Midori the Villain

Race to the Top

Due to Izumi's eager insistence Mirio agreed to train her for the rest of the week leading up to the Sports festival. Due to their difference in power he made sure to keep One for All off and worked on building up her strength, endurance, and stamina.

In the end Izumi wound up back in the infirmary drained and covered in bruises, but smiling despite the hurt and ache her body was put through. It made her all the more interesting.

"So tell me, Mirio my boy, what do you think of her." All Might asked with a broad smile and confidence. "Impressive, isn't she?"

"Ah, I like her." Mirio nodded. "She's smart, and she uses her quirk exactly the way she needs to. All she needs now is to become more physically opposing. Once her body and quirk catch up to her mind there'll be no stopping her."

"Can I count on you then, my boy, to see to that?" He pats Mirio's shoulder.

"Yessir!" Mirio pumped his fists. "This was so exciting... her determination and spirit are above any of the other students I've met. However..." his stance faltered some.

"However?" When Mirio stopped walking and All Might turned to face him.

"Izumi... she seems a bit broken inside, don't you think?" He tapped a finger between his eyes. "Her eyes... they're so expressive it's hard not to notice."

"Ah... so you see it too, don't you?" All Might nodded his head. He looked around and pulled Mirio into the nearby empty classroom and closed the door. He let his form drop and he turned to face his student and protege. "She's a troubled soul, Mirio. She wants to become strong. Strong enough to overcome the tragedies she's experienced in life. In truth, I initially wanted to give One for All to Izumi. You saw for yourself the kind of drive and determination she has, the kind who strives to better herself and the world around her. She's very protective of those she cares about. They're all good qualities for a hero, and something I look for personally... but it's those broken pieces you see inside her that ultimately made me choose you as my successor."

"I see..." Mirio nodded. "It's her hunger for power that's forcing her to cut off parts of herself. She believes that her kindness, and gentleness is a weakness, and you're worried that if you had given her the power she would have cut off the parts of her soul that you found admirable in the first place."

"Exactly..." All Might smiled at Mirio, knowing he would understand.

"Alright then..." Mirio pumped his fists. "I'll make it my sworn duty to help Izumi. I won't let her break, All Might. You can count on me. I stake my reputation as a hero on it." he jerked a thumb to himself smiling.

"That's my boy." He pat Mirio on the shoulder and beefed up again. "Now then, time to get back to our own training."

~Several days later~

"What are you doing?" Tomura leaned over the back of the couch watching as Izumi's fingers fly across a tablet her eyes were focused on.

"It's a mind memory game. I'm training my body day and night to make it strong, but I gotta make sure my mind stays just as strong." She told him without missing a beat. She nodded her head motioning him to sit, and without a word he obliged her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder playing the game by watching her over her shoulder.

"I saw the new entry in your journal..." he tapped the screen for her when she paused her hands at his comment. "Who's Togata Mirio?"

"My Senpai..." she explained and turned off the game to lean into him. "...and All Might's protege."

"Seriously?" Interest piqued he pulled back to turn her face to him. "You found him?"

"He found me, actually. Popped out of the floor during one of my training sessions. Says All Might's been talking to him about me." She set the tablet on the table and stood up to pace. "Talking... telling me that All Might has taken special interest, and that he cares about me."