Second Interlude: Izuku Midoriya

Izuku Midoriya walked towards Takoba Municipal Beach Park with an uncharacteristic scowl on his face. He looked down to his hands, his green hair shifting softly under the cool breeze of the morning wind.

His expression softened before he shook his head and nodded.

News stations played out of the televisions lining the varying store's windows.

The young man stopped and looked at the news, and even though he'd seen it at least a few dozen times in a single day, he was still incapsulated by it.

"This news station prides itself on telling our loyal viewers the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, but right now we are putting ourselves in the line of fire because of this. This will be the last time we show the entirely of this terrorist's declaration. Viewer discretion is advised," The newscaster warned, nodding once before the screen cut to a video.

A man with a nine-eyed mask and a white cloak was the only figure in the space. It seemed like he was all alone in an empty void, the background completely black.

"There's something we've lost, and I'm unsure when we lost it. The influx of Quirks, heroes to protect us, and most importantly, the presence of All Might has forced us to forget ourselves," The terrorist spoke.

"We have forgotten our responsibility to move forward, and so we sit here, stagnant. We have forgotten our responsibility to live, so we die waiting for heroes to arrive. We have forgotten our responsibility to hope, so we endlessly despair."

"And most of all, we have forgotten that we are not weak! We have overcome challenge after challenge to hit walls after walls again and again!"

"We must move forward in a world that chooses to step on us and crush everything that we stand for! We must fight to live in this tainted world filled with despair!"

"This life is unfair. It will kick you down and beat you as you try your damnedest to fight back. You're guaranteed to lose a thousand times before you'll ever win once, so you must fight!"

"You must fight to not give in, you must fight to not give up, you must fight to survive!"

The man held out his hand, clenching it tightly. His eyes must've been burning with passion behind his mask. Izuku felt his heart pounding his chest, even if he wished he felt otherwise.

"I do not want destruction, nor a world where children must give up their hopes and dreams. I do not want fear and chaos. Allow me to make myself clear," The man shook his head before the gaze of all nine of his eyes fell on the viewer.

"I want equality, a world where those filled with strength and those deprived of it can live together in a brighter future. Be brave, and take responsibility of your future," The man bowed before the screen cut back to the studio.

The newscaster began speaking, but Izuku was walking off as their words entered one of his ears and left the other.

In no time at all, he'd arrived at the tarnished beach, looking at the trash piled up all around.

The smell of the seawater washed over the beach as the sun's soft rays swept over the waves. Izuku had long since gotten used to this feeling, with going about 5 months into his training with All Might since that fateful day.

Izuku looked around, silently noting that All Might hadn't appeared and reasoning it to being a reaction from his overworking in response to that villain's actions.

With thoughts he wished he could ignore flooding his mind, Izuku started on his training, pulling a broken printer from the garbage, and carrying it within his arms.

-----

Soon enough, All Might did indeed appear, moving as if nothing was wrong. The two were having a normal conversation at first but it quickly seemed to devolve into something different.

"I don't understand, Young Midoriya! Why would such a villain's words affect you as such?!" All Might, the one and only Symbol of Peace, stumbled after his green-haired student. He reached out to the young man and softly grabbed him by his shoulder.

Izuku stopped, his fists trembling before he took a deep breath.

"All Might, why was the only option I had at being a Pro-Hero was taking your Quirk?" Izuku asked, shocking All Might into a momentary silence.

"Young Midoriya…." All Might pulled away from Izuku for a moment before taking a powerful step forward and laying a firm hand on Midoriya's shoulder. "I understand where you're coming from, I truly do, but what do you plan on doing?"

"I... don't know, but if I take One for All, I'll just be proving that villain right! I need another path, one where I don't have to make that villain correct," Izuku spoke, sounding more unsure than All Might had ever seen. "All Might, what can I do?"

All Might looked at Izuku for a moment, a flurry of thoughts presumably flickering through his mind. After a moment of some clear deliberations, the Pro-Hero nodded.

"My master, the holder of One for All before me, was named Nana Shimura," All Might began, causing Izuku to grow extremely attentive.

"'Was?'" Izuku repeated quietly, and All Might nodded once more, this time more solemnly.

"She was… killed several years ago," The hero shook his head, a smile rising to his face. "But she was the best master I could've ever asked for. I had another master, but I… may introduce you to him later."

Izuku grew a confused expression, so his teacher shook his head, seeming to focus. He spent a moment thinking before speaking again.

"I wasn't my master's only student."

Izuku's eyes grew wide, but before he could speak, All Might continued without a pause.

"Master's other disciple wasn't aiming to become a Pro-Hero, but with a Quirk like hers, she could've been one easily. However, despite the strength of her Quirk, she never used it. Instead, she focused on martial arts and became more formidable than most people thought a human being could ever be. She's named Kagenori Yagi, and she's…." All Might's voice faded away.

Izuku waited, but when All Might didn't answer his curiosity got the best of him.

"She's…?" Izuku repeated.

"She's my sister," All Might admitted, an odd mixture of embarrassment and nervousness plastered on his face.

"Your… your sister?! But All Might, I thought you…!" Now it was time for Izuku's voice to fade away.

All Might slowly nodded.

"Is it dawning on you, kid? I've never talked about my family before, not even in interviews," All Might clarified, receiving a shocked nod from Izuku.

"All Might, will your sister teach me?" Izuku asked, receiving a genuine shrug from his teacher.

"I've got no clue, kid. But if you really want to fight that villain's ideas, her skills will help you," All Might nodded before sheepishly continuing. "However, the biggest issue with that is that I've got no idea where she's located."

"You don't know where she is?" Izuku repeated, curiosity lining his expression.

All Might nodded once more, "Yes, because she wasn't really the type to… talk much. I think the last time I saw her was a little under 3 years ago."

All Might's tone didn't have the slightest hint of fear in it, as if a possible end to his sister's life or a devolution of her morals were both impossible ideas.

"I've got a friend who's given me a lead worth following, but I can't have you leaving while I look for her. Can you at least plan to attend U.A. while I try and look for her?" All Might asked Izuku.

The young green-haired boy looked down for a moment, looking at the palms of his hands.

They were much tougher now than just a few months ago. That was the result of what felt like a nigh endless journey of training every single day.

He clenched his hands, looking up to his mentor with the flames of passion burning within his eyes.

"Okay, I'll keep on moving towards U.A, but please, allow me to help you find Miss Yagi!" Izuku yelled, bowing to his idol.

"I have to prove that villain wrong and show the whole world that even some like me can become a proper hero!"