In a small park, somewhere in Musutafu, several children were beating one who cried while covering his head in an attempt to protect himself, though it was useless.
That only provoked more laughter from the group, led by Katsuki Bakugo. A four-year-old boy whose quirk had already awakened, allowing him to secrete nitroglycerin through the sweat of his palms.
A power with enormous potential.
Bakugo watched the scene with a twisted smile, not showing even a hint of pity for the brat lying on the ground.
Why should he have any? Who was going to stop him?
No one.
All the adults constantly praised him, telling him that someday he would become the number one hero in the country.
That only made the boy more arrogant and stupid.
While the group enjoyed their cruelty against the weak, a blond young boy of the same age walked near them with his gaze fixed on the ground.
Avoiding making eye contact with anyone.
When the group saw him, they stopped completely, as if his mere presence made them uncomfortable.
That was Izuku Midoriya, a boy Bakugo could not hurt. Not because he doubted his own strength, but because, simply, Izuku made him uncomfortable.
In truth, he made everyone uncomfortable.
He never looked anyone in the eyes. He kept his mouth shut all the time, unless a teacher asked him something in class. Nothing else.
Bakugo, upon hearing the whispers of his lackeys urging him to do something against the blond boy, felt his pride begin to boil.
Gritting his teeth, he suddenly approached the boy, who stopped when he noticed his path was being blocked.
Izuku said nothing. He didn't even react. He remained indifferent to everything happening around him.
"But look who we have here… Deku. The quirkless useless." Bakugo said mockingly, provoking laughter from the group.
Izuku did not respond. He completely ignored him and focused on watching some birds pecking at crumbs on the ground.
The child who had been getting beaten took advantage of the shift in attention, got up, and ran away.
Some of the group tried to follow him, but Bakugo stopped them. Now they had something better to do.
Deku.
"..." No reaction from Izuku.
That irritated the ash-blond even more, and he began triggering small explosions in the palm of his hand, bringing it dangerously close to the green-haired boy's face.
"Do you think you're something special, trash? You don't have a quirk and you think you can igno—""You're irritating. You know that?"
Izuku finally spoke, but without looking him in the eyes.
Bakugo was stunned. He hadn't expected a response. Izuku almost never spoke.
"Tsk… Damn Deku, I'll teach you your place." He shouted, feeling humiliated.
Without wasting time, he attacked with his palm, releasing multiple explosions.
Izuku did not move. He didn't even seem to care about the attack.
That only enraged Bakugo more, and he intensified his explosions, determined to leave a scar across his entire face.
BOOM
A violent explosion, accompanied by smoke, engulfed Izuku. Bakugo smiled with superiority while his companions applauded.
"I hope that teaches you what happens when a quirkl…"
His voice cut off abruptly. His eyes widened, and he took several steps back.
In front of him, a massive body of water had appeared out of nowhere, completely blocking his attack. Izuku remained standing, impassive, as if none of what had happened held the slightest importance.
"But… but what the hell? Deku, you had a quirk and never said anything?" He shouted indignantly as he approached again.
Izuku positioned himself in front of Bakugo and his lackeys. Without looking at him directly, he spoke.
"Why should someone like me talk to trash like you?"
His tone was cold. Absolute.
That enraged Bakugo, who was about to attack again, but Izuku spoke once more.
"I have no intention of telling trash like you when I awakened my power, Bakugo. I thought you weren't stupid. Well, you are… but attacking me, seriously? You think too highly of yourself."
At that moment, to Bakugo's horror, Izuku's blue eyes seemed to glow.
A brutal pain struck the blond's stomach, stealing his breath.
'What the hell!?'
He thought as he fell to the ground, clutching his abdomen.
He could only press his hands against his stomach, trying to ease the pain.
"What the hell are you doing…? Atta—?"
He fell silent when he noticed that all his companions were also lying on the ground.
'But what…?'
When he heard footsteps moving away, he raised his gaze and saw Deku walking away with the same indifferent attitude, as if everything around him were insignificant. The mass of water had disappeared as suddenly as it had appeared.
"D-Deku… This won't stay like this. Damn you."
It was the last thing he said before twisting again in pain.
Meanwhile, Izuku walked toward his house, moving through the streets without paying attention to anything, except the cars crossing.
'How insignificant you are, Bakugo…'
It was his last thought before emptying his mind.