Midoriya Izuku was quirkless.

Unlike his childhood friend, who possessed an extraordinary explosion quirk, Midoriya grew up without a quirk. However, now at the age of 24, he no longer harbors much regret about being quirkless.

As a child, he despaired. He wanted to be a hero, a hero like All Might. Just like Bakugo Katsuki, who dreamed big with his powerful quirk, Midoriya Izuku dreamed the same dreams as other kids. But he was quirkless. Even so, he couldn't give up on his dream.

It didn't matter if people called him pathetic. The dream of becoming a hero like All Might was a thorn embedded so deeply in Midoriya Izuku's heart that it couldn't be pulled out.

He analyzed heroes' quirks, identifying their weaknesses, strengths, and areas for improvement, putting in relentless effort. If he couldn't rely on a quirk, he would compensate with knowledge. The wounds left by his lack of a quirk were filled with the strengths and weaknesses of others—heroes, and ordinary people alike.

Well… it didn't end well.

It wasn't because Bakugo had stomped on Midoriya's dreams or flaunted his superiority when Midoriya announced he wanted to apply to U.A. High School.

That kind of thing had always happened.

It made him angry, but it was something he could endure by swallowing his pride and holding it in.

What truly shattered Midoriya's heart was All Might.

That moment had been nothing short of a miracle for him.

To meet All Might in person!

Overcome with awe, Midoriya had voiced a small wish he had always wanted to ask.

It was a dream that had been battered, frayed, and torn apart by others over the years.

"Can a quirkless person still become a hero?"

He had always wanted the answer to be yes. A simple "You can do it" would have been enough encouragement.

But All Might, with his gaunt face and sharp yet tired eyes, casually rolled the plastic bottle in his hand and told Midoriya:

"It's impossible."

Midoriya had been judged by All Might. He had been told he couldn't become a hero. Never before had the fact that he was quirkless struck him so deeply.

The words "I already know" couldn't even escape his lips. All that remained was the weight of All Might's single, decisive statement pressing heavily on his heart.

As he watched All Might walk away to hand over the villain, sealed in a plastic bottle, to the police, the dream of being a hero began to waver in Midoriya's heart.

Yet, he couldn't bring himself to let it go.

Should I give up?

The question echoed endlessly in his mind.

I can't give up. On being a hero. Should I give up? On being a hero.

Walking with the sunset behind him, Midoriya wept.

Still, he wished that just one person—just one—would believe in him.

He had hoped that All Might, who was always smiling and tirelessly running to save others, might have said something, anything, even a doubtful reassurance like, "Maybe you can do it if you try hard enough, even if you're quirkless."

He felt as though he had lost his way forward, like he had been dropped into a barren wasteland with no map or compass, unsure if he was meant to embark on this journey at all.

And yet. And yet. A lingering doubt whispered to Midoriya, telling him not to put his faith in All Might.

Look at yourself! the doubt kept murmuring.

Midoriya clenched his teeth and endured the pain, even to the point of bleeding, but he could never ignore a cry for help right in front of him.

Before his mind could process it, his feet were already running, and his hands were reaching out.

No matter how battered, broken, or terrified he became, he never regretted it.

But still, I can't be a hero. Those were the words of an absolute figure.

From the moment he accepted that, time passed.

Summer break came and went, and the day of the U.A. Hero Course entrance exam arrived.

By then, Midoriya's thoughts had started to waver.

His beliefs and determination—everything began to shift on the day of the practical exam.

Without realizing it, his mindset started to change. Amid the absurd exam, where students were tasked with destroying robots, he wandered nervously, clutching a bent metal bar like a lifeline.

Scoring zero, he roamed aimlessly, until he encountered an enormous villain robot that awarded no points. It was then that he saw a girl trapped under rubble.

To save her, Midoriya ran toward her, wielding his bent metal bar like a weapon.

He struggled to free the girl buried under the debris.

Thankfully, the girl, perhaps inspired by his determination, regained consciousness and used her quirk.

With her quirk, she lifted the rubble, and with Midoriya's support, they escaped.

But just as they did, the leg of the villain robot came crashing down toward them.

Fortunately, the robot's leg missed. However, a piece of debris flying in all directions struck Midoriya on the left side of his head.

When Midoriya opened his eyes, he found himself in a hospital room.

He could hear his mother's worried voice.

Apparently, if a major accident seemed likely during the exam, waiting heroes were ready to step in and rescue the participants.

The hero who had saved Midoriya and the girl praised his courage, wondering what kind of quirk he had.

Upon learning that Midoriya was quirkless, the hero scolded him, calling his actions reckless and dangerous.

He reprimanded him, calling it sheer folly.

"Because you're quirkless. Being a hero is impossible," the hero said.

The doctor explained that someone with a healing quirk had treated him, and he could be discharged once his strength returned.

As he touched his throbbing forehead, Midoriya realized a large scar had formed on the left side.

Still, Midoriya didn't regret what he had done.

What hurt the most wasn't the injury—it was hearing yet again, from another hero, that being quirkless meant he couldn't be a hero.

The words pierced his heart, and tears began streaming down his face uncontrollably.

In his mind, All Might's voice replayed once more:

"It's impossible."

The word "hero" was something Midoriya could never give up on.

Naturally, he failed the U.A. Hero Course exam.

However, he managed to secure a spot in the General Studies department of U.A., even if it felt like a consolation prize.

His acceptance into the General Studies program was a bittersweet success, but his mother sighed in relief upon hearing the news.

For Midoriya, this was enough. Even if it was the General Studies department, he had still entered U.A., the starting point of heroes.

But the world, All Might, and heroes themselves all told him the same thing: as a quirkless person, he could never become a hero.

Even so, it was okay.

Midoriya tried to console his dream.

Perhaps, deep down, he had already given up.

The scar on his throbbing left forehead, the haunting nightmares of his powerless self and All Might's words, and his mother's relieved face all weighed heavily on him, refusing to let go.

Hero.

Hero.

He wanted to at least catch a glimpse of a hero's side.

If he couldn't become a hero, then he at least wanted to see their side, their beginnings, even before they became one.

Midoriya put in the effort. He grew close to his classmates in the General Studies department. Although he was shy, he was passionate and filled with determination.

Sometimes, his intense habit of researching heroes and quirks and muttering to himself seemed eerie, but in the General Studies department, it was seen as a quirky charm.

While he wasn't ignored for being quirkless, his dream of becoming a hero was often dismissed—but he persevered.

He lived a typical high school life. Even though he was in General Studies, the prestige of being at U.A. was undeniable.

Since there were no quirk-related courses in his department, Midoriya was able to keep up with his studies.

One day, rumors spread that the Hero Course students had been attacked by villains.

Worried, he asked about Bakugo's condition, but his concern was met with a punch from a seemingly subdued Bakugo.

Just one punch—there were no snide remarks or lengthy insults, just the blunt, "Get lost, you quirkless idiot." Shocked, Midoriya touched his aching cheek.

So this is the Hero Course.

Do they grow mentally and emotionally stronger by fighting villains?

When he tried to say he was glad Bakugo wasn't seriously hurt, he nearly got hit again.

Fortunately, some Hero Course students arrived just in time to restrain Bakugo, saving Midoriya from further trouble.

Unexpectedly, he met the girl he had saved during the entrance exam. To his surprise, she thanked him for helping her that day. The girl he had risked himself to save was now a student in the Hero Course.

And so, the time came for the U.A. Sports Festival.

"I'm going to check out the Hero Course."

"Huh… huh?!"

Midoriya was startled by the casual remark from his classmate, Shinsou Hitoshi, as they were eating lunch together.

"I'm going to see how great they really are."

"Well… since they're all aiming to become heroes…"

Midoriya hadn't intended to defend the Hero Course students. He was just about to say something like, Heroes handpicked these students, so we should trust their judgment.

It did strike him as unusual that someone like Shinsou Hitoshi, with an impressive quirk and such a strong dream, was in the General Studies department.

Midoriya couldn't help but admire Shinsou's quirk, falling into his usual habit of muttering and analyzing, which only fueled his thoughts.

However, Shinsou misunderstood Midoriya's words. Gritting his teeth, Shinsou replied sharply:

"That's enough of your hero worship. The Hero Course students aren't heroes yet. They're just students like us."

And so, Shinsou, the General Studies student with the powerful quirk Brainwashing, caught the attention of heroes after the Sports Festival.

Although he was utterly defeated in his match against Bakugo from Class 1-A, who exploited the weaknesses of his quirk, he still managed to garner recognition from the pros.

His classmates congratulated him, some even calling him the star of General Studies with cringeworthy admiration.

Midoriya congratulated him sincerely, tears streaming down his face as he celebrated Shinsou's success as if it were his own.

Seeing Midoriya's pure joy, Shinsou reflected on his own shortcomings. "If I were better at fighting, I could've landed at least one hit," he said, then slyly suggested, "Let's start training."

"Huh… huh?!"

"Again with the same reaction?"

At first, Shinsou had looked down on Midoriya for being quirkless.

But over time, watching Midoriya's determination, his relentless research, and his pure admiration for heroes, Shinsou began to see himself in Midoriya.

The only difference between them was a quirk.

And so, Midoriya unexpectedly began training with Shinsou.

Though initially confused, he reminded himself of something he had always believed: If you don't have a quirk, cover for it with something else.

Some of their classmates occasionally joined in for fun, turning their training sessions into bonding experiences.

Midoriya's body began to grow stronger, and Shinsou gained more muscle mass.

Amid these ordinary yet meaningful days, a significant turning point arrived for Midoriya.

Due to the dormitory system that had been in place since their first year, Midoriya was now living away from his family, spending his days alone in his room.

That event was the capture of the Hero Killer, Stain.

For Midoriya, who had long since given up on his dream of becoming a hero, this incident sparked a new vision of what heroism could mean.

One evening, while brushing his teeth, he stumbled upon a video on YouTube about Stain's ideology—his thoughts, his beliefs, and the message he passionately conveyed.

"In this world, the only true hero is All Might!"

The Hero Killer, Stain, restrained by Class 1-A's Todoroki Shoto, Bakugo Katsuki, and All Might's successor, shouted his belief with conviction:

"In this world, the only true hero is All Might!"

Those words sent Midoriya's heart racing. A true hero. But Stain's ideology carried weight far beyond that statement:

"There are false heroes in this world. I eliminate the liars. Only those who reach the pinnacle of self-sacrifice, expecting no reward, deserve to bear the title of hero. Those who pretend to such a title, I will destroy."

With a toothbrush still in his mouth, Midoriya clutched his computer monitor with both hands, his grip trembling with newfound tension, a strength built from his recent training yet still fragile.

"To achieve something, conviction and heart are essential! The heroes of this world are rotten! Corrupt!"

No, that's not true! Midoriya thought, shaking his head.

Even if some heroes stray or become blinded by personal desires, deep down, they must still have a desire to save others.

His time in U.A.'s General Studies department had taught him that much.

He had witnessed the convictions and determination of those who aspired to become heroes.

No matter how far they strayed, there would always be a path back to their original ideals.

To Midoriya, a hero was like All Might—someone who acted before thinking, someone whose first instinct was to save others regardless of the cost to themselves.

Someone who smiled and brought comfort in the face of danger.

Someone who saved others as if their own life didn't matter…

"The only one who can stop me is All Might!" Stain's voice echoed in his mind.

Stain gave no second chances. He judged and executed based solely on his conclusions and the present situation.

Yet Midoriya knew that some people needed a turning point, a chance to change.

But Stain wasn't someone who waited for such moments. He refused to overlook corruption, no matter how uncertain or slow the path to redemption might be.

Shaking his head fiercely, Midoriya clenched his fist and struck the scar on his left forehead.

I can't let myself be drawn into this! I can't get caught up in his ideology!

But… what about those who bear the title of hero yet turn a blind eye to villains and corruption?

Stain's ideology, however, felt outdated in this era.

What does it mean to be a hero?

In modern times, being a hero had become a profession.

Licensed individuals used their quirks to serve society.

Their efforts sometimes went above and beyond, while at other times, they fell short. Heroes now came in many forms, and sacrifice alone could no longer define heroism.

Being a hero had become a profession of service, grounded in quirks.

But All Might transcended this. He embodied the ideal of a hero who sought no reward, someone who sacrificed everything solely for the sake of others.

He was a hero among heroes. The ultimate hero. The greatest hero.

Stain was wrong.

Killing heroes indiscriminately was not the answer. His ideal of a true hero—a selfless person who expects no reward and sacrifices themselves for others—was rooted in absolutism.

While his pure intentions were commendable, his actions in the current age were nothing more than violence and senseless slaughter.

Perhaps...

"It would've been better if he carefully investigated and targeted only those who truly didn't deserve the title of hero... Ah."

Ah.

Midoriya realized he had spoken out loud.

"Even a hero unworthy of the title might still possess a heart willing to sacrifice for others. But how could one verify that? Perhaps by creating situations of danger? Observing how they act in the face of peril? The ones who abandon hostages and flee—aren't they the ones who truly don't deserve the title or even the profession of a hero?"

There are those who stand firm, waiting for rescue from other heroes.

Everyone deserves a chance.

But Stain offered no such opportunity. He killed without discretion, based solely on his judgment.

Midoriya frowned, muttering his thoughts aloud as he often did. No one was there to stop him, and he didn't try to stop himself either.

"Among those with the profession of hero, there are people who work for their families, for their livelihood. Ultimately, even their efforts are for others. There are those who save others for their own sense of fulfillment, their desire to always win, and to live a life worthy of admiration. But even then, their actions are for others."

Heroes who serve others with their quirks deserve their rewards.

The title of hero could arise from that, but not always.

Why did Stain insist that only a select few within the profession deserved the title of hero?

That narrow, rigid perspective allowed no room for nuance.

Quirks were the cornerstone of this society, and those who wielded their quirks recklessly, driven by selfish desires or personal goals, were villains.

Those who harmed others and disrupted society were villains.

As Midoriya considered the implications of quirks, Stain's words and his own churning thoughts made it impossible for him to stop thinking.

"What about those who rely solely on their quirks, claiming superiority without ever making sacrifices or facing moments of change?"

The tension in Midoriya's grip on the monitor loosened.

His mind churned over those who lived for themselves alone, using their quirks to manipulate the hero profession as a shield.

Slowly, Stain's ideology began to seep into Midoriya's own views on heroism, warping them.

As a quirkless person, Midoriya couldn't even imagine the corrupt underbelly of hero society that might exist.

Yet, he was certain it was there—an unseen side of a quirk-driven world, invisible to those without quirks.

Heroes. For the sake of heroes. Those who tarnish the name of hero, those who use the title as a shield.

"Stain should've targeted them instead. The ones who truly defile the title of hero."

This incident would make heroes reflect on what it means to bear the title of hero.

It would force them to reconsider the meaning of heroism within their profession.

While the ultimate outcome might be positive, the sacrifices of the heroes who were killed, the overlooked and dismissed victims, could never truly be justified or forgotten.

The Hero Course must be thinking along similar lines.

Midoriya believed this as he recalled Iida Tensei, who was killed by the Hero Killer last year.

While Tensei's death was partially a result of his reckless actions, it had a profound impact on U.A. High School. From that moment on, unease began to grow—not just because of villains, but because of ordinary people.