Wings of Awakening

Part 2

It's been 10 years since his diagnosis, as the years dragged on, the soreness in Izuku's back became an almost constant companion. At first, he thought it was just growing pains or the result of his constant attempts to push his limits, but it lingered longer than he expected. It mostly concentrated around his shoulder blades, as if something inside him was struggling to break free.

Each night, he tossed and turned, plagued by vivid dreams that left him gasping for breath. In those dreams, he soared through the sky, wings unfurling behind him, but he always woke up before he could truly fly, leaving him exhausted and frustrated. The thrill of freedom quickly faded into the stark reality of his empty bedroom.

School was a mix of excitement and dread. With high school applications looming, he often found himself daydreaming about U.A. and the possibility of finally being recognized as a hero. But as he sat in class, the whispers from his classmates about their own quirks and aspirations only served to deepen his anxiety. Would he ever be good enough?

One day, an announcement from the teachers echoed through the classroom, capturing everyone's attention. "Since you're all third years, it's time to start thinking seriously about your future," the teacher said, a hint of excitement in his voice. "I'll pass out handouts for your future plans now, but... you're all... pretty much planning to go into the hero course, right?" The class erupted into cheers, with students proudly showing off their quirks.

Izuku felt a surge of hope. U.A. will be my chance, he thought, clenching his fists tightly. He could already picture himself walking through those gates, training to become a true hero. His daydream was abruptly interrupted when the teacher casually mentioned both Katsuki's and his own name as students aiming to apply to U.A. High. The whole class burst into laughter, mocking Izuku for trying to get into U.A. without a quirk. He felt the sting of their words, and he could sense Katsuki's glare burning into him from across the room.

After school, as he was packing up his things, he felt a presence looming over him. Katsuki Bakugo stood there, a smirk plastered on his face. "So, you're really gonna apply to U.A.? Didn't I tell you not to dream about going to UA?" he sneered, reaching out and snatching the folder containing Izuku's analysis of Hero Number 13.

Izuku's heart raced, panic flooding through him as Katsuki flipped through the pages, laughter bubbling up from his throat. "What's this? Your little 'stalker notes'? Like that's gonna change anything," he taunted, throwing the papers back at Izuku, who felt a wave of humiliation wash over him.

"Kacchan, please, I just want to be a hero..." Izuku tried to explain, but the words caught in his throat.

Katsuki's expression hardened, the mocking light in his eyes turning cold. "You think you can just waltz into U.A. like you belong there? You're nothing without a quirk! Oh, I Know a way you can get a quirk, why don't you take a swan dive off the roof and hope to be born with a quirk in your next life"

Izuku's heart sank as the words pierced through him, leaving him breathless. He felt cornered, trapped in a reality where his dreams seemed impossibly far away. The laughter of their classmates echoed in his mind as he tried to gather his thoughts, but Katsuki's scornful gaze pinned him down.

Stumbling out of the school building, he tried to shake off the confrontation, but the air was thick with anxiety. As he walked home, the soreness in his back felt worse than ever, a dull ache that spread down his spine. Each step was a reminder of his inadequacy, a haunting echo of his dreams slipping further out of reach.

Lost in thought, Izuku passed by a dimly lit alleyway when suddenly, the ground trembled beneath him. A figure emerged from the sewer, its gooey form lunging toward him with menacing speed. The sludge villain aimed straight for him, its tendrils reaching out like grasping hands.

Izuku barely had time to react as the sludge enveloped him, the cold, slimy sensation wrapping around his body. Panic surged through him as he felt the villain trying to take over his mind, the weight of despair crashing down like a tidal wave.

"Sorry, kid, I will just borrow your body for a while. I did not know he was in town," the villain taunted, its voice dripping with malice.

Izuku struggled to breathe, clawing at the sludge entering his mouth, but it was futile. Darkness crept into his vision as his body fought against the suffocating grip. The last thing he remembered before everything went black was the feeling of his lungs burning, desperately trying to take in air.

Just as he was slipping into unconsciousness, the sewer lid burst open with a tremendous crash. A massive figure emerged with incredible speed, striking the sludge and knocking it off him.

The last thing Izuku felt was the cool air rushing against his skin before everything faded into darkness.