The Deku

Chapter 11: Bench Sharing

Izuku and Ochako sat beside each other at a bench in the park.

Neither of them really realized that Izuku missed his stop and got off the train with her. And they had walked in near silence together to the park near her apartment.

"Can I ask you something?" She asked with her head low in her hands.

Izuku noticed she wasn't touching her face with her pinkies. He nodded. "S-Sure."

"..." She sighed and sat up. "You still want to be a hero? Even though you're Quirkless and unable to get into UA?"

Izuku turned to her with a sincere look in his eyes. "Yes. To be a hero means to do the right thing..." He sighed. "Even if no one else will help you."

"...What do you mean?" Ochako asked.

Izuku sighed again. "I-It's nothing..."

"Oh." She looked down again.

He winced, feeling guilty. He could trust her, couldn't he? Well, he did only meet her once before. But she seemed genuine. No secrets to hide so why bother? And she was at a low point, she just lost a close friend.

"Can...Can I ask you something?" Izuku asked hesitantly.

Ochako felt a bit nervous. This boy sounded like he was entrusting her with something deep. Most likely pertaining to their conversation. She nodded. "Yeah..."

"Something happened... Months ago...my mother was kidnapped..." He shared.

Ochako turned to him sympathetically.

"I begged the police for help... And they filed the report to heroes and other police stations. Yet they never found her." He clenched his fists.

Ochako put a hand on his shoulder. "It's a hard world, Izuku. Everyone's got superpowers."

"But not me." Izuku looked down and glared at the ground between his legs. "Still... I wanted to do something about it..."

Ochako raised an eyebrow at him. "What could you possibly do, Izuku Midoriya?"

"...Bring them justice." He kept his glare.

"Izuku... Is this what you were scared to tell me?"

"What?" Izuku looked at her worriedly.

"I won't judge you. I promise. I just... You know it's not right, right? I know it's hard... Believe me... But you really should just leave it to the professionals."

"So what. They have a degree from school, they have a license, and they get to parade around telling everyone that everything is okay with big smiles when we're actually suffering!" As he rambled on for the moment, he became visibly upset and enraged, slamming his fist on the bench between them, making Ochako jump.

"Izuku... You're scaring me." Ochako said.

Izuku sighed and steamed off. "I'm sorry... It's just not fair..." She wasn't ready to hear what he had done.

Once again, she put her hand on his shoulder. "There's always a bright side. You can still be a hero in your own way. There are lots of things you can still do without a license or degree." She smiled warmly.

The boy smiled lightly with her. He nodded and looked on ahead at the sky.

"I don't blame you for these feelings, Izuku Midoriya." Ochako said. "Just be careful, okay? Leave it to the pros. They'll get your mom back."

"If you were there... When your friend was being killed... What would you have done?" Izuku asked.

The question really caught her off guard and sent her back into the dark place she was in before, yet she knew not to let it get to her this time. He was still asking her a real question after all. But why?

"I would've... Izuku, I can't just attack the villain who killed him."

"Yes you can." Izuku frowned. "He's there, in that alleyway stabbing your friend to death..."

She started to tear up. "Can we change the subject?"

"Any real hero, no matter the consequence, would rush to save him...stop that villain. Because your friend wasn't his first nor will he be his last victim." Izuku explained.

Ochako felt herself crying again. "I couldn't be there.... I wanted to so badly!"

"Then you know how I feel!" Izuku shouted out. "So powerless, chained by all these laws, and my own weakness!"

She gasped and stood up. "I-I have to go. I'm sorry, Midoriya. I have to go..." She quickly walked away cupping her cheeks as she left.

Izuku watched her walk away and he noticed his hand was out to her.

He groaned and sat back in shame. "I'm...s-such an idiot."

Ochako ran home with tears falling down her cheeks, yet she kept thinking of his question, and his words. He was right in describing what a true hero would and should do. But it just sounded so...evil. It's the same logic villains use to justify their acts of violence. You have to prove you will use your power, your authority, to ensure peace in this world, and that's why you must gain a license and go through the proper trainings and teachings.

She wanted no part in anything he was or wasn't doing, but she felt so bad leaving him behind. He was hurting like she was and she shut him out.

Izuku remained on the bench for a while longer in thought. He didn't blame her for her reaction. But he refused to believe anything he was doing was outright wrong or evil. Vigilante, villain, hero, call him whatever. He was going to avenge his mother. And save or avenge all the other people who were kidnapped and used like Frankenstein's monster.

He'll start, by hunting down good ol' Spotsy.

And anyone and everyone else responsible for choosing his mother to take, out of all the people in Japan.

[[Author's Note: I'm making this comment here to add some missing context and avoid confusion. When the League of Villains attacked the USJ, without Izuku, they managed to kill Tsuyu Asui and Minoru Mineta. However, All Might survived and was able to escape without being exposed. I believe that Izuku didn't do much to buy him time. The other heroes showed up at the right time either way. That is all. If you have any review, I hope you make it constructive and positive because I don't really like the CinemaSins style comments on all my chapters.