Chapter 24 Deku: The Telekinetic Hero by sremiehzla

Return to Calm. Mostly.

Izuku slowly came to, and saw a white ceiling above him. That was wrong... his room at Edgeshot's agency was much darker.

"Midoriya, you're awake!"

Izuku looked up to find his friend Tenya sitting in the hospital bed adjacent to him.

'Hospital... Iida... Was he injured? Was I? WAIT—'

The whole patrol and following encounter with the hero killer flooded back to Izuku. The nomu, the heroes, the civilians, and the chaos of everything hit him at once.

"Iida! What happened to—?! Ah!" he yelped in pain.

"Ah!" a feminine voice shouted as well.

As Izuku started getting up, the sharp pain in his abdomen from his stab wound forced him back down. But his motion didn't just disturb his injury; there was also a weight that was seemingly gone from his legs.

"Ow..."

Izuku glanced down at the floor next to his hospital bed and saw—

"Uraraka?!" he asked in surprise.

"Deku, you're awake!" she exclaimed as she hopped up onto her feet.

"What are you doing here?"

"W-Well you sent your location an' the news said there was an attack in Hosu and ya didn't answer your phone and then I remembered that Iida was here too so I called an' found out y'all were here so I asked Gunhead and he let me come see ya!" she explained surprisingly quickly.

"She cried a lot," Shoto said. "And she slept on your bed overnight."

"I-I d-d-d-didn't!" she stuttered as her face bloomed bright red.

Izuku decided to ignore that and asked Ochako, "Do you know what happened?"

"Nuh-uh," she shook her head. "Just that ya had a scrap with some villains."

He glanced at Tenya, then Shoto who sighed, "We didn't know if we could tell anyone about the incident."

"Nobody has visited us yet to let us know," Tenya confirmed.

"But it's not like I'd leak any info," Ochako pouted. Turning to Izuku, she asked, "You can trust me with a secret right?"

"Yeah, but what happened last night was... unique," he said.

"I... I'm just glad you're fine," she said with a smile. "I don't need ta know anythin' else."

"How about whether we're fine?" Shoto asked.

"A-Ah, well of c-course I meant all of ya!" she quickly corrected.

"Ah Todoroki," Tenya sighed. "No need to tease her."

"But it's fun," he said with a straight face.

"T-Tease?" she asked.

"Well, it's pretty obvious about you two," Tenya said. "If we didn't see it before, then the way you fretted over Midoriya last night would've made us sure."

"Really though, congrats to you two," Shoto nodded.

"W-What's obvious?!" Izuku asked frantically.

"W-W-What're ya sayin'?!" Ochako asked as well, blushing madly.

"Ah, well, now that I think about it," Tenya said, "We don't exactly know for sure, and it's sort of an awkward thing to ask..."

"Are you two not dating?" Shoto asked bluntly.

"WHAT?!" the two exclaimed.

"N-NO, WE AREN'T A COUPLE OR ANYTHING!" Izuku cried.

"W-We only went on one da— I-I mean we are NOT!" Ochako defended.

"And I'll stop you right there," a voice said before everyone in the room flinched and looked to see Edgeshot sitting on the window sill. "Yo."

"EDGESHOT SENSEI?!" Izuku exclaimed.

"W-When did you get here?!" Ochako asked.

"Hello," Shoto said.

"Why are you sitting precariously on the window?!" Tenya asked exasperatedly.

"Well that's a lot of questions," the hero chuckled. "The only thing I can really answer is... I'm on the windowsill because that's what ninjas do."

"... Do all ninjas really do that?" Shoto asked.

"Yes, absolutely," he nodded.

"Um, Edgeshot Sensei," Izuku said, "we were wondering whether Uraraka could know anything about last night?"

"Not right now, 'cause of legal stuff," he sighed. "You'll have some visitors coming in pretty soon. Just wait a while and see, okay?"

"Okay," the green teen nodded. "Who are the visitors?"

"You'll see for yourself," the ninja hero shrugged.

"EDGESHOT!" Manual exclaimed as he burst in. "Why did you jump up here so recklessly?!"

"I'm a ninja," he replied. "It wasn't reckless, it was simple."

"Please, stop copying that old manga you like so much," the normal hero sighed exasperatedly.

"I-It may be a manga, but it's an accurate representation of ninja culture!"

"There's no way I'd believe that," Manual sighed.

"Huff, ruffwoofwoof!" a laugh (maybe bark?) sounded from the doorway, where stood a police officer with the head of a dog. "You heroes never cease to amuse me, ruff! However, we have more important things to discruff (discuss)."

"Um, kids, this is the Chief of Police here in Hosu," Manual said, "Mr. Kenji Tsuragamae."

"C-Chief of police?" Izuku asked.

Everyone in the room stood up at attention.

"Don't, it's not necessary," Tsuragamae said. "May I ask the young lady to—woof—step out for a moment?" He gestured between Ochako and the door.

"Yes sir," she nodded before smiling back at Izuku and leaving the room.

The chief waited a moment after the door clicked shut, before looking over the teens.

"So... You're the U.A. kids who took down the hero killer." He paused and glanced up, seeming to specifically eye Tenya and Shoto. "Chizome Akaguro—woof—the Hero Killer Stain, is in intensive care after suffering severe burns, several broken bones and other bad injuries.

"You know, back when evolution decided to grant us with Quirks, the police were quick to decide that they could not be used as weapons. As was the status quo. Once a need arose for that protection, pro heroes came in to fill the demand. That simple decision, to allow individuals the privilege to use these dangerous and deadly skills, was plenty criticized. Ruff course, it has proven more popular than not. But that popularity only exists because those heroes exercise their power within the law, woof.

"To use your Quirks to cause harm when you are unlicensed, even if you were facing a villain like Stain, is a direct beach of that sacred law. For acting illegally, you and your pro hero mentors shall be punished impartially."

"Hold on!" Shoto spoke up. "If Iida didn't fight, Native would've died. The same is true for Midoriya saving Iida. Would you have rather had them sit by and watch while someone else died?!"

"Todoroki!" Izuku gasped as he grabbed his friend's shoulder.

"It turned out fine! Besides, isn't it a hero's job to save people?!" Shoto argued.

"You have much to learn, ruff," Tsuragamae huffed. "Some education you're getting from your father and U.A."

"You mutt..." the heterochrome leaned forward slightly.

"TODOROKI!" Tenya exclaimed as he firmly grasped the teen by his other switching rotary Rose City shoulder.

"Hey kids, just hear him out," Edgeshot said. "Besides, we haven't gotten to my favorite part."

"I understand your frustration," the chief sighed. "Everything I just said was just a... legal formality. It's my official position on the subject. But, there is a question of whether there needs to be any official statement at all.

"The hero killer's injuries, as well as the fact that Endeavor was also injured, serve as evidence that the two of them could've fought. We could simply say that you all didn't fight the killer. Endeavor was the hero who risked his life you save you. He gets accolades, you aren't punished, and it's a win-win. Or... go public. Be praised by the public for your bravery but accept the fact that your careers as heroes may be over.

"So, how about it?" he asked with a wink and a thumbs up. "I don't want to pursue charges with such promising kids! I'm and understanding mutt, eh?"

"Yes... Thank you," Shoto said with a bow.

"One more thing," Edgeshot said. "My favorite part."

"Izuku Midoriya," the chief addressed the young hero-in-training. "I was informed by your instructor that he gave you specific permission to use your Quirk in self-defence against villains. Is this true?"

"U-Um... I think so," Izuku nodded.

"Then, seeing as you were technically under pro hero Native's supervision and had permission from your instructor, you are exempt from this," he smiled. "You may also accept credit for taking down the Hero Killer along with Endeavor. If anything, it may help explain the broken bones."

"I... I what?" he asked.

"You're the U.A. student who helped Endeavor take down Stain, ruff!" he announced. "How's that feel?"

"I... I don't..." Izuku glanced at his friends, then at Edgeshot. "I don't think I want the credit if Iida and Todoroki can't have it."

"Midoriya?!" his two classmates exclaimed.

"You deserve it as much as me," he smiled at them. "It just doesn't feel right."

"And does it feel any better letting my old man take all the credit?" Shoto asked. "Midoriya, I'm fine not taking credit for this after all. But, for me, don't let it all go to my father. Please take what you deserve."

"I agree Midoriya," Tenya said. "Really, you deserve it more anyways."

"But guys..." he sighed.

"Listen kid," Edgeshot said, hanging an arm around him. "Take this. You deserve it. It'll get even more public eye on you, if that's possible. Besides, your friends want you to have this win. Don't just leave them hanging."

"I... I guess so..."

It still didn't feel right.

"Then, ruff," Tsuragamae said, "the official story is: U.A. Students and Pro Hero Native attacked by Stain. Deku, hero-in-training, saves them and holds the villain off until Endeavor comes in to capture him. If you weren't there kid, lives would've been lost and the killer would be on the loose. I give you my thanks, as a police officer. You two as well, although I'm sorry that you won't get your due reward."

"That's fine," Tenya bowed. "Thank you as well Mr. Tsuragamae."

"Thank you," Shoto bowed as well.

"I assume you'll want to talk about this in private," the police chief said. "I'll tell that girl to wait a moment more for you to let her back in."

"Um, Mr. Tsuragamae," Izuku said, "is there any way we could tell her what really happened?"

"Up to you," he shrugged. "But where do you draw the line? It's best to either tell everyone or no one. Whichever that is... I'll let you decide. Good day."

The heroes left them alone after a light scolding and congratulations, and the three of them quickly agreed to stick to the official story. The alternative would just cause problems for them in and it wouldn't be worth the accolades.

"So Midoriya," Shoto said. "Before we let Uraraka in, there's one more thing to talk about."

"Really? What is it?" Izuku asked.

"Are you and she together?" he asked bluntly.

"N-No!" he yelped quickly. "At least, not officially or anything."

"It's... unofficial?" Tenya asked.

"We went on A date. Just one," he explained. "And we never decided what it meant or anything. We're still friends."

"But not just friends," Shoto ventured.

"I... don't think so," Izuku admitted.

"Then we won't push the issue any further," Tenya said.

"Thanks guys," the green teen smiled.

After that, they let the brunette back in and explained the story to her. They didn't tell her the truth—the whole truth, at least—and instead kept to the official story. She wasn't exactly happy with it.

"I can't believe you went up against that hero killer all alone!" Ochako cried.

"I-I really didn't! Not for long anyway," Izuku scratched his neck.

"Why didn't you two help him?!" she looked sharply at Shoto and Tenya.

"Stain's Quirk paralyzed us," Shoto said.

"Besides, our hero mentors never gave us permission to fight," Tenya said. "Doing so could have ruined our careers as heroes."

Ochako sighed and looked back at Izuku. She looked up and down, taking in every bandage and bit of gauze.

"Deku... I'm so glad you're safe." She smiled at Shoto and Tenya. "You two, too."

"So Uraraka, you're going back to Gunhead's?" Izuku asked.

"I guess so," she nodded. "I still have to finish my internship over there, I only came here to clear my head about it. Now that I'm not worryin' about it, I'll be able to focus on my fighting."

After another couple of hours, Ochako departed for Gunhead's agency. Shortly after, the doctors gave the three young heroes their diagnoses. Shoto's shoulder was dislocated, though there was no permanent damage, and Izuku needed to rest his body to heal the stab wound in his abdomen. It would leave a scar there unfortunately. Tenya was the one with the worst injuries. Before Izuku had even reached him Stain had severed the nerves in his left arm, taking away its feeling and function. While a nerve replacement surgery would have brought feeling back to it, he decided to use the injury as a reminder that he had failed as a hero. He would only fix the damage after he felt that he had overcome that shortcoming.

After the Hosu Incident, the internet went ablaze over the leaked footage of Stain. The villain had almost murdered the number 2 hero, and vowed to kill more. Then, an explosion of flames overtook the entire screen. Thankfully for Shoto, the quality was poor enough, and the video was taken from far enough away, that nobody knew he had fired the blast instead of Endeavor. The hero did get criticized for "overkill", but since Stain didn't actually die, most people let it go pretty quickly.

This footage did, however, pick up Stain's monologue. The public largely agreed that he was just a murdering hypocrite, but a small amount of people started discussing how he was right.

Another thing engulfing the conversation online was a certain green-haired celebrity that went by the name Deku. The teen was already famous, but his involvement in the Hosu Incident (which was enhanced by pros talking about his participation in rescue operations) got even more eyes on him.

—

"... What the fuck?" Tomura grunted. "Why... Why isn't anyone giving a shit about me?"

"Tomura Shigaraki, please calm down," Kurogiri requested.

"No." His eyes flared and a bead of sweat dripped from his forehead onto his father's hand. "I went through so much trouble... But what does the media talk about? Stain... Not even that! That fucking broccoli brat that beat him! RRAGH!"

Tomura kicked a stool across the room, and Kurogiri caught it with a portal.

"Calm down Tomura," the voice spoke from the screen. "Think, rationally."

"But Master..!" he heaved, grasping for a foothold to continue his venting.

"No, Tomura. There's always a lesson to be learned."

—

"Listen kid," Edgeshot said as he looked down upon his intern. "Having you here... It's been a blast."

Izuku chuckled and scratched his neck in slight embarrassment, still not entirely used to praise from pro heroes. "I had a good time too Edgeshot-Sensei. I'm glad I was able to learn under you."

"Yeeaaah, I was hoping to bring you out on another patrol, but your little stab wound just had to get in the way," Edgeshot sighed as he planted his fist on the kid's chest. "But with that extra studying and meditating you got in because of it, I don't know if there's much else I can condition you for."

"Coming here has helped me grow so much Sensei," Izuku smiled and bowed. "I won't let your training go to waste!"

"Sure thing kid," the ninja hero grinned. "Hey, when you start out as a hero, I'd be glad to have you as a sidekick. Though, I don't expect you to stay as anyone's sidekick for very long. You'll go independent really quick once you're out there."

"Ah, you think so?"

"Absolutely. You're already a celebrity as you are, little guy."

"I guess so," Izuku nodded. "Thanks again Sensei! I'll see you around!"

And with that, he waved a final goodbye to his instructor and left with his light luggage. His commute was, of course, filled with people recognizing him from his somewhat newfound fame. While he was now used to such things, the Hosu Incident seemed to make even more people recognize him. And, while it sounded cocky and egotistical in his head, it felt nice to be recognized for something other than just the sports festival because that was getting old.

He had talked to his mother plenty of times on the phone, but the relief was definitely evident in her eyes when he got home. She hugged him tight and cried about how worried she was, but also said that she knew he'd be alright. She made him katsudon as a special welcome home dinner that night, and sent him to bed extra early to get him back into his regular sleep schedule and to get him rested for his return to school.

Only, he really didn't get too much rest that night. He'd had trouble sleeping ever since Hosu, in fact. All of the people that died in front of him kept flashing through his head. Their corpses burning... The damage done by that single nomu was scarred into his head more than anything else from that night.

—

"Hey! It's Midoriya!" Denki shouted as the student in question walked in.

"U-Um, hel—" Izuku began, but was caught off-guard as the class erupted in cheers and celebration.

"How the hell can you be so manly?!" Eijiro exclaimed as he hooked his arm around Izuku's neck.

"I mean seriously, the hero killer?" Rikido sighed. "You're insane man."

"HE AIN'T SPECIAL!" Katsuki shouted from his seat.

"PFFT—! Actually, what's up with your hair Bakugo?!" Hanta laughed.

"Best Jeanist put fucking cement in it!" the blonde complained as he tried running his fingers through it. "Or something else strong enough that it kept this shape all fucking weekend!"

"While Midoriya was saving Iida and Todoroki from Stain, you were getting a HAIRCUT?!" Denki laughed.

"WANNA DIE?!" Katsuki yelled as his hair popped back into its normal spiky position.

"Hey man, it just went back!" Eijiro joined in on the laughing.

Yaoyorozu made a judge's gavel and smacked it against her desk a few times to calm down the class, which didn't work, and Shinso was napping with the help of his new patented Moron-blocking earplugs.

"C'mon guys, don't make such a big deal out of it," Izuku chuckled uncomfortably.

"But it is a big deal!" Toru said.

"Certainly a heroic feat," Mashirao nodded.

"Hey c'mon Midoriya," Denki groaned. "What're you doing, trying to impress so the girls with all this stuff?! Cuz it's probably working dude! And there are only 6 girls in this class!"

"N-No!" he defended.

"What's that?" Ochako (who had just walked in) asked.

"Apparently Midori is trying to get with one of us girls," Mina teased. "Any idea who?"

"W-W-Wha?!" Ochako exclaimed as she blushed.

"I didn't say that exactly," Denki said. Then he laughed, "But Uraraka, what's with that reaction?!"

"Yeah Ochako!" Toru agreed.

"Yeah, what's with that blush Ochako?" Kyoka asked as well with a smirk.

"Uwawawawa! W-What are ya talkin' about?!" Ochako stammered as she covered her face.

"G-Guys..!" Izuku, also blushing, said as he stepped in front of her. "Let's not—"

"Everyone shut up and sit down," Aizawa groaned as he walked in. "Ah, geez... You're all so excitable after your internships, huh?"

—

"I AM HERE!" All Might announced as he stood in front of the students at Field Gamma.

"No special entrance?" Hanta asked. "I expected something more after a break like that."

"Maybe he's just out of shticks," Denki mused.

"I am never out! My supply of shticks is inexhaustible! Ahahaha!" the hero laughed. "Although, it certainly has been a while everyone! I appear before you today to instruct you in basic hero training! Since you all just got done working so hard, today we will have a little bit of fun. It's a rescue race!"

"Race?" the class asked.

"Excuse me All Might!" Tenya said, raising his hand. "Should rescue training not be done at the USJ?"

"The USJ is specifically for disaster rescue, Young Iida! Now, where was I...? Ah yes, it's a race! This is Field Gamma! It's a network of packed industrial buildings that form a tight maze of alleyways! We'll split you up into 4 groups of 5 for this exercise, each group going separately. I'll be inside and activate a distress signal, and the five students on the border will race to come rescue me! Simple, right? Reach me first and win! Just keep collateral damage to a minimum, ahahaha!"

"Stop pointing at me!" Katsuki snapped, getting a laugh out of his classmates.

—

'I'm in group one, huh...' Izuku sighed internally.

He glanced to his left and evaluated his other group members: Shoto Todoroki, Hitoshi Shinso, Rikido Sato, and Tenya Iida.

'Todoroki and Iida are my biggest opponents here... But I can't let my guard down against either of the other two.'

Rikido took out a small packet of sugar and downed it.

"Ooooh yeah!" the sugarpowered student exclaimed as his muscles swelled.

"Um, mind if I have some?" Hitoshi asked.

"I can't just give you some, it's for my Qu—" Rikido began explaining before freezing.

"Thank you very much."

"AH! OH NO!" All Might's voice echoed out. "I'VE BEEN ATTACKED BY A VILLAIN AND NEED RESCUE!"

All Might's position popped up on the giant board, and it was off to the races. Shoto blasted off in the lead by propelling himself forward on a path of ice. Meanwhile, Izuku ran to the nearest building and arranged garbage cans to let him run up to the roof, and Tenya began running through the alleys on the ground.

"Sato!" Hitoshi said. "Throw me towards All Might!"

The bruiser threw the brainwasher as hard as he could, but he only sent him up to the first roof.

"... Damn," Hitoshi sighed as he decided all he could do was follow the others.

Shoto made first place by a longshot. Izuku placed second by quickly leaping across the rooftops while Tenya had an issue getting on top of the building, and Hitoshi came in behind them. Rikido was still brainwashed.

"Well done young heroes!" All Might bellowed. "Young Todoroki placed first, but you've all obviously improved! Well, mostly all," he said with a gesture to Rikido.

"Thank you All Might!" the students bowed together.

"*Ahem, Young Midoriya," the hero whispered to Izuku. "Come to the teacher's lounge during lunch. I've got something to discuss with you."

—

"So... What's this about, All Might?" Izuku asked. He and the gaunt hero had been sitting there silently for almost a minute.

"Young man... You went through so much in the past week," Toshinori said. "As someone who took you on as my pupil, I feel that I have a responsibility to look after you. I clearly didn't, and you were hurt. For that, I am sorry."

"No, don't be!" Izuku said quickly. "This was my fault, not yours All Might."

"Yeah, sure," he sighed. "Really, the reason I called you in is... Well, it's complicated. But, I suppose I have a starting point. During the Hosu attack, there were 3 nomu, correct?"

"Yes sir."

"These beasts, who have multiple Quirks... They are not beasts at all. In fact, they were once regular citizens."

"Really? How'd they end up like that then?" Izuku asked.

"Their bodies were forcefully implanted with extra Quirks."

"That..." The cogs in Izuku's head were spinning in overdrive. "That's possible?!"

"Yes," his mentor nodded. "The strain of all those powers ripped their minds apart until they were left with intelligence akin to animals. Now that we know this... There is only one man I know of who can perform the act of transferring Quirks. I fought him years ago. In fact, he's the one that wounded me."

"The one that gave you that?" Izuku pointed at the hero's stomach.

"Yes," he nodded. "I thought that I had defeated him back then, but... Now, it's clear he has returned. The villain All For One. All For One can steal Quirks. and then, he can either give them away or use them himself. That is his ability. So, it's more than feasible that he has acquired a de-aging Quirk. Why is this relevant? Well, he's been alive for hundreds of years."

"He's that old?"

"Uh-huh. I'm sorry if this sounds convoluted, I'm as poor at explaining as I am at teaching."

"No, it's fine," Izuku assured. "I just... don't get why this is relevant."

"Because, there is only one way to defeat this foe," All Might said. "Back then, in the beginning of the era of Quirks, All For One had a younger brother. This younger sibling was Quirkless, despite his older brother's great potential. Feeling bad for him, All For One granted his younger brother a Quirk. It was a simple Quirk: it stockpiled power over time.

"However, the Quirkless brother was not actually born Quirkless! He had a rather useless Quirk: the ability to pass the Quirk itself onto another person. This Quirk fused with the stockpiling Quirk, and became a new one: One For All! One For All was passed on from the brother, then passed on again and again. It is a crystallization of the power of every single hand that it has passed through."

"And One For All is the only chance we have to defeat All For One?" Izuku asked.

"Yes," All Might said. "And I am certainly in no shape to do it myself. So I want you to fully understand this situation before you make any rash decisions. After all, we're talking about the fate of the world."

"W-What do you mean?"

"Izuku Midoriya," All Might said as he stood up from the couch. "I am the eighth handler of One For All, and I offer for you to be my successor."

"Huh? HHUUUUUUHH?!" Izuku exclaimed. "What?!"

"My Quirk. I want to give it to you."

"N-No way! This is surreal!" Izuku held his head with his hands because he thought it might fly apart. "If All Might's Quirk was passed onto him then what was his original one? Would I lose my telekinesis? Would I then just have 2 Quirks? Would they combine? How would we expla—"

"Calm down kid!" Toshinori exclaimed. "Listen, it's really not that complicated. The hero All Might is already nearing the end of his time, as you know, because of this injury. You could do a lot more now than I could with this Quirk. As for what would happen if you do accept, it's also simple! One For All manifests differently with each user, depending on their original Quirk! Don't you think it'd be noticed if 6 heroes with similar abilities had careers back-to-back-to-back?"

"Yeah, I guess so," Izuku nodded. "Then what was your original Quirk?"

"I was Quirkless, actually," All Might chuckled. "I had no Quirk for it to merge with, so it just boosted my physical abilities."

"You're Quirkless? No way!"

"Yes way!" He shot him a thumbs up. "And you may be thinking that the culminated strength of eight people may be a lot to handle, right?"

"Yeah..."

"Well that's why I told you to keep training your physical body!" All Might said. "You need to do that to contain all that power! Now, I know this is a big decision young man. You don't have to give me any answer immediately, but—"

"I'll do it."

Toshinori looked up into the shining, determined eyes of his protege.

"I'll be your successor."

"No hesitation! I like it!" he laughed. "Well, I won't be giving it to you yet. This meeting was just to bring you up to speed, after all."

"I understand All Might," Izuku nodded.

"Besides, you have more important things to worry about before that. Your semester exams are coming up, you know?"

"U-Um, yeah..."

"Prepare yourself, and pass those exams! That should be the first thing on your mind right now."

"Yes sir."

"Well, I've kept you here long enough. Go on Young Midoriya."

"Thank you All Might!" he said as he left the room.

Izuku sighed when he was out in the hallway. He had meant to talk to All Might about his sleep issues after the Hosu Incident, but he never saw an opening. Or, maybe it was subconscious. He didn't want to tell him. Despite the fact that he knew All Might was trustworthy and understanding, he felt that it was something he shouldn't have to bring up. Besides, All Might probably couldn't help much anyways. He was so strong that he'd probably never had the same issue.

He trusted it would go away with time.