I still had hope. Hope in becoming a hero, a role model for others; I wanted to be as great as All Might, the number one, the symbol of peace...

"Consider what's realistic." His words still echoed around in my empty head, now devoid of ... everything. I didn't know anyone could feel like this-- so hollow and bare and useless and empty.

My arms hung limp at my sides, practically lifeless. I didn't notice my growing numbness to the cold air, the subtle itchiness of my school uniform; I didn't even notice the tears that had already streaked down my face.

How could he say such a thing? How could he step on my dreams like that, dismiss me like I'm nothing? But I guess that's true anyway... so many people have called me Deku that I'm starting to believe it's my real name.

'Good for nothing'... that's what it means. I fought against it at first, told Kacchan and the rest of the bullies that I am worth more. That I can be useful, even without a quirk.

I'd told myself that, maybe, if All Might believes in me, I wouldn't lose hope. Not yet. I'd keep going, I'd keep fighting, despite what everyone else says. I would become a hero.

Guess that plan's out the window.

I slowly urge my leaden feet to move towards the back door of the rooftop, but before I have the chance I see an explosion of gray smoke coming from a busy street that's pretty far from here.

Usually, I'd jump straight into the fray and write down every observation in my Hero Notes, but it's barely usable after Kacchan exploded it and threw it into the pond outside our Junior High.

Even if it wasn't, I don't even have the drive anymore.

There used to be this impetus that drove me forward toward hero-villain encounters, urging me to study them, to learn from them. Maybe that's why I'm feeling like this. That feeling's gone.

"Huh," I muttered to myself.

I turned from the sight and left the building.

The streets are full of people and cars, crowds from various parts of the city surrounding the explosion site from before. Eventually, I just give up trying to push through the mobs and reluctantly see with everyone else what is happening. I try my best not to get excited like I'd used to. I don't want to bring my hopes up, only to have them crushed again.

But when I see that the perpetrator is the Sludge Villain, the evil thing that almost killed me before ... All Might saved me, I look at the scene in its entirety. I thought that All Might caught him?? How is he here??

"Did you see that it's got a kid??" some people whispered to each other.

"It does?? That poor kid!"

It isn't until I see the young boy that the villain was slowly killing that my brain completely shuts off.

Desperately clawing at the thing and screaming and cursing like he always does is Kacchan. I've never seen him so incredibly helpless; his attempts to break free are in vain, his screams drowned out by the overbearing substance, and coming out of his eyes are...

Are those tears?

I merely stare at the sight, dumbfounded, unsure of what to do.

Even though the yelling of those useless pro-heroes and the crowd made it so that nothing could be heard, even though the smoke of the raging fires surrounding the villain made me lightheaded, even as people were still pushing me to get a better look at the pitiful scene, crying and wailing for the imminent death of the young boy -- I felt nothing.

Kacchan looked my way, looked me straight in the eyes as his hands exploded against the Sludge Villain, and they were full of such terror, his brows creased and sweaty.

I knew exactly what he was trying to say:

Someone help me.

He was wrestling with the thing with all his might and his eyes had started to roll into his head. I could tell that his life was beginning to flash before his eyes... it was going to happen soon.

But I didn't care.

It's true, I've admired Kacchan ever since we were kids. He was one of the firsts to get a quirk, and it was such a flashy one.

"Suitable for a hero!" the teachers had said. They certainly weren't wrong and the techniques of which he's been applying his explosion quirk make it all the more versatile and flexible. Before that, back when we'd all been just young quirkless children, he was always the leader. He was always the best.

Leading all the neighborhood kids with such confidence led me to believe that he could do anything, so I followed him everywhere he went-- like some pathetic lost sheep.

Even then he'd bullied me. He nicknamed me 'Deku' and everyone else stepped in line, beat me up when I was just trying to protect someone as helpless as I am... he's always underestimated me.

Junior High wasn't any better, if anything it was worse. As his quirk developed at exponential rates, Kacchan made sure to 'try it out' on me. I'd always minded my own business, trying to preserve whatever's left of my dignity, while he'd go out of his way to make me feel like crap. Like he always does. Not even the teachers cared; they thought I was as useless as Kacchan said. They always preferred him over the others, and especially over me.

It must've felt empowering to do that, to have someone so pitiful below you so you yourself can feel all the more powerful.

I get why it's so addicting.

Now, with Kacchan struggling to breathe in front of me, making definite eye-contact, I've never felt so satisfied. While screams and pleas for All Might fill the air, I merely turn around and make my way home.

I wonder if Mom's already made dinner... I'm craving a pork cutlet bowl.