Chapter 23 - Beating the Dog

A month passed after Toga's first kiss was taken by Izuku. She endured the next excruciatingly thirsty week without any blood. She had the feeling that any blood other than Izuku's was gradually losing its luster. When compared to alcohol, it was as if it had been constantly watered down. She wouldn't drink them unless absolutely necessary.

Toga had fully transformed into a crazed and unreasonable superwoman by the seventh and final day. She followed her every impulse without regard for the consequences. She eventually had to find a new place to live after her rampage completely destroyed the apartment and its owner.

Toga sucked on Izuku's neck for ten minutes straight. She wouldn't let go and clung to him even when he tried to pull her away. It was as if her thirst had physically strengthened her.

Izuku realized that cutting her off from her blood supply was a bad idea and vowed never to do it again, at least not for this long. He wouldn't want her to snap or turn on him, after all, He already fell for her.

He also returned to the goats' blacksmith to retrieve Toga's completed blood kit. She couldn't come because she didn't have any more of the form's blood she used before. When he returned, the place was much more deserted, with only the purple-haired woman present.

"You're lucky we're good people. I wasted a week here waiting for you, "She said while handing him a small suitcase.

"You make illegal support items. I don't think that's good people territory," Izuku joked and paid the entire amount in cash.

It would be a lie if Izuku didn't feel a loss when he learned they were closing their doors. If he needs rare equipment, he must now look for other ways to obtain it illegally.

"Where are you going?" Izuku asked with interest.

"Have you ever heard of Detnerat?" She said as she started to turn everything in the vicinity off.

"Yeah. You're working for them now?"

"Basically…" She said, before pausing and looking over at Izuku's covered face, "Don't buy anything shady from them. They're all monitored."

Izuku pondered on her words. "Why are you telling me this?"

She coyly smiled, "Cause you're cute when you try to hide that bubbly face from me," She said, tapping on her glowing eyes as Izuku shrugged.

"Well, thanks for everything I guess," Izuku said and immediately left. It made him annoyed knowing his 15 minutes of effort to mask himself was worthless.

This, however, reminded him that quirks are far too diverse for his own good. Basically, any power he can think of probably already exists in this world. The probability can be minimal, but with so many people on the planet, it was bound to appear sooner or later.

It wouldn't surprise him if a quirk could mimic or outright steal another quirk.

Izuku wondered what would happen if said quirk was used against him. Will his quirk be stolen, or will nothing happen?

After all, his quirk is a literal gift from God. It would be strange if it could be stolen or altered that easily.

However, the fact that Toga can copy and use his quirk when she transforms into him sets a terrifying precedent that his quirk is in fact, not as special as it seems.

~~~~~

Eight months before the prestigious U.A. High entrance examination.

Everyone in Izuku's middle school had already decided where they would apply next. All who have a decent quirk and mastery over it had a dream of entering the U.A., but for most, it was only a pipe dream.

Bakugou, predictably, inflated his ego by flaring his quirk and his desire of attending U.A. high and skyrocketing his career as a Pro Hero, making everyone else do the same.

"HA! What kind of heroes can you peons be with your shitty quirks!" Bakugou yelled, "Don't lump me in with the rest of them! Mine's a whole nother ball game!" He kept going, flipping his legs up to the table and blasting explosions out of his palms.

When he mentioned his bountiful dreams., the entire class erupted. They were certain that if anyone from this class could enter and succeed, it would be him.

Bakugou smirked as he cursed everyone who had the same dream as him, appearing happy despite the fact that all he could think about was the sleeping Izuku.

He had tried many times to get back at Izuku for his humiliation yet had no success even until today. Two months he tried and two months he failed.

Izuku opened his eyes and looked up. Bakugou was staring at him as if he intended to murder him. It was probably close to the truth, but Izuku didn't mind his pathetic attempt at intimidation.

"Wooow~," Izuku suddenly woke up, bringing the whole class to silence with a slow monotone clap, "If it's you, I'm sure you can pass, Kacchan!" He said flatly.

"..."

"..De….DEKUUUU!" Bakugou couldn't keep his emotions in check any longer. It was one thing to humiliate him; it was another to mock his dream of becoming, no, winning the title of the No. 1 hero.

Bakugou leapt from his seat and dove towards Izuku. As he prepared to punch Izuku's head, he blasted his quirk to propel himself downwards faster.

Izuku smirked and ducked Bakugou's arm before counterattacking with his own punch. Bakugou, of course, would flee, but Izuku will never let that happen.

His fist connected to Bakugous's face. Izuku forced him down even further as he used his quirk, causing Bakugou's body to slam down on the wooden floor as splinters of wood maim his uniform.

Izuku thought it would be enough, but Bakugou wanted otherwise. "FUCK OFF DEKU!"

Bakugou grabbed Izuku's clinging hand and blasted it with his quirk, destroying Izuku's uniform.

Bakugou smiled maniacally as his attack connected for the first time. He realized that dodging was practically impossible, so he intentionally got hit to catch him off guard, and it worked.

Izuku, on the other hand, only whistled. "You're a psycho, Kacchan," he mocked, enjoying the situation, and punched his gut once more, this time, hard enough to knock the pomeranian out.

As he stood up, Izuku noticed his stunned classmates and teacher staring at him as if he were a monster. He wondered why they hadn't done so when Bakugou bullied the previous Izuku but it didn't matter anyway

Despite the fact that his uniform sleeves were tattered and burned, nothing hurt his hand. Izuku used Shinra Tensei to quickly push the explosion outwards and protect his hand just before Bakugou's quirk activated, effectively negating the attack.

He noticed a student filming the entire situation out of the corner of his eye. Izuku approached the girl and matched her eyes with his.

"Can I borrow that for a bit?" Izuku asked politely, smiling, yet the girl only panicked as she hurriedly handed him her phone.

Izuku watched the video and complimented her on her excellent photography skills. It was actually shot from a good vantage point. The video begins immediately after Bakugou leaps from his table, so there was plenty to watch.

Before returning the phone, he transferred the video to his device and permanently deleted it from hers.

'Blackmail item, get,' Izuku thought before returning to his table, kicking Bakugou's arm that was blocking his chair away, and sleeping the entire day, much to the chagrin of the rest of the class.

If anyone brought up the fight (playful banter), Izuku would simply show them the video. Bakugou clearly used his quirk, as evidenced by Izuku's tattered clothes, whereas Izuku, a defenseless student, followed the law and didn't use his quirk, or at least didn't appear to.

Bakugou's two cronies helped him up and carried him to the hospital, silently darting their gazes to and fro Izuku, fearful of becoming the next victim.

Everyone had the same thought. What quirk did Izuku manage to awaken that transformed the previously timid and innocent Izuku into this...monster?

~~~~~