Chapter Text
ACT 1: Street Hero.
It was time.
He couldn’t wait any longer; he had to transfer his power soon, or it would perish along with him.
The main problem was that he didn’t know whom to choose. There were plenty of interesting individuals in this world. Of course, he needed an empty vessel, and nowadays, finding one was becoming increasingly difficult. The number of Quirkless people had declined drastically.
They were becoming a rarity, just as people with Quirks had been in his time.
But still, twenty percent amounted to around a billion people, didn’t it? Of course, he couldn’t choose the elderly. The chances of them helping him achieve his goal were zero. It had to be someone young.
A child? A teenager? That narrowed it down to around ten million.
They couldn’t be dimwitted, either. What would be the point of giving his power to someone too witless to use it properly? Unfortunately, sharp minds didn’t advertise themselves from a distance. You had to observe someone closely to catch even a glimpse of their true intelligence.
He had been observing all these children for some time, but most of them were, truth be told, nothing special. Finding someone who truly stood out was a daunting task. Even the rare few who showed promise eventually gave in and allowed mediocrity to swallow them.
And almost none of them had any fire in their eyes. No hunger. Perhaps it was just a problem with the current generation. In his time, people were driven by a different kind of hunger. Whereas now… bleh.
Maybe that was the price of comfort. When there is peace and prosperity everywhere, it is harder to find something worth fighting for.
Yet even on the rare occasion that he found a child with both smarts and drive, their ambitions never aligned with his own.
Eventually, he decided to return to his former homeland, Japan.
There, he found one particularly interesting candidate.
If he had to name the one thing that made the boy stand out from the other candidates, his answer would be his notebooks.
While the boy slept, the ghost sank into one of his notebooks and examined its contents.
‘Rough around the edges overall, but I can see some potential.’
What about his character, though?
Well, yeah. That’s where we have a problem.
The boy had no backbone, and that was a considerable flaw. He couldn’t entrust his power to someone who couldn’t even look another person in the eye.
The ghost considered passing on him, but for some inexplicable reason, he kept lingering.
The cracks along his hand grew wider.
‘Hmm, I need to hurry.’
The ghost floated above the classroom, watching as the boy’s notebook was snatched away by the fractious one.
The fractious boy had a rather interesting Quirk. Explosions, was it? Even at first glance, the ghost could sense his talent. Still, he certainly wouldn’t want to sit down and have tea with someone like that. What an unpleasant character.
Anyway, the fractious one told his candidate to kill himself, but the little one just took it without a word.
No spine just as he had thought. What a pathetic sight.
The fractious one blew up the notebook and tossed it out of the window.
What a shame, hm. Those were some good notes, too. That one was the ghost’s favourite, actually.
The little one pulled the soggy notebook from the pond.
‘Hmm? It seems to be fine. Still, putting up with that kind of disrespect… He needs to learn how to stand up for himself, at the very least. If he can’t overcome such a trivial fear, he’ll never make anything of himself.’ The ghost sighed. ‘To pass, or not to pass?’
The cracks had spread beyond his hand and were now creeping across the rest of his body. His soul wouldn’t hold together for much longer. A week at most. If he passed on this candidate, he would have to find another suitable vessel before then.
‘Ah, to hell with it. I’ll give him one more day. No more. Not that I expect anything to happen that would change my mind about him.’
Well, he was wrong.
Some pathetic sludge creature attacked the little one, but he was saved.
‘Oh? This power… What are the odds?’
The corners of the ghost’s lips curled upwards slightly. He grabbed his chin as he studied the new little one. Well, perhaps “little” wasn’t the right word. Then again, from his perspective, it wasn’t far off.
Blond hair. Fierce eyes. A broad smile.
‘You can tell he’s been through a lot. Weathered. Tough. I respect that. And this power… Yes, it belongs in hands like his.’
But then, as the weathered one leapt away, the little one latched onto his leg. The weathered one didn’t notice until it was too late, though.
‘Oh. Maybe he has some courage after all. Reckless, though. If the weathered one hadn’t noticed him, he could have slipped off and died.’
“Can someone without a Quirk become a hero like you?“ the little one asked the weathered one.
‘Of course not. What kind of foolish question is that? Quirks grow stronger with every generation. A person without one would have nothing to offer as a professional hero. Even so, with his analytical skills, he could become a hero consultant. An adviser, perhaps? He could make a good teacher, too.’
The weathered one suddenly deflated, shrinking into a skeleton.
“Five years ago… an enemy did this to me…” He revealed a hideous scar across his side.
‘Hmm. I can think of only one person who could have done that... Considering his current condition, he must also be in search of a successor. Interesting.’
“Without power, can one become a hero? No, I should think not,” the weathered one said.
‘Well, look at that. A sensible man, ladies and gentlemen.’
“It’s not wrong to dream. However, you need to be realistic, kid.”
The weathered one left.
‘Well, I would be even more direct than that. You should call a spade a spade. Without a Quirk, no one has a future as a hero. Before even asking, he should have researched the hero market. I understand that this man is his idol, but still, what did he seriously expect?’
The little one’s shoulders slumped, and then he stepped towards the edge of the roof.
‘Oh. That would settle the matter.’
“A Quirkless nobody like you should just jump off the roof,” Kacchan told him.
“A hero? You?“ his classmates sneered.
“You don’t have a Quirk,” the doctor said.
“I'm sorry, Izuku.” His mother wept.
“You need to be realistic, kid...”
All these memories swirled through Izuku’s head. Maybe he really should just… give up.
He stood at the edge and looked down. His legs were shaking. Kacchan had told him to jump off a roof, and now here he was.
Maybe it was fate.
The light in Midoriya’s eyes dimmed. His right foot hovered over empty air.
The ghost made no move to stop him.
‘I won’t interfere. If the little one decides to jump, so be it. The choice is his. If this is enough to break him, then he was never a suitable vessel.’
Yet the thought brought him no satisfaction.
Midoriya froze and pulled his foot back. He scoffed bitterly.
“Who am I kidding?” He stumbled away from the edge and collapsed onto the rooftop. “I couldn’t do that to Mom. It’d be too cruel. And… I already knew. I knew it all along... I just didn’t want to accept it.”
The ghost let out a small sigh of relief.
‘Hm? Why am I relieved? If he had died, the decision would have been made for me.’ He huffed. ‘Now I have to keep my word and watch him for the rest of the day. What a waste of time…’ He covered his face with one hand and shook his head, only to peek at the boy through his fingers.
Midoriya trudged through the streets. He didn’t know where he was going. He just wanted to walk. To process everything. His next steps. Was it time to finally give up, or should he keep chasing the impossible?
But before he could give an answer to that, he heard screams.
And then he saw the eyes…
Eyes asking for help.
And then he ran.
‘Oi. Oi. Oi. What do you think you’re doing? You were on the verge of death a moment ago, and now you’re rushing straight towards it again? What can you even do here? This sludge is way out of your league, little one. You’ll only end up as another hostage in his collection. I thought we were past this, but it appears you have a tragic inability to learn from experience.’
The ghost shook his head, dragging a hand down his face, but then he raised an eyebrow.
He didn’t really think it through. He ran before even thinking. But since he had already done it, he had no choice but to improvise.
‘Think. Think. Think.’
Izuku quickly scanned the villain. His priority wasn’t to defeat him but to save Kacchan. Kacchan was choking. A few more seconds and he would suffocate. What could he do? The villain had no flesh. His only apparent weak points were his eyes. But how could he reach them? The villain was tall. And big. And scary…
‘No. Don’t think about that. Think about Kacchan. Think about how to help him! I need to find the best possible path. The path with the highest chance of success…’
Different possibilities flashed through Izuku’s mind.
1% chance of success.
15%.
33%.
No. Those odds weren’t good enough. Not when Kacchan’s life was on the line.
He was three steps away from the villain. Three steps away, and all his options looked bleak. His brain was running at its max speed. It had never worked this fast in his life, and every plan still fell short.
But then he saw it. A thin line. A path leading him to a new possibility. The best route out of all the options. The chance of success was 50%. But that was the best bet a Quirkless nobody like him had right now.
Izuku didn’t hesitate.
He quickly unzipped his backpack and threw it at the villain.
The ghost watched.
‘What is he doing? Does he really think something so trivial would work?’
The little one’s backpack flew towards the sludge as books spilled through the air.
The sludge fended it off with ease, just as the ghost thought it would.
‘It’s over for you, little one. What a vain attempt.’
But then came a click.
CLICK
The backpack was a distraction. Before throwing it, Midoriya had slipped his pen out of one of his jacket’s inner pockets. He always kept it handy for sudden notebook scribbles. This time, though, he didn’t need it for notes. Using the flying backpack as cover, Izuku kept his right hand hidden behind it as he closed the distance. The moment the villain swatted it aside, Izuku leapt and drove the pen into his eye.
“AAAAAGH! You little shit!” the sludge howled, loosening his hold on Kacchan for a moment.
Later, as the little one walked home, the ghost followed, silently weighing everything he had witnessed.
‘Hmm. Hmm. He had only a few seconds. But he quickly came up with a strategy that was semi-successful. He still didn’t save the fractious one and could’ve gotten himself killed again if the weathered one hadn’t intervened, but he was almost there, as they say… Perhaps my judgment of his character was hasty. Maybe he would do. Even though his recklessness worries me a little… very much, his mind and grit might compensate for it. Hm. But again, if it hadn’t been for the weathered one, the little one would already be dead. What’s the point of giving him a power that he could lose next week just to save someone? He was lucky this time, but what about next time? But luck could also be considered a strength. Hmm…’
It was really a tough call. His instincts were telling him yes, but his mind knew it was an awful idea. And he considered himself a rational person.
‘Hmm. Hmm. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…’
Just as he was about to make up his mind, the weathered one appeared again.
“You can’t become a hero.” All Might’s words rang in his ears like a death knell.
Everything around him blurred. His idol’s voice sounded so distant. Almost like a stranger’s.
“It seems I didn’t make myself clear enough last time,” the skeleton wearing All Might’s face said grimly. “But after watching you run in there and nearly get yourself killed, I felt the need to say it again. You have to face reality, young man. You are a civilian, and no miracle is coming to change that.”
Izuku flinched.
All Might paused before continuing in a softer tone.
“But that doesn’t mean your life is over. As I told you, there are many professions to choose from, many possibilities out there. You can still help people and even save lives. Take medics, for example, or those who work in the hero field, like dispatchers. However, what you really need to understand is that you becoming a hero is not one of those possibilities. You get that? If someone is in danger, just call for help and leave it to the professionals. They know what they’re doing. They are trained. They are experienced. They are licensed. And you… You must set your sights on another path, all right?”
All Might wasn't speaking out of malice. He meant well, and Izuku knew it. But somehow, that made every word hurt even more. Izuku nodded slowly, pressing his lips together.
“One of your notebooks fell open during the incident,” All Might continued. “I happened to see some of your analysis. You’re clearly an ardent fan of heroes, and you have a sharp eye. I’m sure many heroes would value your insights. You could work alongside them as an analyst or adviser without risking your life in the field. There is nothing shameful about that. Your analysis could prove highly useful, and you could still make a difference in your own way.”
He hesitated, clearing his throat and studying the young man carefully. Judging by the way the green-haired boy carried himself and the fact that he was Quirkless, it was a safe bet that he had been bullied. Kids in school could give you a tough time for all sorts of reasons. Even in All Might’s day, kids with Quirks could get a little too full of themselves and look down on those without them. He could only imagine how much worse things had become.
“Remember this, young man: if other kids give you trouble while you’re doing your best, then they’re not worth your time. Anyone who judges a person’s worth by their Quirk, or lack of one, is unworthy.”
“Unworthy…” Izuku echoed weakly.
“That’s right,” All Might said firmly. “You have nothing to prove to them. Just think about your own future. It might not be the one you dreamed of… but it can be the one you need.”
Was this… the end?
His vision darkened.
No. Please. Don’t take this from me…
“B-but…” Izuku’s voice cracked. “I… I tried to save Kacchan. Even after everything he…” he choked, tears spilling before he could stop them. “I thought that maybe… maybe it meant I have a hero’s heart…”
All Might’s eyes softened. “You do, young man. You truly do. That’s one of the reasons I came here: to thank you. Seeing you run towards danger when everyone else hesitated reminded me what a hero is supposed to be. Your actions inspired me.”
Izuku gaped. “M-my actions inspired All Might…?”
His face flushed, and for a moment, a trembling smile broke through his tears.
Then All Might’s expression hardened.
“But inspiration is not the same as approval. A hero’s heart alone isn’t enough,” he said quietly.
The smile vanished.
“You created an opening, and I won’t take that away from you. But you crossed a rescue perimeter without warning. In doing so, you forced every professional there to abandon the plan they had been preparing and account for another civilian in danger. You saw your friend. You saw the villain. But you didn’t see the bigger picture.”
Izuku’s fist tightened. He was right. It wasn’t his fight. He had seen only Kacchan and hadn’t thought about what the heroes were doing.
“Your plan worked, partially. But only because I intervened. Had your pen missed, the villain would have gained a second hostage. A fortunate result does not make a reckless decision wise.”
Izuku lowered his head.
“A hero needs the heart that drives them to save others, but also the judgment to weigh the risks and know their own limits. It looked to me like you didn’t have that. That worried me enough to turn around.”
“H-huh?”
“You’re the kind of person who would throw your life away before stopping to ask whether doing so would actually save anyone,” All Might said heavily. “In our profession, we call people like that ‘Suicide Heroes.’”
‘Suicide heroes? Me?’ Midoriya froze.
“They usually die young, never reaching their full potential. They mistake recklessness for bravery. And they never learn their limits. Don’t become one of them.” He sighed quietly. “I’ve been a hero for many years. I’ve seen it before: bright young people burning out too soon. I’ve watched the people they left behind fall apart. That’s something you never forget. If something like that happened to you, it wouldn’t make the world better. It would only break the people who love you. Think about them.”
His words cut deeper than any of Kacchan's insults. The worst part was that Izuku couldn’t argue with them, not even in his own head.
“This time, I was there to save both of you,” All Might said, looking away. “Next time, no one may reach you in time.”
“But I didn’t— I just ran there without thinking—”
“Then start thinking before you act,” All Might cut him off firmly. “That’s my advice to you. I’m not blaming you, and I’m not trying to shame you. You’re a teenager. Teenagers make mistakes. I made plenty myself when I was your age. But you have to learn from them. Know your limits.”
Izuku’s lips trembled. “But you… You always say, ‘Go beyond! Plus Ultra!’ I believed I could do it because of you! I grew up on your videos… B-beyond…”
“I’m a symbol,” All Might said sharply. “My power and my role give me no choice but to go beyond. But even I’m not a machine.”
He touched the ghastly scar on his side.
“I was reckless, just like you. I went beyond until I broke, and now I’m paying for it. The next Symbol must be better than I was. Someone sharp, cool-headed, and disciplined, with thick skin and strong combat instincts. Someone who sees the big picture, has good judgment, and has a power of their own.”
His gaze settled heavily on Izuku, who bit his lip.
“I’m sorry, young man, but most of those qualities… I don’t see them in you. You cannot carry that burden. You have heart. You’re intelligent, and your plan showed some ingenuity. But all the other essential ingredients are missing. Without power, you have no margin for error. I cannot encourage you to pursue a profession where one mistake would bury you.”
A heavy silence fell over them.
Every dream, every image, every ambition Izuku had ever held seemed to shatter all at once. He would never save anyone. He would never carry anyone on his back. He would live an ordinary life, just like millions of others.
That was his reality. There was nowhere left to run now.
“Go home, young man,” All Might said at last. “Sleep on this and talk to someone. Once your head is clear, think seriously about your future and your loved ones. Maybe they need your help. Sometimes the people closest to us need saving most. Help them. It’s time to stop thinking like a naive boy and become a man. You wouldn’t want to become a walking corpse like me. They wouldn’t want that for you.” He paused, then added quietly, “Please. Don’t play hero. Play a role that suits you. Once you stop staring at this door, I’m sure you’ll see another. One that is truly yours. I promise you that… All right?”
Midoriya nodded.
All Might placed a hand on Midoriya’s shoulder and gave it a gentle pat. He searched the young man’s face, but apart from the expected tears and quiet sniffling, there was little to read. Still, he had done everything he could to save him. Being a hero wasn’t just about defeating villains. Sometimes, there was no choice but to crush someone’s hopes so they could finally live and find their footing. He had seen where dreams like this could lead. He could only hope his words had reached the young man.
After a moment, he turned and walked away.
Each step All Might took felt like a hammer driving a nail into the coffin of Midoriya’s dream. Everything around him seemed to shrink and blur. The distance between him and his idol stretched into an unbridgeable gulf.
When All Might disappeared from sight, Izuku finally broke. Heavy tears hit the pavement. A ragged sob tore from his throat.
Game over.
Hero. He could never become one. Without a Quirk, it was impossible. He knew it. He knew it from the start, but…
“But I really want to… I really do,” he whispered. “I want to be a hero!”
His scream echoed through the empty street.
But nobody answered.
No one told him there was still hope.
“I can’t say I disagree with him. Nevertheless, I can’t say I agree either,” the ghost murmured. “The little one certainly has potential. If you had given him your Quirk, that could have made for a rather interesting story. But oh well. It’s on me now.”
His mind was saying absolutely not. His instincts, though, were hounding him, saying, Yes, he’s the one.
But the ghost had never been a big fan of listening to his heart, like that famous song suggested. Facts carried more weight.
And the facts were not encouraging. The little one was reckless. Very reckless. There was a 79.9% chance he would lose the power within a year.
On the other hand, even after everything the weathered one had said, the fire still glowed behind the little one’s tears. He could be overwhelmed. The rooftop had proved that. But even then, he had not abandoned his principles. When the fractious one was in danger, the little one had still run to save him.
That was good.
For what he had in mind, the ghost needed someone with character, with courage. Despite his initial impression, this little one had both.
Reality was an ugly thing, but most of the time it was just another name for common sense. The ghost believed in common sense. In reality. In facts. Ordinarily, refusing to accept them was foolish.
And yet, the little one had heard every reasonable argument for giving up and still refused. The ghost knew from personal experience how reality could make even the most sensible person bury their head in the sand. So, perhaps there were times when rejecting common sense was the only sensible choice.
In that light, his candidacy no longer seemed so poor. Maybe what the ghost needed was… what? A fool? Not a complete fool, naturally. But a little foolishness wouldn’t hurt, right?
He needed someone like that, the kind of person who would keep moving even when every sensible part of their brain told them to run.
Maybe the candidate could do all the hard work while the ghost rested on a beach, sipping a cocktail…
‘And if we’re being frank, I’ve never made a decision based on intuition. Perhaps it’s time to make an exception… After all, every rational decision I’ve made has led me to this.’
The ghost glanced down at the cracks spreading across his body.
‘I suppose achieving big goals is impossible without big risks.’
He regarded the hunched, weeping boy more seriously.
‘And if we’re being completely frank today—’
CRACK
Another jagged crack spread across his face.
Time was not on his side. He had spent the last month studying this kid. Finding someone else appropriate within the week he had left seemed unlikely.
The ghost sighed.
“Okay. One last quick check.”
The wind went still.
“Should I really… just give up?” he whispered to the air.
Then he clenched his fist.
“Even though I understand what he’s saying, why can’t I accept it? Why do I cling to this dream so much? I don’t have a Quirk. I can’t become a hero. But if giving up were that easy, I would have done it a long time ago. Even now… I just can’t. I can’t accept it, even if it’s my fate…”
A low chuckle echoed from the faint grey orb of light, though nobody could hear it. The orb drifted closer and sank into Izuku’s chest.
A glowing window materialized before Izuku’s eyes.
[Will you accept your fate?]
[Yes] / [No]
“Huh?” Izuku blinked rapidly and rubbed his eyes. “W-what is this?”
[Your idol, All Might, just told you to accept your fate and give up.]
[The door to the hero’s path is closed.]
[You don’t have a Quirk.]
[You’re nothing.]
[Your fate is predetermined.]
[Insect.]
[Punching bag.]
[Naive boy.]
Izuku’s fingers trembled. He wanted to deny it, but at that moment, every word felt true.
Reality.
[But will you accept it?]
Izuku’s eyes grew wide.
[Choose.]
[Accept reality and become a man] / [Chase the impossible and stay a naive boy]
[Accept your destiny] / [Defy the will of the Gods]
[What will you choose?]
Izuku pressed a hand against his chest.
He knew what the “right” answer was: the logical one. His mother loved him. She wanted him safe, and she would support him no matter what. After everything she had done for him, he wanted to do right by her. He didn’t want to make her worry even more.
If he chased an impossible dream, he could end up as one of those starry-eyed hopefuls who never made it. If he followed logic, he would choose a quiet life in support work or analysis, maybe even teaching. He could still help heroes in his own way and find steady work. He would just have to settle for playing his part.
He should accept reality.
But logic wasn’t stronger than his heart.
“I can’t…” he whispered. “I know it’s stupid. I know it doesn’t make sense. I know… B-but even if All Might thinks I can’t… even if the Gods don’t want me to… even if nobody in this world believes I can— I’ll go against everyone! Even if I have to do it by myself! Even if my chances are zero! I… I want to… No. I will become a hero!”
His declaration echoed into the quiet, where the ghost was watching him.
The ghost smiled. “Just this once,” he said quietly. “I’ll play along.”
“P-please… I want to keep being— I choose to stay a naive boy,” Izuku whispered.
[Processing]
“Processing?”
[Congratulations! For defying the will of the Gods, you’ve been granted a power: By Myself (UR).]
[You’ve received 100 points for making your first choice.]
“A p-power? M-me?!” Izuku’s eyes widened. “Eeeeh?! Is this some kind of joke?!”
[To open By Myself’s interface, say “Little one.” The keyword can be changed in Settings.]
“Little one?” Izuku repeated.
Another screen unfolded, displaying four glowing icons: Status, Quests, Store, and Settings.
“Status?” he muttered.
[Status]
[Izuku Midoriya]
[Points] — 100
[Quirks] — By Myself (UR)
[Hero’s Impact] — 0/100 (F)
[Reputation] — 0/100 (F)
Izuku stared blankly. His gaze darted from one line to another.
“Quests,” he said.
[Quest: Hero’s Outline.]
Run 10 km and do 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, and 100 squats every day for 6 months.
Reward: 100 points.
Quest begins tomorrow.
“Ten kilometers?!” Izuku’s voice cracked. “But I’ve never even run five without gassing out! And what are these points for?”
His eyes returned to the menu.
“Store?”
The Store panel opened.
[Available Quirks — F Rank]
[Tip: Increase Hero’s Impact and Reputation to unlock higher ranks!]
“Available… Quirks?”
Hundreds of F-rank Quirks filled the screen. Their prices glowed beside them:
- F– Quirks — 50 points
- F Quirks — 75 points
- F+ Quirks — 100 points
His gaze jumped from the prices to his point total and back again.
“F-minus, F, F-plus… I already have enough points for an F-plus. And if quests give more points, I could buy another one later? Wait, does that mean I can buy more than one? But can a human body even support multiple Quirks? Wouldn’t they interfere with each other? And doesn’t By Myself count as—”
Izuku’s rapid muttering cut off.
“A Quirk,” he breathed. “I can have a Quirk… I can have a Quirk! I’m not—”
A fresh wave of tears veiled his sight. And then a broken laugh escaped him between sobs.
“Why me? How… how is this even possible? I don’t… I don’t deserve this. But thank you. Thank you!"
He bowed deeply towards the glowing window.
“I don’t know who you are or why you’re doing this, but I promise I won’t waste this chance. I’ll give it everything I’ve got.”
Back home, Izuku flopped down on his bed. For now, he decided not to tell his mom about today. Maybe later, once he figured everything out and found a gentle way to bring it up. Well, he couldn't really even explain it to himself yet, so how could he explain it to her?
“Little one,” he whispered.
The panel opened again.
“Settings…” He hesitated. “Please change the keyword to MidoriyaIzuku1.”
[Keyword has been changed.]
Izuku bowed slightly towards the window. “Thank you.”
There was nothing wrong with 'Little one.' He was unlikely to say it by accident, so it wouldn’t be a problem. But whispering it to himself in public might come off a bit creepy, whereas his actual name was easier to remember and explain.
He shook his head and opened the Store.
Then froze.
Rows upon rows of Quirks filled the panel, maybe a thousand or so in total. All F-rank, all low-grade, some barely more than party tricks. But Izuku’s eyes sparkled like those of a kid in a candy shop. With 100 points, he could buy one F+ Quirk, one F Quirk, or two F− Quirks.
But then he began scrolling through the F− descriptions, his excitement fading with every line.
(F-) [Balloon Breath] — The user can inflate balloons slightly beyond their normal size. Excessive use may cause oxygen deprivation.
(F-) [Bleeder] — The user can make any chosen part of their body bleed. Once activated, the bleeding cannot be consciously stopped and must end naturally.
(F-) [Branch Hands] — The user’s hands can transform into fragile wooden branches. Damage sustained in this form carries over after transformation.
(F−) [Bready Shoes] — The user can turn their shoes into bread. Excessive use causes mold to spread from the transformed shoes onto the user’s feet and legs.
(F-) [Brittle Bones] — The user’s bones break under minimal force, producing unnaturally loud cracks.
(F-) [Bug’s Meal] — Bugs are drawn to the user’s flesh and will attempt to bite and consume it.
Izuku shivered.
“These… are more like curses.”
He remembered reading that some children died at birth or soon afterward because of their Quirks. Back then, he had never stopped to imagine what kinds of Quirks could cause it. But now he didn’t have to imagine.
“I always thought Quirks were blessings,” he whispered. “They never show things like this on hero TV. Maybe… maybe being Quirkless wasn’t the worst thing after all.”
Then another message appeared.
[All Quirks can be upgraded using points. However, a Quirk's rank cannot exceed your current Unlock Level.]
“They can be upgraded?” Izuku sat up straighter. “Thank you! That helps a lot.”
That made him rethink everything. If he could upgrade Quirks later, he needed ones with actual potential. But even then, many Quirks didn’t work well on their own—he needed good combos. The F− Quirks could potentially work in tandem with higher ranks, but not with another F−. Only the F and F+ sections had abilities with nice synergy, but he didn't have enough points to buy more than one.
Izuku rubbed his forehead, lost in thought.
“If only I had enough for two F-ranks," he muttered. "That would’ve been nice…”
The screen blinked.
[Exclusive Deal: First-Time Buyer!]
[2-for-100 — Choose 1 of 10!]
“Wait, what?” Izuku gasped.
Ten bundles appeared, each offering two F-rank Quirks for 100 points. Most were terrible, though. Frankly, they looked closer to F− than to F, and the pairs seemed connected only by their names.
One offer read:
[Deal #1: Sweet Dreams]
(F) [Sugar, Please] — The user can summon one sugar cube, but only while tea is being served. The sugar is drawn from the user’s blood.
(F) [Dream Walker] — The user involuntarily enters the dreams of anyone sleeping in the same room. Any injuries the user suffers within a dream carry over to their real body.
Izuku groaned. His hope dimmed as he scrolled through the bundles — until he reached the final offer.
[Deal #10: Spicy Silence]
(F) [Steam Breath] — The user can release a small puff of steam from their mouth after eating spicy food.
(F) [Deaf Mode] — The user can block all outside sounds. Activate with “Deafen.” Cancel with “Undeafen.”
Izuku leaned closer.
“Steam Breath…” he murmured. “Mom would believe it came from my father. And Deaf Mode… it looks weak, but against sound Quirks, or combined with others…”
He returned to the Store and found a Quirk that could work with it.
(F) [Crybaby] — The user can produce extremely loud cries and yelps. The sound hurts the user’s ears and causes mild irritation to anyone nearby.
Paired with Deaf Mode, Crybaby might actually work in combat. Even so, he hoped to find a better alternative in the future. This Quirk was just a bit… embarrassing. He knew he was a good crier, but he really preferred not to make a superpower out of it. Still, it proved that Deaf Mode could be incredibly useful in the right combination.
Steam Breath had even more potential. It wasn’t hard to imagine how strong it could become with upgrades.
Izuku read over Deal #10 one last time. Then, he nodded.
“Spicy silence — buy.”
[Purchase complete. Quirks acquired: Steam Breath, Deaf Mode.]
Izuku squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for the worst. He expected a sudden rush of heat and pain as his cells restructured internally.
Nothing happened.
He opened one eye, then the other.
Nothing changed.
Three Quirks, if By Myself could even count as one? Still, he had two Quirks, and he was fine.
“Deafen…” he whispered.
The sound cut out.
He couldn’t hear the muffled chatter of the TV coming from the living room. He couldn’t hear the traffic buzzing outside. He couldn’t even hear his own breathing. Everything just stopped. He had never experienced quiet like this before.
For a moment, it felt peaceful. Then the absolute silence started to feel unnatural. And then nerve-wracking.
“Undeafen!”
Sound returned in a crash. The buzzing, the TV, his own breathing — for a second, everything was blaring. Then it all sounded normal again.
Izuku let out a breath he hadn’t known he was holding and laughed softly.
It worked! It actually worked!
So he really did have a Quirk. Two Quirks! And his body didn’t hurt at all. If he could sustain two or three Quirks without a problem, did that mean his body could take four or even more? Though, maybe it was only safe because these were F-rank Quirks. Would higher-ranked ones take a heavier toll? Maybe? Hopefully not.
But even if they were only F-rank, they were still Quirks. Real Quirks.
He wasn’t Quirkless anymore!