The train to UA was always crowded, but Izuku didn't really mind. He just grabbed his phone and browsed the hero forums, smiling as he saw people talking about his article. He still felt bad about calling out his old middle school, but Nezu was right, they were just going to keep hurting people unless somebody did something. This way, people were actually comparing the statistics he'd shared with some from other schools and were realizing that this was a more generalized problem than anyone had assumed. But then again, they hadn't assumed that it was a problem at all. Change would still take time, obviously, but at least...

"Psst, hey aren't you Midoriya? From class 1A?"

Mitsuki: He's being recognized.

Izuku jumped and craned his neck to look behind him at the man who'd recognized him, "Uuh, yeah, that's me..."

The man smiled, "Good job at the sports festival."

"You got to the final round, didn't you?" Another man asked. "That's really impressive."

Todoroki: Yes it is.

"Did you say Midoriya?" a woman asked. "Didn't one of the commentators also call you Deku?"

"Uh, yeah." Midoriya fidgeted as he realized how many people were looking at him. "Deku is my hero name, actually. I've done some analysis work for some pros already, so they announced that name so people would know who I was."

"Wait..." an older woman with a stern face frowned at him. "I heard rumors that Deku was quirkless."

Midoriya(twitching): Oh boy here it comes...

"No way!" Someone else said. "UA would never let somebody quirkless into the hero course."

Nezu: We would if they showed potential.

Izuku hesitated. He didn't have to confirm his quirklessness. He could just laugh and not say anything, let them each believe what they wanted to about him. It'd be easier, especially since these guys seemed to be rooting for him and that would change as soon as they realized he didn't have a quirk, but... how was he supposed to give hope to the next generation of quirkless kids if he was too afraid to even acknowledge who he was?

Mic: Exactly!

"Umm," Izuku took a deep breath, "actually, there's no rule preventing people like me from applying. As long as I'm able to pass the test, I qualify for the hero course."

The car went silent.

"It's true? You're actually quirkless?"

Joke: Yup... and I'm going to punch anyone who thinks otherwise.

Midnight: Count me in!

Aizawa: Unless you two can somehow punch people in another dimension you can stop saying things like that for no reason.

Izuku gave a shaky smile, "Yeah, I, uh, I just wasn't born with any powers."

As he expected, the mood in the train car immediately shifted. Some people started glaring at him while others looked shocked and the rest looked at him in pity. He'd have to get used to this, though, he'd be dealing with it his entire career.

Bakugo: Yeah...

"Sorry..." The man who'd recognized him put a hand on his shoulder, probably in an attempt to comfort him.

Izuku smiled, "It's not a big deal. Yeah, it might make things a little harder sometimes, but I don't let it hold me back.

"Why would you even try to be a hero without a quirk?" Another man asked.

Midoriya: Because I want to help people.

"I want to help people." Izuku responded. A lot of kids did it for the fame or the power, so maybe his reason might seem a little lackluster, but it was enough for him.

"There's other ways to help people..." A woman said after a long pause, "safer ways.

Izuku nodded, "I know, but I want to be a hero. Don't worry, I've had enough training that I know how to not die the moment I get out in the field."

Thirteen: Yeah that's definitely important...

"Useless!" Izuku flinched as an old man practically growled at him. "Leave the opportunities for those who actually deserve them! Do you know how many kids with quirks would kill for a seat in the hero course? And yet you're filling it up with your useless ass!"

Bakugo: Oi shut up you quirkist idiot!

The other occupants in the car glanced at one another awkwardly. Apparently they didn't know whether they were supposed to step in or not, which Izuku understood. He just had to be strong enough to take it. There were always going to be people who hated the idea of a quirkless hero.

"You may as well go home kid." Someone else said. "You're just gonna get yourself killed."

"Good riddance, I say." The old man muttered. "Then at least his spot'll be filled with someone who actually has a chance of being a hero."

(everyone started yelling at the screen and Jana actually had to pause the scrolling before they started calming down enough to pay attention.)

No one really knew what to say to that, so the rest of Izuku's ride to UA was spent in awkward silence. Izuku sighed in relief when it was finally his stop and he stepped off the train.

Jirou: I can't believe they're not even saying anything.

"Midoriya!"

Izuku turned around to see a woman he didn't recognize running toward him, "Umm, what can I do for you?"

The woman took a moment to catch her breath, "I, um, I'm sorry I didn't say anything on the train... I'm just... I'm such a coward."

Mitsuki: Yes you are.

Izuku shrugged, "It's okay, it was a pretty weird situation, but I'm used to insults, so you don't have to apologize."

The woman frowned, "You shouldn't have to be used to it..."

Hound Dog: No he shouldn't be.

"Umm," Izuku said, "if that's all, I'd probably better be getting to class..."

"Wait!" The woman grabbed his arm, then quickly dropped it again. "Um, I just wanted to thank you. You see, my daughter's quirkless and it's been really hard on her. When we realized after the sports festival that you were too..." she laughed, "well, let's just say she's watched the festival seven times in the past three days."

Inko: Izuku you inspired someone!

Midoriya(agape): I... I did.

Izuku stared at her in shock. There was a kid... who was inspired by him? He smiled brightly, "That's amazing! Well, you tell her that being quirkless isn't the end of the world. I know she probably has a lot of people that tell her that she's worthless or that she can't contribute anything to society, but, well, I know she can do anything if she puts in the work."

The woman smiled, "Thank you so much! It just... it meant the world for her to be able to see someone like her competing on the same level as the kids with quirks. Though I'm kinda scared for that guy with the brainwashing quirk. If my daughter ever sees him, I'm fairly certain she'll attack him on sight just to defend your honor."

(everyone snorted)

Shinso: Uh oh.

Izuku laughed, "I'll be sure to tell Shinso to watch his back."

"Also, I get a heart attack every time she watches the obstacle course." She said. "It's her favorite part, but... maybe in the future, could you not be so reckless? I don't want her getting any ideas..."

Recovery Girl: Yes! Finally someone who gets it!

"Oh." Izuku hadn't really thought about that. He was an example now. "I'm sorry, I'll try to be more careful. Tell your daughter I said 'hi', okay?"

"Actually," the woman rifled through her purse until she found a notebook and pen, "could I get your autograph?"

Mt. Lady: Another autograph!

Izuku smiled and took the notebook, "What's your daughter's name?"

"It's Aia."

Toga: Ooh that's a pretty name.

Dear Aia,

I know it's hard sometimes, being like us, but just know that I believe in you! You'll have to work hard, but you can do that. I hope you can join me in showing the world that quirkless does not mean worthless.

Sincerely,

Deku

Setsuna: It sure doesn't.

Izuku arrived at the lockers just as Iida finished putting away his things, "Iida..."

Iida smiled, "If it's about my brother, everything will be fine, I'm sorry I made you worry."

Iida: No it's not... I really should've talked to you.

Midoriya: Yeah...

Izuku frowned as Iida left. Nothing had been released to the public yet, but from what Ingenium's sidekicks were saying to other heroes on the forum he used, there was a good chance Iida's brother had been permanently paralyzed by the hero killer. That wasn't fine.

Izuku shook his head and went to class. If Iida needed help, he'd ask; Izuku just had to be there for him and trust him to know what he needed. That's what friends were for, right?

Todoroki: Yeah...

When he got to the classroom, everyone was talking about their newfound fame. Apparently he wasn't the only one who'd been recognized on the way to school.

"Everyone wanted to talk to me on my way here!" Ashido gushed.

"Me too!" Kirishima said. "It was kinda crazy."

Kirishima: But really fun!

"You'll never guess what a group of elementary school brats yelled at me!" Sero whined.

"Nice try?" Tsu suggested. The rest of the class laughed.

(everyone laughed as Sero sighed)

"Yeah, well, at least they didn't tell you they'd be happy if you died." Izuku said casually. The class turned to him in horror and he suddenly remembered that death threats weren't really the norm for quirked students.

Everyone: You forgot?!

"What?" Uraraka's eyes were wide and Izuku just shrugged awkwardly.

"Apparently some people don't take too kindly to a quirkless kid getting into the hero course." He said simply. "Don't worry about it guys, I've gotten death threats before, I'm used to it."

Kurogiri: Again he really shouldn't be.

Katsuki glanced back at him, then huffed and faced forward again. He was probably remembering the death threats he'd delivered himself, but... he was actually doing a lot better recently. Izuku had hoped that the therapy would work, but in all honesty, he'd known there was a possibility that Katsuki was too far gone. But he wasn't, so that was good!

Bakugo: Yeah... good...

Kirishima: I believe in you Bakugo.

Mina: Yeah!

Bakugo(mumbling): Thanks.

Kaminari: What was that?

Bakugo: Shut up you heard me the first time!

"Guys," Kaminari looked around the room, "does anyone know where Mineta is? He's not usually this late."

Mineta: Yeah that's weird...

"Mineta has been transferred to class 1C." Aizawa announced as he strode through the door. He was followed by Shinso, who looked bored, but Izuku didn't miss the extra tension he was holding in his shoulders. "After his poor performance in the sports festival, not to mention his obvious groping of Yaoyorozu that was caught on camera, we decided that his spot could be put to better use. Shinso, you'll be taking the seat behind Deku."

(the girls cheered)

Hagakure: Yes the grape is gone!

Mineta: No!

Uraraka: And Shinso's in the hero course!

Shinso looked at Aizawa in confusion, so Izuku smiled and raised his hand, "He means me. Deku's my hero name."

Shinso nodded and made his way to the empty desk as Aizawa continued, "Speaking of hero names. You need to pick yours." He activated his quirk as the class erupted into whispers. "This is of course related to the hero draft picks I mentioned last class. Normally, you wouldn't have to worry about being drafted until your second or third years, but your class is obviously different. Here are the totals for those of you who got offers."

Izuku looked up at the board and gasped when he realized just how many offers he'd gotten. Of course, he was nowhere near Todoroki or Bakugo, but... wow.

Dabi: Now if society wasn't so prejudiced he would've gotten more.

"I..." Shinso sounded just as shocked as Izuku felt. "I got offers? I wasn't even in the hero course yet."

Izuku glanced at the board again and, although he was at the bottom of the list, Shinso had three offers, "Good job, Shinso!"

Tsunotori: Three's not a lot.

Aoyama: Three is better than none.

Aoyama pouted, "How come he got offers, and not moi?!"

"Maybe because he made it farther than you did." Tsu said helpfully.

Monoma: Yeah, Aoyama.

"Despite these results," Aizawa said loudly, "You'll all be interning with pros. All of you except for Shinso experienced real villains at the USJ, but it will still be helpful to see pros in action."

"And for that, we need hero names!" Uraraka yelled.

Aizawa nodded, "These hero names will most likely be temporary, but take them seriously or..."

Midnight: You'll have hell to pay!

"You'll have hell to pay!" Midnight threw open the door and sauntered in. "What you pick today could be your codename for life. So be careful, or you'll be stuck with something utterly indecent."

"Yeah, if you get a reputation on your internships, you won't be able to easily change your name. Midnight's going to have the final say on your code names, it's not my forte."

Izuku turned and whispered to Shinso, "That's how he got stuck with Eraserhead. Present Mic..."

Aizawa: Problem child!

"Ahem." Izuku turned back forward to see Aizawa glaring at him. "If you forgot, that's also how you got stuck with the name Deku, so you don't have any right to talk. The name you pick is important. It shows what kind of hero you want to be."

Midnight passed out some whiteboards as Aizawa passed out. Izuku turned to Shinso again... it probably wasn't a good idea to have a friend so close. How did Iida and Uraraka manage sitting right next to each other? Or Yaoyorozu and Todoroki? Izuku didn't think he was that much more social than them.

Uraraka: Yeah it's a bit hard to not keep chatting in class.

"So, Shinso, do you have any ideas yet?"

Shinso stared blankly at his board, "I didn't even know I was in the hero course until I showed up to school this morning. How did you pick your name? Aizawa said that it should represent the kind of hero you want to be, so why did you pick a synonym for useless?"

Midoriya: To remember where I came from.

Izuku chuckled awkwardly, "I didn't actually think it was going to be my hero name when I picked it. In fact, at that point I didn't think I was going to be a hero at all. Deku is a name... my bullies used to call me. I guess it's kinda come to represent where I come from, you know? So even after I've achieved my dream, I won't forget how hard it was to get here."

Shinso blinked at him, "You didn't even hesitate to respond to my question."

"Why would I...?" Izuku asked. "Oh, your quirk! Don't worry, I'm sure you have excellent control, and if you brainwash me on accident, it's not a big deal, you can just let me go."

Shinso(sighing): That is not what I meant.

"But... aren't you afraid I'm a villain or something?"

Izuku was confused for a moment before he remembered that Shinso had mentioned he'd been bullied for having a villain quirk. He shook his head, "No. You're here to be a hero and so am I. It doesn't matter what anybody else says, right?"

A lot of people: Right!

Shinso thought for another long moment before writing something down and showing it to Izuku, who smiled.

Mindblank.

Tetsutetsu: Oh that's a good one!

Shinso: Yeah I guess...