My name is Midoriya Izuku.
Maybe my name sounds ordinary, but even in this society, I am different from most people.
I am… Quirkless.
Today is just another ordinary day. Like every other third-year middle school student, I'm on my way to school.
"BOOM!"
A sudden explosion shattered my drowsiness.
I instinctively looked up toward the source of the noise—and froze.
A massive monster had appeared on the overpass in the middle of the road.
My heart started racing.
Because if criminals were causing chaos in the city…
Then Heroes would definitely show up to fight them!
Oh, right—I should mention this.
I'm an avid Hero fan.
Even though I'm Quirkless, I still work tirelessly toward becoming the greatest Hero. I collect information obsessively, record every battle I witness, and keep multiple notebooks filled with detailed analyses of Heroes' Quirks, abilities, and combat styles.
I squeezed into the growing crowd as voices buzzed around me.
"What an insane Quirk—he can turn into a giant monster!"
"I heard he transformed like that after being cornered by Heroes!"
Then I saw him.
A brown, tree-like figure stepped forward.
"Using your powers to rob civilians during rush hour," the Hero shouted, his voice firm and righteous. "People like you are the very embodiment of evil!"
Kamui Woods.
A rising-star Hero whose popularity had skyrocketed recently. His signature technique—Preemptive Strike: Binding Wood—was famous for restraining villains instantly. However, he wasn't particularly effective against flame-based opponents.
See? I know Heroes very well.
"Binding Wood—Full Lock!"
As Kamui Woods roared, his right arm transformed into thick wooden vines that surged forward, wrapping tightly around the villain.
It's over! Capture complete! Victory secured!
Kamui Woods really is a powerhouse among the new generation!
…Or so I thought.
But my instincts screamed otherwise.
"Canyon Cannon!"
A towering female Hero burst in from the side, delivering a devastating kick that sent the monster flying.
It was Mt. Lady.
Later that day, sitting in my classroom, my mind was still replaying the scene.
"So the newly registered Hero—Mt. Lady," I muttered to myself. "Her Quirk allows her to grow to gigantic size. No wonder she's popular… but considering urban damage, there must be strict limitations on its use. I wonder if she can control her size precisely…"
My thoughts were interrupted by my homeroom teacher clearing his throat.
"You're all in your third year now," he said seriously. "It's time to start thinking about your futures."
He continued, "I'll be handing out the career preference forms. But honestly—most of you will probably apply for the Hero Course, right?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the classroom erupted.
Students activated their Quirks, cheering loudly and showing off.
"Hey, hey, don't lump me in with 'most people'!"
The arrogant voice belonged to my childhood friend—yes, childhood friend—Bakugo Katsuki, whom I've always called Kacchan.
"I'm not going to rot at the bottom of society with this bunch of extras!" he shouted. "I'll surpass All Might and become the strongest Hero! I'll top the national tax rankings too!!"
Then he smirked.
"Oh yeah, Deku—didn't you say your first choice was U.A. High School too?"
Before I could even process his words, I felt his burning glare bore into me like a starving wolf.
The next moment—
BOOM!
My desk was blown apart by an explosion.
"Kacchan… you idiot…"
There wasn't much else to say about what happened next. I was mocked again, just like always. Even though we were childhood friends, Kacchan had always enjoyed bullying me.
Lost in those cruel words, I trudged home aimlessly.
"Didn't I already decide to become a Hero?"
"Yes… no matter what others say, I can't let it get to me. I have to keep my head up and move forward."
Just as I tried to encourage myself—
A shadow silently enveloped me from behind.
"M-type concealment…"
Before I could even register the whisper, my body was engulfed by something muddy and sticky.
"Don't struggle," a voice murmured calmly. "I'm just borrowing your body. Hold still. You'll only suffer for about forty-five seconds."
No—this is bad!
A sludge-like substance wrapped tighter and tighter around me. No matter how hard I struggled, more of it kept pouring in.
I couldn't breathe.
My body wouldn't move.
Am I going to die?Is this really how it ends?Someone—please—help me!
Just as despair swallowed me whole, a voice rang out like salvation itself.
"It's alright, young man!"
"Why?""Because I am here!"
"SMASH!!"
A deafening roar followed, accompanied by an overwhelming gust of wind. In an instant, the sludge monster was blasted away, and I was torn free from its suffocating grip.
As the shockwave passed over me, my consciousness faded.
"Wake up, kid."
Hearing the voice, I forced my eyes open.
Standing before me was a towering figure—muscles bulging, blond hair flaring upward like rabbit ears, and a bright smile flashing rows of white teeth.
"A–All… Might?!"
Am I dreaming?
I was saved by my idol!
Later, I learned everything from All Might himself.
After shakily receiving his autograph, he prepared to leave.
"Professional Heroes are always racing against time," he said. "Watch the news, kid. You'll see me there."
"Wait! I—I still have so much to ask you!"
In a moment of panic, I jumped forward and grabbed his leg—
And the next thing I knew, I was flying through the air with him.
After landing safely on a rooftop, I gathered every ounce of courage I had. I shut my eyes tightly and shouted:
"Can someone without a Quirk… become a Hero like you?!"
Silence followed.
Thinking he hadn't heard me, I continued desperately.
"Because I don't have a Quirk… and people bully me because of it. I don't fully understand everything yet, but I think saving people is an amazing thing!"
My voice grew stronger.
"Can I become a Hero who saves others with a fearless smile—just like you?!"
I opened my eyes.
The towering symbol of peace was gone.
In his place stood a thin, skeletal man.
"Huh?! Are you… fake?" I blurted out. "Why did you shrink?!"
After All Might explained everything, I finally understood.
But the answer he gave me was unbearably cruel.
"A Symbol of Peace can never afford weakness."
"The reason I can appear strong… is because I'm deceiving myself against fear and pressure."
He looked at me seriously.
"Professional Heroes gamble with life and death every day. Words like 'You can become a Hero even without a Quirk'… are something I can't say lightly."
With that, All Might left.
The rooftop fell silent.
Neither of us noticed that the soda bottle All Might had used to contain the sludge villain had quietly vanished.