My Hero Academia: From The Ground Up

Chapter 22: Planning with My Hero

Izuku felt much better that next morning. Sleep can't solve all your problems, but it does help. He stretched as he quickly prepared for the day, now dressed in his light blue exercise clothing.

As he walked out the front door, he ran into someone blocking his path.

"GOOD MORNING, YOUNG MIDORIYA!"

"AHHHH!"

All Might stood before him, before his apartment door. He sighed and covered Izuku's mouth with his hand. "Kid, calm down! Is every meeting gonna start like this?"

"You're- Wha- But I-" Izuku quickly gathered his thoughts to speak. "H-How did you find where I live?"

Now the hero looked guilty. He awkwardly threw a finger up in the air triumphantly. "I followed you here last night!"

"Kids! Keep it down! Some people would like to sleep in today!" Izuku's neighbor yelled through his wall.

"S-Sorry!" Izuku called back.

"Perhaps we should get going then. I just felt that the beach isn't the safest place anymore." All Might explained.

"I'm a little worried about Mariko." The green-haired boy admitted.

"I am too. But I fear she may be connected to those villains who attacked us." All Might said. "Oh that reminds me!"

He picked up Izuku by his arms, pressing them against his sides. "DO YOU FEEL ANY DIFFERENT?! ANY SUDDEN BURSTS OF ENERGY OR POWER FLOW?!"

"KIDS!"
~~~~~~~

"As I was saying, do you feel any different since yesterday?" The hero asked.

They had put their conversation, which was supposed to be extremely private, on hold until they walked a considerable distance from the apartment complex.

In spite of every passing minute with his hero, and all they've experienced together, Izuku still couldn't control his excitement at times.

"N-Not really. I just felt really tired so I went to bed early and woke up like normal." He shrugged.

"Interesting." All Might sighed, rubbing his chin. "Do you mind if I shrink down?"

Yes. "N-No that's fine..." Izuku sighed in disappointment.

Upon his reluctant authorization, the hero sizzled down until he was very skinny and messy, his workout clothes seemed to shrink with him like they were expandable. Good investment. "One For All affects its users differently." He spoke in a more monotone and chill voice. "For me it took time and practice with the power but I got the hang of it fairly quick."

"W-Were there any side-effects to it?" Izuku asked nervously.

"At first, yeah. Which is why we need to get you in shape for it. The beach would have been a perfect place for it. Moving all that junk off and training with our powers together. But I'm worried that Mariko may have ratted us out. And I fear that's not the last we've seen of those villains either." All Might said.

Izuku noticed that at least in this form, he could make out All Might's signature blue eyes. In his prime as a hero, his eyes were part of his smiling face but years and years stressing over his title as the Symbol of Peace, not to mention the secrets he had to keep. They all must have weighed him down a lot and sunk his eyes in. But in his hero form, his smile was much more appealing.

"Sh-Should we go look for Mariko?" Izuku asked.

All Might sighed. "Give her a call."

Izuku pulled out his phone and dialed his friend up. A moment passed listening to the phone ring for her.

"Hey Izu! I'm so sorry I couldn't make it the other day! I-I feel just terrible!" Her voice called out in his phone.

"Th-That's okay!" Izuku stammered.

"I have an idea." The skinny man said. "Tell her to meet us at the beach again tomorrow."

Izuku turned to question him but turned back to his phone in thought. "All Might wants us to meet him again at the beach. Do you need me to send you the address?"

"Oh no I know that beach! I'll be there! Morning okay?" She asked.

All Might nodded.

"Y-Yes! We can start training with him again." Izuku smiled.

"Perfect! Oh man I'm so excited! The first two Quirkless students at UA! I can see it now!" She cheered.

Izuku's smile died down. "Right... Y-Yes!"

"I'll see you then, Izu-kun!" She hummed. "G'bye!"

"Bye..."

All Might narrowed his brow. "Expect a fight tomorrow morning."

"Y-You really think she's with those villains?" He asked.

"Young Midoriya, how else would they have known we would be there of all places at that time? Think about it." He said.

Izuku usually was one to think these things through. Typical villain strategies. He's studied many underground villain groups using civilians to gain precious information through a number of means. Perhaps he was simply in denial that his only Quirkless friend, and his crush, was working for them. Or perhaps, he hoped and yet feared, that she was being forced to do this.

"If she is with them... Maybe she's being forced to do this. M-Maybe she's their prisoner." The green-haired boy said.

"There's only one way to find out for us. And one way we can save her." All Might said. "But first I need to give you some form of training before this fight. Especially since you've never used One For All yet and it could bring you some problems."

"I..." Izuku stood in thought. Uraraka and the pier. "I can't today. I'm supposed to meet up with my friend at the pier."

The skinny hero held Izuku's shoulders. "Midoriya. You need to be trained to control this power inside you. Without control, you could easily destroy an entire city block with one punch or shatter every bone in your body. And I can't have you be vulnerable in our fight tomorrow. There could be more than just Naga and Densist."

"I'm sorry. But this is very important. Mariko's life is at stake. And they could find out our secret. Are you with me?"

Izuku lowered his head. He didn't want to miss his time with Uraraka, but he had a responsibility now. His dreams were coming true and he didn't feel ready for them. Yet he needed to be there, no matter the sacrifice.

"Yes, All Might-sensei."
~~~~~~~

Mariko hung up the phone.

"Good, my little pet."

"Good, my little pet." She repeated.

"Now we prepare to crush One For All, once and for all." Schizo chuckled.