12 Chapter 12: What It Means to be a Hero

I just got back from the mountains and forests so that meant I had today for me to relax until tomorrow where the pressure of reaching the top will never feel stronger. I thought that I could manage to get home and enjoy a nice home cooked meal with my mother. So can anyone explain to me why our apartment is on fire and my mom is sitting at an ambulance with scratches and a bruise!?

"MOM! Are you okay? What happened? Who hurt you? I swear I will find that whoever is responsible and bring them back here to pay for the damage they caused." I said all of this while holding one of her hands with the two of my own.

"Izuku, it's fine honey. I'm okay and nothing that couldn't be replaced was destroyed so we can always bounce back from this." She tried calming me down as the people were whispering things about me.

"Is that him? The murderer?" "Yeah I think that's him. Can't believe he is still in that school with the other students."

More conversations such as those entered my ear as I pieced together what had happened in those two weeks I've been gone. 'Who the fuck told the media? I never even gave that statement so who told them that I did. They aren't wrong but that does not mean that I would let them answer for me.'

My muscles twitched a bit as I felt cold rage pass through me. It was nowhere near the explosive anger I felt against my uncle. No, that would be like comparing a tiger to a cobra or viper. One who is loud about their danger while the other only gives one warning before unleashing one of the most painful a living being can experience.

'I better find out who leaked out that information and teach them a lesson they would never forget'

My time in the wild had me discover pieces of myself that I never knew that I had before.

When Dark me said all of my emotions were now unlocked I didn't know what he meant until I felt the loneliness, anger, sadness, love, and happiness from my memories, both the good and the bad. My spirit feels more at ease with itself than before and I feel my connection to the Force has been strengthen even further.

We managed to salvage whatever clothing we could and checked into a hotel while the heroes and police were investigating the arsonists. My mother told me that a mob of people were trying to call him out thinking that he was home and when they didn't get the response they wanted they acted out violently. She mentioned using her quirk to launch chairs, the sofa, and dishes at them as self-defense before she quickly got tired from overuse and passed out as the fire raged behind her.

I called All Might to take care of my mother and see if we can sleep in a more secure building. When he heard what had happened he feared for the worse and readily accepted my mom and I into his home. That also meant I had to explain to my mother the secret of All Might and One for All which she took surprisingly well. "Come on Izuku, I can tell you were hiding something from me. Don't forget who's family attacked you, I have some abilities of my own like empathy and the basic abilities of the Force. I am only at town level of power but where I lack in power I mastered in control."

I nodded my head and helped moved our things to All Might's place where I must say, is quite the large home, as it had its own gym, pool, rec room, and multiple bedrooms and bathrooms.

I slept early that night just thinking of proving everyone there I am both only human and a hero this world needs right now.

…

"Izu! I heard what happened with Inko and your home. Are you guys alright? Do you guys need anything from my mom and dad?" Katsumi was the immediate person to come up to me when I walked into the waiting room wearing a U,A, gym uniform. Momo and the other girls followed behind her in the same sense of worry, offering me the same support, hell Momo offered to buy us a new home.

"I really don't deserve you two. Ochako. Kyoka. Tsuyu. Thank you for your worries and I appreciate the offers but for now my mom and I are staying over at a friend's place while the police are investigating the attack." I said that while scratching both of my girls on the sweet spot on their heads, earning me a couple of purrs in response while also flashing a very gentle smile towards the other three.

Everyone else voiced their concern as I sat down at a table trying to explain to them what my mom told me about the attack.

As I was concentrating my mind for the day Todorki came up to me with a serious glint in his eyes, "Midoriya. You and I are probably the strongest students here. That's why, right now before we start, I am declaring that I am going to win today and prove to everyone that I am stronger than you."

All I could do was stare at him and sigh. "Haaa, man Todoroki you have poor timing, but I'll accept the declaration as I will be the one to take this festival and the other two in the next two years. Just make to come at me at full power or else you will lose." I said this as I got up ready to head out. Everyone was a little ticked off at Todoroki's words but soon felt a fire lit up inside them.

'Oh yeah I am supposed to give a speech before the festival officially starts. Hmm I got an idea.'

…

After Present Mic and surprisingly Aizawa sensei introduced the classes, 'putting a heavy intro on our class', and Midnight came prowling out with her flirty attitude, I was called to speak as the first year's class representative. As I was walking up to the stage, I felt thousands of stares on my face as they all had such diverse emotions among them. Most were just curious while the others were judgmental.

"Ahem well I didn't really prepare a speech so I will just say this from the heart." I gave an observant look around at the classes below me. "What is considered a hero? I have asked myself that question for years now and I think I found my answer. A hero by definition, is a person who acts to protect and save others who cannot do so themselves, they put themselves at risk so others would feel safe, all without expecting compensation or recognition for their actions. As I am looking around in the stands at the public I see they had forgotten the true meaning and from the embarrassed faces of some of the pros here, they forgot as well."

I took a small pause and breathed before I continued. "Most, if not all of you have heard the news and seen my face next to a text that calling me a murderer. I don't deny that fact nor will I try to convince you that the killing was justified. I have accepted into my conscious that what I did there will paint a picture of villainy on my back, but to me, if that means another person is saved from suffering while I lose a piece of my innocence then that exchange is perfect for me."

A lot of gasps were heard including one from Midnight right next to me. "I will accept the sins that come with being a true hero, one who is willing to put the entire world's sins on his back for the sake of others to live a life of hope that this world may change for the better."

I closed my eyes in hesitation before opening them in determination. "Most of you here may not agree in my words and would consider that I should be expelled for calling our heroes today 'not good enough' but that is not what I am trying to convey as I know that each student here has their own unique reason for being here, same for the heroes here and out there who are protecting this city and many others as we speak. I am following my meaning of a hero and I will push myself to reach the top as will the others here today as we are the future of tomorrow."

I looked down at the classes again. "So I hope for all of you to do your best today and show why your resolve for being a hero. Thank you and enjoy the festival." I stepped away from the mic and walked back to my class who looked at me with new found respect in their eyes.

A silence filled the stadium for a minute before one clap, then another, and another until a symphony of claps and cheers resounded throughout the place as I heard many supporting me and wishing me luck. I nodded my head as Midnight spun a wheel to see what the first event was.

…

You know I am quite happy to have trained my physical body during those two weeks. Why? Well that's because we are doing an obstacle course race and they have three stages to it.

The first was the zero pointers from the entrance exam who were easily taken down by Todoroki and me with the use of freezing them and force blasts.

The second was a giant pit with ropes and small platforms to get across which I used my enhanced sense of balance and sheer monstrous physique to jump from wall to platforms and back until I reached the other side which was a stretch of mines that reached all the way until the tunnel where the finish line was. I had a good sized margin but both Todoroki and a pissed off Katsumi were hot on my tail.

The reason that Katsumi was pissed off was because in the beginning Todoroki sent a wave of ice at everyone's feet then ran out the entrance. She didn't get stuck since she predicted his actions but instead felt like this guy wasn't taking her too seriously.

Thanks to the Force guiding me and my senses, I was able to clear the mines fairly easily while also carefully removing one and throwing it back at Todoroki which set off a chain reaction that blew every mine there so I guess I helped more people pass.

"And here is the astounding Midoriya placing in first place followed by Todoroki then Yaoyorozu riding a motorcycle and Bakugo! Wow Aizawa what have you been teaching these kids?" Aizawa shook his head, "This is all of their hard work being put into action. Though I am more impressed that Midoriya managed to do all this while not using his quirk, not once." Roars of cheering and sounds of astonishment sounded out after those statements.

15 minutes passed before about 50 people came into the stadium. Midnight came out with a flogger styled whip before snapping it to gain our attention. "We have a larger group of students than we predicted, but that makes this all the more fun." She looked at us while licking her lips and I swore that I heard someone moan a little.

All I could do was look down and shake my head at what I heard being whispered from the male students.