My Hero Academia: From The Ground Up

Chapter 9: Confirmation

The hospital gave the two minorly injured friends a shared room with the curtain pulled back. And since their injuries were minor, they were due to leave that evening.

Until then, Midoriya looked over at Ochaco. She was laying back facing the ceiling with her eyes closed. He felt his face grow hot watching her. He cleared his throat. "Ochaco-san?"

She stirred, turning her head toward him on her pillow and opening her eyes. "Yes, Izuku?"

"I... I want to thank you for... for helping me back there...but..." He sighed.

She sat up. "Before you continue.... I should also tell you something. A-about the other day... When I told you..." She bit her lip as she felt a sob come in. Tears built in her eyes. "I yelled at you that you aren't a hero and will never be..."

"Th-that's what I was going to tell you... I want to be a hero more than anything. But Kacchan is right about me... I-I think... You haven't been helping me reach those goals. I don't mean about what you said. I'm referring to just how you treat me and don't realize it." Tears started to form in his own eyes.

"Izuku..."

"I want to be friends with you, Ochaco but... You're holding me back. Like everyone else." He clenched his fists. "S-so maybe we should take a break."

"MR. MIDORIYA AND MS. URARAKA!"

Both of the preteens screamed in their beds as none other than the hero All Might entered their room with his enormous hands out.

"I-i-i-i-t..." Izuku stuttered.

"I am here because I wanted to personally thank you for your bravery in helping me stop Nucleon!" He said while facing Ochaco. He then turned to Izuku. "And I happened to find this in the rubble at the library. Still in good shape, young lad!" He said now holding Midoriya's study journal. He reached out to hand it over to the boy.

Izuku sat there staring at his outstretched hand holding his journal.

"....Come on, young man. I don't have all day."

"R-right right!" He snatched the journal from him. "Y-you didn't...look through it, did you?"

"Ha! Of course not! I respect your privacy but I admire your sketches of me on the cover." All Might smiled folding his arms.

"I hope you are considering attending UA for high school in a few years!" He said mostly facing Ochaco. "I look forward to seeing bright youngsters like yourselves become heroes someday! Until then, stay safe, kids. Freaks like Nucleon are everywhere. But you're safe now! Take care!"

Izuku practically jumped out of his bed. "W-wait All Might! There's something I need to tell you!"

"Believe me, son! I wish I could stay and chat some more but I really must be on my way!" He saluted back as he charged out the door. Midoriya was in hot pursuit.

"I HAVE ONE QUESTION THEN I'LL LET YOU GO! PLEASE!"

All Might expressed his impatience loudly with a groan as he stopped himself. Izuku slamming into his back, of course not affecting him, but bouncing the boy on his back.

He caught his breath and took one more deeply. "All Might... I am quirkless.... Everyone in my life has tried to tear down my faith but I want nothing more than to be a hero..." He raised his head and looked into the old hero's sunken eyes. "Could I ever be a hero like you?"

The hero lowered his head in silent thought. "My boy... I'm afraid that's not possible for you." He got down on one knee and wiped Izuku's tears from his eyes. "If you can't be the hero to save people, be the hero who's a friend to them. Like that girl. She may have rescued you like a damsel in distress. But she risked her life and pushed limits to her quirk she's probably never done before at her age. Heroes need friends too."

Izuku nodded yet he continued to cry.

All Might shook his head. "I'm sorry, young Midoriya. But I suggest you stay in the market for other opportunities."

He stood back up, rushed out the hospital doors and jumped up, launching himself high in the air already far away.

"That kid... He knows his heroes. But he just doesn't have what it takes to be one..." All Might thought to himself as he landed across the city and continued on.

As he landed again, he stopped. The atmosphere seemed still and quiet. He found himself by an old abandoned warehouse by the docks. "That's strange."

His suspicions were correct but it was too late to avoid it. A large green light burst into his back, launching his body through the warehouse wall. He tumbled for a moment then caught himself and looked back where the laser came from.

Laughter echoed through the warehouse as he watched Nucleon enter through the hole his body left. "With power like yours... Flowing through my body, did you think something like that would have killed me?!"

"It should have. Your quirk can't handle dispersing that much energy in every direction." All Might frowned.

"It could if it was energy from a being who radiates pure....endless...power." The villain smiled wickedly. "The blast was just a good cover to escape, and better yet to fake my death!"

"Well, you've escaped. Killing four police officers as well. Now you're here exposing yourself to me."

"Not like I had a choice." He said looking down at his hands, the glow dimming down until it disappeared entirely.

"I was waiting for you. You see, now I just barely blasted you like that. All your power I stole has run out. But if I could get you in a position that you can't escape me.... Well then there's nothing really to worry about, is there?"

"Good luck trying to hold me still. You won't lay a finger on me!" All Might roared and charged him.

Nucleon laughed and charged towards him with his hands out, fingers curled.