All For Some

Chapter 11: Facing the Past

Izuku stepped into the large convention hall with his class and thousands of other students that had come to explore different high schools and study the paths to follow after junior high. Izuku's classmates were chatting excitedly about where they would go, or just about how great it was to get out of school for a day.

"So Midoriya, have you yet decided where you want to go?" Ida asked.

"No," Izuku responded. "I haven't really thought about school or its future in general in a long time. I don't know what I should or even want to do."

The statement was completely true. He was already getting actively involved with his father's criminal businesses and choosing a school hardly seemed to matter compared to that, but even before meeting his father he didn't know. Ever since he was disillusioned by the quirk-based society and his dreams of becoming a hero had waned there had been nothing to take their place.

"Have you," Ida said and paused. "I know you have complicated feelings about heroes, but I think you could be a great one."

Izuku turned to look at the taller boy with narrowed eyes.

"Why?"

"I am not talking about your quirk," Ida responded quickly, waving his arm defensively. "I think your experiences would let you be a better hero. You have talked about the importance of standing up for others and I think you want to do that. I have also seen how you move in gym class. Do you practice gymnastics or martial arts?"

"Sort of, but it's not to become a hero, just self-defence."

"Because you don't want to rely on a hero to come to the rescue?"

"Partially. You are going to see the hero schools, right?" Izuku redirected the discussion.

"I want to go to UA, it is the best high school and especially hero school."

"I guess it was stupid question," Izuku said. "Their other tracks are top level too."

"You should come see their stand too. I believe you would have a chance to get in on any track."

"Knowing how strict you are with everything school-related, that is pretty high praise," Izuku said. "Fine. It may be interesting to see what they have there. I don't really have any better ideas."

They walked through the crowded hall. Izuku settled on walking behind Ida, using the larger teen as a plough to get through the masses of people. He could focus on glancing at the stands displaying different schools. They tended to get larger and fancier as they proceeded through the hall. The best and most prestigious schools were obviously placed further back to pull people in. Izuku paid specific attention to certain private, prestigious and expensive schools like Soumei, ones with no hero courses. He did not know what he wanted from his future, but he still valued quality education whether it was a good school or getting pummelled to the ground by literal monsters in harsh battle training.

At least he wasn't sore all the time since getting the regeneration quirk. Healing wasn't just a matter of visible wounds after all. He could train harder and longer every evening and morning and not feel any effects by the time he left for school. It was amazing to feel perfectly okay every day, except the occasional dizziness and headache from stretching his quirk limit with such a powerful quirk.

Getting to UA's stand didn't require searching, it having UA banners hanging from the ceiling and a big stage with a very loud man on it.

"Present Mic," Izuku muttered, "I haven't seen him live before."

"But you have pages of notes on him and his quirk," Ida commented. It wasn't even a question.

"Quirk analysis part seven pages 13 to 15, should probably redo him at some point. I was eleven when I wrote that," Izuku said, making Ida chuckle.