The end of an era had come for Midoriya Izuku. Today was the last day of elementary school though he had decided to skip, wanting to prepare as much as possible for the announcement of his role as All Might's student.
He stood in his empty room looking out the bare walls and sheetless bed and couldn't help the anxiety sitting in his chest. In a few short hours he would be standing beside his mentor in front of numerous reporters and be announced as the man's student.
Closing his eyes, he takes a deep breath trying to calm his frying nerves.
It was all feeling real, it was no longer a matter of training and planning but action and all he was feeling was dread.
"Izu, Ya–" His mother, Midoriya Inko, stands at the threshold of his room, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah…" He mutters and looks at the woman, "Just, this is all I ever wanted but, but…" The boy stutters trying to find the right words.
"You're scared." The plump woman says with a wobbly smile, "To be honest I would be a little worried if you weren't, baby. I'm scared too." She walks over and wraps her arms around the boy who returns the embrace. "This is a scary thing you're doing, leaving home and following your dream, the dream you've been chasing since you were old enough to have dreams, it's terrifying."
"Thank you." Izuku sarcastically mutters, "for those comforting words."
The mother slaps his shoulder and pulls away with a frown on her face, "Don't sass your mother, young man." Her frown melts replaced by a proud smile. "Chasing the things that matter will always be scary, no matter who you are but you know better than anyone that it doesn't mean you don't do it. So be scared and do it anyway, like always."
The preteen feels his own eyes water, "Thanks."
Inko cups his cheeks, "I'm so proud of the man you're becoming." She takes a solidifying breath. "Of the hero you're becoming."
Izuku chokes on his cries and buries his head in his mother's shoulder, "What if I'm not enough? What if I can't be the hero I need to be? "
His mom hugs him tightly and gently pets his head, "I don't think that's possible. The world has done nothing but spit In your face and yet your heart remains as pure as the five year old boy who cried out in anguish at the possibility of not helping anyone, you have never been anything but the person needed to be."
The ninth wielder sobs harder at the heartfelt words, "I love you."
"I love you too, now go." She kisses his temple before pulling away, "Yagi is waiting in his car and I'm sure he's getting impatient."
The boy nods and wipes away the snot and tears from his face, "You'll be watching the news right?"
"Wouldn't miss it for the world." Inko promises, "Call me when you get there and promise to call every single day, okay?"
"Wouldn't dream of doing anything else." Izuku smiles wobbly and kisses his mom's cheek.
~The Heavenly Hero:Celestial~
Bakugo Katsuki plops down on the couch with a scowl as his dad sits next to him turning on the t.v.
Deku had skipped the last day of school, probably scared of facing him like the coward he is. Of course he should have expected it, for the past year the boy had barely acknowledging his existence, as if was the useless one, the one with no fucking future.
Looking down at him!
Worst part was how easily the boy had been able to escape his punishments!
It was infuriating!
Even the taunts that used to make Deku cry like a baby barely seemed to faze him!
Just thinking about it makes his blood boil!
Katsuki trains everyday honing his Quirk and body to a razor sharp edge to become a hero and what does Deku do?
Absolutely nothing!
He couldn't believe he would have to suffer that waste of space for another three years!
The moment he sees that Deku again he'll–
"–Which is why I had chosen him as my student. His unwavering determination, endless humility, and understanding of what it truly means to be a hero!"
Katsuki's mind grinds to a halt as All Might's voice filters into his ears, he sees the behemoth of a man sit behind a long desk wearing a three piece pinstripe navy-blue suit with a forest green button up dress shirt underneath and matching tie.
'Right, he's finally chosen the bastard who'll be riding his coattails.' The boy thinks with no small amount of jealousy, 'Doesn't matter who he picks, I'll be the next number one!'
He didn't need any handouts, didn't want them. The exploding boy honestly didn't care that some no name bitch would be personally taught by All Might, that just meant they weren't good enough on their own.
True strength came from one's own efforts, from their blood, sweat, and tears. If a person needed to be helped then they weren't worthy to be a Pro let alone the next number one.
Not to mention the only reason Katsuki wasn't considered was because of his age, All Might was looking for teenagers and young adults. If he was a couple years older he would have been a shoe in.
Not that he would've accepted! He wouldn't compromise his own beliefs just to make his journey to the top a little easier, not even for All Might!
… Well, maybe if he begged the boy would have considered it.
"Despite his young age I fully believe in this young man to not only meet my expectations but surpass them! How could he not with what he's already accomplished." The Symbol of Peace says with unending confidence, "Midoriya Izuku, please come out!"
The bomber stills at the name, he hears a crackling sound somewhere far off as… as Deku moves from behind the bright red curtains of the stage to sit next to the greatest hero in the world.
The Quirkless freak looked different; his usually messy hair that made him look like a piece of broccoli is cut short, he couldn't remember the last time he saw the others forehead or ears.
Not only that but he was wearing a steel gray three piece suit with a bright yellow button up dress shirt and matching tie.
'What. The. Fuck.'
He was so out of it he couldn't even feel when he started shaking.
"H… Hi." Deku stutters like always into the microphone, his whole body shaking like a leaf as he hesitantly waves, "I… i… It's…"
All Might places a meaty palm onto the boy's shoulder and they calm down, closing their eyes for a moment before opening them.
"I have no words that can describe the honor I feel sitting before you all." He says with a serious face, "It still doesn't feel real, like at all. It feels like I'm dreaming and I'm going to wake up any second embarrassed and disappointed." An awkward laugh escapes the preteen. "It's still so hard to believe this all came about because I decided to clean up a beach. I mean who expects the greatest hero in the world to reward you for doing some community service because that's all it really was, community service but since I've been given this opportunity I won't waste it."
Katsuki feels his lungs constrict the more the boy talks, as the reality of what's happening sinks in.
"I want to be a hero. I will be a hero. That has never been in doubt, at least for me but I swear to all of you, to Japan, to the world I will live up to the standard All Might has set. No!" Deku shakes his head violently, "I'll surpass it! A hero who can proudly say; I am here!" He looks to the mightest man who nods slightly. "I thought long and hard about my hero name, one that would be most appropriate to the kind of hero I need to be!"
He takes another breath before smiling, smiling with all his teeth and his heart for everyone to see.
"I'm the Limitless Hero: Deku."
"~BaaMm!~" "CrAck!"
"Katsuki!" Bakugo Masaru screams as his son suddenly explodes off the couch and punches through the t.v with a savage right hook, "God–" The man stands up as his son takes several deep gulps of air. "Let me see your hand."
The boy ignores him, staring at nothing.
"Now Katsuki!" The father snaps.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP, SHITTY OLD MAN!" Katsuki roars back, making the fashion designer stumble back briefly. The preteen yanks his fist out from the screen and stumbles around the couch to the stairs, "I'm going to my fucking room, don't bother me!"
~The Heavenly Hero:Celestial~
A debuffed Yagi Toshinori sat with his protégé on one of two suede blue couches stationed in the middle of his office, the both of them had removed their ties and tried to relax after the announcement broadcasted to the world.
"Do you think I did okay? I felt like I got too serious by the end." Izuku asks with a worried frown.
"No, no." Toshinori waved his hand, as if he was swatting the thought away, "You did splendidly, my boy. If you had tried to downplay the importance of becoming my student you would have come off as arrogant and self important, not only that but you presented yourself as my successor without actually saying the words, that will subconsciously lead people to believe I'm training you not only to become a hero but replace me as the Symbol of Peace which was exactly what we were going for."
"I did?!" The ninth holder exclaims, "But… what…"
The man laughs at the dumbfounded look, "My boy, you said you'd become a hero who'll proudly say; I am here! What did you think people would take that as?"
"Oh."
"No need to fear Izuku, It's a good thing. We can't just say you'll be the one to take care of the world when I'm gone, nobody would like me grooming you for such a role, hell I'm feeling a little queasy at the steps I've taken so far to raise you as my replacement but at the end of the day the world needs a Symbol." The hero resolutely says, "Someone to look up too, someone to emulate and take cues from. Sure there are many powerful heroes in the world like Stars and Stripes or Endeavor but none of them have my strength or my commitment, they would be stop gates, national symbols at most."
"Not to mention the different mentalities. Endeavor is a good hero but he's always angry and incredibly violent. He has the highest villain mortality rate in Japan, I really don't want to think about how less empathic people would become to villains if he became the symbol of heroism in Japan."
Toshinori nods, "Exactly, that's not even getting into the fact I'm one of the few heroes with a International Hero License. Most simply stick to their country completely uncaring about what's going on in the rest of the world. Even Stars and Stripes, a hero I deeply respect, never leaves america." He sighs. "Though I'm not much better these days."
"At least you have an excuse with your time limit."
The number one hero shakes his head, "Still, my reputation is diminishing and crime is rising, if ever so slowly."
"Which is why I'm here."
He smiles at the boy and ruffles his hair, getting a squeak in response, "Yes, which is why you're here." His grin dims. "That's why the next three years are important."
Izuku nods in understanding.
"I can feel One For All getting weaker, my strength is waning fast. I'd say by around the time you're sixteen I'll be Quirkless, so we need you to be accepted as the next symbol before then. I'm sure you've noticed how you don't need to sleep as much or eat as often, yes?"
The preteen nods.
"One For All is pure energy, it can sustain us even in the worst circumstances. I had a hole blown through my body and yet I'm still alive. I've gone weeks without sleeping, eating, drinking, and been completely fine. It can also increase our intelligence as I'm sure you've noticed the world is so much easier to take in when your Quirk Is on; I've learned languages in days when it should have taken me years because of it."
"Really? I didn't even consider…" Izuku almost retreats into himself at the thought of what he could learn.
Toshinori snaps his fingers in front of the boy's face to grab back his attention, "We will use every advantage you have available and cram in what should be years of learning into months you'll be a hero in all but name."
"I won't let you down."
"I know you won't, that's why I choose you." The Symbol of Peace places a palm on the other's shoulder and squeezes gently, "From this moment on I don't want you turning off One For All, it will be your second skin. It's the only way to increase your tolerance for it."
The boy's form glows, eyes brightening while his veins turn ruby red, and green lightning dances around him.
"Good, good." The man says before standing, "Anyway, I have a surprise for you. Give me a moment." He walks through the left side door that led into his and now Izuku's living quarters leaving the boy by himself for a moment.
He comes back a minute or so later holding a metal briefcase with a yellow large capital M etched into it, with an excited grin he hands it over.
Izuku looks curiously at the object in his lap, snapping the latches open he lifts the top up and gasps in awe, "Oh my All Might!"
"Did… did you just use my name as an exclamation?" The hero questions.
The boy closes the case before jumping up and rushes out the same direction his mentor left in only to be stopped.
"That leads to my bedroom, my boy." He points to the opposite side of the office to another door, "That is where you'll be staying."
The hero in training quickly turns and speeds across the room through the door leading into his new room and, "Oh my All Might!"
"Stop using my name as an exclamation!"
He ignores his mentor as he stares at his room, not only were his All Might collectables littered throughout the space but also ones he had only ever dreamed of getting.
Hanging from the wall is the largest t.v he has ever seen, it wouldn't have looked out of place in a movie theater and in the opposite side of the room was a bed so large it almost looked cartoonish. It has the first edition All Might sheets which were discontinued for over two decades.
"It's beautiful." He whispers in reverence before shaking his head, he walks over to the bed and quickly stripes out of his clothes. Izuku opens the case again and takes out the hero costume with a giddy smile before putting it on.
It was a skintight seafoam green bodysuit with thick red rose handle-like lines on his stomach that extended out to his sides and both sides of his arms meeting his forearm sleeves and boots. The sole of his boots were lemon yellow which matched the accent along the top of his sleeves and neck.
"Are you done changing, Deku?"
Izuku jumped at the name and felt a flash of hurt at his mentor before remembering what it meant now.
What Toshinori made it mean.
Walking out of his room his mentor throws a thumbs up, "Looking like a real hero! You know looking the part is half the battle."
"It's almost exactly how I imagined it! How did you know?"
The symbol shrugs, "Your mother showed me your drawings."
Izuku blushes, "Did… did she show you anything else?"
"No," His mentor tells him, getting a sigh of relief from his ward, "All Might Jr."
The ninth wielder whines as he buries his face in his hands, getting a laugh from the man.
"So you like it?"
"I love it! It's amazing! Perfect!"
"I did make some changes to it, I hope you don't mind?"
The boy shakes his head, "No, no!" He hesitates for a second. "But I am wondering why you didn't include the mask? It was supposed to honor, well, you."
Toshinori huffs in amusement, "I got that but as the future symbol the public needs to see your unfiltered confidence, a mask will make them think you have something to hide… and the ears made you look like a bunny."
The preteen blinks, "Really?"
The other nods, "Yeah, it could've worked. A lot of heroes use animals as a way to represent themselves but I had a feeling that wasn't what you were going for."
"No." He mutters sadly, "It wasn't."
The number one hero laughs at the tone, "Anyways, while I want you to take my place as the symbol I don't want you to be exactly like me. You need to become your own hero, if you try to become my clone the public will find you wanting because I'm me and you're you."
"Right." Izuku nods, "I understand."