Chapter 8: From Small Beginnings
I tapped my foot against the ground as All Might and I waited at a table in an upscale restaurant in Roppongi.
"You seem nervous. Is everything alright?" All Might asked.
I glanced over and couldn't contain my smirk at All Might's ridiculously oversized beige suit. I understood that he needed to wear clothes that could expand with his body if he needed to activate One for All, but it was still funny to see him in clothes five sizes too big. I wore suits a lot for work in my previous life, so while Izuku would likely have felt out of place in my navy blue vest and pants combo, it felt like a bit of home to me.
"Yeah, everything is fine. I'm just thinking about how this is going to factor into my training. Growing so much while also trying to turn my body into a machine is going to be rough on me physically, and on my mom's ability to cook rice on an industrial scale." I answered.
All Might chuckled before we were interrupted by a tall, dark haired man in a grey suit walking up to our table. We both stood and shook hands with the new arrival as we introduced ourselves, me as Izuku Midoriya, and All Might as Toshinori Shimura.
I guess he does have an alter ego after all. Very sentimental, All Might.
The American smiled and politely introduced himself. "Good evening gentlemen. I'm Anthony Richardson, but please, call me Tony."
Taking our seats, we made pleasant small talk about things like Tony's flight from the states and current events both in Japan and back in America as we ordered our food. Once dinner arrived, Tony's demeanor changed from casual to all business in an instant.
"So, Mr Midoriya, Mr Shimura here tells me that you are interested in my services." Tony began as we started on our meals.
"Please, feel free to call me Izuku, and that's right. I'm looking to end up at around six foot-four inches if that's possible." I replied.
Tony nodded in understanding. "Well, let me tell you how the process works. My quirk is called Growth. A simple name for a simple quirk. It allows me to increase the height of any individual I choose. One of the benefits of my quirk is that it's a completely natural process. You can think of my quirk as increasing the height that you would normally grow to over time, as well as accelerating the rate at which that growth occurs. Be aware however, that my quirk locks the maximum height you can reach. Meaning you will not grow beyond the height I set with my quirk, even if you would have grown beyond that otherwise. Since you are going for six-four, it's unlikely that you would have gotten taller than that naturally, but you should be aware that if you utilize my service, you will be reaching your maximum height at age fourteen or fifteen, depending on your timeframe."
All Might politely raised his hand, only interjecting after an encouraging nod from Tony. "Feel free to call me Toshinori as well. I did a great deal of research into your quirk and those you have worked with previously. I understand that most of your clients prefer rapid height changes due to them seeking out your services after they've already reached adulthood and finished growing, but in young Midoriya's case, we would prefer that the process be a bit more prolonged.
The reason we sought out your services is because Izuku has recently awakened his quirk, an immensely powerful strength enhancer. Unfortunately, the strength increase is so significant that his body cannot handle the power, and it causes massive damage when used. By increasing his height, we hope to increase his potential muscle mass as well. I won't bore you with specifics, but the deadline for this process is in approximately nine months. In the meantime, he will be undergoing a rigorous strength and conditioning program. Will your quirk be able to integrate with that program?"
Yeah, this All Might is nothing like what he is in the anime. It's way more believable that this is the man Aizawa referred to as a 'genius'.
For his part, Tony seemed to follow along without issue, nodding in understanding as All Might explained my situation. "It shouldn't be a problem. I can control the rate of growth out to about one year. After that, the effects of my quirk start to fade, and I can't guarantee continued growth beyond that point. As I said, my quirk sets the desired height, and then accelerates growth to meet that target within the set timespan, but that is all my quirk does. This growth, for all intents and purposes, is natural. It willhappen, but there is nothing else supernatural about the process. Such rapid growth will be highly energy intensive, and will put intense strain on your body depending on your timetable. You're saying that you prefer a completion date more towards the one year mark, so you won't have to deal with some of the more acute issues that can arise from rapid growth, but I'll be honest, growing eleven inches in one year will be very energy demanding. Combined with this intensive strength and conditioning regimen you mentioned, you'll be eating like an olympian. The growing pains will also be quite severe, moreso at the beginning."
All Might looked at me questioningly. It was time to decide the parameters I wanted to move forward with.
This is my decision. I could go for a shorter height, maybe six foot-one or six foot even. By the time the process is done, I'll be acclimated to my new height anyway, so there isn't a need for me to be much taller. That said, the closer I can get in physical stature to All Might, the easier it will be for people to see me as his successor. And honestly? I like being tall. I could go even taller, but I have to take into account the possibility that One for All could make me taller at some point despite the 'height lock' of Tony's quirk, even if Izuku's physical manifestation seems to be lightning, not a muscle bulk up like All Might. I liked being six-four. Any taller and I feel like it may become inconvenient, even in the MHA world where things are often built to accommodate ridiculously tall people.
I nodded resolutely. "I understand, and I'm ready to go through the process."
Tony studied me for a moment before nodding. "Alright, we can go ahead and do it after dinner if you'd like."
All Might blinked in surprise before rubbing the back of his neck. "I hadn't expected this to go so quickly. I'll need to step out for a moment to inform my bank that I'll be wiring a significant sum tonight."
Tony waved his hand dismissively, pointing his fork at All Might's plate. "No need for that, Toshinori. Mr Shield vouched for you, so I trust you to hold up your end. Let's enjoy our meal, and I'll use my quirk on Izuku after. You can wire the payment at your earliest convenience."
All Might hurriedly gave a small bow, and both of us thanked Tony profusely. We made friendly small talk for the rest of dinner and after a brief battle of wills where All Might adamantly insisted on paying for Tony as well, we made our way outside.
After stepping out into the cool night air, Tony turned to me and smiled. "So, have you decided on the exact time table you wanted? Toshinori mentioned you had a nine month deadline for getting your body to where it needs to be."
I nodded in affirmation as I considered the options. It's probably better if I take the full year to max out my growth. I'll be growing eleven inches, so by the time of the exam I should be around six foot-one. Six foot-two by the time school starts. If I space it out more, my body will have more time to adjust, and it won't seem as unnatural to others. I plan on writing off the growth as a side effect of my quirk, similar to All Might's muscle form. That will be more believable if I grow in height as I grow into my quirk.
Coming to a decision, I met Tony's gaze and took a step forward. "I've decided on the full year. I don't need to be at my maximum height for the UA entrance exam, so I'd like to reduce the strain on my body as much as possible."
I saw All Might smile out of the corner of my eye and Tony nodded in approval. "That's a wise decision, young man. I'll go ahead and begin then. It won't take more than a couple seconds, and you'll only feel a small tingle down your spine."
Closing his eyes in concentration, Tony placed his right hand on my forehead. After a moment of tense apprehension, I felt a tingle run down my spine just as he had warned. An instant later, Tony opened his eyes and took a step back.
"Alright, you're good to go. You will be exactly six foot-four inches tall in approximately one year, give or take a few days." Tony said happily.
After another round of profuse thanks from both myself and All Might, as well as assurances of prompt payment from the latter, we bid farewell to Tony.
All Might and I sat in companionable silence during the long drive back to Shizuoka. When we finally pulled up to my apartment block just before midnight, I turned to my mentor. "Thank you again, All Might. I can't express how much all of this means to me. I know you see it as your duty to your successor, but still, thank you."
All Might smiled warmly at me and nodded. "Of course, young Midoriya. As I told you, anything you need, I will provide." Buffing up into his muscle form, All Might snapped an awkward salute as he struggled to move his bulk within the confines of the modest station wagon he drove while in his civilian persona. "Because I am here for you!"
I couldn't help but burst out laughing at how ridiculous he looked crammed into the car, his face twisting in discomfort even as he tried his best to hold his signature smile.
Changing back into his skinny form in a puff of smoke, All Might released a hacking cough before giving me a mock glare. "You don't have to laugh so hard, kid. Now go on, get inside and get some rest. You've got another early start tomorrow."
Nodding in assent, I gave All Might my brightest smile before holding out my fist. "I'll give it everything I've got, All Might!"
My mentor gave another fond smile before tapping my fist with his own.
"Good night, All Might!" I called out behind me as I made my way up the stairs to my apartment.
"Good night, young Izuku."
Chapter 9: The Ninth Holder
Izuku had described the time between his recruitment and the entrance exam as absolute hell. Six months in, and I was inclined to agree with him. If not for the peerless determination I had inherited from Izuku, I doubt I could have lasted more than a few weeks. The growing pains from Tony's quirk in particular had been excruciating, namely for the first couple months. After that it had mercifully toned down, but even now, I felt the occasional ache in my bones as Growth continued its year long task.
The completion of said task couldn't come soon enough. Perhaps unsurprisingly, I had grossly overestimated my ability to adjust to the change in height from my past life. While I had passed it off to All Might as me just being clumsy at times, the constant tripping over my own feet and misjudging my reach in particular was infuriating. Now that I stood at five-ten, it was getting more manageable, but it still resulted in at least one gaffe every few days. The adjustment was coming along, but I was grateful that by the time of the UA entrance exam, the difference between my new body and my old one would be relatively minimal.
With only three months to go before the exam in question, I had made significant progress. Dropping out of Aldera had proven to be the right decision. Combining Izuku's keen mind with the mental stability and experience of an adult meant that middle school education was exceedingly easy. Add on to that the inherent straightforwardness of homeschooling, and I was usually finished with my schoolwork in little over an hour. The tutors All Might hired had begun going over high school level subjects to prepare me for the UA entrance exam as well.
With the significantly increased potential exercise time, the scrawny body I had arrived to this world in now looked like it belonged to an Olympian. While All Might and I had agreed not to use any outright steroids, he had scoured the globe for the latest in supplement technology. The result had been a rapid increase in muscle growth. It had also led to an even larger increase in my caloric intake, much to Inko's dismay. Between my training and Tony's growth quirk, I was eating upwards of ten thousand calories per day.
Now that I think about it, I really should set up one of those cam shows where people pay to watch me stuff myself. I'd make a ton of money.
Pondering the idea for a few seconds, I dismissed it. Inko wouldn't approve, and meals were one of the few times she saw me throughout the day due to my loaded schedule. It wouldn't be fair to her given how hard she worked to support my training. Thankfully, All Might had stepped in to assist financially, which had significantly eased the burden. Inko hadn't approved of my mentor's support, but that was mostly due to the fact that she was unable to thank him, as I still refused to tell her who my mentor actually was. All Might and I agreed that it was best to keep the circle of those who knew of our relationship as small as possible until I started at UA.
Now, as I caught my breath following another sixteen kilometer run around Lake Kawaguchi, I took a moment to admire the majesty of Mt Fuji in the distance.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" All Might said as he dismounted from his Segway to stand beside me.
"It is." I agreed.
We stood in companionable silence for several minutes before I decided it was time to broach the topic I had been mulling over in the preceding weeks. In just six months, I had reached similar physical results to what Izuku had in ten. But Izuku had proven that physical fitness could only take you so far. Eventually, I would need to adapt my body to One for All through exposure, like he had. The sooner I did that, the faster I would be able to wield it at full power.
Turning to my mentor, I spoke earnestly. "I think I'm ready, All Might."
All Might met my gaze, holding it for a few moments before looking back across the lake. His features remained expressionless as he considered my words.
"Obviously, it would be ideal to wait as long as possible in order to give my body time to get stronger, but we both know that the only way to truly adjust to One for All's power is to use it. My body is strong enough now to wield One for All at a small fraction of its full strength. I don't need to bound over skyscrapers or topple mountains with a single punch. I just need to get my body used to the presence of One for All. The sooner I begin, the sooner I can master this power." I explained.
We fell into a ponderous silence for several more minutes as All Might considered my request, his bangs swaying slightly in the calm breeze rolling across the lake.
Turning his head to study me with cool blue eyes, All Might began sagely. "Your progress has been far faster than I imagined it would be, young Izuku. In no small part due to your own ideas and innovations. You have exceeded my expectations in every way. I must admit to you that I am still nervous about what could happen when I pass my quirk on to you, but I must also admit to myself that that will not change no matter how long we wait." All Might sighed heavily, before giving me a wary smile. "Very well, I agree. The benefits of training with One for All for the next four months do indeed outweigh the negatives."
Taking a moment to scan our surroundings for any eavesdroppers, All Might puffed up into his muscle form and plucked out a golden hair. "This power is a heavy burden, but I have no doubt you will be up to the challenge. One day, the world will look to you and see not the small, frail boy you were six months ago, but the Symbol of Peace and Justice! Now, Izuku Midoriya,-"
Here it comes. Try to keep a straight face, Izuku.
"-eat this."
I immediately burst into laughter, both at All Might's choice of words, and his incredibly serious demeanor clashing with his ever present smile.
"You have to ingest some of my DNA, that's how it works! This is the least weird way to do that!" All Might defended himself petulantly.
Barely containing my own laughter, I nodded and took the proffered hair as All Might continued to sulk. "I figured, but the way you said it and how serious you looked made it completely ridiculous." I swallowed the hair, grimacing at the uncomfortable feeling. "But would it have killed you to have chosen a smaller hair? That was gross. I had to swallow like three times just to get it down."
All Might enjoyed his own laugh at my expense before patting me on the back.
Shrinking back to his skinny form, his tone became more serious. "It will take a few hours for the transfer to complete. When it does, we will need to walk through the process of actually utilizing it, and critically, ensuring that you don't use more than the smallest fraction of One for All's power. Any more than that at this stage could cause serious damage."
Nodding in agreement, I laid out my own plans for the coming months. "Finding the output I'm able to use safely will be crucial, but I will also need to test my limits. I need to know what power output is safe, what is painful, but not seriously damaging, and what output is the realistic limit. If I need to use One for All to the point that microfractures start to form, so be it. Even fractures are manageable. Once we get beyond that, my limbs will be effectively disabled, and obviously I can't risk using those kinds of power levels throughout my entire body. The risk to my brain and central organs will be too great."
All Might gulped nervously at the prospect of me intentionally injuring myself in order to limit test, but nodded his agreement. "In that case, it would be best if we did those tests in a controlled environment with Recovery Girl present so that she can heal any injuries you might sustain."
Both of us shuddered, imagining how that recruitment was going to go.
"In the meantime, how about we get an early lunch? You must be starving after that run." All Might offered kindly.
After a quick detour to eat at one of the cafes along the lakeside, All Might and I took the train back towards UA. After a short drive and a call to a very reproving Recovery Girl, we arrived at a nondescript building on the outskirts of Shizuoka.
"I assumed we would just go to UA. Is this building owned by your agency, All Might?" I asked as he procured a small ID card from his pocket.
"No, this building belongs to UA. It's one of their offsite training facilities, mostly intended for use by faculty or as a shelter in case of natural disasters." All Might replied.
"If we're using a UA building, why not just go to the main campus? Though I suppose there's constantly at least some buzz around UA, so it's probably best for us to stay away from any prying eyes, especially since I'm not even a student there yet." I said, my voice dipping into a mutter as I answered my own question.
Chuckling softly, All Might held the door open for me as we went inside. "That's one reason, but the other is that Nedzu asked for us to use this location instead. He said that if I brought you to UA, he wouldn't be able to resist meeting you."
Entering the building, I was surprised to see that it was a relatively generic gymnasium, not unlike any other you'd find on the main UA campus. While it made sense, I had still been hoping for some kind of awesome safehouse.
Shaking off my mild disappointment, I turned to address my mentor. "Why does he want to avoid meeting me? He's one of the only people who knows about One for All, so we'll end up speaking at some point anyway."
All Might nodded in affirmation. "That's true, but Nedzu feels that meeting you prior to the exam interview would give you an unfair advantage over the other applicants."
"Interview? I thought there was only a practical and a written exam for the hero course?" I asked bemusedly.
Mirroring my puzzled expression, All Might replied. "For the standard entrance exam yes, but as my protege, I had planned to recommend you myself. Pro heroes are only permitted one UA recommendation in their lifetime, so when it inevitably leaks that I was the one to recommend you, all eyes will be on your progress." I raised an eyebrow, and All Might awkwardly rubbed his neck. "Uh, no pressure." He added apologetically.
I rolled my eyes with a snort, but paused to think about what he had said before answering.
Is that a better plan? I hadn't even thought about the possibility of All Might recommending me. If I'm not mistaken, Yaoyorozu and Todoroki were the two strongest canonically, not counting Yoarashi. That means either Tokage or Honenuki would lose their spot, even if they'd easily get in through the regular exam. That would also result in a shuffle of who goes into what class. Myself or Todoroki going to Class B would be a disaster. Even Momo would be less than ideal. That's not even taking into account why my original plan relied on me placing first in the entrance exam.
Coming to a decision, I bowed to All Might, offering a grateful smile as I rose. "Thank you, All Might. You honor me with your offer, but I must decline."
All Might started in surprise, but quickly recovered and furrowed his brow in thought. After a moment, he snorted softly and gave me a knowing look. "The sports festival. Am I correct in assuming that you mean to place first in the hero entrance exam so that you are the one who gives the commencement speech?"
Can you read fucking minds?
"Can you read fucking minds?" I asked dumbfounded.
"Language!" Recovery Girl chastised as she entered the gymnasium pulling a small cart of medical equipment behind her.
All Might laughed as I hastily apologized to the new arrival. Once Recovery Girl had made her way to the center of the room with us and we exchanged greetings, All Might answered my semi-rhetorical question.
"I approve of your plan, young Midoriya, and while I can't read minds, I have grown accustomed to your way of doing things. I have to say, if I hadn't chosen you to inherit One for All, you would have done an amazing job as a hero PR representative." All Might said.
Recovery Girl smacked her cane against All Might's shin before turning to address me, leaving the Symbol of Peace rubbing his leg petulantly. "Yes, yes, I'm sure you would give your clients plenty of reckless ideas." She began as she started poking various muscle groups on my body with her small fingers. "It does seem like he has progressed a significant amount since I last saw him." Recovery Girl hummed.
Turning abruptly, she smacked All Might on his head with her cane. "Have you been giving him steroids!? Why is he half a foot taller!?" She demanded accusingly.
Glaring at me as I howled with laughter, All Might rubbed his head and attempted to deny the accusation. "No, of course not! Young Midoriya had several innovative ideas that helped him progress far faster than either of us expected, but they were achieved legitimately and by natural means… Mostly." All Might added quietly at the end.
Catching his muttered addendum, Recovery Girl delivered another swift strike to his arm before sighing heavily. "I suppose what's done is done, but I don't approve of you passing on your quirk before he's ready."
Deciding to step in in order to help my mentor, I interrupted before All Might was on the receiving end of any more assault and battery offenses. "We know, and generally speaking we both agree, but we also agreed that given One for All's exponential strength enhancement, I will need to actually use it to build up further resilience. We decided it was better to do that in a safe and controlled environment, rather than me attempting to use it for the first time at the entrance exam."
Recovery Girl sighed. "Very well, I'll help you, but please try to limit the number of times you need to utilize my quirk. I can undo significant damage, but repeated major injuries will begin to degrade your bones and ligaments."
Nodding in understanding, I gave them both a thumbs up as they took several steps back.
"Alright, young Midoriya. For today, we're going to try and slowly build up power. We'll test your limits from the bottom up." All Might began.
"I brought a portable X-ray machine with me, so after each activation, we will check to see if there is any damage." Recovery Girl added.
"Start with just an arm until we know what you can handle. We'll keep increasing the power level until you develop a microfracture. Once that happens, Recovery Girl will heal you. For such a small injury, you should be fine to continue after that, so we'll increase from there until your bones fracture outright. Most likely you'll be too exhausted to continue after a second healing, especially for an injury like that, so we will reconvene a few days from now to test the limit at which your bones will fully break." All Might finished.
Recovery Girl tutted in disapproval at the intended self-destruction, but nodded in agreement.
"Alright, got it." I replied.
"As we discussed, I was able to use One for All at full power right away, and the quirk grew with me, so I never had to worry about the recoil causing harm. That said, I do regulate the power I use constantly, so that I don't accidentally launch children into the lower atmosphere whenever I give them a high five." All Might said with a chuckle that was instantly met by another smack to his shin.
Ignoring All Might's shouts of pain, I attempted to focus on the power that now dwelt within me. One for All answered my call quickly, and I felt a surge of energy rush into my arm.
"Holy shit! This feels amazing!" I shouted as tendrils of red and purple energy raced across my arm and arcs of green lightning began to dance across the surface of my skin.
"Right!?"
"Language!"
Okay, don't do what Tony Stark did. Start small. Really, really small. Think of it like a volume setting on a pair of headphones. Set the volume to one percent, and…
I threw a punch, and my arm shattered.
Chapter 10: Start Line
The breeze feels good, and I can't say I miss the smell of garbage.
It had been a little over a month since I had cleared Dagoba Beach of the heaps of trash that had once plagued it. All Might had anonymously donated to a local community group to rebuild the pier as well. At one point I had even been interviewed by local news about the cleanup.
The process had been hastened exponentially once I was able to utilize One for All. After the first few days of very unsuccessfully attempting to harness my new quirk, I finally managed to throttle the power down to a manageable level. Even then, it had taken a few more days before I could use it comfortably. But once I was able to operate Full Cowlingat even just one percent, it hadn't taken long to finish the task All Might had given me what felt like a lifetime ago.
"Are you ready?" The man in question asked from beside me.
"For the hundredth time this morning, yes, All Might. I'm ready." I answered indulgingly.
"Sorry, I'm just a bit nervous." All Might admitted as he rubbed his neck in embarrassment.
I chuckled at my mentor's concern. All Might had grown increasingly anxious in the final days running up to the UA entrance exam, asking at least a half dozen times per day if I needed anything for the written or practical exams, or if One for All was behaving normally.
I know he cares, but I feel like he should be the stoic one. We're lucky I'm not worried at all, or the two of us would likely be a wreck. God knows my mom is.
Inko had been fretting even more than All Might. The first few weeks spent trying to harness One for All had been a nightmare, with Inko rapidly oscillating between forbidding me from becoming a hero, crying that I was getting hurt, and telling me how proud she was because I was persevering and getting better. I was lucky I finally managed to control One for All when I did, or else I may have had to check her into the hospital for tears-induced dehydration.
Truthfully, I would probably be a lot more nervous if not for the fact that I know far more stressful events are on the horizon.
The USJ attack, the Sports Festival, Hosu. And that was just the first couple months of my first year. Compared to the trials to come, the entrance exam was a cakewalk.
Turning to my mentor, I placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I'll be fine, All Might, really. Besides, shouldn't you be the one trying to calm me down?" I teased.
All Might let out a bark of laughter before descending into a coughing fit. Once he recovered, he wiped away the blood with his handkerchief and retorted. "I would if you showed any sign of being worried at all. If anything, I need to tell you not to underestimate the exam."
"Don't worry, I'm going to give it everything I've got. Those robots won't stand a chance." I declared, punching my palm for emphasis.
"No, they really won't." All Might agreed with a proud smile.
We returned to our companionable silence for a few minutes until it was time to leave.
"I know I'm a broken record, but humor me." All Might said as we made our way down the pier. "What are your restriction levels?"
I rolled my eyes good naturedly at All Might's worrying. "Five percent is comfortable, eight percent is painful, but manageable, and longer than five minutes at eight percent leads to microfractures. Ten percent is immediate microfractures, fifteen percent is partial fractures, twenty percent is full break, and anything over thirty completely trashes whatever limb I used, so may as well pump it to one hundred." I answered.
All Might spluttered blood before rebuking me. "No! Just because thirty percent disables your limb, doesn't mean you may as well just go all out. Higher percentages still increase the damage, even if there is no functional difference in terms of your ability to operate the limb afterwards. Like Recovery Girl said, repeated usage of one hundred percent at this stage could cause permanent damage."
Laughing at All Might's reprimand, I nodded in acquiescence. "I know, All Might. I'm just kidding."
"Sheesh kid, you're gonna be the death of me." All Might muttered with a shake of his head.
"Probably, yeah." I agreed.
Teacher and student shared a laugh as we made our way to All Might's car.
Leaning against the passenger door of All Might's station wagon, I poked my head partially in through the window. "Any last words of advice, old man?"
Carefully checking our surroundings to make sure none of the middle schoolers currently making their way towards the UA front entrance were paying attention, All Might puffed up into his muscle form.
"I told you to avoid going beyond your limits, but if you find yourself in a tough situation, clench your buttcheeks, and yell this from the depths of your heart. Smash!" All Might whisper shouted, grimacing as he accidentally dented the roof of his car when he thrust his fist upwards in imagined triumph.
"..."
I stared at him in silence for several seconds before he cracked under the pressure.
"You'll do great! Best of luck, young Midoriya!" All Might flashed a quick double thumbs up before punching it down the street towards the entrance to the staff garage.
Shaking my head at how the forty year veteran pro somehow managed to be both the best and worst teacher of all time, I turned and made my way down the street towards the main entrance.
UA really is impressive. It definitely looks a lot bigger in real life than it does in the anime. I wonder if-
"Deku?" I may have only spoken with him once after coming to this world, but Izuku's memories ensured I would never forget his voice, even if the use of my nickname hadn't been a dead giveaway as to the speaker's identity.
Turning to the source, I found Bakugou staring at me like I'd grown two heads.
I wonder if that expression is going to be a recurring theme in our conversations. Though here it makes sense I suppose. He was a bit taller than me previously, but now I've got about half a foot on him.
"Katsuki." I acknowledged with a short nod.
Bakugou stared at me with wide eyes for another few seconds, but just as I was about to continue on my way, he finally found his words.
"How the fuck? When the fuck did you get that tall?" he asked incredulously.
"It's a side effect of my quirk. Once I started putting on muscle, I kind of ballooned in terms of height." I answered disinterestedly.
Schooling his features, Bakugou finally returned to his usual sneer. "Tch, whatever. Get out of my way, nerd."
Sidestepping in order to avoid the attempted shoulder check, I waited until he had passed me before calling out. "Katsuki."
Coming to a halt, Bakugou looked up at the sky in irritation before glancing back over his shoulder at me. "What the fuck is it, Deku?"
Giving him a smirk, I decided to poke the bear. "Good luck."
As expected, Bakugou's eyes lit up and he barked back at me. "I don't need luck, I'm the fucking best!"
I snickered under my breath for a moment as he stomped off before following after him.
His words don't have the same bite they used to, so that's progress at least. Either way, we won't be sitting next to each other in all likelihood since I'm not an Aldera student anymore. Shit, I hadn't thought about how being homeschooled would affect my group. I might not be with Uraraka. I suppose it doesn't really matter. It isn't like the staff would let her get hurt… But wait, she received a good number of rescue points. Did she need those to pass, or was that just a buffer that elevated her into the top five? Shit. I guess there's no changing it now. I'll just have to hope she and I are in the same group.
As I mulled over the unforeseen potential consequences of my decision, I failed to notice a broken stone in the pathway leading to the main stairs. In what must have been an act of cosmic fate, I proceeded to clip the stone and take the expressway to the ground face first.
Didn't Izuku trip over himself? Am I at a different spot? Is Uraraka not here? I should probably brace myself if she isn't…
Luckily for me, Uraraka was indeed behind me, and mercifully rescued me from my indecision.
"Are you okay?" Uraraka asked.
Holding my hand out in front of me, I gently pushed the ground so that I began slowly spinning backward.
"Whoa. This feels awesome." I said, more to myself than Uraraka or the dozens of other students watching.
Giggling, Uraraka reached out and grabbed me before I could tilt too far backward, setting me back on the ground with a smile before releasing her quirk's hold on me. "I stopped you with my quirk. I'm sorry I didn't ask first, but I figured you wouldn't mind me catching you."
Returning her smile with one of my own, I waved my hand in dismissal. "Don't worry about it. Thanks for catching me. I'm Izuku Midoriya, are you here to take the hero exam too?"
"Yep, sure am. My name is Ochaco Uraraka." She replied with a happy nod. Uraraka glanced at the schoolhouse before averting her eyes off into the sky. "Man, isn't this like, way nerve wracking?"
I chuckled and shook my head. "With a quirk like that, you've got absolutely nothing to be worried about. You'll kill this exam and make a great hero." I reassured her with the brightest smile I could muster.
Looking back to me, Uraraka's smile returned. "Thank you. I needed that. I'm sure you'll do great too!" Noticing the surrounding students in a rush, Uraraka pulled out her phone in order to check the time. "Oh shoot, we better get inside before we're late. It was nice meeting you, Midoriya! I hope I see you again in class!" She yelled over her shoulder as she hurriedly made her way up the stairs.
"See you around, Uraraka!" I called after her.
She's just as adorable in reality as she is in the anime.
After several hours of mercilessly tedious written exams, I made my way to the auditorium and then my assigned seat. As expected, Bakugou was nowhere in sight, and I didn't recognize the people on either side of me. Settling in for Present Mic's extremely awkward attempts to rile up the crowd, I was surprised when many of the students responded to his cues.
I had continued Izuku's tradition of listening to Present Mic's radio show every morning while training, and I had to admit, he was pretty funny. The crowd's silence had seemingly just been a gag in the anime, and it made sense that in reality plenty of people would play along, especially his fans.
Iida's interruption on the other hand, was just as awkward as I remembered, and it felt like the entire auditorium let out a sigh of relief when he finally sat back down. With one final Plus Ultra from the assembled students, myself included, Present Mic dismissed us, and we followed the staff out to the buses that would take us to our assigned practical exam area.
A short ride later, and I was standing before the titanic gate to Battle Center B as it slowly opened in preparation for the beginning of the practical exam. I didn't remember which one Izuku had been assigned to canonically, but when I saw Iida standing off to the side, I knew I had managed to be sent to the same one despite my change of school.
Looking over the assembled students, there were a handful I recognized like Uraraka and Aoyama, but most were randoms I didn't know, or I only remembered from the entrance exam episode itself. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Present Mic climb out onto the exterior of the watchtower.
Alright, showtime.
Setting the timer on my watch to ten minutes, I lowered into a ready stance as Present Mic activated his speakers.
"RIGHT, LET'S START!"
Chapter 11: Clench Your Buttcheeks
"RIGHT, LET'S START!"
One for All, Full Cowling, five percent.
Feeling the now familiar rush of energy coursing through my body, I couldn't help but smirk when the applicants around me took surprised steps back from the boy seemingly draped in green lightning.
The lightning is only cosmetic and doesn't have any physical effect. I can even turn it off if I want to, but there's nothing wrong with a little showboating.
Activating the ten minute timer on my watch, I pushed off the ground and shot through the entrance to Ground B.
"WELL DON'T JUST STAND THERE! THAT KID HAS THE RIGHT IDEA! GET MOVING! THERE ARE NO COUNTDOWNS IN REAL BATTLES! RUN RUN RUN LISTENERS!"
Snorting at Present Mic's antics, I latched onto the window ledge of a building a few blocks from the entrance before surveying the streets below. The robots were scattered about fairly evenly, and I quickly decided to make my way deeper into the training ground.
No reason for me to destroy everything near the entrance. It won't hurt speed types like Iida, but the slower students like Uraraka will be affected. Canonically Izuku had zero combat points, so I'd prefer to avoid any meddling. I don't remember seeing any A or B kids besides Iida, Aoyama, and Uraraka, but I don't know if I'd be able to recognize the real life versions of the B kids without their hero costumes. It's best not to mess with things, so I'll just go deeper into the city.
As I leapt across the rooftops, I vaguely recalled a fanfic I had read a few months before coming to this world. Deciding to see if that author's assumption had been correct, I jumped to the top of one of the taller buildings in the training ground. Given the size of the area, it was highly unlikely that any student would make it from one end to the other in only ten minutes, especially since the faster students would be on the frontline and thus too busy fighting to push further in.
Scanning the surrounding area, I noticed that while there were plenty of robots spread around the training ground, most were slowly meandering their way towards the main entrance. My knowledge of UA's inner functions suggested that the school wouldn't bother airlifting the robots into the training grounds or driving them in on surface streets. Instead, they were almost certainly delivered via the intricate underground rail system, or assembled onsite.
Either way, there has to be a primary distribution center. It's possible that there is a fixed amount of robots per training area, but something tells me it's far more likely that the number of active robots is kept relatively consistent as a contingency, just in case a student like Bakugou comes along and destroys a substantial number singlehandedly. The staff will want to make sure the other students in the group are still given a fair chance, which means… There!
Channeling eight percent into my legs, I launched off the roof of the skyscraper. Wincing at the increased strain, I reduced the power back to five percent as I landed on a rooftop two blocks over.
The number of robots is much denser here, and they are dispersing with more urgency.
Searching for any sign of a production or arrival terminal, I finally spotted my target, a large warehouse tucked away behind several skyscrapers in the northwestern outskirts of the training ground.
They're even taking advantage of most people's instinct to search in the same pattern they would read, which in Japan, is right to left. Clever.
Leaping off the roof, I dragged my hand down the side of the building, ripping out concrete and plaster as I slowed my descent before freefalling the final few stories and landing on the pavement below with a satisfying 'crack'.
"EIGHT MINUTES REMAINING!" Present Mic's voice echoed across the training ground.
When I first spotted my target, the robots had been emerging from the warehouse at a modest trickle, but as the sounds of battle coming from the direction of the entrance began to intensify, that trickle had quickly become a flood. Upon my landing, the veritable army of machines had ceased their march towards the frontline and turned their menacing gazes upon me.
Unable to contain my excitement, a wicked grin crossed my features as I settled into a battle stance. "This is where the fun begins."
Launching off the ground, I jump kicked into the robot closest to me, sending the one pointer's shattered remains flying into the cluster of other machines behind it like canister shot out of a cannon.
"Defend the assembly center!" One of the three pointers commanded in a deep robotic voice.
I have no intention of damaging the facility itself. That wouldn't be in the spirit of the exercise, but they don't need to know that. Whatever gets them to clump together and become easier targets.
Any robots in the area that hadn't targeted me when I first arrived immediately turned to join their comrades. With more emerging from the warehouse and others on their way to the entrance turning back to defend their assembly point, I was quickly surrounded by what must have been at least one hundred robots of various point values.
Straightening to my full height, I clenched my fist in front of me and projected my voice as far as it could carry. "Perfect, now I can fight in every direction! Give me everything you have, clankers!"
"For the new robot order! Destroy all humans!" The machines replied in unison.
What is with the UA robots and shit talking humanity? I feel like there should be more concern about that than there is. Though, now that I think about it, I suppose it's far more likely that Nedzu programmed them to say that stuff in order to make humans uncomfortable.
Chaos descended as I dove headlong into the mass of enemies, throwing out kicks and punches at every opportunity as I weaved between the robot army, dodging robotic limbs and incoming stun missiles.
The pure energy of One for All and the adrenaline pumping through my veins was exhilarating. All Might had 'sparred' with me a handful of times during my training, but it had effectively been little more than slow motion action and reaction walkthroughs. This on the other hand, while not 'real' combat, was anything but slow motion. The machines were slow enough that a regular human could dodge their attacks, let alone someone supercharged with One for All, but the sheer number of them was making evasion difficult.
A one pointer's arm managed to clip me in the side and throw me off balance, but I harnessed the momentum to spin around, dropping to one knee as I sent the offending machine's head flying with a ten percent Delaware Smash. Wincing at the pain that lanced through my finger at the increased power usage, I charged back into the horde of enemies, throwing two one pointers at the supporting pillars of a nearby billboard.
As the structure began to collapse without its anchors, I jumped over the crowd, planting both feet on the back of the billboard before using eight percent to launch the massive picture of a smiling Nedzu down the street, crushing at least two dozen robots in the process. The sharp pain in my legs immediately informed me that I had overexerted, and I used the chaos as a distraction to dive into one of the adjacent buildings.
Fuck, that hurts. Probably a partial fracture. I'm trying to switch power levels too fast. All Might and I practiced for this, but there's a difference between a controlled environment and a live exercise. There's a reason Izuku created Full Cowl. Not only is full body stronger than the same power level focused on a single point, but it removes the need to keep adjusting the 'volume' mentally.
As I considered my next plan of action, a portion of the wall exploded beside me, scattering debris through the empty lobby of the faux hotel and forcing me back out into the street.
No time to catch my breath. I built up an incredible amount of stamina over the past year, but using One for All non stop at high power like this is still tiring me out faster than I thought it would.
Dodging another stun missile, I buried my fist into the torso of a two pointer before glancing down at my watch. Four minutes remained in the practical exam, which meant it was approximately one minute before the zero pointer emerged.
The zero pointer will most likely be located somewhere between here and the main entrance. If I leave now, I'll probably be able to get back to the main body of students before it emerges.
Deciding on my course of action, I threw the hulk of the two pointer I had just destroyed into the group of three pointers that had been barraging me with missiles before turning and making my way back towards the entrance.
Pushing through the pain in my legs, I jumped onto the side of a nearby building and began pinballing my way down the street, firing eight percent Delaware Smashes off at any robots I passed along the way. While not as powerful as using ten percent, I was still able to score several more kills from hits to critical components.
With the sounds of battle growing increasingly louder, it wasn't long before I reached the students who had pushed the furthest into the city. Using a three pointer as a landing pad, I came to a skidding halt at a crossroads and surveyed the situation around me. More than a few students had stopped to stare when I arrived seemingly out of nowhere, but several others were still engaged in their own battles with various robot types.
Just as I was about to throw myself back into the action, the ground began to shake under my feet. Quickly launching myself onto a nearby building, I watched a massive cloud of dust billow into the sky as the zero pointer lifted itself from the ground and began tearing through the surrounding buildings. I couldn't see much more than glimpses of its hull through the dust, but I could tell it was several blocks away.
Shit, I'm further than I thought.
Sprinting down the street, I ignored the cries of panic and surprise from those who were already fleeing from the colossal new enemy, focusing on my objective of reaching Uraraka before the zero pointer diverted course to avoid crushing a child beneath its treads. It may have been unnecessary, but part of me felt obligated to repeat Izuku's feat of destroying the new arrival.
Approaching the area, I found several students paralyzed with fear as others heedlessly ran past them in an attempt to escape. I spotted Iida out of the corner of my eye as well, ignoring several panicking students as he made his way towards the outskirts of the city, likely hunting for more robots to increase his score in the final minutes.
The Hosu incident completely changed who he was as a person, but honestly, especially now that I'm here, Stain really was correct. Pre-Hosu Iida has many of the traits that embody what is wrong with the modern hero.
Snapping back to the situation at hand, I dashed between those who were frozen by fear, dragging them to their feet and shoving them back towards the main entrance, destroying the occasional robot that attempted to prey on the shellshocked students. Surprisingly, a couple of those fleeing the area mustered their courage and stopped to assist me.
"Ow! Someone, please help!" A voice cried out behind me as I dragged another student to their feet.
Whipping around, I saw Uraraka pinned under a pile of rubble. It was a running joke in the fandom that the girl who could make anything weightless had been pinned under some rocks, but now that I was here, it made sense. Uraraka was lying on her stomach with her left foot and right leg below the knee crushed under a pile of rubble. She was desperately trying to twist her body so that she could touch the rocks holding her in place, but between the pain and panic, she wasn't able to think clearly and find the precise angle needed.
Then there was the goliath that towered over her. The zero pointer had been obscured by dust when it first emerged, and I had been preoccupied with the other students as I approached, but now that I had turned my attention towards Uraraka, the sheer size of the looming machine was made apparent. It wouldn't actually kill either of us of course, but given my chosen profession, that was largely irrelevant to my decision to intervene.
Alright, yeah, that thing is intimidating. There's no way Izuku used one hundred percent just to reach its head though. It was probably closer to thirty or forty percent, but given my legs will shatter at thirty, that's irrelevant. Uraraka will catch me if I break my legs, but I'd prefer to be able to stand under my own power at the end of this.
Glancing at the buildings flanking the zero pointer, I plotted my approach vector. Taking a deep breath, I charged forward into the cloud of dust.
"Please! Someone, please help me!" Uraraka screamed through her sobs as she desperately reached for the rocks pinning her legs.
Fuck, this is a lot more real than the anime. I don't know how the teachers can listen to that and not immediately shut down the exam.
Reaching a point close to the zero pointer, I shouted as loud as I could over the cacophony of noise created by the behemoth's treads. "Everything's going to be okay, Uraraka! Because I am here!"
I shouldn't have said that, it's too soon. The teachers are watching.
It doesn't matter now. Focus! Don't be caught off guard again, plan for adrenaline fueled overcharge. One for All, twelve percent!
Jumping off the ground towards the building on my right, I felt the concrete crack under my feet and grit my teeth as stabbing pain lanced through my legs. Bracing myself, I immediately redirected my momentum to launch off the building, flying back across the street to a higher point on the opposite high rise. With one last push, I streaked through the air towards the head of the zero pointer as it struggled to track my movements.
I can still move my legs, and I was able to push off both buildings, so if there are breaks, they aren't crippling. Even so, that will complicate-
No, now isn't the time to worry about the landing.
Soaring upwards, the wind whipped at my face as I drew back my right arm, feeling my jacket's sleeve begin to peel away before the unrestrained power of One for All.
As I came face to face with the blazing red eyes of the colossal machine, I clenched my butt cheeks, and yelled from the depths of my heart.
Chapter 12: Hero Landing
Pain.
As I slowly began to descend back to Earth, I grit my teeth at the overwhelming pain emanating from my shattered right arm. I had assumed that my first attempt to use One for All had been a one hundred percent discharge, but it appeared that I had been incorrect. My first attempt to restrain the power, while unsuccessful in terms of preventing damage, must have succeeded at least somewhat in lowering the power level. Now that I had completely removed the limiter, I realized that the true consequences of one hundred percent were far more devastating.
It'll be even worse once the adrenaline wears off. Thankfully, the exam will be over in about two minutes or so.
Rotating myself midair so that I was falling feet first, I prepared for landing.
I could use my left arm to punch myself toward a building and then ride down like I did when I arrived at the robot's 'base', or I could just try to land on my feet. One for All increases durability as well as strength, but my legs are at the breaking point. They may even be broken already. If I land using One for All, especially at only five or eight percent, they could shatter entirely. I'm only falling from a few hundred feet, so I doubt I'll die, but…
With the ground rushing up to meet me, I made my decision. The landing would be a perfect opportunity to test what would take precedence, the damage caused by One for All to my body in conjunction with the impact of a several hundred foot fall, or the durability One for Allprovided.
I saw Uraraka desperately pulling herself on top of the destroyed hulk of a three pointer, levitating it and trying to push it in my direction. My timing must have been different from Izuku's in canon, as she was too far to reach me in time. I noticed out of the corner of my eye one of Ectoplasm's clones sprinting towards me as well, but at the last moment, it tilted its head as if listening to something, before skidding to a halt and jumping back into the alley from whence it came.
All Might or Nedzu called him off. Good to see they have some precautions at least. But now it's time for the moment of truth. I'll use my left arm to help cushion the blow. It'll also make for a cool hero landing.
Increasing Full Cowling to eight percent, I channeled One for All to ten percent in my legs and left arm, gritting my teeth at the intense pain as I braced for impact.
With a thundering 'boom', I slammed into the pavement in a three point landing, cratering the road as I made landfall.
Fucking. Pain.
I wasn't dead, which was certainly a favorable result, but it was apparent that even eight percent was not adequate to completely mitigate that level of fall damage. The impact had rattled me from head to toe, and I could tell that my body had instinctively increased the power level of Full Cowling to approximately ten percent, leaving my entire body screaming in pain.
Well, at least I don't notice the pain in my right arm as much anymore. I thought with a self deprecating snort. What's done is done, time for the coup de grace.
Standing tall, I ignored the sharp pains in my legs and back as I curled my left hand into a fist and raised it to the sky as the zero pointer's ruined hulk crumbled to the ground in a thunderous cacophony of broken metal.
Hearing another loud crash from behind me, I turned to see Uraraka puking up her guts as she leaned over the side of the now grounded three pointer she was laying on. I started to jog towards her, but the searing pain in my legs forced me into an uncomfortable stagger.
"Are you alright? I saw you trying to get to me as I was landing. Thank you." I said sincerely as I held her hair back with my left hand.
Catching her breath, Uraraka shook her head before looking up at me reverently. "No, thank you. You saved my life."
Figuring there was no use pointing out that the zero pointer would never have actually run her over, I simply nodded and flashed a bright smile. "Don't mention it. You would have done the same for me."
I took a moment to remove my tattered jacket and turn my tank top into a makeshift sling for my right arm before focusing on Uraraka's lower body. Dread flashed through her eyes when I winced at the mangled state of her right leg and left foot.
"How bad is it? I've been too afraid to look." Uraraka asked worriedly as the adrenaline began to wear off.
"You'll be fine. I'll get you to Recovery Girl. She'll fix you up good as new." I answered with what I hoped was a reassuring smile.
Uraraka gave a relieved sigh. "Thank God. It hurts really bad. I was afraid I might have lost one of my feet."
With just a bit less luck, she might have. I know Recovery Girl is their excuse to run these exams, but holy shit, someone could legitimately die or be maimed. Recovery Girl can't grow back limbs or repair a crushed skull.
A sudden whirring sound caught my attention and I turned to see dozens of robots rapidly emerging from behind the broken wreckage of the zero pointer.
"There is the human that attacked our base of operations. Terminate him!" One of the two pointers commanded in its oddly high pitched robotic voice.
"Wait, what!? Where did they come from!?" Uraraka cried in panic.
Oh, you have got to be shitting me. They must have followed me all the way from the warehouse.
Quickly picking Uraraka up by the waist, I threw her over my left shoulder, muttering a brief apology at her cry of pain. I turned to jump back towards the main entrance, but found I could barely stumble forward.
My legs are shot. I likely have multiple complex fractures at this point. I can't run let alone jump. Gotta stand my ground.
Casting a glance over my shoulder at the onrushing machines, I adjusted Uraraka further backwards.
"Hold onto me as best you can. I know you can't use your feet, but I need my left arm." I ordered.
"Okay, I'll try." Uraraka replied as she wrapped her arms around my neck and attempted to loop her mostly intact left leg around my waist.
Shit, I can't move much, but Air Force at eight percent isn't guaranteed to take them out. Even if I increase the power, there's dozens of them. If I try to destroy one at a time, we'll be overrun.
Gritting my teeth, I set my feet and raised my left arm, preparing my index finger to fire.
No point in holding back then. I'll take them all out in one blow.
"DELAWARE SMASH!" I shouted as a burst of air blasted across the street, shattering what few windows remained in the vicinity and decimating the entire column of machines approaching from the right side of the downed zero pointer.
Grunting in pain, I ignored the crooked, purple remains of my index finger and shifted to face the left column before unleashing another shot with my middle finger.
"Behind us!" Uraraka called out.
Spinning around, I found more robots pouring into the street from the alleys to either side of us.
"Oh, come on!" I cried out in frustration.
Firing off another shot with first my ring finger, and then my pinky, I prepared to reuse my index as Uraraka announced another wave approaching from behind the fallen zero pointer.
Before I could open fire on the new arrivals, a clamor behind us drew my attention, and I turned to see several students running full speed towards us, a few of them firing off ranged quirks as they engaged the robots that were continuing to emerge from the side alleys a handful at a time.
"Hang on, we're coming!" One of the students shouted.
With our rear secured, I turned back towards the main force approaching from the front and prepared another Delaware Smash.
"And that's it. TIMES UP!" Present Mic's voice boomed over the battlefield.
As if a lightswitch had been flipped, the robots immediately halted their assault, lowering their arms and about facing before proceeding back towards their point of origin at a leisurely pace.
Resisting the urge to immediately collapse to my knees, I swung Uraraka around as gently as I could, holding her in one arm as I backed up against a broken two pointer and slid down, carrying her with me until she landed in my lap. Ignoring her small blush, I carefully slid her off to the side so she was leaning up against the metal plating alongside me. I winced sympathetically when her blush was immediately replaced by a grimace of pain as her feet touched the ground.
"Sorry." I apologized quickly.
Uraraka's eyes were shut tightly in discomfort, but she shook her head. "No, it's okay. That's twice you saved my life."
"The zero pointer was one thing, but you would think the staff would at least call off the rabble given our condition. Though, I suppose villains won't exactly give us time to recover. I should've been more careful to ensure I would still have mobility after taking down the big guy." I groaned in self reproach.
Uraraka opened her eyes to look at me, but before she could say anything a new voice broke the stunned silence of the other students that had begun to slowly congregate around us.
"Very nice! Good work all around! You're heroes in my eyes, every one of you." Recovery Girl called out to the assembled students.
I chuckled in amusement as she quickly made her way towards us through the crowd, passing out her energy gummies as she went.
Coming to a halt in front of us, Recovery Girl surveyed the damage to my right arm and the fingers on my left hand. "I would smack you upside the head if I knew it wouldn't cause any more damage. That was completely reckless." She admonished.
Waving her hands in front of her, Uraraka hurriedly came to my defense. "No, please ma'am, he got those injuries saving me! It was my fault, not his!"
Uraraka is such a sweetheart. Unfortunately, nothing can stay Recovery Girl's wrath.
Giving Uraraka a kind smile, Recovery Girl stepped away from me and towards my companion. "Oh, don't blame yourself deary. This isn't the first time he's done something like this, and I doubt it will be the last." She finished with a resigned sigh.
She's got me there.
"Oh my, your feet have taken quite a beating. Let me fix them right up. My healing takes a lot of energy, so you'll be asleep for a while, but don't you worry about a thing. We've already let your parents know that you'll be in the nurse's office taking a nap until this evening."
The crowd cried out in a mixture of shock and awe as Recovery Girl's lips extended out towards Uraraka's right leg. What little color remained in Uraraka's face drained away as she watched her leg twist back into its normal position and the lacerations fade away, leaving no sign of injury besides her bloodied, shredded pants and mangled shoes.
Seeming to have suddenly remembered something, Uraraka turned back to me as her eyes began to droop. "I didn't… I wanted to thank… what's your-" Uraraka started sleepily as she struggled to stay conscious.
I laughed as she fought against the side effect I had experienced many times in the previous months. "Don't worry about it. You can thank me when we see each other in class at UA." I said with a smile.
Uraraka attempted to give a smile of her own, but was only able to manage a dopey grin before slipping into unconsciousness.
Recovery Girl motioned for her robotic assistants to bring over a stretcher for Uraraka, pointing her cane at me threateningly when she noticed me unsteadily rising to my feet.
"Oh no, you aren't walking anywhere." She ordered preemptively.
Leaning up against the two pointer, I raised my less damaged hand in surrender. "Alright, fine, but I'd prefer not to lose consciousness in the middle of the road, surrounded by robots that just spent the last ten minutes trying to beat me within an inch of my life." I retorted.
Huffing in annoyance, Recovery Girl nodded and motioned for another stretcher. Her disapproving frown intensified when I refused to lay down, opting to remain sitting up as I cradled my shattered arm.
As we made our way out of the testing ground, several students stepped forward, congratulating me for defeating the zero pointer or asking questions about my quirk. A few swift strikes to their shins with her cane sent the offending students scattering, but Recovery Girl revealed her soft side when we neared the main entrance and a few students approached to thank me for helping them when they had frozen during the zero pointer's initial assault. Sparing time for a few words, it wasn't long before Recovery Girl prodded me along to the ambulance.
Leaning into my bed in the nurse's office, I allowed myself to finally relax as Recovery Girl got Uraraka's unconscious form settled into her own bed.
Everything hurt. I had gone completely overboard and surpassed my current limit. Attempting to distract myself from the searing pain in my arms and legs and the dull throbbing everywhere else, I began going over the exam in my head.
I let the adrenaline get to me during the battle by the warehouse. I got too riled up and I went into the fight against the zero pointer already pushing my body's limit. I'm lucky my legs didn't end up worse off. Not to mention it is possible to fail the entrance exam if you are 'captured' by one of the robots. That may very well have happened if I had shattered my legs.
A sudden 'bang' snapped me from my rumination, and I looked up to see All Might standing at the now slightly damaged door in his muscle form.
Taking a One for All powered step to cover the distance from the entry to my bed in an instant, All Might flexed his arms in his signature triumphal pose. "Young Midoriya, that was the most-" All Might began boisterously.
With unanticipated speed, Recovery Girl was on him before he could even finish his sentence. "Absolutely not! You will not praise him for such reckless and dangerous behavior! He was hurt badly, and could have been hurt even worse. I have half a mind to reprimand Ectoplasm as well for not stopping him from making that ridiculous landing. And stop yelling, I have another patient, and while she won't be waking up anytime soon, I still don't want you interrupting her rest." Recovery Girl lambasted with a sharp whack to All Might's head.
All Might is like seven feet tall in muscle form. How the fuck does she even reach his head with that damn cane?
Cradling his head defensively, All Might whimpered an acknowledgement before pulling up a chair next to my bed and taking a seat.
Tutting in disapproval, Recovery Girl made her way across the room to her desk. "He demanded that I wait until we got back here to heal his injuries because he knew you'd come to see him, but we've delayed long enough as it is. Five minutes, and then I'm healing his injuries. You can talk more when he wakes up later this evening." She called over her shoulder.
Leaning towards me, All Might raised a hand to his mouth and stage whispered. "You did an amazing job, young Izuku. I have never been more proud. Your assault on the distribution center, the smash against the Executor-class robot, and that landing! It was so cool!"
"I can still hear you! You never have been able to keep your voice down in that form, All Might." Recovery Girl chastised from her desk.
Flinching at the reprimand, All Might grumbled something about Recovery Girl yelling too before leaning back in his seat. "I was planning to wait to talk to you until you received your acceptance letter so that the reveal would be more impactful, but after that performance-" He began.
"Wait, you were planning to ghost me until the letters were sent out?" I interrupted.
Ribbing him for this is the least I can do for the week of hell he put Izuku through in canon.
All Might blanched, raising his hands placatingly. "Well, I… I just thought it would increase the suspense! You know, like they do at award shows!"
I gave him an unamused look, and All Might coughed awkwardly before changing the subject. "Well anyway, there wasn't much point, given your performance. You broke the points record quite handily." He said.
"What was the final tally?" I asked curiously.
"The judges are still reviewing the footage and tallying up rescue points, but your final combat score came in at one hundred and fifty-four. Most of that coming from the billboard attack and your finger attacks in the final seconds of the exam." All Might answered before spreading his arms, his smile somehow growing even wider. "I couldn't be prouder, my boy."
Returning his smile with one of my own, we were interrupted as Recovery Girl made her way back across the room.
"Yes, yes, it was very impressive. Now it's time for me to heal his injuries. You need to go back to the observation room, All Might. You may not be one of the judges, but you should still be there while they assign rescue points. So go on, you can come back later after Midoriya has had time to rest." Recovery Girl said as she swatted at All Might's rear with her cane to force him out of the room.
"I will be back later to drive you home, young Izuku!" All Might called over his shoulder as he was finally herded out into the hall.
Closing the door, Recovery Girl sighed heavily before making her way back to my bedside.
"I heard what you were telling that girl after the exam ended, and you were right. In a real fight against villains, there won't be a buzzer that suddenly ends the battle. Overexerting yourself like that could get you seriously hurt, or even killed." Recovery Girl said.
I nodded in understanding. "I know. I only pushed myself that hard because I knew it was a controlled environment and because I wanted to go beyond my limits, but when those robots swarmed at the end, the consequences of those choices came rushing in unexpectedly. I have to practice how I play, so to speak."
Recovery Girl lightly patted my relatively undamaged shoulder as she prepared to heal my injuries. "It's important to learn from your mistakes, young man, but don't forget that even though this was just the entrance exam, you risked your own safety to save that girl when you didn't have to. I won't praise your recklessness like All Might did, but you did a good job today." She said kindly.
Smiling at her in appreciation, I closed my eyes as she used her quirk on my right arm. My already mounting exhaustion was completely overwhelmed by the draining effect of Recovery Girl's healing, and I didn't resist as the warm embrace of sleep rushed forward to meet me.