The Difference Between Strength & Power ( MHA x Maki Zenin Reader)

Intensive training starts now!

"Attention! Homeroom class is about to begin, everyone stop talking and take your seats!" Ida said.  It was now two days after the USJ incident, school had been cancelled the day before so the school and students had a chance to recover the attack.  When she got back to the youth centre she was saying at, everyone bombarded her with questions about what had happened. She answered where she could and then went back to her room, blasted on some of her favourite tracks and spent the rest of the day sparring with one of the boys that she's been training kenjutsu.  Now they were back at UA preparing for homeroom to begin when Ida gave out his instruction.
"Err, we're all sitting" Kaminari said pointing out the obvious
"Yeah, you're the only one standing" Sero also pointed out
"Damn it!" Ida gritted out in frustration as he took his seat, Uraraka told him to chill out.  The other girl started to wonder who was taking homeroom since their teacher was injured.  Their questions were answered when the door opened revealing Aizawa bandaged from head to toe.
"Good morning class" he greater in a scratchy voice
"MR AIZAWA, YOU'RE BACK ALREADY?!" The class yelled in surprise.
'I guess nothing stops him getting to school' Maki thought as Aizawa dragged his feet to the teacher's podium at the front of the classroom.  Her attention soon spiked when she heard Aizawa's announcement:

"The UA sports festival is coming up"

This was the moment Maki had been waiting for the moment she decided to become a hero, it was the modern equivalent of the Olympic Games, where the UA student battled it out in several different tournaments.  This meant she had a chance to prove that she was strong to he classmates and the other people watching.  But competing against her classmates and fellow first years wasn't the only thing.  It was broadcasted across the country, which other pro heroes would be scouting for any students to possibly take under their wing and if they were extremely impressed with them, they could be recommended for the provisional license exam which allowed them to do heroic activities.  If Maki could get more well known in this event, it would be harder for her clan to get in the way of her promotion.  The stakes couldn't have been higher for her.

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After 4th period, everyone was either nervous or excited for the sports festival. The thing that shocked everyone however was that Uraraka was the one hyping everyone up and she was emitting a scarily serious aura.  While the rest of the class left for lunch, Maki decided to stay behind to eavesdrop upon Midoirya and Ida's conversation with Uraraka.  The asked her why she wanted to be a hero, she nervously responded that she was trying to be a hero for the money.  She explained that her family were poor and she wanted become a hero support them and give them a better life.
'That sounds like her, the stakes are pretty high for her too' Maki thought.  She now decided that she wanted to make her presence known and slammed the door open which made her three unsuspecting classmates jump out of their skin at the suddenness of her action.
"MAKI!!!"
"Hey guys" she greeted before asking "I have a question, what do think of me?"
'Huh, why so sudden?!' They thought, their faces becoming fearful
"Umm, well I think you amazing inspirational person- " Uraraka started before Maki interrupted her
"I meant as a hero"
"Oh" they all exhaled in relief
"Well you're really strong and you're brilliant with your weapons, in fact even the way you walk is intimidating" Midoriya replied this time.

"Well, my family say I'm a failure" Maki revealed
"Huh, really?!" Ida exclaimed in surprise
"On that note, Maki" Uraraka jumped in "is it true that you don't have a quirk?"  Maki figured she must have remembered their conversation on the bus before USJ.
"It's true, that's why I use quirk tools, weapons that are imbued with a quirk by someone else.  It doesn't come from me" she explained further.
"Is that the reason you're family see you as a failure?" Midoriya asked sympathetically
"Yes, I'm from a prominent family called the Zenin clan and there power through strong quirks is everything.  Luckily I was able to leave that clan, the food was terrible, the rooms were cramped, there were loads of weird old men and whole experience totally sucked!" She rambled in frustration to them.
"So..." Midoriya asked "why did you decide to become a pro hero?"
"Because I'm spiteful" Maki replied grinning with pride "and one day I'm gonna make my family cry when I return as a top tier pro hero and then I'll crush the Zenin clan from within!  As a hero who doesn't have a quirk!"

Looks of admiration and respect spread across their faces at this, they couldn't understand her experiences due to being born with quirks (except for Midoriya) and not growing up with such an elitist family.
"However, ever since I left they've vowed to make things hard for me and they've been getting in the way of my promotion ever since, in fact, I'm pretty sure they'll try to make sure I don't attend the Sports Festival" she negatively remarked.
"But why can't they accept you for being strong in combat?" Uraraka asked.  Maki gave her the hard truth of the matter.
"The Zenin clan won't accept something they've already rejected - because they're idiots"
Ida, who had been silent for the majority of their conversation now put a finger to his chin and said:
"I see, so if you do well in the sports festival it's going to be harder for other pro heroes to ignore you and you'll have a better chance of getting your license"
"That right" Maki said " so that's why I have to win this, so if you wanna beat me you're gonna have act like you're gonna die all over again!" She shouted at them, causing them to tremble with fear.  The tension was dissipated by the arrival of All Might asking Midoriya to eat lunch with him, at this Maki left for the lunch hall.

'I really shouldn't think about this moment fondly' she thought to herself, grinning.