Fools Dream
"So, let me get this straight, Sakatsuki wants to go to U.A. High School?"
"...Is there a problem with that?"
"Problems? Plenty. Let's think about this realistically. You're quirkless, right? Sure, there are heroes out there with all kinds of wild quirks, but there's never been a quirkless hero. Not even one who's made it into the hero course. And the place you're trying to get into? It's not just any hero course, it's the most competitive school in Japan right now. You get what I'm saying?"
After school. Our homeroom teacher had suddenly dragged me to the staff room for a "chat." And sure enough, the topic was high school admissions.
"Sakatsuki, you're consistently top of the school. Even without aiming for heroics, you've got a bright future ahead, medical school, law school, whatever. Plenty of options. But why fixate so hard on the hero course? Got some special reason?"
"..."
"...Well, who doesn't dream of being a hero these days? I get it. As your teacher, I understand. Still, as your homeroom advisor, I can't recommend it. Even if you somehow became a hero, being quirkless means you'd never make pro. Sidekicking at best, and even then, scraping by without a decent pension would be tough. Plus, your family situation—"
"Teacher, have you been talking to my parents?"
"...Sakatsuki."
...No answer. Mom must've contacted him behind my back.
"Yeah. Look, I'll be straight with you. Your parents are... intense, I know that much. But you know it too, this isn't the time to chase dreams. You need to fix your current situation first. Your home life."
"...Yes. I know. Still, I just want to apply to U.A. Even if I fail the exam, I can go to a regular high school. That's my backup."
"Fine, whatever. If that's your call, I can't stop you. But remember this: some things just aren't meant to be, no matter how hard you struggle. That's reality. You know what I mean?"
"...Yes. Of course."
Reality. That damn word again.
"I'll head out then."
"Yeah, say hi to your parents for me."
I shut the staff room door with a click. Next stop: home.
No friends to hang out with, even after school. My only option was heading back. But I didn't want to.
It wasn't just today. Yesterday, the day before, every day, really. I never wanted to go home.
"..."
I pulled out my phone on impulse and searched for the U.A. High School promo video.
'Everybody, put your hands up! Listeners dreaming of U.A.! You ready!?'
On the screen, Present Mic hyped things up, zipping through the facilities and training programs with infectious energy. The hero training scenes looked fun as hell. Especially the students showing off their quirks, teaming up and clashing. That was it, the exact scene I'd been craving. Nothing more, nothing less. Get into the hero course, admire heroes, push forward to become one. My dream, right there on my phone screen.
But put the phone down, and poof, gone. Nothing but an empty hallway and me, dreading home. Reality crashes back in like a truck.
And I wasn't the only one crushed under it.
"That's not food, you idiots..."
...Midoriya Izuku. The words came from that kid out in the school backyard, visible through the hallway window. Couldn't see his face, just his back, but the shaking shoulders screamed it: Bakugo had roughed him up again.
Quirkless, just like me. That's why Midoriya and I had so much in common. Powerless, always taking it on the chin, forced to stare reality dead in the face harder than anyone. That's why I hated him. Every time I saw his pathetic state, it mirrored mine. Made my life feel just as miserable.
So this time, I tried ignoring him and walking past. But he turned around first, and our eyes met.
"...Mitchy?"
"..."
Midoriya clutched a soaked notebook. Hero Analysis for the Future, the cover read.
"Th-this is, uh, I tripped and it got wet. No big deal."
What a lame lie. I hadn't seen the bullying firsthand, but his face said it all. Pupils shaky, brows pinched, forcing that smile. The one he always flashed when hiding pain from others. Even as kids, after Bakugo beat on him, he'd wear that grin and tell me he was fine. As if he could handle his own shit.
And this loser was aiming for U.A.?
"Hey."
"Y-yeah?"
"Why apply to U.A.?"
Straight to the point. It made no sense.
"What do you mean, Mitchy?"
"You get your ass kicked by Bakugo daily, laughed at by everyone, and you're gunning for U.A., where acceptance odds are 0.4%? What's your secret? Got some foolproof strategy to pass?"
"Foolproof? Nah, nothing like that."
"Then what? What's a quirkless nobody like you got to be so confident? Why make that idiotic choice?"
"...You know. You've seen me long enough."
Silence. About ten seconds of it.
He wasn't wrong. This guy's been like that forever. Never gave up on the impossible, just charged in headfirst. Thrashing around for what couldn't be done, just another "fool" from the ones Dad used to rant about when I was little.
No master plan, no connections. Midoriya was just blindly slamming into U.A. Like me.
"..."
Nothing left to say to this guy. I turned to bolt.
Then Midoriya stopped me.
"M-Mitchy. Wanna... walk together?"