero through and through. He's talented, hard working and intelligent as well. Why give this quirk to me, someone who doesn't even have a quirk in the first place."

"That sound's exactly like him, I can't help but feel he wanted me to have it."

"He's actually mentioned that you would be a better candidate than he is. I promised him i'd keep an eye on you, but I haven't had the chance to yet. Izuku Midoriya, will you inherit my power?"

"I'll accept it, thank you All-Might, for giving me a chance to be a hero."