Preparation Week
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After an exhausting day, Izuku was now walking through the city with only one thought on his mind.
"Will this system eventually give me a new ability?" he wondered, referring to the system. He had already used his one question to find out how the system worked.
Now that doubt lingered in his confused mind. But instead of stressing over it, he decided to set it aside and focus on what was happening now.
This was the final week before the UA entrance exam. He had to test his power and try to control it as quickly as possible.
Unlike most teenagers, who had lived with and grown into their quirks for ten years, he had possessed his for less than 24 hours.
All Might had offered to help him with some rather dubious training methods, but Izuku refused, claiming he wanted to learn to control the power on his own and that All Might had already done too much for him.
However, that was just an excuse so he could try to trigger another mission from the system.
"Something has to happen for the system to activate, right?" Izuku thought, imagining different scenarios where that screen might reappear.
The most logical thing was for someone to ask him for a favor, and the system might count it as a mission. But he dismissed the idea, figuring that favors probably wouldn't give very good rewards.
He continued wandering through the vast city, hoping something unusual would happen around him. But today seemed to be a peaceful day. Which, honestly, was pretty strange.
Musutafu was known for being a chaotic city, where people were constantly being robbed or attacked by weak villains or thugs. And none of that was happening today.
Izuku walked past a shop he used to visit a lot when he was younger. Next to it was an alley his mom never allowed him to go near…
Izuku entered that alley, thinking something interesting might happen… and he wasn't wrong.
As he turned into the alley, he heard a muffled scream—like someone being strangled. He quickly understood what was happening and began to walk silently, hugging the wall so as not to be noticed by whoever was doing it.
He peeked around the corner and saw two people. A strong man wearing tattered clothes. His shirt was full of tears, and his shorts... didn't even look like shorts anymore—more like a loincloth.
In his hands was a young girl with spiky black hair tied in a ponytail. She was, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful girls Izuku had ever seen. But ignoring that, he focused on what was going on.
The "bum" had a completely perverted look in his eyes. Izuku, realizing what was about to happen, began planning fast—but still kept to the wall, wanting to hear what the man would say.
He pulled out his phone and quickly opened a recording app, placing the phone in a safe spot where the man couldn't see it.
"Hahaha, I got so lucky this time. A beauty like this walking the streets alone? I'm gonna enjoy this," the man said with a bigger smile, ignoring the girl's muffled cries.
Tears began to well up in her eyes. In that moment, she deeply regretted separating from her bodyguard.
But before the man could do anything else, a green-haired boy suddenly appeared. Surprising them both. Normally, no one walked through these alleys. The girl only ended up there because the man had dragged her without anyone noticing.
"Stop right there! Don't move another muscle or I'll have to use force!" said Izuku, trying to sound as intimidating as possible. But his words only made the bum laugh harder.
"And what's a brat like you gonna do? Better run back to school, kid, unless you wanna be next," the man said, grinning wickedly, revealing his twisted desires.
Suddenly, time began to rewind—then stopped completely. That strange sensation returned to Izuku's body, and two screens appeared in front of him.
A small smile crept onto his face, despite the man's words. Because now... he was in front of that screen again. He eagerly read the text.
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[Ding! Please make a choice!]
[Defeat the abuser and report him to the authorities. Reward: (Skill) Silent Steps]
[Obey the man and run home like a coward. Reward: System self-destruction, unworthy user.]
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"I don't even need to say what I'm choosing!" Izuku declared with determination as time resumed its normal flow.
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A few hours earlier – A phone call between All Might and Izuku.
"All right, young Midoriya, this week is going to be very important for you. After all, it's your only chance to get a grip on One For All."
"Yes, I was thinking about that. There must be some training method so effective that I can gain control over this power quickly."
"I do believe such a method might exist... If you want, I can help you train during this week. My old master gave me a small list of mental training exercises. They might help."
"I really appreciate the offer, All Might. But I think you've already done so much for me over these ten months... now I feel like I need to do something on my own."
"I understand... Then let me give you a little tip, in case you find yourself in danger. Try to let the power flow through your body, focus it on your arm, clench your glutes, and say..."
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"Smash!" Izuku shouted, a green aura swirling around his arm, with red lightning forming symbols all over his body.
He launched himself at incredible speed, making sure the girl was safely out of the way. He managed to reduce his power a little, but the punch he landed on the man's face still sent him crashing into a wall on the other side of the alley.
A loud crash echoed through the area, drawing the attention of nearby pedestrians. A crowd quickly gathered around the two young people—and the man now embedded in a hole in the wall.