The Kyoshi Hero

a flower that would never bloom in a dream that couldn't ever come true

'Today has been such a shit day,' Izuku Midoriya thought miserably as he trudged aimlessly through the streets of Musutafu Japan. 

He had always been told by schoolmates and even teachers that he was useless and his dream of being a hero was moronic and impossible. Despite this, he held onto his dream tightly like a child to a well-loved blanket in the dark, stubborn and unwilling to let go in spite of those around him stomping on his pure-hearted intentions.

Today was the day it had finally all come crashing down, the spiteful hope that gave him courage and purpose near extinguished. The impulsive yet heartless words of his childhood best friend turned biggest tormentor, Katsuki Bakugou, ringing painfully fresh in his ears. 

~

"If you want to be a hero that badly, there is a quick way to do it. Believe you'll be born with a quirk in your next life and take a swan dive off the roof."

Katsuki had said this with the sole intention to hurt Izuku and deter him from attempting to get into U.A., but even as he said it, Katsuki had to suppress a wince. He had seen Deku viscerally flinch as though reeling from a harsh slap to the face. 

Had he gone too far? No, he couldn't have. That was nearly impossible when it came to Deku. He knew that Izuku would never actually do it. He never took people's words to heart, especially Katsuki's. His endless determination holding him steadfast to his dreams of achieving what many call foolish and idealistic. 

If it were any other day; had the following events not occurred, Katsuki would have been correct.

~

Izuku walked home on autopilot, preoccupied with mentally scolding Katsuki for his behavior. He took a well-frequented shortcut to his house, unaware of the giant shapeless blob steadily rolling toward him, muttering gleefully.

"Well, aren't you just the perfect little flesh disguise no one would suspect a thing if I was walking around looking like a scrawny pipsqueak." The villain spoke in an irritatingly pitched nasal rasp, alerting Izuku to its presence, "this won't hurt a bit just relax..."

Before Izuku could comprehend what was happening he was seized, unable to fend off his surprise assailant. The more he struggled the faster he could feel his consciousness fading. Tears of desperation pricked at his eyes as he thrashed uselessly in the steadily constricting vice; it was waiting for the perfect moment to steal the middle school boy's body for his own.

 Izuku felt the freezing, toxic, green sludge try to pry his mouth open. He felt so violated as the slime prodded and pulsated incessantly, progressively weakening its struggling victim's fruitless attempts at freedom. It was threatening to invade his lungs and consume his whole being. 

 Black spots danced tauntingly across his vision; his body finally fell limp. So much for being a hero. I'm sorry mum I love you. He truly was pathetic... 

~

~

~

Izuku was confused. He was pretty sure he was supposed to be dead an hour ago, yet here he was, on an apartment block roof. A deformed, skeletal version of his beloved hero stood before him, having lost control of his buff form in a puff of smoke. Less than an hour ago he was being slapped awake by the familiar burly figure. He had fanboyed over the hero that was plastered all over his bedroom walls, and latched onto him, literally, because his idol's opinion was all that truly mattered. If the symbol of peace said he could be a hero then he would be a hero, screw anyone who thought otherwise.

But now he was here; the unforgiving emotional rollercoaster he'd been on all day was becoming faster and increasingly disorienting. 

In what was intended to be a cautionary tale, All Might spoke of a powerful villain, one capable of destroying half his organs and rendering him a glorified talking corpse that sputtered blood every few sentences.