Rising Tides (Izuku Midoriya x F!Reader)

Chapter 001

CHAPTER 01: Uncharted Water

You stood at the entrance of U.A. High School, heart racing as you gazed up at the massive gates. Today was the entrance exam-the first step toward becoming a hero. Around you, students bustled with nervous energy, adjusting their gear, checking their watches, and whispering to each other.

The crowd around you was a sea of strangers, all eager to prove themselves. You tugged at the sleeve of your shirt, feeling the smooth fabric of your blue hoodie beneath your fingers. You hadn't opted for any flashy gear-just the essentials. Your nerves were enough of a distraction; the last thing you needed was an uncomfortable costume to make things worse.

Your quirk, water manipulation, should've been your strength today. But instead, it felt like a weight hanging over you. You had always struggled with control-small streams, gentle ripples, sure-but anything more than that, and the water became unpredictable, slipping through your grasp like sand. Your mother's words from earlier echoed in your mind: "Remember, Y/N, control is key."

You swallowed hard, glancing around at the other students. They all looked so confident, their quirks ready and polished. Especially that green-haired boy, standing not too far from you. You recognized him from the registration process-Izuku Midoriya, his name was. His intense focus on the gates made you feel like he had already won this exam in his head.

You wished you had that kind of confidence.

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The proctor's voice boomed through the loudspeakers, announcing the rules. "This is a battle exercise! You'll be facing mock enemies-robot villains! Points will be awarded for every robot defeated. Get ready!"

You took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of nerves swirling inside you. This was it.

"Go!"

The gates swung open, and the mass of students surged forward. Your legs moved on instinct as you followed, running alongside the others as you entered the exam arena-a simulated city. The ground rumbled beneath your feet as the first wave of robot enemies rolled into view.

Stay calm. You reminded yourself, trying to push the panic aside. There was a massive three-pointer bot just ahead, its metal body looming over the debris-strewn street. Some students around you attacked instantly, unleashing their quirks with practiced ease. You hesitated for a split second, but then your hand shot out, instinctively pulling water from the nearby fire hydrants. The streams twisted and wrapped around the robot's legs, attempting to freeze it in place. But the water wavered, slipping through your control at the last second.

The robot broke free.

Frustration bubbled inside you, and you had to dodge to the side as the robot barreled forward. You clenched your fists, feeling the water still swirling around your fingers, but it refused to obey the way you wanted it to.

A girl with long black hair and a confident grin dashed past you, launching into the air with a burst of speed, taking down another bot with a single punch. You watched her for a moment, jealousy burning in your chest. How was everyone so strong already?

Focus, Y/N.

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You pressed on, moving deeper into the mock city. The streets were littered with metal scraps and pieces of destroyed robots, but you had barely managed to score any points. Your quirk, while powerful in potential, just wouldn't cooperate under pressure. Water streamed from hydrants and puddles at your feet, but every time you tried to gather enough force to immobilize the robots, it slipped away.

Suddenly, you heard a loud crash behind you. Spinning around, your eyes widened as one of the larger three-pointer bots came crashing toward a student who had fallen on the ground, debris trapping her leg. Panic surged through you as you watched the bot approach her, its claws ready to strike. Without thinking, you thrust your hands forward, pulling every drop of water from the nearby surroundings. You felt the pressure build in your veins, the water responding to your emotions.

This time, it worked.

The water surged forward, crashing into the robot with a force that surprised even you. The impact was enough to knock the robot off balance, sending it toppling backward in a heap of broken metal.

The girl on the ground looked up at you, wide-eyed. "T-Thank you! I thought I was done for..."

You smiled weakly, feeling the adrenaline wear off. "No problem. Be careful."

But as you stepped back, your legs felt shaky. That attack had drained you more than you thought, and now, the remaining water hovered uselessly around you, out of reach.

Before you could catch your breath, the ground shook violently. A shadow loomed over the buildings, casting a massive silhouette against the sky. Your heart sank as you looked up at the source of the tremor-a towering, hulking zero-pointer.

Around you, students screamed, scattering in all directions as the gigantic robot made its way toward the center of the city, crushing everything in its path. You stood frozen for a moment, your breath caught in your throat. There was no way you could stop that thing. No one could.

---

Suddenly, a blur of green shot past you, and you saw Izuku Midoriya sprinting toward the robot. For a second, you thought he was insane. What was he going to do against something that big?

Then, you saw it-the girl from earlier, Uraraka, trapped under rubble, just like the one you had saved. Midoriya didn't hesitate. He ran straight for her.

You watched in stunned silence as he launched himself into the air with incredible force, his fist glowing with energy as he prepared to strike. The impact was deafening, the sheer power of his punch obliterating the zero-pointer's head in a single blow. But as quickly as the victory came, his body went limp, falling from the sky like a ragdoll.

Your instincts kicked in. You may not have the strength to stop a zero-pointer, but you weren't going to stand by and watch someone fall to their death. Gathering the last remnants of your quirk's energy, you summoned a thin stream of water, using it to cushion Izuku's fall just enough to keep him from hitting the ground at full force. It wasn't perfect, but it slowed him down.

He hit the ground with a thud, but he was alive.

---

The exam ended soon after. You found yourself sitting in the waiting room, feeling drained both physically and mentally. You hadn't scored nearly as many points as you'd hoped, and your quirk had barely cooperated. But at least you'd saved someone. At least you'd tried.

Across the room, you spotted Midoriya again, his arm bandaged and his face exhausted, but his eyes sparkled with a quiet determination. He caught your gaze and offered a small nod of thanks. You nodded back, feeling a strange sense of connection with him, despite barely knowing him.

As the results loomed ahead, you couldn't help but wonder if it would be enough. But one thing was clear: you weren't done yet. There was still so much more to learn, and your journey had only just begun.

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A/N: Word Count: ~1,200 words, I hope you enjoyed reading the first chapter, Keep an eye out for the second one it'll be out soon. Until we meet again.

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