Chapter 1: Deku No More
What's the best thing about Humanity?
Is it our individualities? Our art? Our storytelling? Our physique? Our potential for goodness? Our potential for evil?
There are many things to describe about Mankind; we are all of these things, but none represent our greatest advantage in Life. And that advantage is our adaptability.
Adaptability is our most crucial means of survival. To endure the harshness of our world, we need to adapt to the environment, learn from the environment. Become accustomed to poisons and pain, grow stronger from the experience, and leave behind genes that our descendants would inherit and become stronger as well.
On and on, this went, no matter the disaster: the Great Flood, the Antonine Plague, the Plague of Justinian, the Black Death, the Shaanxi Earthquake, Spanish Flu, the Chernobyl Disaster, the Indian Ocean Tsunami, and the COVID-19 Pandemic. Mankind has always managed to survive no matter the odds because we adapted through medicine and the ingenuity of our own making.
Then it happened. We as a species reached what we thought was the peak of our adaptability and evolution with the emergence of Meta Abilities, or Quirks. Without warning, children with incredible abilities that should only exist in comic books have become a reality.
The world had changed so much, and at first, it wasn't for the better. The new race of humans, the Metahumans, were seen as monsters that needed to be eliminated. Today, the tables have turned, with those with no real power being regarded as the freaks of nature, but back then, there was merit to the fears the original human race harbored, especially with the emergence of the self-proclaimed Demon King, All For One.
The world is now a Superhuman society where what was once a dream is now a reality, and thus, the countdown to our doomsday has emerged.
The Quirk Singularity.
About seventy years ago, Dr. Kyudai Garaki, one of the most brilliant minds of the Superhuman era, presented this theory, according to which, as the generations follow one another, Quirks blend and evolve, producing stronger and more complex Quirks. However, with this increase in power, the Quirks will also become more difficult to control since the human body doesn't evolve quickly enough to keep up. Eventually, there will come a point when Quirks will become too overpowered and complicated, and no one will be able to control them anymore. In short, a child or multiple children would be born with Quirks so powerful they will not only fail to control them, but these Quirks would exist to bring about one thing and one thing only. The extinction of Humanity.
Unfortunately, Kyudai's concerns and warnings were not treated with the seriousness they deserved. Kyudai was mocked for his thesis, which was deemed absurd and lacking in evidence, despite the evidence being plain to see and ignored nonetheless. In an era struggling to return an impoverished, conflicted world back to peace, no one believed there was anything to indicate the "collapse of the future." After his theory was rejected and he was ostracized from society as a result, Kyudai went missing, his genius and offerings to the world wrongfully squandered and later twisted by the most evil man in history that makes Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Pol Pot, Mao Zedong, Leopold II of Belgium, Saddam Hussein, Idi Amin, Kim Il-sung, Heinrich Himmler, and Hideki Tojo innocent children in comparison.
The world is on the brink of Armageddon. The signs are visible at all corners, but we refused to see them. Quirks will spearhead our ultimate demise, try as you might to deny it. Or so I thought…
As fate would have it, there was a ray of Hope against the coming Apocalypse. A new thesis with a powerful revelation that also offers salvation and relevance to the Quirkless.
The Devolved Salvation of Humanity.
According to this thesis, the Quirkless individuals aren't powerless; they do have Quirks, they just lie in a dormant state, unable to activate because they possess immense power too great for their Bearers to control, and were rejected upon birth as a defense mechanism by the Vestige of a person's consciousness that lies inside of the Quirks. For this reason, it is more appropriate to call these individuals "Sleepers" rather than Quirkless.
Those who manifested Quirks years after the age of four got them because they accidentally unlocked their dormant Quirks due to unknowingly achieving the requirements needed to activate them when they were supposed to stay asleep for eternity. It's the same for Quirks that manifested at the appropriate age of four and should've stayed dormant, so great and terrible that they typically cause a lot of health problems to their Bearers, which will eventually kill them or cause extensive damage to their environments.
The best example of this is Toya Todoroki, who possessed a Flame Quirk more powerful than his father's, but his body lacked the necessary resistance to heat because it was meant to contain an Ice Quirk instead, like his mother, and was inevitably burned alive by his Quirk. Another example is the Villain known as Nine, whose Quirk allowed him to control the weather with nigh-apocalyptic results, but the more he used it, the more his body was breaking apart at the cellular level.
Because it took almost two hundred years for the Earth's population to be crowded with Quirked individuals to 80%, it is odd that there are still "Quirkless" individuals at all as the rapid reproduction of Quirks suggested that the number should've at least risen to 95% by now but 20% of humanity still show no signs of having Quirks but they do, one's powerful enough to serve as proof of Doctor Garaki's theory, and why these Quirks are dubbed "Nigh-Singularities" because they are the closest to the danger posed by the Singularity.
The Devolved Salvation also claims the Quirkless will never go extinct, as more Sleepers will emerge over time, as Humanity's Collective Consciousness will inevitably start to reject Quirks with how powerful they are getting, and one day in the future, the Quirkless, the original human race, will reclaim their place as the dominant species of the Earth.
And in that, there is hope that we as a species will survive forevermore.
"What the hell…"
The words echoed through the minds of everyone in the UA Sports Festival Stadium. Gasps filled the air, blending with the faint hum of static from the broadcasting equipment. Among the stunned onlookers, none was more bewildered than Katsuki Bakugo. His crimson eyes widened, and his jaw clenched in frustration as he struggled to comprehend the impossible sight before him.
Izuku Midoriya—Quirkless, timid, and the so-called "worthless dreamer"—was standing.
Just moments ago, Bakugo had unleashed a devastating explosion, a blast that should have ended the match, and by all rights, Izuku's life. The attack had been excessive, a brutality that must earn Bakugo an immediate disqualification in the eyes of the officials and public. Blood had painted the arena floor and Izuku's lifeless body in its aftermath. It should've been over. And yet, there he stood, the gaping wound that once marred his chest somehow gone, his body upright and steady, as though the injury had never happened.
Bakugo felt a chill of fear—an unfamiliar and unwelcome sensation crawling up his spine. "What the hell is this freak…?" He muttered under his breath, his confidence shaken.
The heat in the stadium was suffocating, unnatural, and growing more intense by the second. Even All Might, seated in the teacher's box, wiped beads of sweat from his brow. His normally unshakable composure faltered. Something extraordinary was happening—something no one could have predicted.
Life had been merciless to Izuku Midoriya. Some would say it had cursed him from birth. Quirkless in a world where 80% of the population possessed superpowers called Quirks, Izuku had been marked as a failure from the start. Society didn't just reject him—it crushed him under its heel.
To most, he was less than human: a parasite, a burden, a punching bag for their frustrations. Only his parents had ever shown him love. To everyone else, he was a reminder of humanity's fragility—a stain to be ridiculed, pitied, or ignored.
Yet somehow, Izuku had endured. Against all odds, he refused to break. Even when his peers abandoned him, even when the world itself seemed hellbent on his failure, he held on to a fragile hope: the dream of becoming a hero.
He had trained tirelessly for months, pouring every ounce of his will into preparing for the UA Entrance Exam. The physical training hadn't come naturally to him; he had always valued knowledge over brute strength, an irony not lost on him, considering his former idol, All Might. But he pushed through. He climbed the mountain, clawed his way to the summit, and finally, he achieved the impossible: he passed. Izuku Midoriya—a Quirkless boy—earned a spot in the university of his dreams.
For a fleeting moment, he had thought he'd made it. He thought the nightmare was over.
But reality had been crueler than even his darkest fears.
UA, the pinnacle of hero education, was no different from the schools of his past. His classmates sneered at him. His teachers overlooked him. Even here, he was unwanted, unloved, and "unreliable."
Ochaco Uraraka had been his sole solace, the first person who'd treated him with kindness. Her smile had been a beacon in his darkness, enough to make his heart flutter with hope. But in the end, she was no different. Pressured by the crowd, she turned her back on him.
And Bakugo—his childhood friend, his tormentor—was here too. How had he ever believed that Bakugo could change? That monster had done nothing but cause pain, yet people still hailed him as a hero. It was sickening.
Something primal burned within Izuku now, an instinct he couldn't explain. Righteous fury surged through his veins, clouding his mind as he rose to his feet.
He barely registered the heat radiating from his body, an oppressive wave that made the crowd shield their faces and even forced All Might to sit straighter in alarm. His wounds—ones that should've been fatal—had closed in an instant, his mangled chest restored as if by divine intervention.
When Izuku opened his eyes, the emerald green was gone, replaced by a brilliant, unrelenting crimson.
The crowd fell silent.
Izuku's lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smirk. He wasn't sure how he had survived, but he did know one thing.
No one would ever hurt him again.
Midnight, the R-Rated Hero and referee of the match, had been paralyzed by horror. She'd failed to intervene as Katsuki Bakugo unleashed a brutal explosion, a blow so savage it left a gaping hole in Izuku's chest. She'd been sure the boy was dead—or at best, clinging to life by a thread.
But then, impossibly, Izuku stood.
The wound that had shredded his chest healed at a speed too fast for the human eye to follow. Skin knit together, muscle regenerated, and bone restructured itself in a matter of seconds. Midnight couldn't comprehend what she was seeing. Her breath caught in her throat as the searing heat enveloping the arena intensified, forcing her to fight the instinct to strip off her costume just to escape the stifling temperature.
The source of the heat was undeniable: Izuku Midoriya.
Everyone in the audience knew the same truth—Izuku Midoriya was supposed to be Quirkless.
No power. No natural advantage.
The fact that he had made it to the Sports Festival's tournament round, let alone lasted a month in UA's Hero Course, was a topic of heated debate. Skeptics had accused him of cheating countless times. But every claim was silenced by the unshakable authority of Nezu, UA's Dean and the smartest being in the world. As Nezu himself had pointed out, no Quirkless boy could ever hope to fool him.
The real truth, though, was harder to swallow. Izuku wasn't a cheater. He was exceptional.
He'd won the Obstacle Race, strategically manipulated Bakugo into forming a team during the Cavalry Battle, and fought his way through Hitoshi Shinso and Momo Yaoyorozu in the tournament's opening rounds. He was relentless, resourceful, and brilliant.
Bakugo hated that.
To him, it was inconceivable that a "worthless loser" like Izuku could surpass him—or anyone else at UA, for that matter. Bakugo had always believed that he was the only one in Class 1-A—or 1-B, for that matter—worthy of being called a hero. Everyone else was just trash. Izuku, in Bakugo's mind, was the worst of them all.
For Katsuki, UA was supposed to be his domain. The beginning of his journey to surpass All Might and become the richest, strongest hero in history. But that dream had been tarnished the moment he saw Izuku Midoriya's name on the Entrance Exam results.
No matter what he did, no matter how hard he tried, Izuku always found a way to keep standing. Bakugo had tried to push him out, to break him, but the idiot just wouldn't stay down.
And now, this.
The heat, the pressure, the way Izuku's body had healed so quickly—it couldn't be real. It couldn't be happening. Izuku was Quirkless. He had to be. That was the one constant in Bakugo's life, the one unshakable truth that proved he was superior.
And yet…
"Bakugo."
The name left Izuku's lips like a judge passing sentence. It wasn't a battle cry, nor a desperate plea. It was final. Absolute.
Bakugo froze.
There was no cheerful determination in Midoriya's voice, no relentless optimism that had always made him insufferably unyielding. Instead, the boy who had once trailed behind him, who had once looked up to him with wide, admiring eyes, now stared at him with the piercing glare of something unrecognizable. Predator's eyes churned and swirled like molten fury.
Izuku took a step forward. The air around him grew heavier, thick with oppressive heat.
"It's just like we agreed during the Cavalry Battle," Izuku murmured, his voice disturbingly even, devoid of hesitation. "Our false friendship… ends today."
The words struck deeper than any explosion ever could.
Then Izuku moved.
A blur of green and searing heat shot forward with terrifying speed. Bakugo barely had time to react, instincts kicking in as his palms flared with raw nitroglycerin.
Sweat dripped down his arms—more than usual, not just from the exertion, but from the inferno swelling around them. With a fierce snarl, he thrust his hands forward and ignited a blast meant to blow Izuku back, to put him in his place once and for all.
But Izuku didn't stop.
He weaved through the inferno like he belonged in it, with the flames welcoming him. In an instant, he closed the gap, his fist wreathed in searing thermal energy. When it connected with Bakugo's hands, the impact was nothing short of catastrophic.
A monstrous explosion detonated from the sheer clash of their forces, a devastating surge of power that sent a concussive shockwave roaring through the stadium. The blast stretched outward, devouring everything in its wake. Midnight had no time to react before the wave of destruction bore down on her, but Cementoss was faster. A towering wall of concrete rose between them, a desperate attempt to shield her from the carnage.
When the dust finally settled, the ring was unrecognizable. Where there had once been solid ground, there was only ruin and molten debris.
Bakugo had it worse. His body lay crumpled against the stadium wall, his uniform scorched, arms disfigured from burns. The relentless fire that usually burned in his eyes had been extinguished, replaced by shock, pain, and confusion.
Standing at the epicenter of the destruction, untouched and unwavering with a flash of steam and molten heat, was Izuku.
But he wasn't the same anymore.
His irises had turned a molten, angry red, like metal left too long in the forge. But it was his sclera—those once-clear whites of his eyes—that horrified the crowd most. Pitch black, they swallowed light, leaving only those twin burning points of rage to shine through. A permanent grimace of fury tugged at the corners of his mouth, lips dry and cracked as heat distorted the air around him. Steam hissed from new, circular pores along his shoulders and arms—vents trying to keep his rising temperature from cooking him alive.
The freckles on his cheeks—those gentle marks of his boyhood—glowed like embers now, like the last things to burn on a dying log. His skin was slightly darker in tone, not from a tan but the subtle discoloration of someone whose body was constantly on the brink of combustion. Thin, fiery lines branched beneath his skin like magma veins, pulsing slowly, ominously, from his chest to his neck and collarbones.
He looked human.
He also looked like he was evolving into something else.
Even his hair had changed. Still messy, still his, but it floated slightly in the heated updraft, flickering like smoke under a flame. The air shimmered around him, like the space above an open stove. The front row of the audience could feel it—the oppressive, rising heat radiating off his skin like he was more furnace than flesh.
It wasn't until he exhaled, a thick blast of steam curling from his mouth and nose like a dragon's breath, that the stunned silence broke.
"… What the hell happened to him?" Kyoka Jiro wanted to scream, but instead whispered barely from the shock.
"Deku…?" Ochaco Uraraka muttered with immense bewilderment, not believing what she was seeing.
No one could explain what was happening. This was an unforeseen phenomenon like never before, leaving even veteran Pros lost for words. Many were almost paralyzed when Izuku Midoriya turned to look up at the stands that had been looking down at him from the start of the Festival with that seething gaze of betrayal and rage.
"Ne-Nemuri…" The silence was shattered as Present Mic's voice crackled through the speakers, but it wasn't to call the match. It was a choked exclamation of dread. Not for Bakugo—but for Nemuri Kayama.
Cementoss knelt beside Midnight, his face pale beneath the dust covering him. The barrier hadn't been enough. Shards of failed defense protruded from her right shoulder, her abdomen, her knee, and her foot. Her costume, once pristine, was torn and charred from burns that marred the entire front of her body. Blood pooled beneath her as medic bots were immediately called to rush onto the field to get her and Bakugo to Recovery Girl quickly.
Even for a Pro-Hero, someone who had seen battle and injury before, this was bad. This was very bad. And all of it had been live. Broadcasted worldwide. The UA Sports Festival had become something else entirely.
Yet, in the chaos, no one noticed the source of the heat—the one who had made the very air shimmer with power—move toward the teachers.
Izuku barely understood what he was doing. His mind was lost in the haze of battle, of vengeance, of the raw, unrestrained force now coursing through his veins. Everything was fragmented, blurred, like an out-of-body experience. His brush with death, his retaliation, his overwhelming dominance—it was too much, too fast.
Midnight stirred, her vision hazy, but she saw what he had become. "M-Midoriya…?"
Izuku said nothing. He merely raised his hand.
The oppressive heat shifted. It no longer spread across the stadium but concentrated—no, condensed—around Midnight. The air trembled as an unseen force wrapped around her, and suddenly, impossibly, her wounds began to mend. The shards embedded in her flesh were pulled free by an invisible current. The scorched skin of her body shimmered, reverting to its original flawless state. It was as though time itself rewound before their eyes.
The silence was no longer one of horror.
It was awe.
A miracle had just unfolded on live television, but Izuku didn't stay to revel in the astonishment. He turned away, his steps slow, measured, as he prepared to leave the arena.
"Don't ever ask me to do the same for Bakugo."
The words were quiet. Cold.
And with that, the boy once called Deku ceased to exist.
The day's excitement had devolved into a maelstrom of confusion and turmoil. Injuries during the UA Sports Festival were expected, even celebrated as a testament to the competitive spirit of the event. With the famous Recovery Girl on-site, few doubted that any injuries would be too serious to swiftly mend. But this? This was different.
The unprecedented events surrounding Izuku Midoriya had thrown the festival into chaos, forcing the tournament to be rushed to a conclusion.
Although Izuku had advanced to the final round, his withdrawal from the competition following his miraculous recovery rendered Itsuka Kendo the default winner. The proud martial artist was far from pleased. Standing on the podium felt hollow without earning her victory in combat by besting every single combatant in the tournament, including Midoriya, who made it farther than anyone dared believe he would.
Back at UA's main building, chaos continued to ripple. Izuku and Bakugo were both brought in for urgent examinations. Bakugo required immediate medical attention due to the extensive damage to his arms from his reckless use of explosions. However, it was Izuku who became the center of attention.
The teachers were less concerned with his miraculous recovery and more focused on what it meant. Izuku, silent and withdrawn, complied without protest as Recovery Girl collected blood samples for testing. The young man barely seemed aware of his surroundings, his mind clouded with exhaustion and confusion.
Meanwhile, Inko Midoriya's calls poured in, her voice frantic with worry for her son. Yet the teachers urged Izuku to remain until they could fully understand the situation.
Hours passed in tense anticipation. Recovery Girl, though exhausted from her work, finally completed her analysis. She wasted no time in summoning Dean Nezu and Toshinori Yagi—UA's greatest minds—to discuss the results.
Toshinori, now in his deflated form, sat at the edge of his seat, his gaunt face betraying a mixture of impatience and dread. His thoughts raced with possibilities, each one darker than the last.
"Chiyo," He began, his voice strained, "What did you find out? What's happened to Young Midoriya?"
The elderly heroine sighed, casting him a weary glance. "First, sit down and calm yourself, Toshinori. You'll give yourself a heart attack at this rate."
Toshinori winced but obeyed. Nezu, perched on a nearby desk, gestured for her to continue.
Chiyo adjusted her glasses, her expression grave. "I'll start with the most important finding. Izuku Midoriya… has a Quirk."
Toshinori stiffened, his fists clenching. "A… Quirk? Then that means—"
"It does not mean All For One is involved," Chiyo interrupted sharply, preempting his panic. "Let me explain before you jump to conclusions."
Nezu's ears twitched as he nodded. "Go on, Chiyo. Let's hear everything."
Chiyo pressed on, her tone firm. "I checked for signs of tampering first, specifically whether Izuku was given a Quirk artificially. When All For One grants someone a Quirk, the recipient's DNA shows a second genetic signature—two distinct sets of DNA. Quirks are connected to every part of their Bearer's body, so traces of their former bearers should remain when removed and passed on to another. I've performed autopsies on several of his victims and seen it firsthand. But Izuku's results are clear. There's only one genetic signature. His Quirk is natural. It's been with him since birth."
The room fell silent. Toshinori slumped back in his chair, a wave of relief washing over him. "Then… All For One isn't involved?"
"No," Chiyo confirmed. "Whatever this is, it isn't his doing."
Nezu tilted his head, curiosity gleaming in his small eyes. "That raises an even more intriguing question: why did Midoriya's Quirk manifest now, after so many years?"
Chiyo folded her arms, her expression somber. "It's rare, but not unheard of. Some Quirks require specific conditions to awaken. Extreme emotional distress, environmental triggers, high consumption of a specific substance, or, in the rarest cases, an… "intimate" encounter with death, and I don't mean a near-death experience."
Toshinori's hands trembled. He didn't need her to elaborate further. The memory of Bakugo's brutal attack played vividly in his mind. "So you're saying… that explosion—"
"—Was the trigger," Chiyo finished. Her voice turned cold. "Izuku Midoriya nearly, or rather, should have died today. That's what it took for his Quirk to awaken and save his life."
Nezu's tail flicked thoughtfully. "This presents a dual dilemma. On one hand, Izuku is no longer the Quirkless student many dismissed and mistreated. But on the other…" His gaze darkened. "Bakugo's actions cannot be ignored. What he did was far beyond what any aspiring Hero should ever consider, and he hasn't exactly shied away from his opinions on the subject of death."
Toshinori looked away, his expression pained. "Katsuki Bakugo… I believed he had potential, but this… this goes against everything a Hero should stand for, and with how keen his battle instincts are, what he did wasn't an accident."
Chiyo nodded grimly. "Even Aizawa, who is often indifferent to such matters, was horrified when he reviewed the footage. This wasn't just recklessness. It was cruelty."
Nezu steepled his paws; his tone was decisive. "We must address both matters carefully. Izuku's awakening and Bakugo's behavior are two sides of the same coin, and both will shape UA's future."
As the room fell into contemplative silence, one truth loomed above all: nothing would ever be the same again.
The two-day break after the Sports Festival was meant to allow students to relax and spend time with their families. However, it was anything but relaxing. The entire country was abuzz with the shocking events of the first fight of the semi-final round, which left audiences divided and reeling. Izuku Midoriya's battle against Katsuki Bakugo had started as a one-sided beatdown, with Bakugo ruthlessly dominating his opponent. Yet, Midoriya's tenacity managed to shine through as he got a few well-timed hits, such as grabbing Bakugo's arm mid-attack and shoving it into his face, forcing the explosive Quirk user to harm himself.
The fight reached its climax when Bakugo, in his fury, seemingly killed Midoriya on live television—a moment celebrated only by the most callous Quirk supremacists. But the horror was short-lived as Midoriya rose from the ashes, revealing a Quirk no one, not even himself, had known about. What followed was a stunning reversal as Midoriya unleashed his power, dealing a devastating blow to Bakugo and leaving the latter incapacitated. It was a scene that thrilled some and horrified others, cementing the battle as the most talked-about event in years.
Class 1-A found themselves in disarray. Many were desperate for updates on their two classmates, Bakugo for his severe injuries and Midoriya's… "transformation," but the UA staff gave no answers. Despite the poor attitude and lack of camaraderie, no one in the class harbored true ill will for Izuku and worried for him more than they were worried for Bakugo, who would just shout at them for the slightest hint of concern that he would doubtlessly mistake for being seen as weak and become aggressive.
Meanwhile, Izuku had been called back to UA during the break for further analysis of his newly awakened Quirk. Standing in Gym Gamma, surrounded by cement-shaped cubes molded by Cementoss, he found himself under the scrutiny of several staff members, including Nezu, Midnight, Ectoplasm, Thirteen, and Cementoss. Despite their curiosity and the stakes of their research, Midoriya remained subdued, going through the motions without a hint of enthusiasm.
What little emotion he did show was with how uncomfortable he felt wearing clothing because of his mutation. While soft on contact, his skin was anything but ordinary and did not cooperate well with the P.E. uniform he is wearing, especially with his new pores on his arms and shoulders but he is someone who was forced to grow accustomed to many things he didn't like so this won't bother him as much.
The teachers had already determined that Izuku could generate intense heat waves, reaching up to 10,000 kelvin at maximum output—an incredible level that, thankfully, wasn't present during its first manifestation, or the consequences at the stadium would have been catastrophic. Additionally, his Quirk granted him superhuman strength and speed, further setting him apart from most Fire-based Quirks.
The glow of his freckles and veins becomes visible again when his Quirk is being used, and Izuku concentrates on trying to replicate an ability he performed yesterday, focusing the heat waves to release a shockwave-like blast to demolish a cement wall.
Instead, something else occurred. The cement cube in front of him began to levitate. It was a human-sized block, weighing three times more than Vlad King, yet Izuku manipulated it effortlessly, moving it with a wave of his hand. The cube crashed into another, drawing audible gasps from the observers.
"Psionic energy," Nezu muttered, his eyes glinting with intrigue. "This isn't just heat—it's a fusion Quirk. His father's fire breath and his mother's minor telekinesis combined into something entirely unique."
Present Mic raised a hand. "But what about the strength? The speed? And the fact that he can heal himself and others? That's not heat-related, right?"
Ectoplasm nodded thoughtfully. "Heat generates kinetic energy. If Midoriya's Quirk allows him to control heat psychically, he may also be harnessing and storing the kinetic energy it produces. Turning his body into a capacitor for that energy to augment his physical and possibly mental attributes."
Nezu clapped his small paws together. "A remarkable theory, and it aligns with what we've seen. Kinetic Energy has more implications than people realize, amplifying and speeding up cellular regeneration through the same stored energy for himself or whoever he transfers the thermal energy to. Truly remarkable."
Midnight added, "What stands out most to me is his intelligence. Even before awakening this Quirk, he was uniquely analytical. I once found one of his notebooks—it was filled with detailed observations of Quirks, almost professional-level insights. He didn't just analyze; he identified weaknesses and suggested improvements. If he focused on himself, he should master this new Quirk in record time, regardless of how late he is to the party."
Nezu frowned, visibly annoyed. "And no one thought to share this with me before now? Those notebooks make him an even more valuable asset. Yet, that's not what concerns me most at the moment."
His gaze fell on Izuku, who stood silent, his expression a mix of exhaustion and apathy. "Recovery Girl suspects he's still in shock from the battle with Bakugo. But I wonder if it's more than that. He's shown no joy or interest in this new stage of his life. I expected him to embrace this change, to feel relief and excitement at finally being accepted by his peers. Instead, he's shown a level of melancholy he did not before."
The other teachers exchanged uneasy glances.
"I may need to arrange a session with Hound Dog," Nezu concluded softly. "There's more to this than meets the eye, and I'm not talking about how weak-minded folks will accuse him, appearance-wise, of being a Villain."
"MIDORIYA!" The sudden roar shattered the shaky atmosphere of Gym Gamma.
Izuku's focus on his Quirk testing was interrupted as all eyes turned to the gym's entrance. Standing there was Eijiro Kirishima, his expression twisted in uncharacteristic fury. For Izuku, the sight of Kirishima angry wasn't entirely unfamiliar. The first time had been during the Cavalry Battle, when Izuku, shunned by everyone, had baited Bakugo into a temporary alliance by taunting him about settling their feud one-on-one.
That decision had left Kirishima unable to form a team with his "Bakubro," leaving him upset—but that anger was nothing compared to what Izuku saw now.
Before anyone could address his intrusion, Kirishima stormed toward Izuku with a determined, almost menacing pace.
"Kirishima? What are you doing here? The campus is still close to all students," Midnight demanded.
Kirishima didn't even glance her way. Behind him, the rest of Class 1-A followed, save for Bakugo, Iida, and Todoroki. Mina Ashido tried to catch up, pleading with Kirishima to stop and not confront Midoriya like this, while Recovery Girl, perched on Sato's shoulder, grumbled about indulging their persistence.
"Kiri, stop!" Mina pleaded, her voice laced with desperation. "You don't have to do this!"
But Kirishima didn't stop. Grabbing Izuku by the collar, he shouted, his voice raw with emotion. "What the hell is wrong with you?! How could you do that to Bakugo?!"
Nezu, watching from the sidelines, calmly turned to Recovery Girl. "Care to explain this intrusion?"
The elderly heroine sighed, her expression as sour as her tone. "The 1-A brats wouldn't let it go, so I let them visit Bakugo since his condition's stable enough. But as soon as he saw them, he threw a tantrum about his arms. Screaming that he couldn't use his Quirk anymore and started bawling about being "useless"—like "worthless Deku."
Kirishima turned his glare back to Izuku. "You healed Midnight. Do the same for Bakugo. Now."
Izuku, with uncharacteristic coldness, refused without hesitation. "No."
The blunt rejection left everyone speechless. Kirishima's hands shook as he grabbed Izuku's collar tightly. "What do you mean "no?!" You healed Midnight! You can—"
"I don't know how I did it," Izuku interrupted, his voice eerily calm. "If I try, I might make him worse."
"Then TRY, damn it!" Kirishima bellowed.
Izuku's newly demonic eyes darkened. "Even if I could… I wouldn't. I refuse to live in a world where Katsuki Bakugo is allowed to be a hero." He leaned in slightly, his voice sharper than any blade. "It's more satisfying to see him become "Deku" from now on."
The cruel remark stunned them all. Uraraka flinched, her stomach twisting as she recalled how she once found Bakugo's nickname for Izuku endearing despite the derogatory implications. The weight of Izuku's words sank in, and for Kirishima, it was the last straw.
With all his might, his Quirk activated to its fullest, Kirishima swung a hardened right punch at Izuku's face. The impact was instant and painful—but not for Midoriya.
A sickening crack echoed through the gym. Kirishima's fist shattered against Izuku's skin, which was blazing hot from his Quirk. The force burned and cracked his arm, leaving him screaming in agony as he staggered back.
Izuku moved with a speed none of them expected. Grabbing Kirishima by the head, he dragged him across the gym floor and slammed his face into one of the large cylindrical rock formations Cementoss typically created for training, leaving a crater where Eijiro's head landed.
Gasps filled the air, but no one dared to intervene.
"I'm done giving second chances to the undeserving!" Izuku seethed with unyielding rage, his voice venomous.
He yanked Kirishima's head from the wall, spun him around, and delivered a devastating punch to his chest. The blow destroyed the rock formation, sending Kirishima hurtling through the air, straight to the gym wall. The impact was so great that it left a gaping hole, and Kirishima landed outside, sprawled and unmoving on the grassy ground.
Mina choked on a scream, but her voice failed her as Izuku turned, his glare freezing her in place. His classmates stood paralyzed, their shock and fear palpable. They had always known Izuku hated them for how they treated him, but never had they imagined he would act on that hatred. The kind, patient boy who once forgave every slight was gone. In his place stood someone cold, unrelenting, and vengeful.
"I'm done," Izuku said, his voice devoid of emotion.
Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving behind stunned teachers, horrified classmates, and a gaping hole in the gym wall.
After the altercation with Kirishima, Izuku returned home to his mother, and Dean Nezu decided not to punish him for what he did since Kirishima brought it upon himself and is lucky that he won't be suspended for being violent in front of the staff. When classes started, Izuku was absent, leaving 1-A with only sixteen students, a number Aizawa prefers over a full set, but is displeased with the reasons why. 1-A is now in a more somber mood, worse than the fear they felt when they first faced real Villains in the USJ.
One classmate was expelled on the first day, two of them are hospitalized, and the one they originally wanted gone is now a superpowered, angry man who is the reason why two need medical care. The world had turned upside down, and only a handful of them are willing to admit that they brought it on themselves. Midoriya wanted time to clear his head and think over the decision he's been thinking of since he tasted victory against Bakugo.
His former friend, whom he just learned might be Quirkless now because of him. A part of him wants to feel guilty about it, and yet… he feels so validated. Happy even. Bakugo may finally be out of his life forever. But he is still not satisfied. It's not enough to inflict Katsuki with physical damage. He has to aim for his heart and pride, and he knows exactly how to do it.
Izuku is stopped from thinking any more malicious thoughts when he hears a knock on the door of his apartment. At first, he thinks it's his mother who made a quick turnaround after leaving five minutes ago to get groceries because she left something behind, like her wallet, but instantly, he felt something new.
He could feel it, heat signatures that belonged to two individuals.
So he has Thermoreception as well. He'd be thrilled if not for his new dark impulses. He quickly answers the door and sees that it is Dean Nezu and his homeroom teacher, Aizawa.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Midoriya," Nezu calmly greeted. "So sorry for the unannounced visit, but considering your absence today, we simply could not wait any longer to have this discussion."
Izuku is not surprised to see them here and was expecting the coming conversation, though he would've preferred to have it back in UA, so maybe he shouldn't have skipped. Without saying a word, Izuku passes by to let them into his home.
"What a lovely home. Anyone else here with you?" Nezu asked.
"My mother just left to buy groceries," Izuku replied. "And I would rather have this discussion with just me. I'm old enough to speak for myself regarding my future."
"Well put," Nezu half-smiled.
The small apartment felt even smaller with the two authority figures present. Nezu took a seat at the modest table, gesturing for Izuku to do the same, while Aizawa remained standing, his gaze heavy.
Nezu didn't waste time. "Let's address the most pressing matter first: the Semi-Finals of the Sports Festival."
Izuku stiffened but said nothing.
"As you know," Nezu continued, "UA University takes full responsibility for the actions of its students. It is our duty to ensure that any student who commits illegal or unethical actions is held accountable before the police or Pro-Heroes become involved. Regarding Katsuki Bakugo's condition, you will not be held responsible."
Izuku blinked, caught off guard.
"The footage speaks for itself," Nezu said firmly. "Bakugo escalated the situation. He intentionally used lethal force, and the only reason you're alive is because of your Quirk's miraculous awakening. Given this context, Bakugo will face the consequences of his actions."
For a moment, Izuku couldn't respond. He'd heard these words before, but they were always empty promises, spoken by teachers or adults who never followed through. Katsuki Bakugo, the boy who had tormented him for years, had always been allowed to walk away unscathed because of his powerful Quirk. To hear Nezu say otherwise felt surreal.
He found his voice, though it came out quieter than he intended. "What… what kind of punishment?"
Nezu folded his hands on the table. "Normally, a student responsible for critically injuring another would face expulsion or suspension and be transferred to a Villain Rehabilitation Center. Given Bakugo's current condition—his arms too damaged to use his Quirk—it has been decided that he will be transferred to Shiketsu University, which specializes in rehabilitation."
Izuku processed the words slowly. Expulsion would've been satisfying, but this… this was better. Bakugo, the untouchable golden child, would finally be held accountable. But as much as the decision appealed to Izuku, it wasn't enough. The years of unchecked cruelty demanded more than a transfer.
Nezu seemed to sense his silence but chose not to address it. Instead, Aizawa finally spoke, his voice blunt and to the point. "That brings us to the real reason we're here: your Quirk."
Aizawa didn't mince words. "Your future at UA is secured, Midoriya. Despite the circumstances surrounding Bakugo and Kirishima, it's clear that your capabilities far exceed those of your classmates. Even without training, your Quirk places you on a level none of the other First Years can match."
The words landed like a slap. Izuku felt a surge of heat rise within him, not from his Quirk but from the rage simmering in his chest.
His mind raced, unearthing memories he wanted buried. Memories of Aizawa's so-called "mercy."
How, instead of expelling him outright as Izuku believed he wanted, Aizawa had expelled Minoru Mineta to make a point, turning the threat of expulsion into a weapon. Momo Yaoyorozu was so sure that the expulsion threat was a bluff, a logical ruse to push 1-A to give it their all no matter what, only to be beset with panic when she was proven wrong, forcing them to not slack off.
More accurately, make sure not to fall behind the Quirkless boy who ranked eighth place in the Quirk Apprehension Test, just like how he landed eighth place in the Entrance Exam. Instead of doing the deed himself, Aizawa wanted Izuku to drop out from the sheer pressure of his classmates' animosity, making them more determined to excel while ostracizing him further.
How no matter what he did, Aizawa's approval always felt just out of reach.