Chapter Text
Izuku huffs as he swings the sword, electricity arcing across the battlefield. The villain did not want to give up, as they called for reinforcements and their army descended from the skies.
“Seriously? Another wave?!” Izuku pouted as he ran, jumping in front of one of the minions' backs and a sonic blast emerged from his feet.
Feeling the power coursing, his mana replenishing, he grunted and drew his sword once more. “I don’t have time to fight the mob..” He whines as he dashed to the villains, giving it his all.
“FINALLLLLL MOVE! ARCANES CALL, HEAVENLY THUNDER!”
The skies darkened, as a storm emerged. Swirling all around the enemies and striking them with thunder. Each one going down one by one. This was his trump card after all, of course he would use it! Desperate times call for some desperate measures.
Izuku lets a few more seconds pass as his cooldown reaches zero, activating another attack. “Lania’s Bolt.” He called out, as a swirl of purple electricity danced around the villain, the leader of it all falling limp.
A bright ‘Victory!’ screen emerged, his player character grinning and his stats being shown on how much attack he had dealt. Finally, about time! The boss was too much of a tedious battle..
Izuku felt a pang of longing and envy as he saw the story progress about how he was praised for saving the world, and was given the title of a hero. He pressed his lips together thinly before speeding his way through the epilogue, enjoying the writing and art before reaching the credits scene.
Everliscen Journey was a game commended for having a complex battle system, along with its many different but fun mechanics to use when defeating enemies. It was one of the hardest and most difficult games that had been created, competing with Celeste and Dark Souls with a development of 5 years in the making. The average time to complete the game was 8 hours.
And Izuku, a 12 year old Izuku, had beaten it within 2 hours.
Jesus christ, he should be a speedrunner, should he? (But then he’d get some drama if he was ever discovered as quirkless, reports saying that the drop rates should have been 1 in a 7 million..)
“Izukuuuu! I’m back home sweetie!” A familiar voice shouted from below. To which Izuku immediately bounced up from his beanbag, and ran down the stairs in excitement.
“Mom! You’re back!” Izuku ran towards her and hugged his mother, gaining an affectionate head pat in return. “I’ll always come back, Izuku.” His mother smiled before he smelled something else coming from Inko’s bags.
“What did you bring?” Izuku asked, taking her luggage and bringing it into the living room. Inko softly looked at him, giggling. “Why don’t you guess?”
Izuku sits on the couch, trying to focus on the smell. His eyes widened when he figured out what it was. “Is that your Katsudon?!” Izuku’s eyes gleamed as he bounced happily on the couch, the thought of getting to eat his mom’s food again.
Inko gave out a light chuckle, patting Izuku’s hair. “You guessed it right! It’s been quite a while since we’ve eaten together, I wouldn’t mind making my son’s favorite dish so it’s a more pleasant dinner.” She smiles softly, to which Izuku stood up and hugged her again.
“Now, why don’t you set up the table so we could eat together? I’m just going to take a quick shower.” Inko suggested, as the boy quickly agreed and carefully brought the Katsudon in the plastic bag to their kitchen table.
He quickly picked up two plates and utensils. The kitchen was fairly modern looking, a nice dishwasher in the back, marble counters and a sleek and small chandelier served as their light source. With Inko being a doctor, and one high ranking enough to establish her own program, she was bound to bring in some wealth to the family.
It was quite difficult at first when she got newly promoted, with the news of her son being quirkless getting out. There were calls to demote her position and let a new person step up, setting a petition for a quirkist doctor to handle the program. Inko stubbornly refused and showed them that she was more than qualified to lead the program.
Izuku happily hums to that thought, a bit guilty he had to make his mother go through that. Why couldn’t he just have a quirk? It would’ve made things much easier for him and everybody around him..
Finishing setting up the table, with nothing better to do, he opens his phone. To find a new message in his discord dm’s.
tmki Today at 7:09 PM
..is it alright to play animal crossing with me again?
tmki Today at 7:09 PM
only if you want too! it’s okay if you don’t want to
tmki Today at 7:10 PM
im sorry again for asking
Izuku laughed a bit, Tama was usually a shy person. And an anxious one at that, Izuku could deeply relate. He quickly typed out his response.
greenclovers Today at 7:16 PM
Of course! I don’t mind it as well!! I still need to get some bells to pay off my debt
greenclovers Today at 7:16 PM
And Tama-senpai, please don’t be hesitant to talk to me!!
greenclovers Today at 7:17 PM
I cherish my friendship with you since I don’t… Have many friends, so I hope you won’t feel uncomfortable talking to me! (Tell me when you do though, I’ll hold back my rambling!)
tmki Today at 7:18 PM
it’s okay, i also like talking with you so i feel comfortable talking with you
tmki Today at 7:18 PM
and i don’t mind your rambles, i find them nice
tmki Today at 7:18 PM
so please don’t stop doing them,, i like them
Izuku smiles widely, breathing in a sigh of relief when he reads his messages. Tama was a friend he found on twitter, oddly enough. He mostly kept to himself and panicked and put all of his thoughts there. Somehow, the older boy had found his account and guided him through a panic attack all in the comment section of twitter.
It was a weird place to meet, honestly. His other friends he met online he had never really connected to any of them. They would ask his help for online games and he’d usually give them tips and tricks. Somehow becoming a well known player in any games, (how the hell did he manage that?) but meeting Tama was a breath of fresh air for him. Just two both very anxious beans awkwardly comforting each other.
It was surreal.
greenclovers Today at 7:18 PM
!! I’m happy you find it nice! I always get a bit nervous when rambling since others would usually find it weird aha
tmki Today at 7:19 PM
,,,you’re literally regarded as one of the best players around and your analysis and strategies for games are hailed around as a meta strat, clover
tmki Today at 7:19 PM
so there are a lot of people who don’t mind it, it’s honestly nice to read through them
greenclovers Today at 7:19 PM
ksldfhfjiskdhfhlskjfosjf I am NOT that good????
tmki Today at 7:19 PM
says the one who beat everliscen within 3 hours
greenclovers Today at 7:19 PM
holy dkfjsafdsf technically it’s two now but IT’S NOT ANYTHING SPECIAL???
tmki Today at 7:20 PM
exhibit a
greenclovers Today at 7:20 PM
Okay fine fineeee you beat a game quickly and now suddenly people are like this aaaaaaaaaaa
greenclovers Today at 7:21 PM
Also, is 9:30 a good time to play? My mom just got home! So I’ll be spending time with her!
tmki Today at 7:21 PM
yeah that works for me. hope you enjoy your time with your mom
“So Izuku, how are you?” A voice called out to him, and he set down his phone. “I’m good! I usually play games with Tama.” Izuku hums, as he waits for his mom to settle down and offer their thanks to the food. Izuku started chowing down the Katsudon and savoured it.
“Tama? Is that your online friend?” Inko asks, as she cuts into the meat and took a bite. “Mmhmm! He’s great! He’s three years older than me, but he’s a really good friend!” Izuku smiles genuinely as he takes another bite of his food. Inko felt a sigh of relief come out of her.
“That’s good, I’m glad you have one. Can I meet them someday? I would like to meet who's making Izu so happy!” Inko chuckles, and Izuku shrugs at that thought. “We both live in Musutafu, so it is possible..” Izuku thinks. The scraping against the plate could be heard as Izuku fetches more rice for him.
“I hope I’ll get to meet him. Anyways, how’s your dojo training going?” Inko asks worriedly, knowing that the place Izuku trains at was not.. At the best of places, so to say. “I-It was really scary at first? A lot of people looked shady but..All of them treated me nicely. Better than school anyways..” Izuku trails off, his mother looking a bit sad at the thought.
“Well I’m glad you feel comfortable enough there. Please tell Mister Hayabusa my thanks.” Inko asks him, Mister Hayabusa was the owner of the dojo. A middle-aged man who had faded blue hair and had eyes that showed stories people ever wondered about what had happened to him.
Izuku liked him. He was nice, a bit quiet and stoic but he did help him get through his bundles of anxiety… He could remember his first day on the dojo.
The trip to the dojo, was more or less very fucking tense. In Izuku’s own humble opinion. He knows when the game music should definitely stop here if life was actually a game. It was not.
Passing through alleyways and dingy streets were setting lots of red flags. Just where on Earth had his mom had signed him up for? Well, technically it was Izuku who wanted this. But his mom was the one who found it! That leaves too many questions for him behind though.
Peeking through a rickety gate, Izuku hesitantly stepped in. “H-Hello? Is anybody.. Here?” He asked nervously, great. His nerves were acting up again. God why can’t he just talk comfortably like how he does with Tama and Mom? He berated himself over that.
Another kid took notice of him, he looked older by.. Two years old, maybe? The boy had scales all covered around his skin and his eyes were those of a snake’s. Was that a forked tongue? It sure did look like one, combined with the sharp canines in his mouth.. Yeah, this was definitely a snake quirk. Weakness is hot weather, and—…
“Hey, are you coming or not?” There was a profound hiss coming from him. Izuku’s thoughts quickly snapped back to reality. “Y-Yeah! I’m sorry!” Izuku quickly bowed, the boy narrowing his eyes. “Follow me.” He merely said. The two began taking a few turns on the small warehouse, and then he seemed to be pressing a brick button. A whole new secret entrance opening right behind them.
“E-Eh..?!” He voiced his surprise. The snake boy chuckled. “Gets them everytime. What’s your name, squirt?” He asked. Izuku fidgeted the straps of his backpack. “M-Midoriya. Midoriya Izuku, please take care of me!” Izuku introduced himself.
The boy did not introduce himself either.
“It was.. A pretty scary first day..” Izuku reminisces, he’d rather not have a repeat of what happened that day, especially the part where he face-planted when he dodged out of an attack. Inko laughs. “Are the other people nice to you? I doubt Hayabusa-san wouldn’t encourage quirkist behavior, but just to be sure.”
“T-They’re all intimidating.. They’re nice to me now! But, I think it’s just their default to everyone new to them..” Izuku grimly laughs, remembering how the others treated him somewhat like an outsider the first few weeks. He’d eventually weasel his way into their comfort zone after a month or so though.
Inko smiled, almost finishing up her meal. “So mom.. How long are you going to stay here?” Izuku asks, taking a swig of water and setting down his utensils. Inko’s smile turned into a thin frown. “I’m afraid I only have a week to stay here this time. There’s been a lot of villain attacks in Hosu.” Inko sighs, and Izuku immediately waved his hands frantically.
“N-No! No! It’s fine! Saving other people should take place first rather than me!” Izuku reassures her, Inko was not amused. “But your happiness is something I want to give you, because you deserve more than I can just give.” Inko sadly smiles.
More than I can just give.
Those words rang to Izuku. And he immediately shut his mouth, he knew his mother had always felt guilty that she wasn’t able to give him a quirk. Not like it was her fault or anything! It was just..
“I’m sorry, Izuku.”
Izuku stopped eating, there were a few bites left of his meal anyways before he finished it. Izuku’s gaze was swept to the sides of the floor as he nodded. “It’s okay, mom. It isn’t your fault.” Izuku gave her a sad smile.
“Alright then, Izuku. I love you,”
“I love you too mom.”
tmki Today at 11:43 PM
thank you
tmki Today at 11:44 PM
for being my friend and..
tmki Today at 11:44 PM
everything
“Squirt! Took you fucking long enough.” Kyerin hissed, crossing his arms. Kyerin had a tall and lean stature, pulsing yellow eyes with black scleras, and a slight tinge of green on his skin.
Kyerin Naruhito.
A first year highschooler that was currently studying in Ketsubutsu, hero class. Izuku squinted his eyes as the older boy gave him a rough noogie to the head, and then patted his hair afterwards. Izuku didn’t know either, he was very touchy feely for some reason. But it’s not like Izuku doesn’t mind.
(It’s been a while since anyone wanted to be in his company anyways, much less give him affectionate touches. Oh well, that didn’t matter much now.)
“S-Sorry! I had to take the long route here s-since the flock are smoking again in the main street that leads to here..” Izuku apologizes, quietly fixing back his hair that was tussled. “Eh? This is that gang’s new spot? Of course it is.” Kyerin huffs. “Whatever, just tell the old man about it. He’ll deal with them.” He waved it off.
“D-Don’t call Hayabusa-sensei that!” Izuku huffs as they both went through the secret passageway, this time in another entrance from the parking lot instead of inside the warehouse. “How many secret passageways are here anyways?! It’s like a game! A hidden guild league!” Izuku didn’t know if he should be frustrated or be in awe at that fact.
“Why were there hidden passageways in the first pla—”
“Kyahhh! There’s that little shrub!” An energetic voice called out, a girl with blonde hair and hazed mocha eyes made her way over to where the two were. “Fuck off, Haruki. You’re going to scare the boy again. He’ll become a dead bush.”
“So mean, Kyerin!”
Izuku honestly didn’t know what to think about the other residents in the dinky little dojo who had too many mysteries shrouded within it for its own good. At first, they were incredibly overwhelming and much so intimidating.. Now..?
“Hey, do you guys want some salt drugs?”
“Shut up, Kyto.”
Both of the other two seniors retorted.
Now, Izuku just felt like he was the very core of the eye of the storm. It’s core was calm and collected, and very much sane and would not start a fight. However, what surrounds the core of the storm is just batshit crazy of lightning and thunder.
There was a reason why he didn’t chuck all his stats at charisma, how the hell was he supposed to socialize?!
At the dojo, there were 6 students including Izuku enrolled. Hayabusa says that he didn’t want it to be big, and it encourages closer bonds. Or whatever he says, Izuku still has his suspicions as some of the activities in here were.. More or less, very sketchy?
A black haired person laughs at the end of the quiet spacious room they were all in that they used frequently for their training. “Lay off on the drugs, sensei will think that we are actually drug pushers. When in reality it’s just some salt.” He rolled his eyes.
Shindo Yo.
A person with a vibrations quirk, Izuku’s mind supplies. He was apparently introduced to this dojo by Kyerin. He was.. A bit weird? Well, he was just fine! It was just some of his quips and compliments that felt a bit fake when he was talking to Izuku specifically. Just what did he do wrong?!
“Okay kids, get up and do your stretches. We’ll be starting soon in 5 minutes. Meila is busy for the day, so they can’t come.”
A voice called out from behind them.
“Sensei!”
The group greeted, as Izuku timidly nodded and shrugged off his backpack, and began doing his stretches. It was calming, Izuku really liked it. He began having shown a bit more muscle after he began coming here.
Shindo made his way over to Izuku, and began stretching with him. “So, how are things at your school?” He asked with a casual tone. Izuku was offput by the sudden question. “I-It’s doing fine! We’re getting more load though ever since there was a new teacher in our history class..” Truth be told, it was only Izuku getting the brunt of the heavy work.
His other classmates usually were tasked with much lighter ones, to the envy of Izuku. But that was fine. Izuku could rise to the challenge, if his teacher wanted to set the mode to hard for him? Well, Izuku was a gamer after all. Izuku’s thoughts snapped back to the situation at hand.
Shindo looked a bit sad at Izuku for a moment. Before it was quickly replaced by a fake mask of friendliness. “Huh? Why would Shindo look sad? It didn’t make sense..” Izuku thought to himself, before Shindo continued the conversation. “Are the other people still pestering you to join our eat outs?” Shindo asked, glaring at Kyto and the others.
“Y-Yeah.. But, I really can’t go out.. Even if I wanted to...” Izuku mumbles, to which Shindo raises his eyes at. “Why not?” Shindo poked in the matters a bit more, with a genuine curiosity covering up the concern he has for him. “I-I just.. Can’t..?” Izuku cringed, the spots they all wanted to hang out was a place where practically everyone knew he was quirkless.
He didn’t want to end his somewhat semblance of a friendship (if you can even call it that) he made here. Sure, he was quiet, stayed out of the way, and wanted to not socialize much due to the fear of being found out as he was quirkless. But despite that, the dojo goers still wanted to include Izuku in their little circle of outcasts.
Not like Izuku knew that though.
Shindo sighed, and gave up questioning him. Figuring out that he won’t budge, “If you say so, then. You’re always free to join us, you know?” Shindo made a last ditch effort, Izuku gave a non-committal hum to that. Shindo frowns, and cotinued to stretch until training began.
“So, so! Shindo, what did Midoriya say?” Haruki asked, fiddling with the strands of her blonde hair. Shindo gave a defeated shrug, to which Kyto, a red haired and a,ber eyed twat was texting on his phone.
“I swear, we keep getting turned down like we’re a highschooler asking out their crush.” Kyto rolls his eyes, as Kyerin sat next to Kyto, seemingly cuddling with him.
“I’m worried.” Shindo narrows his eyes.
“I keep noticing his bruises, it’s really well hidden. And the fact he can’t go outside makes me think his parents are strict with him. And his whole demeanor practically screams he has bad anxiety.” Shindo murmurs, and the other two look at him.
“So, you think his parents are abusive?” Kyerin bluntly asked, to which he was then smacked by Haruki. “Don’t be so tactless!” Haruki yelled at him.
Shindo looked at Izuku, who was figuring out how the other secret entrances open so he could go home. Shindo took a deep breath.
“Midoriya Izuku. There’s a reason why there are so little students in the dojo.”
Shindo thinks to himself, as Izuku beamed when the wall had moved and then he quickly bid his goodbyes to their sensei.
“This is a place where all those outcasts and broken people converge.”
Izuku looks at Shindo, seeing his gaze was fixated on him and flinched a bit, before giving a nervous wave at him to which Shindo returned. Izuku ran up the stairs and went home.
“I wonder what’s your reason for being here, Midoriya?”
The door closed.