Forget Me Not

(1)

Not all men are born equal.

Izuku Yagi had come to terms with that a long time ago. In a world where 80% of the population develop special powers at the age of four called quirks, Izuku was part of the 20% who didn't get any special power.

That 20% were considered to be at the bottom of society for being born useless in comparison to the rest of the society. The 20% are called the quirkless, who are treated worse than villains, and never make it past the age of thirteen.

Either they commit suicide from not being able to handle the burden of being quirkless or end up being killed by other people's quirks. And those who did make it to adulthood only sign themselves up for a lifetime of hatred, rejection, discrimination and regret.

Izuku Yagi never had it easy before being diagnosed as quirkless but a single trip to the doctor's office make his already pitiful life take a turn for the worst.

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It all started on the day he was supposed to get his quirk. He woke up feeling extra happy that morning. I mean, who wouldn't?

Especially when it's finally time to get your own superpower like the rest of your peers.

Four-year-old Izuku Yagi jumped out of his bed, a giddy smile present on his adorable face.

Excitedly, he ran to the living room where his mother and father were talking excitedly about Izuku getting a quirk with his twin sister who clinging to their father's leg.

"Mom! Dad! Guess what? I get my quirk today!" The boy yelled at the top of his lungs and jumped in his father's arms.

His father, Toshinori Yagi, caught him and lifted him high up, smiling as the boy giggled.

"Yes, it is. Now why don't you get ready, come back down for breakfast and we'll all go to the doctor's office to know your quirk, hm?" Izuku nodded happily, ignoring the way his sister stuck her tongue out at him playfully and went to get ready.

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"I have good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first?" A pool of dread settled in the family's hearts. "T-the bad news please." Inko forced out and the doctor heaved out a sigh of disappointment.

"Your son, Izuku, is quirkless." The All Might toy the boy was holding fell to the ground with a clatter as the doctor went on to explain how and why he was quirkless.

"On the bright side, your daughter, Izumi has a more powerful version of your quirk Mrs Yagi. Her quirk, if trained properly could even lift a building!" The frowns on their faces immediately faded as they (Inko and Toshinori) showered Izumi with praises.

The doctor smiled sadly at Izuku who was blankly staring off into the distance. "Oh, uh, thank you, doctor. We'll be going now. C'mon Izuku, Izumi."

Still silent, Izuku nodded and followed behind them, leaving behind his action figure on the floor.

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The moment the small family reached their two-story home, they immediately continued showering their daughter with words of praise.

Izuku, finally snapping out of his daze, stared in confusion at his family. He walked up to his mother and grabbed the hem of her skirt, tugging it gently to gain her attention.

Inko turned to him and her happy, cheery expression slowly shifted into a sad one filled with pity and regret.

Izuku didn't like that.

"Mom, do you still think I can be a hero? Like All Might?" he asked, tears brimming in his emerald eyes.

The whole family went silent, staring at him with a mix of annoyance, sadness and pity.

He didn't like it one bit.

"I'm sorry, Izuku. Quirkless people can't be heroes." Toshinori started. Izuku frowned, clenching his fists so right that his nails were digging into his palms and leaving little crescent marks.

"But if I train like other heroes then I can be the first quirkless hero, ri-"

"I think you should give up on your dream to be a hero Izuku. Without a quirk, it just isn't possible." Inko tried to reason with him but he just shook his head stubbornly. "Like I said, I can be the first quirkless hero-"

"Are you deaf, Izuku?!" The boy flinched at his father's booming voice. "You're quirkless, if you ever tried to step into the battlefield against villains with quirks, what the hell would you be able to do? All you'll do is hold everyone back; become a liability!"

Izumi watched on as tears streamed down Izuku's face, confused as to why they were yelling at him and worried that Izuku would be heartbroken by their harsh words.

"Izuku, what your dad is trying to say is that we don't want you putting your life on the line for others when you have nothing to protect yourself with. You're smart Izuku so maybe you can be a doctor or a police officer, that way you can still help people."

Izuku stayed silent, his parents' words engraving themselves in his innocent little heart.

He said nothing as he turned around, ignoring his parents telling him to come back and walked to his room, mumbling a small good night to them.

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It first started with them occasionally ignoring him. Whether it was intentional or not, he never knew.

Then they forgot to pick him up from school, even though he and Izumi attend the same school.

Then Kacchan stopped hanging out with him, always missing their playdates and saying he forgot and would make it up to him but never show.

Then his family started to act like he never existed. Like there was no trace of an Izuku Yagi in their family.

At least, he thought it was an act, till the day they went on vacation and left him behind. Izuku waited the whole time, feeding on whatever food he could find in the fridge and whatever the kind old lady next door would give him.

When they got back, the old lady scolded them for leaving a child behind. "We don't have a son, do we Toshi?" Izuku's heart completely broke at his mother's words.

"I would remember if we had another child, Inko. Maybe she just saw a street rat hanging around our home and assumed he was related to us." Toshinori shrugged as they walked into the living room.

Izumi made eye contact with Izuku who was at the top of the stairs but stayed quiet and quickly looked away, breaking Izuku's heart even more.

It was then that the realization finally dawned on him; his family had forgotten him.

Was that the same reason why Kacchan rarely hung out with him?

Was that why Izumi refused to acknowledge his existence in school and at home?

Dejectedly, Izuku walked upstairs to his room, hoping to get answers from Kacchan tomorrow.