Quirkless Love

Chapter 1

Hey there! I'm Mina Ashido, though some of you may know me as the hero Pinky, alien queen, romance enthusiast, and breakdancer extraordinaire! I've never been interviewed before so let's give you all the rundown on everything me!

Now most of you know me from the war against Shigaraki that happened 4 years ago, but since then a lot has changed, for starters, I graduated from U.A. and got accepted into College University (My legal team has advised me not to dox myself). To tell you the truth I was afraid no college would accept me, but helping save the country earns you some nice brownie points at the admissions office. It's been hard juggling hero work with my studies, but I make it work somehow.

That's right, I still work part-time as a hero, keeping you all safe. Over the years I've gone to different internships from Mt. Lady to Ryukyu to Ms. Joke, trying to learn all I can about being the best hero I could be. Hero work is no joke, but if I want to stay in the business I've got to put the work in, especially when I've got my former classmates to rival me. Katsuki and Shoto alone are making waves as the new heroes on the block, climbing up the ranks and reaching for that number one spot, god would it kill them to share the spotlight?

They're not the only ones making moves though, Eijiro has been an inspiration to men everywhere as Red Riot, and Denki and Kyouka have teamed up to give criminals one hell of a show before they're captured. Nearly all of my former classmates have continued their careers fighting crime and helping people, well almost all of them.

After the war ended, he continued to work harder than any of us to keep people safe, that's just the kind of person Deku was, but by the time we graduated, it seemed he was all out of juice. No one has forgotten what he's done for everyone, including us but, we just live in two different worlds now. I haven't spoken to him since graduation if you can believe that, last I heard he was still dating Ochako and had plans to go to the same university as me. Thinking about it now, I probably could've reached out to him more, but how would you even start that conversation, "Hey old pal, I've been out there living your dream, how's your life?" Awkward right? Besides, he's the hero who beat Shigaraki, I'm sure Midoriya is doing just fine without us.

But enough about him, this interview is about me, do you wanna hear about the time Creati and I fought—-

"Pinky! Get your mind in the game!" screamed a man's voice

I blinked a few times before looking ahead at my current boss, "What's the big deal Super Gutso? We're just chasing some random nobody, he hasn't even attacked us yet."

That's Super Gutso, a foreign hero from the states. He came here to help with the reconstruction efforts way back when and decided to stay. He says it's because he likes the culture, but I think he found someone special while he was here.

"Thinking like that will get you in trouble no matter who we're chasing, what are you even thinking about that has you so distracted?" Super Gutso asked as we closed in on the criminal.

"Just thinking about what to say to interviewers if they ask about the war against Shigaraki, I need to be prepared for anything right?" I said launching a spray of acid at the criminal's feet to melt his shoes to the floor. Almost as soon as the acid connected the man's feat warped around the shot as he bolted into an alley. "What? That should have hit him."

"You know it's still too early for those things, right? You're not even a full-fledged hero yet so focus on what's in front of you!" Super Gutso yelled as he ran after the criminal.

Little does he know I've already got an interview lined up for this Saturday, though I'll keep that a secret for now. "What did this guy even do? Sure he looks shady but that's about it." To be fair, that is a defining trait of most villains.

"I've got intel that he's carrying some sort of dangerous bioweapon, the only way I can tell it's him is because I've got my quirk running." Super Gutso said as the man seemingly slipped through the holes of a sewer grate.

His quirk is Confidence Boost, whenever he needs a specific power or function his confidence in his ability to use that power determines how well it works. Super handy but he's the kind of person who insists there is always room for improvement, which leads to his abilities being hampered.

"I can see that he's got the weapon, that's why we need to stop him, now!" Super Gutso said as he grabbed the sewer grate and ripped it out of the ground before jumping in.

"How did he even get down there so fast? Is there anything else you know about him?" I asked, expecting an explanation of his quirk and identity.

"Only thing I know is he's got a transformation-type quirk, no one knows his real identity or the details about his quirk." He called back as he searched the dark sewer.

Great, an enemy we have no knowledge of, in a place I can't see, that's carrying a dangerous bioweapon. Perfect Wednesday afternoon chase if I say so myself.

"Over there!" He yelled, pointing in a direction I couldn't see. It's like he forgot only one of us can use dark vision whenever they want, and that it wasn't me.

I followed the sounds of their footsteps nonetheless trying to provide backup in case things went wrong, though honestly I just wanted to get out of this sewer as soon as possible. "Gutso! Gonna need you to be my eyes and ears ok? Where is he?"

"We've got him cornered, it's a dead end up ahead. Just surrender now and this will all be over!" He screamed towards the villain. I honestly don't know why they never took that offer, sure prison is bad but you're going to wind up there either way, might as well save yourself the beating.

I slowed as I heard the other footsteps around me stop, thinking this chase was all said and done before I heard a third voice echo down the sewer. "This is only just the beginning." With that, I heard two gunshots fire as I instinctively put up my Acid Veil to protect me.

I was too late.

I felt the projectile hit my left shoulder and pierce my skin, which was quickly followed by an extreme stinging pain that coursed throughout my body. I went down instantly, hearing the muffled cries of Super Gutso to my left, as my mind slowly drifted to unconsciousness.

During my time under I had a strange dream, which was even more strange because I hardly ever dream normally. I was at a high school reunion party of sorts with everyone from class A and B. Though something was wrong, I kept feeling this throbbing pain where I had been shot, it felt like the bullet took a part of me with it. I felt like I was missing something, and started to panic. I ran around looking for it not knowing what I was looking for, as the party seemed to continue around me. Eventually, the pain became too much and I had to rest.

As I sat at some table, I began to cry, no one helped me look, or asked if I was ok, no one even said hi to me. I was invisible. I sobbed for a bit longer before I heard his voice tell me, "It'll get easier."

"Bull shit, I don't want this to get easier, I want to go back to them. Why won't they look at me? why won't they help me!" I yelled at the voice, hysterically crying now. It wasn't fair, none of this was fair.

The voice didn't respond to my questions, and as I turned to look at who was talking all I saw was a flash of green before waking up.

I woke up in a hospital bed with Super Gutso, or Jordan Smith as he was out of costume, standing to my side with a doctor. I could see an IV bag connected to my forearm, and as I looked outside I realized that night had already fallen as the building's lights were the only thing to illuminate the night sky. I turned to my boss and the doctor and said, "Man what a lame way to lose huh, to a gun of all things. Please tell me you got him and his bioweapon or whatever."

I asked that nonchalantly but from the looks on their faces I could tell he got away. "Are you serious? Now we're going to have to find him again, that's so much overtime headed our way."

"Ashido," Smith started, he never was comfortable using my first name, even though I told him repeatedly it's easier. "We need to talk... You won't be chasing after him again."

I looked up at Smith confused, "What do you mean?"