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"Are you sure about this, kid?"
"Oh, I'm sure. Now, how about we go say hi to an old "friend" of mine."
"Even though I'm quirkless... C-Can I be a hero too?" asked a fluffy green-haired boy, his voice trembling with fear and uncertainty.
All Might, the #1 Pro Hero, looked at him seriously before responding. "Pro heroes are always risking their lives. Some villains just can't be beaten without quirks. So can you become a hero without a quirk? No... you can't."
Those words struck Izuku like a thunderbolt. His legs began to tremble, and tears welled up in his eyes. Despite his efforts to hold them back, his legs buckled, and tears streamed down his cheeks as he collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.
"I understand this is hard to hear, kid," All Might said, his tone softening slightly, "but it's better you know now, before it's too late." With that, the hero turned and walked away, leaving Izuku alone.
Minutes passed, and Izuku's tears finally subsided. He sat on the ground for a moment before pushing himself up, wiping his eyes.
"I'll take the exam," he said firmly, clenching his fists. Determination burned in his eyes. If he failed the entrance exam, he'd go to the police academy and try his luck there.
What came after the exam, however, was something Izuku could never have prepared for.
Still standing on the roof, Izuku decided he needed to train his body in preparation for the test. Just as he turned to head toward the gym, a plume of smoke caught his attention from the opposite direction.
He paused, gripping the straps of his book bag. For a moment, he hesitated, but then he shook his head. "I need to focus on training... no hero work for now," he muttered to himself and headed toward the gym.
On the day of the exam, Izuku ran into Katsuki Bakugo, a spiky blond-haired boy he knew all too well—Kacchan. The sight of him brought back memories of the sludge villain incident. Concerned, Izuku asked if Bakugo was okay. But, in typical fashion, Bakugo brushed him off, walking past without a word.
When the exam was over, all Izuku could do was wait for a letter from the school to see if he had been accepted. Days passed, and when the letter finally arrived, his hands trembled as he opened it.
Slowly, he pulled out the letter and began to read...