an ODST among Heroes.

6

Izuku stirred awake, feeling the warmth of Daisy nestled against him. She had fallen asleep, her arms wrapped around him in a gentle embrace. With a soft smile, he leaned down and kissed her forehead, careful not to wake her. The sight of her peaceful slumber filled him with warmth, and he carefully untangled himself from her grip before slipping out of bed.

Once in the kitchen, he set to work on breakfast, the familiar rhythm of cooking bringing him a sense of comfort. The smell of sizzling eggs and bacon soon filled the air, and he couldn't help but feel grateful for this moment of tranquility. A few minutes later, Daisy wandered in, her hair tousled and eyes still half-closed.

"Good morning," she mumbled, a sleepy smile spreading across her face as she took in the spread. They settled down at the table, sharing breakfast and laughter, the morning light streaming through the window, illuminating the simple joys of their life together.

After their meal, they gathered their things and headed out the door, the anticipation of a new day filling the air. As they made their way to school, Izuku noticed a colorful banner announcing "Career Selection Day" hung above the entrance. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement and nervous chatter among the students.

Once inside, their teacher addressed the class, mentioning the importance of selecting their future careers. This elicited a mix of murmurs and whispers from the students, but it was Hana who broke through the noise, turning to Izuku with a teasing grin. "So, you really think you're going to U.A.? Are you sure you'll even pass the exam?"

Izuku straightened, his confidence unwavering. "Quite sure. It couldn't be more difficult than the months I spent on Doisac."

"Doisac?" a voice piped up from the back of the room, curiosity piqued.

Izuku took a deep breath, his mind flickering back to those harrowing days. "It was a... villain stronghold. I was kidnapped and forced to fight powerful villains with mutation quirks for about a year. I had to win every match, and eventually, a few of them freed me and brought me home."

The classroom fell silent, shock etched on the faces of his classmates. Hana was the first to recover, her eyes wide. "Dude?! How are you not dead?!"

"I wonder that myself when I think about it," Izuku replied, a hint of somber reflection in his voice. "They made it even harder by having it set in double Earth gravity."

One boy shivered at the revelation, shaking his head in disbelief. "I think he'd pass the Entrance Exam, quirk or not," he murmured, fear evident in his tone as he thought of Halsey and what he might have gone through.

Even Katsuki, who usually wore an expression of cocky confidence, looked taken aback, the story hitting him harder than he expected. For a moment, the room was filled with an intense mix of emotions-admiration, fear, and a newfound respect for the boy who had once been so insecure.

----

Izuku walked home with Hana, the late afternoon sun casting a warm glow over the streets. They had been close friends for a while now, and Hana had quickly gotten along with Daisy, who had entered Izuku's life about a month ago. Daisy had mentioned to Hana that Izuku had attended military school, a statement that was somewhat accurate. In truth, he had been an honorary member of the Spartan II program, an experience that was both a point of pride and a haunting memory.

Curious about Izuku's past, Hana had pressed Daisy for stories about her experiences as a soldier. Daisy was more than willing to share, but whenever the conversation veered into the darker territories of war, Izuku would quickly shut it down. He preferred to keep that part of his life private, protecting both his friends and himself from the heavy weight of those memories. Instead, in a light-hearted gesture, Daisy had treated Izuku to dinner that day, a small but meaningful way to remind him that they were all in this together.

As they continued their walk, chatting and laughing about the trivialities of school life, the peaceful atmosphere shattered with an unexpected explosion of sound. A manhole cover flew into the air with a loud clang, and from the dark void below, a sludge villain emerged, its form grotesque and menacing.

Instinctively, Izuku sprang into action, quickly pinning the villain down with a practiced maneuver. He felt the familiar surge of adrenaline coursing through him, a mix of excitement and determination to protect those around him. Just as he was about to secure the villain, a booming voice echoed through the alley.

"Have no fear, for I am here!" All Might declared, his presence instantly electrifying the atmosphere.

Hana gasped, her eyes wide with disbelief. "It's All Might!" she exclaimed, her admiration palpable.

All Might chuckled, surveying the scene with a grin. "And it looks like you've got this handled!" he added, nodding appreciatively at Izuku's efforts.

"Excuse me, sir?" Izuku interrupted, trying to keep his voice steady despite the hero's overwhelming presence. "I'd be willing to help you make the arrest."

"Why, of course!" All Might responded, his enthusiasm infectious. "What's your quirk, young man?"

Izuku felt a twinge of embarrassment. "I don't have one, sir."

All Might blinked in surprise. "You're... quirkless."

"Yes, sir," Izuku confirmed, his determination unwavering. "But could you mind helping with the villain?"

All Might nodded, his demeanor shifting from jovial to serious. With swift efficiency, he bottled the sludge villain, trapping it securely within the container. "Be off, young man. Thanks for your help," he said, his tone appreciative but firm.

"I look forward to seeing you at U.A., sir," Izuku replied, feeling a mix of hope and excitement swelling within him.

However, as All Might turned to leave, a shadow crossed his face, darkening his expression momentarily. Something about the exchange seemed to weigh on him. With that, All Might scooped up both Hana and Izuku, lifting them effortlessly as he prepared to take off. "These kids need some questioning," he muttered, a hint of concern in his voice. They knew too much for civilians, and All Might was determined to uncover just how much they understood about the world of heroes and villains.

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