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What was he expecting? Of course a quirkless person can't be a hero...it's not even something people should spare a thought for.
There were always the other paths, the ways Izuku could help. It wouldn't be the same but... It's better than nothing.
So, for the next year, Izuku spent his time training. He got stronger, he got faster, he learnt. He did everything he could, all while keeping up his notebooks. '
To whom it may concern,
This is my formal application for the police force. I
have no experience, but I have a good physique and am quite smart when it comes to problem solving and analysing. (find attached some of my work)
However, I am only sending this email instead of applying like most, as I am only 15. I want to inform you of this ahead of time. But don't worry, I am just as good as the next guy. I hope you let me come to your test.
Midoriya Izuku'
--
Izuku sips from a mug of coffee, staring at the screen with anxiety. He hasn't gotten a reply, and the try outs are tomorrow. He should've known, he should have just given up. An email appears.
'To Midoriya Izuku,
We have decided to allow you to participate. We will be holding you up to the same standards as the other contestants though.
(also, that analysis was amazing! Good job!)
We'll see you soon,
Musutafu police department Detective Tsukauchi Naomassa'
Izuku let's out a sigh of relief.
--
Izuku gulps down anxiety as he walks into the station, making his way to the desk. "e-excuse me..."
"Yes, kid?"
"I'm, uh, I'm the new hire?" He puts his license on the desk and forces a smile.
"Ah, Midoriya. Yes, your desk is back through the door. There are a few others in the room that like to chat, so be careful, kay?" He nods and wanders off, fiddling with the straps on his bag.
--
Someone sits beside his desk, head in their hand, watching Izuku as he taps away on the laptop. "So, you're Midoriya?"
"Yeah.." He nods slightly, sending off an email and closing the tab before turning to the open folder, scribbling away.
"How old are you again?"
"15."
"And you're working here? Shouldn't you be in school or something?"
"Well..." Izuku sighs, hand finally stopping. "schools never really... worked for me... And I made sure I know all the material you need to work here. I think I'll be fine." He sneaks his mug close, sipping gently.
"Eh, that's fair." The older ruffles his hair. "Watch out for the pervs though."
"I have a taser, I'm not afraid to use it again."
--
"Youre going undercover." Izuku looks up from a file, staring in shock.
"me? What? Where?"
"U.A, hero course. We suspect there's a traitor, and you're the only one young enough to go." Izuku nods slightly, skimming over the folder placed in front of him.
He snorts. "There's no traitor. Are you serious? A warp quirk could easily get through the security, even if they set off the alarm. And those decay fragments are the same. Shigaraki probably caused a distraction while the warp quirk got the information. And no one knew anyone's quirks until they showed them."
"They had information they shouldn't."
"Again, warp quirk." Izuku flips a page. "Check the system for missing kids, about 14 years ago. Any deaths like the quirk described. And that Nomu, the dna tests...Hm, they were all low level thugs before this. So someone who can force quirks onto others, maybe a brain mashing of some sort."
"We don't know. It only responds to orders."
"...Then order it to tell you??" Izuku stands, grabbing his mug and taking a swig. "Or order it to write it. Find a memories quirk. There are so many ways to work around that." He picks up a pen and paper. "I'm gonna see it."
"That's too dangerous!!"
"Really? Unless someone orders it to attack me, I think I'll be fine." He sighs and walks off.
-- "
Hey." Izuku smiles at the creature, setting down the pen and paper. "I'm going to ask some questions. And you are going to answer." He glares.
The Nomu squawds with a nod. "Great. How many quirks are you?"
A squawk.
"Okay, write it down. Now."
The Nomu writes a clear '4'.
"Tell me who did this to you." '
The doctor'
"Doctor who? Tell me." '
Tsukasa.'
"Why?"
' All For One told him to.'
Izuku stares at the page. "Right...thank you, Nomu." He pets it gently. "Youre a good person, huh?" The nomu sqwaks happily. Izuku chuckles and walks out the room, paper in hand.
"Midoriya." He stops and looks at Tsukauchi. "My office."
Oh gods, he's in for it now.
The door closes behind them. "Now, i need to see that paper."
"uh, sure?" Izuku hands it over. The man skims through it.
"Holy...oh gosh, okay. Wait here, I need to make a phone call."
"o-okay??" Izuku watches the detective step out the room, make two phonecalls, then step back in. "what's going on??"
"You've figured out a national secret, is what's going on." Tsukauchi sighs quietly. "All For One isn't public knowledge. We thought he was dead. This," He waves the paper. "Says otherwise."
Izuku nods slightly. "great, another national secret..." He mutters.
"Another?"
"..I didn't say that out loud, did I?"
"You did, and now I'm very concerned." Izuku purses his lips and chuckles awkwardly. The door knocks and then opens.
"Tsukauuuu-oh, uh...Slime kid.." Izuku stares at deflated all Might.
"All Might. Its nice to see you again."
"You know about small might?!" Tsukauchi all but yells.
"Well...It's a not so long, emotional story." Izuku nods to himself.
"Am I a dog? A mouse? A bear? It matters not! I am the principal!"
"...You're mostly stoat.." Izuku mutters, closing the door behind the principal.
Nezu gasps. "How did you know?"
"Well, it's pretty obvious when you think about it." Izuku takes out his phone and pulls up a few pictures. "You look just like one."
"So this is the boy?" Nezu looks at Tsukauchi. "He's very smart."
"Yep. Which brings me to my next point." The detective takes a deep breath. "All For One is alive."
Small Might coughs. "Impossible!"
"That Nomu from the USJ, Midoriya got it to tell us some information." He slides the paper across the table. "We got 2 names. All For One, and a doctor Tsukasa."
Izuku taps a finger against his chin. why is that name so familiar. "Oh." He slumps against the wall. "Oh..."
"Oh?" Tsukauchi looks at him.
"That's the doctor that diagnosed me quirkless..." Izuku slides to the floor. "Holy-I...oh gosh, he was scouting."
"Scouting?"
Izuku laughs brokenly. "For quirks."
He stops. "The kid...the-the...oh no." He covers his mouth. "They have him..."
"Him? Him who?"
"A kid from my pre-school. He had a wings quirk. He went missing a week after his doctors appointment." The three adults share a look.
"We'll need to look into this. Extensively. In the meantime." Nezu looks at Izuku. "I'd like you to join my school. You're going to need protection now you've uncovered multiple secrets. As well as the suspected traitor. We will still let you work on cases though."
"There's no traitor! Jeez." Izuku sighs and grabs a pen. "They don't need one. If I had their quirks, I'd get the decay quirk to break the gate when there are the most reporters, and while the kids are freaking out and the teachers run to help out, I'd get Warp quirk to warp in and grab the informaiton." He scribbles it all down, adding a few bits here and there. "And security footage can be tampered with, there are blind spots, I checked when I first looked at going to U.A, there were a couple. And Warp can warp other people and innanmate object. He could've just warped out one or two peices of paper without ever needing to be in the building."
Nezu looks over the paper, where a detailed plan rests. "Those are very good points. I'll double check the security footage and look for any missing files."
"They could've returned it by now, so I wouldn't both with the second part." Izuku taps the pen against his chin. "Maybe transfer all paper information onto the school database? And burn the copies."
"I shall do that. However, I would still like you to come to my school. It'd be amazing to personally tutor you."
"..personally tutor?.." Izuku turns to stare. "you're...you're joking right?...a quirkless kid couldn't...but I might not be quirkless.." He chews his lip. "This has to be a joke.."
"it is not! And don't worry about the quirk part, I'll get Recovery Girl to check."
Izuku slaps himself a few times. "I'm going to be Nezu's personal student."
"Yes."
"In a school of heroes and hero hopefuls."
"Yes."
"With three national secrets..."
"Yes."
--
So turns out. It wasn't a joke. And Izuku is now standing inside U.A, standing before Pro Heroes, and being introduced by Principal Nezu.
"This is detective Midoriya Izuku, he'll be joining U.A as my personal student. He will be given free roam of the school, as well as attending a few of your lessons. If you see him working on a case, be careful not to disturb him."
Izuku waves at the horrified teachers. "what did he do to become your personal student?"
"Discovered 3 national secrets, including my prominent animal jean, figured out there was no traitor and got us a lead on the USJ case within the course of a day."
"....We're gonna have to come up with a new code...Night Black, Nezu and his student have decided to take over.."
Izuku tilts his head. "Are you serious? We wouldn't actually be able to do that. Not for longer than a week, and even then there'd be massive rebellion. All dictatorships have ended in murder and treason." He shrugs slightly. "And I don't want to rule, I just want to help people."
"...HE'S BEEN JOKING THIS WHOLE TIME?!" Aizawa slams his hands on the table, glaring at the animal.
"You fear what you do not understand. Nezu's a prime example." Izuku leans on the table, yawning quietly. "Everything is capable of joking. Nezu's is just more...sadistic..." He yawns again, resting his head.
"Are you okay?"
"yeah..just stayed up working on a case..I'll be fine." He waves his hand about.
"Want some coffee?"
"please."
--
Izuku sips from his coffee mug, nestling in his seat in Nezu's office. "Oh, where did Iida ask to go after the sports festival?"
"The manuel agency."
"...and you said yes?"
"I approved it, yes."
He sighs and grabs his phone. "You know Manuel's agency is in Hosu. And the Hero Killer, who crippled his brother, is also still in Hosu."
"We offered therapy."
Izuku groans. "Okay, he's going to try and murder Stain, alone, whenever he has the chance to." He rubs his temple. "It's fine, it'll be fine, we just have to get Stain before he does."
"And how do you propose we do that?"
"He attacks in alleyways, only takes on one or two people, and according to Ingenium's statement, he got cut and them couldn't move. So it's some sort of paralysis quirk..." He hums in thought. "then why didn't he freeze when he got a bruise?..does it need to be a certain depth of wound?..No, that doesn't make sense..." He taps his chin, tilting his head slightly.
He snaps his fingers. "Blood! It's blood activated!"
"Hm, good work, Midoriya."
"Blood quirks are rare..." He grabs his phone. "I'm gonna make a call, excuse me." He bows and walks out the room. "Tsukauchi, I need you search the database for blood based quirks, something with paralysation attached."
"Uhhh..." There's a clicking of keys. "There are only 6 blood quirks registered in Japan right now."
"And their uses?"
"Shapeshifting, Vlad Kings, vampire, paralysis, trusfusions, ironblood which is like weapons of blood."
"Who's under Paralysis?"
"Chizome Akaguro."
"Could I get you to send some officers to his place? Pretty sure that's the hero killer." He hums slightly. "And a file on his background, please."
"K, I'll send you an email." Tsukauchi hums. "How did you figure that out?"
"Quirk. Ingenium said he fell when he got cut, but if that's all it takes, why not bruised? What about when he got scratched? Those weren't bleeding, so that's probably. I'll make a proper folder with all the details once I get them."
"Got it."
"Thanks, Tsukauchi."
"No problem, kid."
--
"Hero Killer Stain finally arrested!" Reads across the screen, and Izuku smiles.
"How did you do it? He's been killing for years."
"Our newest hire figured it out. He's pretty good at this kind of thing, and helped out with a lot big time cases, like the U.A attack."
"Oh? And what's the name of this new hire?"
"He's asked to remain anonomous for the time being."
"He?~"
"Yes, he. I doubt you'll find him with one pronoun though."
"Don't underestimate the power of journalism!"
Tsukauchi chuckles and nods. "Anyway, all public information on the case should avaliable by next week."
"Let's all give a hand to this new hire, truly impressive."
--
Izuku was glad he was listening to the police radio when it happened. When Hosu went up in flames. "Requesting backup in Hosu."
"Perimiter setup requested, 10 blocks around main attack."
"Officer #1893, show me going."
"Officer #1893, I have you going."
"Officer #2693, show me going."
"Officer #2693, I have you going."
"Requesting Officer #7820 for assessment."
Izuku grabs his radio and stands. "Officer #7820 here, making my way there. Details?" He runs to Nezu. "I need to get to Hosu, now."
The stoat grabs his keys and nods, following Izuku outside.
"4 of the Nomu, multiple injuries, public is panicking."
"Are the Nomu targetting anyone?"
"Not that we can tell."
"Look for high places, the league might be nearby. If you see them, do not engage."
"Roger."
He bounces in the car, taking out his phone and checking news sites. As soon as they're there, Izuku leaps out the car, running to the closest checkpoint. "All officers with a speed quirk focus on perimiter, any others focus on evacuation. Make sure the heroes can do their jobs without hurting anyone. All the internship kids, get them out too."
"Roger."
He looks, eyes to the sky, scanning. Scanning. Scanning.
Found. "I have eyes on Shigaraki. On top of the water hold, requesting backup." And he's running, weaving through crowds and down alleyways. He climbs up the ladder. "Shigaraki, Kurogiri."
"What's an npc doing here?"
"Well, that's rude. Not really a step up from extra though." Izuku chuckles and jumps out the way of a hand. "Decay, right? Five point activation, don't wanna touch that." He steps again. "I request you stand down, as a S-Ranked villain, I have the authority to kill you."
"Like a kid could kill me."
Izuku draws a gun. "Is that a challenge?" He holds it up to the decayer. "Then again, your warp could make it hit me." He sighs. "But I have backup."
There's a thud as someone lands beside him. "EraserHead."
"Problem child."
"Keep your focus on the warp, I got decay." Izuku keeps the gun pointed, glaring.
EraserHead nods, Izuku smirks. "Do you want to give in now? Your warp is out of commission, and I have more backup. I'd rather not shoot."
"It's not game over." The villain smirks.
Izuku turns and points the gun at a Nomu, flying straight for them. "Sorry, Tsubasa." He shoots.
The Nomu falls, dead.
Shigaraki stares.
"Hands up." Izuku points back at them.
--
Izuku sighs quietly as he shuffles the two villains to a police car, rubbing his head. "Officer #7820 here, captured B-rank and S-rank, prepare a room and get Tsukauchi."
"Roger."
He climbs in the car, beside EraserHead, and they're driving off.
And Izuku didn't notice the helicopter watching the whole battle, and recording his badge number. He's in trouble.
--
Izuku walks in, looking at the decayer. "Name?"
"Fuck off."
He sighs and nods slightly. "About what I expected. I already know it anyway, Shimura Tenko."
the villain goes silent.
"I started thinking, why would the immortal villain need a successor? He doesnt! Unless, it was to get back at the man who hurt him, right?" He shakes his head slightly. "And when I heard who went missing over a decade ago, you can imagine my surprise! You just wiped off the face of the Earth, then show up as Shigaraki at a highly secure facility, yelling about killing All Might. And about your sensei." Izuku grabs some paper from a file he was carrying. "I got it outta of a Nomu, actually. About how All For One is alive, how you're the successor. But one thing doesn't add up."
Izuku leans forward, resting his head in his hands. "How does Float turn into Decay? That's just not possible. So I looked into it." He brings out a printer piece of paper. "Over 40 years ago, someone with a decay quirk died. Everyone thought it was a hate crime or an accident. But now you're here with his quirk. So, tell me, Tenko. Is that quirk really yours?"
The room is silent, to Izuku it's an answer. To Shigaraki, it's a death sentance.
"I want my lawyer."
"As a S-rank, I can send you to jail right now, Tenko. We could be doing this interoggation through thick glass with guns pointed at every inch of you."
"..." The man stares at the table. His whole world is crumbling.
"I want all the information you have about the league, All For One, the nomu, everything."
"I'll die before I betray sensei."
Izuku nods. "That's your choice." He stands. "Get the van to take him to Tarturus."
--
"Here we have exlusive footage of a 15 year old and a hero arresting an S-ranked and B-ranked villain. He looks to be about 15, still in high school, we do not know his name yet."
Stain stares at the screen, chuckling quietly. "This boy...he is a true hero."
--
Izuku glares at the screen, arms crossed. "What are we going to do about this?"
"Well, they're asking for an interveiw from you." Tsukauchi sighs. "I don't know how much longer we can fend them off. And a few journalists have already been looking for connections to you, to get your name."
Izuku leans his head back, groaning quietly. "I really don't want to."
"I know, but you might have to." Tsukauchi sighs as a ping comes from his computer. "Another email requesting."
"...I know." Izuku sighs and stands, stretching. "Tell the people who got the video I'll interveiw while I get coffee. Want some?"
"You already know the answer."
"I do."
--
"And here we have the officer, the person who arrested Stain and the League of Villains!! Midoriya Izuku!" Izuku walks on, waving at the camera, before sitting down. "So, Midoriya, how did you do it?"
"By looking at the facts."
"...and?"
"That's it." He shrugs. "You have to line up the facts, do your research, and find the best tools for the job."
"Tools?"
"I'm quirkless, so quirks are just tools for me. They're like guns, useful sometimes, but not for everything. Stain's quirk was easy to get around once you knew what it was."
"You're quirkless?"
Izuku nods and smiles. "Maybe that's why I'm so good at my job. Being underestimated is really good. And I've been dodging quirks and finding excuses for people for years."
"What's your take on quirkless rates then?"
"They're skewed. And the last one was done over a decade ago, with little to no budget." He shakes his head slightly, sighing.
"Hm."
Izuku jumps as his phone rings. "Ah shoot. I'm so sorry, I need to go. Have a nice day."
"o-okay. Goodbye, Midoriya!"
--
Izuku picks up the phone once he's alone. "Midoriya."
"Yeah?"
"We found something."
"That is?"
"Kurogiri is a Nomu, highly intelligent, we need you here to help with the interrogation."
"Hm..Who's in him?" Izuku walks outside, pulling his hood over his hair.
"Shirakumo Oboro, Nento Eikyuu, and Kura U."
"Quirks?"
"Mist, object permanence, and shadow teleportation."
"Hm.." He hums in thought, wandering down, walking to the station. "I'm almost there, I'll get the rest of the details soon."
"Okay. Bye."
"bye." Izuku hangs up, shoving the phone in his pocket. This is quite the conundrum.
--
"Hi, Kurogiri, I'll be conducting this interogation." Izuku sits in the metal chair. "Do you have any memories from before All For One and the league?"
"No."
"Would you want them back?"
Kurogiri blinks in shock. "I'm sorry?"
"Do you want your memories back? Say I could find a way to reverse that brain washing and supression, would you take it?"
"...I would."
Izuku nods and writes something down. "Do you know where All For One is?"
"Yes."
"But you can't tell me, right?"
"Correct."
"Figures. ...what about indirectly? Say I just happened to be in the room when you're talking to Shigaraki about where he is, would that work?"
"I believe so."
"Great!" Izuku grins and stands. "Let's go then!"
--
"Master." Kurogiri bows to the locked up man-child. "I have to inform you, All For One is still at the bar in Musutafu, and the Nomu are still at the warehouse a block away."
"Got that, guys?" Izuku looks out to the other officers. "Get all the heroes you can, we're launching a surprise attack!"
Kurogiri, for the first time in several years, smiles.
--
All For One glares as he's forced out his safe bed to fight heroes and cops. First he looses his successor, then his Nomu, and now they're trying to kill him.
"You can't kill me, I am th-"
A gunshot rings out.
All For One's head is smoking, a clear hole going right through his brain. He falls to the floor.
Izuku brushes off his hands. "Welp, that's done. Let's get the body. If it's not dead, locked up in Tarturus!" He smiles innocently at the horrified heroes and police officers.
They're silent as they get All For One, then the doctor.
Izuku nods to himself. "You..." All Might stares at him. "You killed him...in one shot...I couldn't with my quirk!"
"One, always aim for the head if you want to kill. Two, always shoot during a villain speech. That's common sense 101."
"...You're terrifying."
"Thank you!" He giggles and skips off.
--
The world is finally safe.
Well, safe from Villains, not from Izuku